When Rachel Marie Hurst got a phone call a few weeks ago inviting her to submit some of her clothing designs for a show at Fashion Week, she thought one of her friends was playing a practical joke on her.
The 26-year-old has earned a following among the Denver fashion community, but New York? She was skeptical.
After a few more inquiries, she learned the opportunity was indeed legitimate. And then she had her work cut out for her.
Hurst, whose company is called Fashion House of Rae Marie, is one of four up-and-coming “hometown” designers chosen by Diet Pepsi to bring a little of the rest of the country’s style to New York in the form of three outfits per designer. It’s a showcase rather than a competition, and the company is paying for Hurst’s travel and materials.
Fashion commentator Simon Doonan was enlisted as a mentor to the designers, who will show their outfits in a presentation tonight at Lincoln Center. It’s the venue where more than 200 designers are presenting their collections over the next nine days, and Hurst is thrilled to be part of the action.
“I’ve been nervous and not sleeping much,” she admitted late last week when she was still searching for the perfect fabric for her looks.
She had been busy sketching and then draping and designing the garments in muslin form, getting the silhouettes right. “I speak to the fabric and it speaks to me.”
The designers were tasked with creating “Intrepid Safari” outfits (she’s thinking a little animal print, but not going overboard), avant garde workwear (mixing tailored and soft elements) and “Silver Fox and Silver Fog” ( metallic finishes inspired by the Diet Pepsi can). For the latter, she bought yards of shimmery silver charmeuse.
Hurst said she was aiming to create looks that were fashion-forward but still wearable. She’s known for her dramatic evening looks, vibrant fabrics mixes and for adding flourishes like flounces.
Born in Topeka, Kan., and a resident of Denver since she was 7, Hurst grew up in a family that sewed. “My mom is an amazing seamstress — she used to make her own suits,” Hurst said. “And my grandmother sewed a lot.”
Still, she wasn’t expected to follow suit. She graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at George Washington High School and was encouraged to study science in college.
Shortly after arriving at the University of Colorado at Boulder, however, she and some friends formed a fashion association because the school didn’t have one. And when she stood at the end of the runway after her first show, “I felt so alive,” she said.
Hurst began taking theater classes because it was as close to fashion design as she could get. She found some instructors who had worked on the costume side on movies and for such touring performers as Britney Spears and persuaded them to share their skills.
Her family wasn’t as enthusiastic. “They thought of it as a pastime, not a job,” she said. But then she got relatives to attend a fashion show where she was presenting some of her designs. “It changed their perspective — they realized I was doing what I want to do. My aunts want to wear my clothes. They’re supportive.”
Hurst has been sewing for more than six years and formed her company about a year ago, doing custom work and creating seasonal collections. She also has a job as a receptionist to make sure the bills are paid.
In New York tonight, Hurst will be joined by “Project Runway” alum and Dallas-based Shirin Askari; Genoveva Christoff from Columbus, Ohio, and Elise Bergman of Chicago. After the show, the regional looks will be on display in Pepsi’ s studio in the Grand Lobby of Lincoln Center. And Hurst is planning to take in some other fashion events, including Christian Cota’s show.
She can barely contain her excitement. “I’ve had this happy glow ever since I found out,” she says. “At first I said ‘ Why me?’ and then I said, ‘Why not me?’ “
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
Fashion house of Rae Marie
Designer: Rachel Marie Hurst, 26
Lives: In Denver and works out of her home until she secures another studio space
Education: Bachelor of arts from CU-Boulder, where she spent a year as a pre-med student before discovering her passion for fashion and costume design. She’s now studying for a master’s degree in fashion design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Labels she loves: John Galliano, Jason Wu, Lanvin. And “Alice + Olivia is a great brand because they have reasonable prices for very good design.”
What she creates: For now, mostly custom work, everything from special-occasion gowns to bridesmaid dresses (she currently has an order for 8)
Her look: Edgy, flouncy, flirty
Find her:
