Fashionista from London :: Make Shift Model

Make Shift Model is one of our contest winners at Mode Republic! Let’s learn more about her.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Zoey, I am a British born girl from London. At the moment I am the CEO and Designer of my clothing line "Disco Pony" which is based in Hong Kong. I studied Fine Art, History of Art and Philosophy at Goldsmiths University in London.



How did you become interested in fashion and what inspired you to start your own blog?
After a few years of working in finance, I moved to the shabby chic end of London town... aka Brick Lane. If you have never been here, please do go! And on a Sunday... your eyes will truly be opened by the incredible creativeness of the London fashion scene!



Before I moved to Barcelona with my fiance, I was doing my degree in Fine Art and Philosophy at Goldsmiths in London. That was my introduction to hard-core-hipster-cool in terms of fashion! I've never felt so completely unfashionable than when I started university here! It took me a while experimenting with all the new things I was seeing to find my style, and it wasn't until I got out to Barcelona that I really found it and thought to put it all into a blog.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
As any mother would her baby, I want to see Disco Pony grow up to be strong and successful. I feel like I have finally found my place in the world, after a lot of searching over the years, so to see Disco Pony flourish would be an incredible achievement. Aside from that, I will always be singing. I was training to sing Opera with an incredible woman before I left Barcelona… So now I am on the hunt for her Hong Kong equal! Disco Pony is still a baby however, so I'm quite exhausted from all his newborn demands!



How would you describe your style?
I have a very nonchalant attitude toward style these days... I went through a phase of militancy about getting dressed... but I travel too much and am too tired from running all over the world trying to find myself in it to be dedicated to stylish perfection! So long as things are kept creative, style will always be important to me... but there are other things out there that make me happier! Like my fiance, my dog, and singing!



What’s your favorite look at this moment?
Hmmm, interesting question... I do totally love the mixed metals and shiny embossed curtain-esque fabrics about at the moment. I have designed a few special pieces for Disco Pony as a nod to this wonderfully fun, but sleek trend! I’m working on perfecting the shorts for the jacket... as this is a stunning look, for autumn especially paired with black tights and some killer heels!



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
Bill Cunningham! Talk about inspiring! His work is completely fabulous! Also the ladies from Advanced style... they blow my mind with their creativity!



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
I thrift most of the time... But I do love mooching about in H&M, Zara for nifty pieces. My favorite brands are undoubtedly Sonia Rykiel and, errmmm, Disco Pony!!!!



Congratulations again to Make Shift Model for becoming the contest winner and Mode Republic trendsetter! Stay tuned for more fashion inspirations from Make Shift Model!

Fashionista from Indonesia :: Julian Tanoto

Julian is the contest winner and one of our trendsetters at Mode Republic! Let’s learn more about her.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm 19 years old university student from Indonesia, majoring marketing. For my daily days, I manage an online boutique in my daily life, designing clothes and selling it in my online boutique.
I just also started my fashion blog, Journal J and currently into my new hobby, photography.



How did you become interested in fashion?
I am an art lover, I love everything that looks aesthetically, and so do I become someone interested in fashion, as fashion is also an art. Besides, I think to have interest in fashion and have myself dressing up is a way to appreciate myself, to keep myself looks great. And I think fashion is women's best friends, it helps us to keep up girls' look. (Anyway I do believe inner beauty is the most important, but it doesn't mean you have to forget to second one which is your looks too:) )



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I always like to mix & match things in my closets. I used to spend my spare times taking out some clothes from my closet and just mix & matched them and changed into another pieces, even though I'm not going anywhere that day. Then one day my friend show me a fashion blog, then that day it comes to my mind to make mine too, I love fashion and I always like to style myself, but I never really think about showing it somewhere. So after I know that things such as fashion blog exist, I decided to start mine.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
I wanted to become a designer since I was in high school. Although I didn't get my parent's permission to attend art school, but it doesn't change my mind. Being a fashion designer is my dream.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
Well, here comes the hard question. If you ask this, I can't really answer what's my style. May I say I'm a style adventurer? I don't have any specific style for myself currently, I like to try wearing any style, one day I may look girly, but then the next day you may find me look boyish or anything. For me trying every style and change everyday is fun! But maybe I might find my one specific style one day, but for now, I don't really have one, I wear everything I like to wear that day.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
From my head!:) It just comes out through my mind when I look into the pieces in my closets or in the shops that I'd like to wear them with what pieces. But I also get it from streets, blogs and magazines.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
Currently don't have one, I like to shop anywhere I can find great clothes. But I mostly wear clothes from my own online boutique, and from my self design clothes:)



Congratulations again to Julian for becoming the contest winner and Mode Republic trendsetter! Stay tuned for more fashion inspirations from Julian Tanoto!