Designer Spotlight: Chinoo Designs

Chinoo Designs aims to have you feeling good about yourself. Patricia of Chinoo Designs wants to see plus size women in beautiful fashions so she has decided to do something about it. Get to know the woman behind this fresh, new clothing line in this week’s Designer Spotlight.

Chinoo Designs. What’s the story behind the label’s name?

Most people are given a nickname at maybe one year old. I was given my name at birth. I have a brother and sister one year and six months older than me. When my mom brought me home from the hospital they asked what was my name, of couse my Mom said Patricia. By them being so young they couldn’t pronounce Patricia. They then asked was “she new” and it has been my name all my life. Now I spell it “Chinoo”. So I have to say I was born with this name, and I believe it was given to me for this particular purpose in my life.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome when launching your own line?

It was finding a way to let people and businesses know that there’s a new plus size designer that they should know about. When you are trying to develop your own line or anything that has your heart it takes a lot of patience.

What has your most significant moment been?

It was one year to the date when I started my business that I received a call from a boutique owner in Denver Co. (Buxom Boutique). Then the calls for orders and trunk shows started coming in. I have also been receiving really wonderful feedback from my website www.chinoodesigns.com. So many people like and love the look of my styles. I even received an email from a woman who was stationed in Germany. It’s encouraging other plus size women to say they would like to be models. When people visit my website the first thing you will notice is that my models are not the size 6-8 you see on other sites that offer plus size styles. How can a plus size woman see themselves in something that a size 6 is wearing?

Why design plus size fashion?

Well I am a plus size woman and I like to look stylish. Whenever I would go shopping there wasn’t anything I could find to make me feel good about me. I majored in fashion design and I’ve been sewing all my life. I called a couple of friends to let them know what I was about to do and they were with me all the way. I had the name, Chinoo and I had my slogan “Feeling Good About You”.

What is your favorite current trend right now?

Look out for the pencil skirt ladies, this is a must have. In my Fall Line you will see pencil skirts.

Are there really any fashion no-no’s? If so, what are they?

There is always a no-no somewhere to be found. How about a fashion yes! I like it when plus size women try something new, something they have always said no, no way will you catch me in that. I’ll share mine. I was about to do an interview and one of the models walked out with my design belted. I was so against belts I said no each and evey time, but I am wearing belts now and I love them. Say Yes.

Is there a trend that you could do without?

Well you have to look hard these days. If you are adventurous you can make any trend work.

What inspires your designs?

People always look at me strange when I give them the answer to this question. Size 6, that is who and what inspires me. I look thru design books and who do you see but a size 2-6. They motivate me to design and to be creative. When I am doing a trunk show a lot of women 2-12 ask if I could make anything in their size, and the answer is always no. I am only designing for Plus Size Women 14-24. When I’m asked to make smaller sizes it let’s me know that I am on the right track.

Which celebrity would you like to see your designs in?