Today we have with us the fantastic Lingerie Designer Erica Young, whose edgy and attractive designs have impressed everyone, including the one and only Beyoncé! Erica Young is the creative director and founder of Erica M.
Erica M. is a conceptual lingerie brand anchored on luxury, discrete erotic artistic sensibilities and style. Launched in Autumn/Winter 2012 Erica M. lingerie consists of a limited assortment of second skin garments featuring opulent, knitted in patterns and ‘trompe l’oeil’ details. Presented as a sexier more flattering version of the traditional pantyhose, stockings and forward thinking lingerie. Made in Italy from high quality materials, in luxury lingerie facilities, each style dichotomized with a first glance of stylish elegance and secondly as hidden surprises beneath the wearer’s clothing.
The idea of making hosiery struck Erica Young, then a footwear designer, after a favorite pair of tights snagged on a bad first date. More bummed about the tights than the date, she began designing legwear and bodysuits with intricate details inspired by vintage motifs. These Erica M. lace-up thigh-highs, constructed with high-tech weaving techniques, are more accessible and easier to wear than the lace-up boots they mimic. Bodysuits, like this one with corset lines, have a fan in Beyoncé, who wore hers recently with cropped black trousers and a blazer.
Check out as Erica Young shares with us her fitness tips and gives us a sneak peak of her latest collection, in a candid interview with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Your brand Erica M. creates intriguing, elegant bodywear, lingerie and tights. You design the products in New York and manufacture them in Italy. Your brand’s popularity has led to a legion of leg-wear devotees from around the country, from celebrities like Beyoncé, Dita Von Teese and Anne Hathaway, to trendsetter women in both metropolitan cities and suburbs. Can you tell us about this spectacular journey into the fashion industry?
Ms. Erica Young: I was born and raised in Hollywood, Calif., I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design at the California College of the Arts. I continued my studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and, applied my design skills to creating footwear for seven years for various brands. My travels for work took me to different countries in Asia where I bought funky, avant-garde tights.
Fast forward to the wake of what I call a “mediocre date” where I snagged my favorite tights on a tree branch while getting out of a car. Frustrated by not being able to purchase a replacement pair online, I began sketching what I believed was missing from the market in the U.S. It was the genesis of Erica M., the brand, and it ultimately led to the creation of my first collection.
When I first started my brand and before I had a history of sales, my target customer was a metropolitan women in her late 20’s. It was an amazing surprise to realize how large my demographic actually was. Not only had I attracted women in their late 20’s, but also women who are in their 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s as well as men, a number of them being in the LGBTQ community. It proved to me that many people, despite their age, sex, and sexual orientation are interested in my products and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Before starting Erica M., you worked as a footwear designer for several brands. Tell us how was your life different back then being a footwear designer?
Ms. Erica Young: I worked with a small team of designers and we spent a lot of time traveling together. We would spend practically half the year developing the footwear we designed in South Korea and China since we were not only designing but developing our own designs directly with factories. It was a life changing experience where I had the chance to learn about different cultures but more importantly I learned a lot about myself during those years.
It was grueling to say the least, always traveling, overseeing several projects all at once. I learned what dedication and perseverance really meant during those years. When I was not overseas I was traveling with the sales team doing presentations to help sell the collections. It shaped me into the designer and business women I am today and for that reason I am very thankful for that experience.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may wish to share?
Ms. Erica Young: Working out is an important part of my routine. Since I am my own boss I have to be self motivating. I have to get up early and hit the ground running. In order for me to have enough energy to get everything done I try to work out at least four times a week. I am fairly close to the Williamsburg bridge in Brooklyn so I run the bridge at least once a week.
It is four miles from my apartment to and from the bridge. I also go to the gym and do calisthenics and I also do Tracy Anderson workout videos at home. I really believe in her methods and they have worked for me over the years.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Erica Young: I was raised in a very healthy household. My brother and I were not allowed to have sugar, processed food, or soda when we were were growing up. I typically eat the same way now that I am older. I stick to mainly proteins and greens. I also juice every morning and it is always a combination of kale, carrots, and fruits.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what do you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Erica Young: Thank you! I do absolutely nothing for my skin I know that is bad! But I make sure to take my makeup off every night and I wash my face every morning with a basic neutrogena product I got at the drug store. I take the maintenance of my hair more seriously. I keep my scalp moisturized with castor oil during the winter and jojoba oil during the summer. I use Aveda shampoo and conditioner and I always wrap my hair every night with a silk scarf.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding fashion designers who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to ladder of success in the fashion industry?
Ms. Erica Young: I always recommend taking your time initially with a business plan. Get as much advice from as many people as you can in the beginning. Try to create a customer profile and focus on getting your production down before you enter your market. This industry is not forgiving and having a good product is half the battle. What about your sales distribution? Marketing? Figure out as much as you can in the beginning so you can avoid making expensive mistakes.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about the enchanting Erica M.’s Fall/Winter 2016 Collection ?
Ms. Erica Young: The FW16 Collection is titled ‘Power Moves’. It consists of bralette and underwear sets that you can pair with detachable collars and faux garters making them customizable according to your mood. Add a collar to compliment your fun and frisky side, pair a bralette with a button down for a touch of sophistication. It speaks to Erica M.’s wide and colorful demographic. I truly want everyone to find something within this collection that empowers them and makes them feel sexy.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You had a serendipitous encounter with Beyoncé which vaulted your young label from cult favorite to bona fide fashion phenomena overnight. Would you like to share with us this experience which only a few talented and lucky designers get to have?
Ms. Erica Young: My beautiful friend Yosra El-Essawy was hired to be her tour photographer a few years ago. She was wearing a pair of my tights while meeting with Beyonce to go over the images she took of the performance the night before. Beyonce complimented my friend on her tights. My friend, being the lovely person she was started gushing about me and my brand.
Beyonce asked if she would ask me to send her some pieces. I sent her the entire collection the very next day! Afterwards, I had the pleasure of meeting her. She is the one of the nicest and humble people I have met. She actually told me I am a talented artist and I could not believe that Beyonce was telling me this! It was one of the most memorable experiences of my career.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about your Top 3 Erica M. must-haves?
Ms. Erica Young: 1. The Hanako Bodysuit- Pair it with jeans for a sexy casual look or a flirty skirt for a night out. The design is flattering on many body types.
2. The Kai Stockings- These graphically striking thigh highs will add sex appeal to any outfit. Pair them with black pumps to elongate your legs.
3. Hanako Briefs- I wear these with a skirt or dress for comfort. Although they are a brief cut, the woven in design is very sexy and flattering. I have also lounged around the house in these all summer long.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Your photography is very bold. What advice do you wish to give to the women of today to be body confident in order to do such fashion & glamour modeling?
Ms. Erica Young: I love shooting all kinds of women. I don’t stick to a particular look or body type. I see beauty in all of us. Our unique characteristics make us dynamic and I simply want to celebrate them through my designs and my campaign images. I hope that I can inspire people to love themselves and their differences. I always think about how boring this world would be if human beings were really homogeneous. If we all sat and thought about how awful that would be maybe we would appreciate how colorful we are and life is and start celebrating ourselves and one another more.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of hosiery designing?
Ms. Erica Young: All the women in my life from my Mother to my friends. Even my seamstress Lucy. Every woman has a story to tell. Every woman wants to feel empowered and sexy. I simply infuse the spirit of the women in my life in all the styles I design.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Erica Young: I love how Womenfitness.net is a site that discusses women’s health. Our health is more important than anything else in our lives and Womenfitness.net creates a space where you can find interesting and informative articles on the topic. We should focus on our beauty within so our beauty can shine outward. One of my favorite quotes is “The body is a sacred garment” said by renowned choreographer Martha Graham in the 1950’s .
To know more about Erica Young, follow her on:
https://www.instagram.com/ericamnyc/
https://www.facebook.com/EricaMNewYork
Check out her latest collection on: http://ericam.com/
Women Fitness Team thanks Erica Young for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness