fashion
Once upon a time came Little Black Dress
The story of Little Black Dress (LBD), the fashion design label in Switzerland, is the story of two beautiful and hardworking women with dreams.
It all started with a vision when the two protagonists, Joanna Skoczylas and Eliane Diethelm, decided to start a fashion label together in Zurich. At that time the two young ladies, now in their early thirties, had known each other for five years. They had met backstage at a fashion show and kept in touch along the years.
Joanna Skoczylas and Eliane Diethelm from Little Black Dress (LBD ) – copyright ChristianBreitler
Eliane has been in the fashion business for 11 years. She studied tailoring and worked with her brother on costumes for theaters and the Zurich opera-house among other places. She had a shop where she sold Joanna’s shoes and lingerie. Joanna had a different parcours, having studied fashion design at ZHDK (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste). “We felt for a long time we would do something together one day”, says Eliane. The time came in November 2009, three years ago when they opened their shop at the Josephstrasse 45. They are starting their fourth year as fashion designers for LBD.
But why Little Black Dress?
Even if the name was something they both liked from the beginning, they had first doubts about using it. Eliane had gotten the idea with another friend and would it be such a good idea as so many other companies use it? They tried different variations with their last names, which they say are long and hard to pronounce. After long days of research and talks between the two, it was finally decided, it would stay and be Little Black Dress.
Little Black Dress at Mode suisse 2012-fashion show in Zurich – copyright Alexander Palacios
The Little Black Dress is actually a term to speak about a formal short dress. The first one was invented by the renown French designer Coco Chanel in 1926. When you think of LBD, of course the American actress Audrey Hepburn and the film “Breakfast at Tiffany” (1961) comes to mind.
Does it mean for that reason that the designers favorite color is black or the clothes they sell are only black?
Not at all.
Eliane responds right away that it is not the case and it changes with the seasons. For Joanna, if it was for a long time black, it has changed.
In their shop nevertheless even if their most sold color is black, you can find other warm and cool colors like green, pink and red. As well, they have an annual bridal collection. Yellow has been one of he most popular colors the last two Summers, shares Joanna. In addition, there are more than short cocktail dresses but also long dresses and jackets. Everything is elegant and some pieces of clothes are quite original.
Little Black Dress using Jacob Schlaepfer fabrics at Mode Suisse 2012 in Zurich
They have been using the fabrics of Jacob Schlaepfer and Filtex, both from St. Gallen in Switzerland, for a while. At their last Spring/Summer fashion shows for Mode Suisse in Geneva and Zurich, Little Black Dress presented beautiful clothing made with Jacob Schlaepfer’s fabrics. It looked amazing like straw, making it rough and elegant at the same time. Eliane explains how it is made: the upper fabric is embroidered to the under fabric and it is lasered and cut in between.
Joanna and Eliane used to have two collections a year but since this year they have three, Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter, plus their LBD white collection. They are now thinking to maybe add an extra collection next year, a limited one in between.
Little Black Dress has been expanding lately with now three interns and one tailor. Their production is in Ticino and in Bosnia but the cutting for the prototypes is done in Zurich. Eliane takes care of the patterns and the production while Joanna is responsible for the administrative side of the business. They both work in their shop and do the fitting together.
Baies d’Erelle at Mode Suisse in Zurich
And if you want the perfect jewelery to go with your dress, you can let yourself be tempted by the lovely creation from Baies d’Erelle. Erelle, the designer based in Lausanne, heard about LBD and contacted them. Their collaboration started well before the second edition of Mode Suisse. Eliane explains that they liked what Erelle was doing. Her romantic and mythology themes match what LBD is creating. The women have similar ideas at the present time and it passes well in their shop.
Many VIPs have been coming to Little Black Dress in Zurich especially before important events such as the Swiss Music Awards, the Zurich Film Festival and a shooting for Gala. During those times the two Swiss designers are busier than ever.
They even made a special dress for the model Fiona Hefty. They explain that Mrs. Hefty was one of the first personalities to wear their clothes. She is a customer since they did together “Les Trouvailles de Fiona”, a show curated and presented by Mrs Hefti. She comes regularly to their shop for Haute-Couture dresses. For the ZFF in September they made at her request a long laces black dress, with a corset basque underneath.
Fiona Hefty wearing Little Black Dress at ZFF in September 2012
Right now Joanna and Eliane are in their busiest time of the year with one fashion show after another, one day from the Mercedes-Benz fashion show starting on November 7th. They just finished presenting their 2013 Spring & Summer collections in Geneva and Zurich at Mode Suisse.
The two designers explain the differences between the two fashion shows in Zurich. Mode Suisse is more for the buyers and brings a crowd that is for professionals only while the Mercedes-Benz is more for the general public with international designers and of course with a red carpet.
Mode Suisse LBD – Spring & Summer collection 2013
Preparing for a show is not a piece of cake and there is not much time outside of work for them at the moment. One of the worst parts of a show they admit is the dressers, who have to get the models ready in less than 2 minutes. Anything can go wrong a zipper not zipped, a bag forgotten on the side backstage…
They work hard for a show they won’t even see as they have to supervise everything before and during the show. “The best part we miss”, says Joanna sadly. Eliane adds it is probably better she doesn’t see it. It would be too much stress.
Do they see Zurich becoming more and more a place for new fashion shows?
Eliane thinks Zurich has been “waking up in regards to fashion the last few years. It is growing with many good and young designers”. In any-case Mode Suisse and Mercedes-Benz are perfect for networking and good enough to present LBD collections.
Mode Suisse in Zurich – LBD clothing
They have never been happier. They are looking forward their next fashion show where they will show LBD White collection on November 9th at the Schiffbau.
What is the biggest dream of Little Black Dress?
Joanna and Eliane are not done dreaming and thinking of LBD’s future. When asked, they smile and respond they dream every day of new things! one day designing and selling shoes in their shop, spending more time on the designs, opening a shop in New-York, Tokyo, Shanghai and so much more!
For more information check out the websites of Little Black Dress and Baies d’Erelle.
