Ariel Swedroe Weinberg doesn't know she's gifted. Matter of fact, she doesn't even realize she's bordering on sheer genius; perhaps savant status. The eleven-year old, who proudly chirps: "I'm about to turn twelve," when I interviewed her for the blog, doesn't just like to sew, she happens to be really, really good at it.
She started stitching at the tender age of seven at Design Lab Miami, where her mentor, Angie Cohen, helped Ariel realize her passion for fashion. Four years later, Ariel doesn't just drape, make patterns and sew, she's created her very own fashion line called "Swedroe art to wear by Ariel."
Apparently, being creative and beyond talented runs in the family. Ariel's grandfather, renowned architect and artist, Robert Swedore, is a force to be reckoned with in his own right. As an ode to his art, Ariel incorporates his famous collages and designs into her fashions, scanning and laser-printing them onto fabrics she uses to make blouses, skirts, tops, pants and dresses.
The result? A lively, whimsical, provocative, futuristic inspired fashion line. When I first met Ariel, I was surprised at how someone so young and so reserved could make things with such big personality. Once we started chatting about her designs, though, she lit up like a runway during New York Fashion Week. She told me in a very mature, matter-of-fact manner: "My inspiration comes from the world around me." When I pressed her on her answer (to see if it was rehearsed or not,) she tells me point blank of magazines, blogs and social media accounts she follows, all centering around pop culture and designers she draws creativity from.
Even though Ariel has parents that care and a support system many young professionals (twice her age) could only dream of, there's something special about her. She's not a cookie cutter Miami Beach kid. In fact, she's quite the opposite, with a quirky, warm, artistic and straight-forward disposition.
When choosing my outfit for the blog, I was especially hard on Ariel, sending my selections back a few times, asking for alterations; more specifically, for a longer skirt that I would feel comfortable and glamorous in and boy, did she deliver (without complaint or hesitation.) We built our blog photos and storyline around a fabulous two-piece ensemble she made with rich blues, greens and a striking space-age pattern (pictured in the blog.) It was perfect for a lot of reasons.
On the heels of our meeting, the world got its first up-close look at Pluto and Earth 2 surprised a lot of us "earthlings" (all thanks to NASA.) What's more, Ariel showed me her latest idea, using electrical thread and LED lights to create a flashing vest, explaining her love of incorporating technology into her fashions to make them dimensional, kinetic-like.
Her idea impressed and inspired me to be a little more creative with her blog. Hence the title "The Young Prometheus," a tribute to her creative intellect, mind-blowing maturity and sewing prowess. The blog pictures tell a story of a creator bringing her masterpiece to life with a magical, fashion forward dress.
I believe Ariel's ideas are the future of design. After all, if you dream it, eventually someone will make it happen and perhaps, she'll grow up to be one of the first to fashion people as they go on holiday to another world, another planet or even another dimension. In this day and age, it is plausible. For now, though, Ariel remains firmly planted on earth with eclectic, otherworldly designs we can all enjoy and admire.
Shireen Sandoval: Tell me about your fashion line and how it came to be.
Ariel Swedroe Weinberg: When I was in the advanced group at Design Lab Miami, one of the assignments was to create our own fashion line, but we needed to use our own fabrics. One student drew a design onto paper and printed that over and over again on fabric. I decided to take a picture of my grandfather's art work and mirror that image onto fabric such as chiffon, lycra and charmeuse.
SS: Your prints and patterns are very special. Tell me about them.
ASW: Yes, my textiles are very special because they come from my grandfather's collage art. My grandfather's collage art has patterns and stories that he creates, such as the Mushroom Dancers or even a collage he made for me called Ariel's Birthday Party.
SS: Tell me about the outfit I wore to shoot the blog and what the inspiration was behind those two-pieces.
ASW: I decided to take one of my short skirts from my first line and emphasize it with bigger pleats and enlarge the collage pattern. I also wanted the bathing suit to be your top to give a more relaxed look, but still be glamorous. Imagine…if you go to a party thinking it's formal, but you got pranked and you walk into a pool party like the movie "Legally Blonde!" You could just simply take off the skirt and bam — pool glamour!!!
SS: What fashion designer do you admire and why?
ASW: Valentino. He makes every woman look beautiful, feel confident and fierce.
SS: When you're not creating clothing, what else would you be doing?
ASW: I would probably be hanging out with my friends, on-line shopping or sketching or doing some type of crafty project.
SS: If you could design an outfit for one celebrity, who would it be and why?
ASW: Jennifer Lawrence because I loved her in the "Hunger Games" movie series (I read the books twice!) She is so glamorous (even when falling on the steps at the Oscars!)
SS: Tell me about your new fall line.
ASW: My new line will include fringe skirts inspired by the 1930's. I also want to print on neoprene since my grandpa has some three-dimensional butterflies and other objects that will look great.
SS: What is the designing process like for you?
ASW: I like to look at reference materials (magazines, bloggers) and then put my own spin on it imagining how I can incorporate my textiles.
SS: What is the one thing in your closet that you can't live without?
ASW: My "Doc Martins" and skater skirt because they can go with anything, anywhere, anytime.
SS: What's next for the girl who has mastered what many can only dream of?
ASW: Next for me is to get my latest clothing line ready for Art Basel because that's where I showcased my first line and I'd also like to branch out into accessory and shoe design.
Shop the looks at www.swedroebyariel.com
Twitter: @swedroebyariel
IG: @swedroebyariel
Facebook: swedroe by ariel
Twitter: @ShireenSandoval
IG: @ShireenSandoval
ssandoval@wsvn.com
www.shireensandoval.com
Photographer: James Woodley
Twitter: @BritFloridian
IG: @BritFloridian
www.James-Woodley.com
Hair & Make-up: Odette Hernandez
Twitter: @Odettehernandz
IG: Odett_herndz
Styling/Co-Producer/Assist: Jackie Kay
blog ideas: Jackiekay211@yahoo.com
Editor: Matthew Auerbach
MattAuerbach@yahoo.com