Operatic tenor George Shirley once stated in a documentary that, “Every artist must satisfy their hunger.” And that is just what emerging designer Johnny Bechard has done. Though his path has been circuitous, Bechard is hitting his stride with his current collection, which emphasizes feminine elegance, sophistication, and eye-popping red carpet looks.
“Fashion design was always my first, true love. It was always something I really wanted to do. I pushed it in the background and pursued other careers in the industry, but ultimately I came back to my first love, designing beautiful clothes for women,” he said.
This refined taste and sensibility is evidenced in his Fall 2010 collection, a collection the references the quiet beauty of flowers. “My current collection is based on the metamorphosis of flowers. I reference the entire plant, from the layers of the stems to the bloom. I use a lot of ruffles at the bottom of these gowns so that when a woman sits down, the ruffles unfold and the movement continues. In effect, the dresses move when you are not in motion.”
Like many socially conscious designers, Bechard believes in keeping everything locally made. “Everything is 100% silk and made in the USA … my customer wants something individual and special. And I can oversee how my garments are made because they are made in the New York City garment district.”
Johnny Bechard’s collections can be found in Vivaldi and several other NYC boutiques. For more information, go to johnnybechard.com.
Images courtesy of Johnny Bechard.
