Sandra Chirico

I worked with Sandra at Fairyesque a few years back. She is one smart cookie with a lot of ideas and an inspiration for me. She is one of the founders of Ritual Designs here in Montreal; Hand crafted, extremely technical corsets... not just for show, the real deal. I got to work with Sandra again when she did make up for the Lady Like photoshoot and again for the Lady Like Fashion Show and Burlesque show. She is a talented make up artist and a breeze to work with and an organizational genius. She is also an inspiring business lady and designer!

She's been working on her new project more recently Stitch Studio, you can check out Sandra's blog: Studio Stitch for more... and you can visit her on her Studio Stitch Etsy shop.

What do you do?

Many things! Mainly I offer Design services (fashion sketches and technical drawings) to the fashion industry with my company Stitch Studio. The other side of my life is that I am a fashion designer, I design and make corsets formerly under Ritual Designs. I put this aside for a few years but am starting up again here and there when time allows but it is my first love so I know this is something I will always keep doing. I call myself a “sewist” which I totally made up because lack of a better term. I am majoring in Fibers at Concordia University program at the moment and I do a lot of textile based work that involve screen printing and sewing. Oh and I am also a freelance make up artist mainly for photography and fashion shows.

What inspires you to do what you do?

Everything and anything! People, art, finding beauty in chaos, seeing things from a different angle…I was once inspired by a banana so it’s hard to say for sure.

How did you get started?

I’ve wanted to be a fashion designer since I was about 7. After I was done all my training and school I discovered corsetry and fell in love. That’s where Ritual Designs immerged. As for Stitch Studio is an umbrella with many possibilities just started it this year mainly design services but will also do sewing and printing projects. As for make up that was pure hobby, I used to go out dancing and get dressed up all crazy so I would also do crazy make up to accompany it. Then I thought- hey I really like doing this why don’t I just try it out.

What is your current vice or trend or obsession?

I have been obsessed with two things that people who know me well will agree with. Neck scarves; I have tons of them. My mother is a seamstress and when she would make herself an outfit she always made a neck scarf out of the fabric that was left over. I have a ton of scarves made of vintage fabrics that I will probably wear forever. I also love broaches especially ones shaped like fruit the only thing is I tend to loose them all the time.

What advice would you give to someone else trying to make their ideas a reality?

It’s simple really,
JUST DO IT!
No I’m not trying to sound like a nike add. If you have an idea don’t sit on it for years and never do it- Just DO IT!

Any inspiring sites or sources of inspiration you want to mention?

Music, old movies, museums, reference books, real people, all kinds of art.
Siouxie Soux, Nina Hagen and Betty Page have always been super inspirational to me in terms of style. Also a shout out to Jem and the Holograms as they are probably my very first source of inspiration.

Contact
sandrachirico@gmail.com