Today’s edition of Instruct/Influence features Lorraine Sanders, a part-time instructor who teaches Fashion Journalism: Blogging. Lorraine writes her own blog, SF Indie Fashion, which has become a go-to source for learning about the brightest designers in the Bay Area, new boutiques in the area, and all of the amazing fashion events going on in the city. She has also worked as a copywriter, social media consultant, and journalist. Lorraine’s varied experience has given her a vast set of skills and wisdom, which we wanted to pass along to you!

You are the editor and founder of SF Indie Fashion, a website dedicated to local designers and boutiques. When did you first start the site and what inspired you to do so?

I started SF Indie Fashion six years ago after realizing that there wasn’t a site devoted to sharing news about the many small, independent apparel and accessories designers living and working in the Bay Area. In my work as a freelance journalist, I was constantly finding new, intriguing people making really cool, creative things that I was pretty sure others would like, too. But at the time, and things have certainly changed a bit on this front, there just wasn’t a place you could find out about new collections, trunk shows, local shopping events, fashion shows and launch parties. Local media were only covering a smidgeon of the information that was out there. So I created the site to have a place to share all the news I was collecting.

That’s the practical piece that led the site, but there’s also a more personal element to it. I am constantly energized and inspired by creative people and designers. I have a lot of respect for what they do and admire the intense devotion and work that goes into creating a successful, independent creative business. The San Francisco Bay Area is full of businesses like this, and they are really what brings the character and flavor to our town. Along those lines, I’m an advocate of being a more conscious consumer by knowing who is making what you’re wearing and putting your money towards something that betters society, supports the arts and improves the world around us. I think independent fashion is a great vehicle for achieving those goals.

People are obsessed with local food and its many benefits. I am kind of like that about independent fashion.

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Today we bring to you the second installment of our new column, Instruct/Influence, in which we will be chatting with the amazing instructors at the School of Fashion. Hiding underneath that school teacher exterior, there lies a bounty of hidden gems -  some of the best fashion tales you’ve never heard. Our directors and instructors have worked with the best in the biz and have some amazing sartorial stories that we could only dream of, so we wanted to share some of those amazing experiences with you. For our second edition, we sat down with Assistant Director of 3-D Design, Rob Curry.

What did you study and where?

I went to Leeds University, not the big famous ones in London. But I always say I started learning when I left. My basic training from there on was a two year apprenticeship with a couturier called Bruce Oldfield, not a lot of people know him over here, but he’s been around for over 35 years and is very well-known in London and Europe. He used to do a lot with Princess Diana and sort of the old aristocracy, its not young its more older, conservative but immaculately made pieces.  And from there I went on to Vivienne Westwood. So that is what I really call my proper training – post university.

What drew you to couture as opposed to other types of design?

I’m a maker, I always have been by nature. I don’t really draw, I’m not a 2D person, and I always just loved it. At school I always enjoyed the making side of it but hated the portfolio side of it. I always felt frustrated at school because it was all about putting it on paper, the concept and thinking in 2-D. So that’s why the apprenticeship was like, wow, I’m learning.

How did you get the job at Vivienne Westwood?

She was always somebody that I completely adored and loved, you know she was always my favorite designer. And working in London she was one of the very few people I really wanted to work for. And I was lucky, Bruce Oldfield was a very big name and very well respected. So that got me in at Vivienne. When I sent my resume in with a letter asking if they needed anybody – God this was back in ‘96. And I got a phone call from the head of studio asking me to come in for a trial. It all really worked out well and I worked there for 5 years.

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