On the afternoon of the 27th, We caught up with fashion designer and recent Art Institute graduate Meagan Cook at the Bellevue Hotel to find out more about her new couture millinery line Foolish Pride, and her plans for the future. We have the great honor of being her first interview, and of unveiling her premiere editorial to the world!

1-215: How did you get started designing?

Meagan: I started designing back in early elementary school, and then in high school I progressed into something I never thought I’d be today. I used to design my sneakers and I used to paint them these colorful, funky ways, basically expressing how I see color and art. I was just so tired of my classic Adidas, and my Vans, and after they got ruined, it was a way for me to bring them back to life. People started noticing them and soon I was designing theirs just to express my art – it became a hobby and turned into me making money. In my twelfth grade year I took my first art class, since I went to a Catholic school where the art classes were limited and filled up fast. My teacher had suggested it for me because he saw my work as a sneaker designer. Later he suggested I go take a beginner workshop class at Moore College. I thought I knew everything since I designed a few hoodies and sneakers, and I bit off more than I could chew! I saw all these girls who knew what they were doing, pumping out all this stuff, and I got into this mode and told myself “yeah, I can do this.” At the end of the workshop, my teacher asked me to close the student show, and ever since then, fashion has been my life.    

2-215: You’re a very recent graduate – congrats! Has graduating college changed the way you think or work as a designer at all?

M: Thank you! It changed me for the good. I can honestly say that I appreciate going to school, and I appreciate now being out of school, because it makes you a go-getter Now you know at the end of the day you have to make things happen for yourself. You see how school has molded you, and you appreciate those talks you had with your teachers and you appreciate them explaining things to you because you see things the way you always envisioned them now and you have the power and knowledge now to make things start happening. 

3-215: What inspired this collection?

M: The honest truth is that I made one hat for an Accessory Design class, and it happened by chance. Then in my final quarter I was designing my final collection as a student. Towards the last week of school, I knew I needed an accessory that was gonna speak volumes. I didn’t want to make jewelry, or anything like that, and then I stumbled upon this hat again and thought to myself, this collection is about bold women who love to take risks and are content with who they are – as my mom would say, women who love a little “Shi-Shi Poo-Poo.” What if I incorporated these hats into the collection? So I made more of them even though some friends told me not to, and thank goodness I did!

4-215: Foolish Pride – where did the name come from?

M: That’s what they call us. By “us” I mean the people who dare to be different, and who own who we are. They see us as foolish for being daring and sometimes for our fashion choices, but those same people that look foolish to you take PRIDE in themselves and their bold fashion pieces.

5-215: Why millinery? Why now?

M: When we learned in class to make hats, I realized I loved it, even though I didn’t want people to know. It was something I had thought about, but put on the backburner, and then when my collection came up like I mentioned, I looked back into it. It kind of all happened by accident – actually, now that I think about it I think it was meant to happen, so I won’t say by accident. I just didn’t know it was meant for me.

6-215: How do you envision your ideal client?

M: She loves herself. She knows who she is. She embraces the power of women, and she wants to be something in life. I’ll put it this way - I just recently named my hats, each one-of-kind style a different name. I named them the things that got me where I am, and the things that they need to wear them. One hat is called ‘The Fighter’, and one is called ‘Courage’, one is called ‘Hope’. The woman who wears my hats would have these qualities, but also the great fashion sense to go along with it.

7-215: What is your favorite thing to design?

M: I think secretly my heart will always be in sneakers, since that’s where I started, even though I haven’t touched it in almost six years. As far as clothes, I love to drape, and I love hand-making dresses and gowns – I like making couture, hand crafted things. It sounds cliché because nowadays people use the word ‘couture’ in the wrong context and that bothers me, but I really love couture.

8-215: Does your work as a designer reflect your own personal style?

M: It’s sad, but it does. People say designers should be able to think “outside their own box,” but I think I have a good sense of style, and I think I know color better than a lot of people. Not that I want them to dress like me. I just want people to stand out. I hate when people don’t stand out to me, even a little bit.

9-215: What inspires you as a designer?

M:Love. Life. People who think I can’t do what I want to do, or be what I want to be…and fabrics and color. I think I have an addiction to fabrics and color, maybe a not so healthy one. I have a bunch of fabrics at home that I bought and probably will never use – I think I just don’t want anyone else to have them, maybe. (Laughs)

10-215: Any heroes?

M: My dad. He doesn’t know it, but he is. He would probably say he hasn’t done anything to be my hero, but I’ve never seen anyone love love like he loves love. I’ve never seen someone so kind; he doesn’t judge anyone, and when you talk to him, he listens. His biggest accomplishment, regardless of whether he knows it or not, is being an awesome dad.

11-215: How do you feel about the fashion scene in Philadelphia?

M: It has so much potential. It’s definitely grown; I think people are more aware of what they’re wearing – but maybe they’re all tourists that come here and look nice (laughs). It’s in limbo right now because nobody wants to be who he or she is. It kills me that people aren’t confident in who they are, and people seem to be afraid to be different. I just wish they would take the edge off.

12-215: Do you have a philosophy about fashion that you live by?

M: I don’t have any one philosophy I live by, but if you ever read my Tumblr, I try to post an encouraging quote a day. I live to inspire people, and that might be through words, or design, or how I dress, or even me just being your friend. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from my Tumblr page: “When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds, and diamonds are made under pressure.” You see what I mean? Just something to think about. Here’s another: “I’m gonna fail my way to success.” I love that.

13-215: What is an unexplored territory that would like to dive in into?

M:Hmm. I love photography. I love seeing a picture that has a story. Just little things in pictures catch my eye, and now I have this little love and passion for it, and it’s growing. I think that would be something I’d like to explore. I’m coming for you, Robert! (Laughs)

14-215: Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

M: I hate this question, because I have no idea. I hope I have the same hunger I have now. I want to be eating goals for dinner.

15-215: What can we expect to see from you next?

M: We’ll have to see what doors open after this. I’m going to keep designing regardless of whether Foolish Pride is successful or not. I really want to have a small clothing line ready by Spring 2012.

16-215: Any advice you have for designers even younger than yourself?

M: I guess I am pretty young.. I would say to know that there are going to be hard days, and you have to put in 150%. I tell myself all the time if this was easy, everyone would be doing it. And build relationships! You gotta have a support system.

FAST 5 with 215!!

(Interviewees will have 5 seconds to answer 5 totally random questions about themselves)

17-215: Favorite color?

M: Blue.

18-215: Biggest fear?

M: Failure.

19-215: Biggest dream?

M: To be successful and happy.

20-215: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are 3 things you would bring?

M: My dad, food, and..wine!

21-215: Fire or Water?

M: Water. Fire always dies out.

Like what you see? Shop today at www.foolishpridecollection.com. Wear your Pride proudly!