Marmalade: KCFW Q&A

Jac Heath, Emma Walters, and Olivia Jane are the three designers behind Marmalade, a collaboration project with designs that “incorporate a 50s color palette with silhouettes from the 70s.” The three designers are fashion design and product development students at Stephens College in Columbia. This season is their first time working on a line together, and Kansas City Fashion Week will be the first show to debut the looks. We spoke to all three designers about the challenges and benefits of being a design team. Their show is Thursday night.

How did you three meet?

Olivia: All I remember about meeting Jac was seeing her down the hall, thinking she was really pretty and wondering where she was from. Emma and I, well let’s just say we are inseparable now…”

Emma: So Jac walks in as a transfer, second semester, and all I could think was “that bitch.” She was totally put together and I just thought to myself — okay I need to be friends with this girl. Honestly I think it was Olivia that brought us together, because she is very much a social butterfly and will ask complete strangers to go for Joanns runs. Do I remember how I met Olivia? No. But I think the actual friendship probably started with one of our sewing/Grey’s Anatomy nights.

Jac: I transferred into Stephens the second semester of Emma and Olivia’s Freshman Year. I remember walking into class on the second day of school and as soon as I plopped my stuff down on the table this spunky little blonde came up to me asking “Do you model? Want to come to Joann’s with us?” It was Olivia.

Early on in the semester, Emma and I ended up sharing a workspace. It was interesting to say the least. I am very clean and organized: Emma is not. Years later, I’m still finding her stuff in my sewing box. Speaking of which, hey Emma, “Can you hand me my baby scissors?”

What sparked the idea for your collaboration?

The actual idea for the collaboration was brought up during a late night run for chocolate to the local grocery store. At first, it was just a wild idea and then we thought, “Wait, what if?”

What has been the biggest difficulty in merging your three styles together?

Quite honestly, it wasn’t too difficult to merge our styles. While we all like to dabble in different areas within the industry, Jac in menswear, Emma in activewear, and Olivia in anything timeless and classic, (or related to Scott Eastwood. He models for Calvin Klein, so it counts), our overarching styles are very similar. Each of our own personal aesthetics lie in the same category as Marmalade. We all definitely approach our everyday looks with a nod to the past and have an eye for particularly interesting or rare details. Overall, the biggest struggle is just getting Olivia on the same team as Jac and Emma. Don’t worry Oliva we actually DO love you.

Your line has a 50s color palette with silhouettes from the 70s. What inspired that?

In school, we’re constantly being asked, “what time period is influencing this collection?” It drives Jac crazy. So instead of just doing 50’s or just 70’s, we decided we go against the grain-line and incorporate both. 

Surprisingly enough, we didn’t even trend forecast for this collection (don’t tell our professors) we just decided that was what we wanted to do and dove right in. Once we got started it was very easy to put together. We all seemed to be having the same vision for where this collection was going, and it was like every idea was followed with a “that’s exactly what I was thinking,” except for Olivia who was usually thinking something different.

What strengths do each of you bring to this team collaboration?

Jac manages to keep everyone composed with “It’s fine. Everything is going to be fine.” and Olivia is the energy that manages to keep this whole train moving when coffee is not enough. 

On a more serious note, working in a team has allowed each individual to capitalize on their strengths. With Emma’s effortless illustrations and care-free aesthetic, Jac’s attention to detail, and Olivia’s ability to remain true to brand, concept and inspiration, this collection is the epitome of our creativity as designers.

Jac: The great thing about working together is that we can be brutally honest with each other.

Your bio mentions that the line is inspired by your busy lifestyles that require “on-trend styles, but still remain effortless.” How does that manifest in your work?

As fashion design majors, we feel the pressure from others to look stylish all the time, when in reality, it’s a good day if we manage to put on a fresh pair of sweatpants. In addition to Marmalade, we each work two jobs while going to school meaning that we don’t have a lot of time to fuss about clothing: ironic, we know. That is why we chose simple, easy-to-wash fabrics to incorporate into clean and sophisticated silhouettes for day-to-day wear with a twist … and shout. In a way, Marmalade is a “this is what we would look like if we had time.

What do you have planned next for Marmalade?

Great question. At first we didn’t see Marmalade as a long-term project, just an opportunity to expand our portfolios and gain more experience. However, working together has been such a joy and with the response to Marmalade far greater than we ever expected, we’ve decided to continue. At this point, we aren’t really sure what that means, or what it will look like, but maybe that will come to us on our next late night grocery run.

Where can our readers find your clothing?

Follow us on Instagram @marmalade_kc. Following our show on Thursday, September 27th, we will be having a sample sale of all the looks shown on the runway!

Marmalade
Thursday Night Runway Show
September 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Union Station
30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108