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CRAVE Chat: Mentors Move Mountains

American designer Niveen Heaton is the creative mind behind Adicora Swimwear. She grew up around Venezuela’s tropical towns and it was there that she explored the various elements of design that now influence her creations.

In 2004, Niveen packed her bags for Seattle to launch her career as a fashion designer. She worked in retail until the opportunity came along to design womens’ shoes for a Seattle-based brand. Niveen cultivated her talent and knowledge of the industry by traveling overseas to over look production and attending numerous trade shows in Las Vegas and New York City.

Now it was time to turn her passion to create into a reality. In November 2009 her eponymous label of Americana-Latina-inspired swimwear came to fruition. Just as this determined woman is, Adicora Swimwear’s designs are one-of-a-kind. The label embodies the highest quality fit, fabric and craftsmanship destined to women who want to feel confident, glamorous and unique.

adicoraswimwear.com

Morgan Carson is the owner and designer of the fashion start-up Rene Ropas. With talent and passion she involves herself in almost every facet of her rapidly growing Seattle boutique and brand. Morgan and Rene Ropas is inspired by vintage, and creates eco fashion. Morgan works with a variety of fabrics and recycled materials, everything from vintage lace to shower curtains to create amazing garments. The belief of Morgan and Rene Ropas is simple: be Beautiful, be Inspired and be Unstoppable.

See her fall collection at reneropas.com.

Juliet Sander is the founder/president of Sander Brand Culture. Through her company, Juliet helps fashion brands ignite conversations that start movements. She sees the big picture. They may be talking about the spring collection, but her mind is racing ahead to how it lives the brand values, others they can collaborate with, the opportunity to grow the brand story, how it fits culturally, why someone would wear this piece. The people-watcher in her looks for the story to unfold, and the designer in her sees where all the pieces fit.

Juliet’s experience working at top agencies like DDB, Hornall Anderson, Fitch and Wunderman, developing new brands, business strategies, digital marketing strategies, consumer insights, and marketing plans led her here. She has consulted to numerous fashion brands and retailers and teach fashion marketing at the University of Washington, preparing industry entrepreneurs to launch their new ventures.

sanderbrandculture.com