Written by: Jo Ann L.B. Duggins
Full Name: Lola Santana, Stephanie Landry, Maria Pedraza
Age: early 30s
Currently Residing: Dirty Jersey
Currently Listening to: Bajofondo – Pa Bailar Maestros
I'm not that girl from the LES who wears the coolest, most current trend that's out there. In fact, I think people mistaken my age because of the clothing I don. I'm not afraid to continue to wear old band shirts, things with skulls, or corsets for that matter. Clothing has always defined who I am and I refuse to cater some portrayal of what women my age are suppose to wear. I think fashion equals fun and that's what I love about Redbuttafly's line. These gals know how to keep things alternative, fun, and dangerous. These women are not afraid to be creative and it is nice to see well made clothing for the underground audience.
Why the name redbuttafly?
Stephanie has red hair, Lola used to rhyme under the name “Miss Butta” and we’re all fly ;)
Have you all been involved with fashion a long time?
Lola used to paint and sell jogging suits in high school and sell them in the hallways. Her father ran a knitting mill in Perth Amboy for many years and her grandmother was a seamstress. She comes from a family involved in the industry and has always wanted to be a designer.
How did this union come to be?
Stephanie and Lola went to high school together and found each other again in 1998. They became fast friends and unofficially started redbuttafly 1999. The first collection came out in 2005. They welcomed Maria on board in 2008.
You all have a new line out, what's the theme?
In some aspects the theme is Alice in Wonderland, though that’s a very unofficial theme. The use of mixed fabrics with a darker aesthetic keep the pieces interesting and curious.
How do you all come up with your upcoming designs?
Lola is the designer. She dreams up designs in her sleep (seriously!) and is inspired by everything around her – music, movies, colors, travel, tattoos, stories, fairytales…everything.
Do you feel fashion is pretty jaded as far as what's available to women?
Yes.
Do you cater to a younger audience and do people find your stuff novelty?
We cater to an older audience actually – women that are fierce and edgy in their way of thinking and carrying themselves. The line isn't really for wall flowers.
What has been your favorite piece so far? Worse?
Our favorite pieces? That’s like asking us which child a parent loves the most. We put our heart and soul into our collections, so picking our favorite is impossible. If we absolutely HAD to pick though, we’d say the Z Dress, Ana dress and petal skirts tickle our fancy. Worst piece? Well it was the coolest but it didn’t sell well, we think nobody got it! It was the Zellie pants, which had one long leg and one short leg. Totally cool but a little too weird for the general public.
What is CatWalk Tragedy?
Its an alternative runway show. Theres one every year in New York and a few other ones around the country in major cities.
What materials do you all generally use?
Lola seems to love velvet and vinyl and lace. But so many different fabrics are used in our pieces that it just depends on the look we’re trying to achieve.
Do you feel it is difficult to market your line?
No, we find marketing the line isn’t difficult at all. We tap into our creative resources and friends with help on the photography aspect and we have a killer in-house graphic designer that hooks us up! Shout outs to the Suspicious White Van.
How do you get people in the know of it?
We are already pretty well known on the underground fashion scene but we’re looking to take it to the next level now. In the past we’ve done contests with Gothic Beauty Magazine and we have an ongoing relationship with Manic Panic. Our runway shows, ad campaigns and reviews speak for themselves. People who know, just know.
What is Second Life?
Second Life is a virtual environment that has its own money market. It’s a place where people from all over the world gather and connect, in real time. They buy clothing for their avatars, build beautiful things and interact with one another at parties, art galleries, sex clubs and more. Its free to join and explore, and everything you see in-world is built by its residents. Its very cool and cutting edge, we’d recommend it to everyone! While you’re there, stop by one of our boutiques and dress your virtual self. Then go to our website and buy the same thing to dress your actual self. Totally rad. (Is our geek showing?)
Favorite Natural Disaster and why?
Lightning is our favorite natural disaster. Not any one strike per say, but just in general. Its random and unpredictable and beautiful and deadly.
For more on the ladies of Redbuttafly:
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Full Name: Lola Santana, Stephanie Landry, Maria Pedraza
Age: early 30s
Currently Residing: Dirty Jersey
Currently Listening to: Bajofondo – Pa Bailar Maestros
I'm not that girl from the LES who wears the coolest, most current trend that's out there. In fact, I think people mistaken my age because of the clothing I don. I'm not afraid to continue to wear old band shirts, things with skulls, or corsets for that matter. Clothing has always defined who I am and I refuse to cater some portrayal of what women my age are suppose to wear. I think fashion equals fun and that's what I love about Redbuttafly's line. These gals know how to keep things alternative, fun, and dangerous. These women are not afraid to be creative and it is nice to see well made clothing for the underground audience.
Why the name redbuttafly? Stephanie has red hair, Lola used to rhyme under the name “Miss Butta” and we’re all fly ;)
Have you all been involved with fashion a long time?
Lola used to paint and sell jogging suits in high school and sell them in the hallways. Her father ran a knitting mill in Perth Amboy for many years and her grandmother was a seamstress. She comes from a family involved in the industry and has always wanted to be a designer.
How did this union come to be?
Stephanie and Lola went to high school together and found each other again in 1998. They became fast friends and unofficially started redbuttafly 1999. The first collection came out in 2005. They welcomed Maria on board in 2008.
You all have a new line out, what's the theme?
In some aspects the theme is Alice in Wonderland, though that’s a very unofficial theme. The use of mixed fabrics with a darker aesthetic keep the pieces interesting and curious.
How do you all come up with your upcoming designs?
Lola is the designer. She dreams up designs in her sleep (seriously!) and is inspired by everything around her – music, movies, colors, travel, tattoos, stories, fairytales…everything.
Do you feel fashion is pretty jaded as far as what's available to women?
Yes.
Do you cater to a younger audience and do people find your stuff novelty?
We cater to an older audience actually – women that are fierce and edgy in their way of thinking and carrying themselves. The line isn't really for wall flowers.
What has been your favorite piece so far? Worse? Our favorite pieces? That’s like asking us which child a parent loves the most. We put our heart and soul into our collections, so picking our favorite is impossible. If we absolutely HAD to pick though, we’d say the Z Dress, Ana dress and petal skirts tickle our fancy. Worst piece? Well it was the coolest but it didn’t sell well, we think nobody got it! It was the Zellie pants, which had one long leg and one short leg. Totally cool but a little too weird for the general public.
What is CatWalk Tragedy?
Its an alternative runway show. Theres one every year in New York and a few other ones around the country in major cities.
What materials do you all generally use?
Lola seems to love velvet and vinyl and lace. But so many different fabrics are used in our pieces that it just depends on the look we’re trying to achieve.
Do you feel it is difficult to market your line?
No, we find marketing the line isn’t difficult at all. We tap into our creative resources and friends with help on the photography aspect and we have a killer in-house graphic designer that hooks us up! Shout outs to the Suspicious White Van.
How do you get people in the know of it?
We are already pretty well known on the underground fashion scene but we’re looking to take it to the next level now. In the past we’ve done contests with Gothic Beauty Magazine and we have an ongoing relationship with Manic Panic. Our runway shows, ad campaigns and reviews speak for themselves. People who know, just know.
What is Second Life?
Second Life is a virtual environment that has its own money market. It’s a place where people from all over the world gather and connect, in real time. They buy clothing for their avatars, build beautiful things and interact with one another at parties, art galleries, sex clubs and more. Its free to join and explore, and everything you see in-world is built by its residents. Its very cool and cutting edge, we’d recommend it to everyone! While you’re there, stop by one of our boutiques and dress your virtual self. Then go to our website and buy the same thing to dress your actual self. Totally rad. (Is our geek showing?)
Favorite Natural Disaster and why?
Lightning is our favorite natural disaster. Not any one strike per say, but just in general. Its random and unpredictable and beautiful and deadly.
For more on the ladies of Redbuttafly:
Back to Style