Fashion – New Orleans
Derroles Taylor had been in talented in visual arts programs throughout childhood, but after a summer fashion workshop in 2004 with Ya/Ya Inc. where she recieved mentorship from designers including Tony Shellman of Enyce, Lorna Leedy of Fancy Pony Land and textile artist Gina Phillips she settled into fashion design as her niche. While working on an apprenticeship with Lorna Leedy, she began by deconstructing and customizing clothing of her own. It was confirmed that she had an eye for design when she began to get requests to recreate her customized pieces. As fate would have it, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 interrupted her third year of college at Xavier University of Louisiana. Ms. Taylor was given the chance to continue her education at Parson School of Design in the heart of Manhattan, New York. There she was engulfed by fashion, giving her the determination to take her skills to new levels. She later returned to New Orleans and began working as a commissioned designer combining her skill and talent with the rich cultural influences of the city.
Since 2007, Ms. Taylor has been creating custom commissioned clothing for clients. Each piece she is commissioned to design starts with measurements and a design, sketched to meet the client’s specific needs. With a combination of traditional and non-traditional techniques Ms. Taylor creates a one-of-a-kind garment from her own artistic ideas and passion for the art that cannot be contained.