get to know david and laurel from untitled 11:11…

Designers Laurel Anderson and David Peck make beautiful pieces that are environmentally responsible and follow “green” practices, using fair-trade and Eco-friendly fabrics. Get to know the two minds behind the label Untitled 11:11

How did you get started?

Laurel: It sort of came about naturally. We had worked together in Paris after I graduated. We were frustrated with the types of jobs that were available and did not want to sit and make tec packs all day. We decided the way around that would be to create our own vision and go from there.

David: I had gone to Parsons-Paris with the idea that I wanted to have my own line, but the idea of doing it alone was a little intimidating. Having both studied and worked with Laurel was a great way to know that she would be a terrific business partner. One of our friends heard us talking about what we wanted to do one day and made the point that there was no time like the present.

What is the inspiration for your collection?

Laurel: We were inspired by the faded glamour of the French Riviera in the 1970s–separates that take a woman from the breakfast table to the roulette table.

David: There was also this idea of using a kaleidoscope of cream. We also wanted to find a way to re-imagine the prints that we had been known for, so we pieced shades of cream and gold to create new fabrics.

What type of materials are you using? And why?

Laurel and David: Something that has become increasingly alarming to us is that lack of social responsibility in the garment industry. So little thought is often given to how a product is produced. By aiming to be socially conscious with each decision that we make we inadvertently make clothes that are also eco-friendly. We use many fair trade fabrics that are custom hand woven for us. The idea of fair trade is to give the workers who produce the fabric, from farmers to weavers, an equitable wage for their work. Our hand-woven fabrics use about 28% of the energy it takes to make machine woven fabrics.

Who are your favorite designers?

Laurel: Lanvin, YSL, J. Mendel, Van Noten

David: Dries van Noten, Marni, Lanvin

Favorite article of clothing right now and why?

Laurel: Blazers. Always.

David: I’m always a sucker for a cardigan. It’s the grandpa in me that wants to wear them all the time

In regards to your designs, is there a style icon that might have
influenced you?

Laurel: I always look to strong and independent thinking woman. Jane Birkin. Kate Bosworth, Diane Krueger, Chloe Sevigny. Just to name a few.

David: Women like Katherine Hepburn.

What are three spots in NY you like to eat at?

Laurel: I just rediscovered an old favorite of mine. Café Charbon, a little French bistro in the LES. No lines, no attitude. Roberta’s, in Bushwick Brooklyn has AMAZING fried chicken. I have been going there for ages now, but it was just listed in the top ten places to get fried chicken in New York Magazine. Lastly, I am a sucker for eggs benedict on Sunday morning. The best in the city is at Elephant & Castle in the West Village.

David: Bar Tabac in Boerum Hill Brooklyn. It’s just around the corner from where I live and it reminds me of Paris. Pylos on the Lower East Side has great atmosphere and Greek food. T Salon at the Chelsea Market is great on a rainy day. They have delicious vegan desserts.

First CD, or better yet first Tape you bought?

Laurel: I only ever bought one tape, Ace of Base. My first cd was Alanis Morisette Jagged Little Pill.

David: I was very much a nerd when tapes were around. I bought a couple of Beethoven and Handel symphonies from Wal-Mart.

Do you read blogs, if so which ones?

Laurel: I always seem to be drawn to interior design blogs but I do read a few fashion blogs. I really like to see how real people interpret fashion.
For that I look to The Sartorialist, Street Peeper, lookbook.nu and the style rookie (tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com)

David: I try to follow a lot of the mainstream blogs to stay in the know like style.com and Fashion Week Daily. The Sartorialist is great as is his girlfriend’s Garance Dore. Lately, I love seaofshoes.com. Jane Aldridge has an incredible eye and such an expansive closet of shoes. It’s insane.

Where do you get your haircut?

Laurel: I get my haircut this cute little Japanese Salon in the East Village called Ueno. They give great head massages that keep me coming back!

David: Ha-ha! I never seem to remember to get mine cut. I think Jay Palaniuk, our hair stylist at our show, realized I needed some help up there and gave me my last haircut.

Where are you from originally?

Laurel: I lived all over the place growing up. I was born in Boston but my family moved every couple years and we migrated up and down the east coast. When I was in high school my family moved to Geneva Switzerland, where my dad still lives and in college I studied in Paris. So in short, everywhere!

David: Where am I not from? I was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico and most of my extended family still lives there. Colorado was home for 8 years. I learned to appreciate Cleveland after 6 years there (it took awhile), but I was happy to move to Paris. Paris was the first place that felt like home immediately. My parents and my wife’s parents are in Texas now, so home is still rather all over the place.

Music that’s playing in your studio?

Laurel: David and I have very different musical tastes. As variety is the spice of life, we listened to Pandora a lot this season. When the 40 free hours of Pandora ran out (after a few days) I listen to Passion Pit on repeat.

David: I love variety, so my taste in music is very eclectic. Listening to so much classical music growing up has made me like top 40 more than I should. I usually like Laurel’s music, except when it’s late and she puts rap on. I can never understand the words, which is probably for the best.

What is something that just really annoys you?

Laurel: There are a lot of things that really annoy me. David can attest to that.

David: Laurel hates it when I sing along (and I’m always wanting to sing along)—especially when it’s Kelly Clarkson
I hate being late. It drives me nuts.

What can we expect next from Untitled 11:11?

Laurel: The direction that we took this season worked really well for us. I would like to push the separates more and add a little more edge. The sky is the limit, so bigger and better!

David: We have really started to find our voice and it’s exciting. This season had a nice balance of separates and dresses, so it would be great to push those ideas even further. I’d love to work on some killer coats for next season. The weather lately has been making me want to bundle-up!

[Untitled11:11]