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Zulema: Runaway Designer

Zulema Griffin, Fashion Designer

Zulema Griffin is anything but the 'villain' she was portrayed as on the Bravo channel's highly talked about show Project Runway hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum. In her years as a Ford model she appeared in the pages of Essence, Interview, Paper and Bazaar. Trained at New York's Parson School of Design, Zulema was always individualist, insistently creating her own outfits from early on. A film director, impressed with a dress she was wearing, offered her a position as costume designer, so began her history of fashion design. By June 2001, Zulema was head designer on the Nick Gregory film Love Thy Neighbor going on to work on numerous films dressing talent such as Emily Deschanel, Erik Estrada, Victoria Rowell and Adrian Grenier. COCOACHiC had the pleasure to sit down with Zulema. Aside from her fashion sense, her wit, smarts and personable nature are traits we should pattern ourselves after.

CHiC: Did your modeling career influence your design career?

Zulema: Working as a model clarified for me that I had to get out and begin my fashion design career. I come from a modest background and modeling exposed me to a sense of elements, couture dressmaking and excellence in design.

CHiC: You have worked a great deal in film. Do you see yourself as a costume designer?

Zulema's designs on Bravo's Project Runway

Zulema: I see myself as couture fashion designer. Even though I have created period pieces, my primary designs have always been very modern.

CHiC: On your Project Runway bio you list Girlfriends as your favorite show. Why?

Zulema: The answer is really two-fold. First, there are not a lot of African American shows on television. Second, in latter episodes I like where they went with the fashion design — the clothing became really current and they pushed fashion forward.

CHiC: Is there anything about African American women that influences your designs?

Zulema: I am very influenced by African art, proportions and shape. When you design you always bring your past experience into design work. I love bright vibrant, saturated colors and love white.

CHiC: What style tips do you advise for the ethnic woman's body?

Zulema: Not really — what I truly enjoy about African American women is that even a size 26 will have herself dressed and together. I like the idea that ethnic women celebrate their bodies. I believe strongly that when choosing clothing there are no fashion rules. Wear white shoes in winter if you choose. Be honest with yourself and your body. Does this work for me? Although everything on the runways this year is black, brown, muddied colors, if you like pink, go out and get a pink suit. It's all about individualism.

CHiC: Have you felt any fallout from your appearance on Project Runway?

Zulema: At first I was concerned with public relations because the show didn't portray me accurately. I will have to wait and see how it affected my career once I go to sell my work in the store. Only time will tell if the way I was portrayed will affect buying habits. There has been some degree of fall out. Crazy things including the [Klu Klux] Klan contacting me — people who are racists will always be, but I am surprised how people judged me based on this fictitious character as seen as television. Everything will be judged in the store, if it doesn't sell, then you're in trouble.

CHiC: Tell us briefly about your show at Brooklyn Fashion Week in May.

Zulema: The designs I am going to show at Brooklyn Fashion Week will be my spring collection using the theme 'Matador' with colors such as black, brown, orange and red. I intend on taking proportions to other places and playing with the idea to make it contemporary.

Visit www.zulemagriffin.com for further information on Zulema and her collection.

By Ellen Rosner Feig

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