APiF: Please introduce your business and your designs.
Maya Gorgoni: Royal Jelly Harlem (RJH) is a NYC based, Mother/Daughter design team
offering clothes for men and women, accessories, a RJH homeline and as a new addition the children's line Jelly Bees. We are specializing in vintage silhouettes using
all 100% Cotton, African textiles.
APiF: Love the name of your label - can you explain it?
APiF: Love the name of your label - can you explain it?
Maya: Growing up I was always referred to as 'Maya the
Bee', after the international cartoon based on a Bee and her Bumble Bee sidekick and her fabulous adventures! I always knew a Bee would be in
the logo and Royal Jelly is fun and catchy as well as good for you! It
is also what is fed primarily to the chosen Queen Bee of the Hive and
what makes her big and fertile. Harlem was added since it has been
my new neighborhood and where I found my creativity for the last 4
years.
APiF: How does your heritage inspire/influence your designs?
Maya: I am mixed race born to an African American
Mother and Italian Father. I grew up between NYC and Italy and always
traveled since I can remember. Growing up in Soho around crazy artists
of the 80's definitely opened my eyes to make note and pay attention to
detail. I was however inspired by my visits to the African continent since 2005, where I
fell in love with the beautiful
artistry of African textiles. I was immediately drawn to the colors
and design, as it reminded me of the splash and splatter of artist
Jackson Pollock, amongst others. Working to maximize the fabric and
placement of the textiles repeat pattern, resulted in the Genevieve
Jackson - one of our best sellers. The
silhouette is classic 50's inspired swing, shift dress. One of my
favorite style dresses and also most flattering on women of all shapes
and sizes.
APiF: If your label would be a person, what kind of person would it be?
Maya: I hope my label speaks to all, but the loudest to: The bold, fun, fabulous, bodacious, beautiful, fearless and confident people of
this world!
Maya: No proper training or fashion school. Just always
been a Fashionista with an eye for different and new ways of remixing
classics, Uptown/Downtown, hi/lo and love of all things Vintage!! As for
College, I double majored in Psychology and Italian, graduated from
Binghamton University class of 2000. Prior to starting RJH in February
2011, I traveled the world, lived in Rome for a year and worked in the
Luxury Boutique Hospitality industry.
The Designer: Maya Gorgoni |
Maya: The awareness of the global audience and their
worldly sophistication understand our designs, which is making marketing to them
easier. It also helps that Fashion as a whole is focusing a lot of
attention to prints and African designs in general. The internet, all
social media and E-commerce obviously help make us more accessible to
everyone as well.
Maya: Have a vision and follow it. You won't be able to
do it alone! Ask for help and share the journey with friends, loved
ones, and family. They will be the ones to help you chase that vision. I
am still lucky to have them all running alongside me.
Find out more:
Love the clothes, however, in reality, the price point is out of reach.
ReplyDeleteLovely design,I am all for african prints.
ReplyDelete