My design aesthetic for “Annie Bananie Apparel” is pretty, cute, comfortable, classy and feminine. Not your average clothing designs.
-Annie Li
To look at Annie Li, founder of “Annie Bananie Apparel” today it’s hard to believe she calls herself a tomboy. Sophisticated and stylish, in an elegant tank top and slim pants, on the day I interviewed her at Starbucks, I was impressed with her quiet charm and femininity.
“I design things I’d wear,” she said. “I don’t buy a lot of clothes and I don’t have a lot of money, so I make sure my designs are practical, affordable and versatile enough to either stand alone or mix easily with something else.”
Ideas usually come to her when she engages in people watching, studies Japanese fashion magazines and looks at T.V. and movies. “Big Bang Theory” is one of her favorite sitcoms and she still remembers how much actress Emma Stone, in a black dress with a cut-out on the side, inspired her when she appeared as a guest on the “Jimmy Kimmel Show.”
Li discovered, when she occupied a 10’x10’ booth at the “Abbot Kinney Festival” in 2013, where she was able to sell her clothing and which made it’s easier to meet her customer’s needs because she could interact with them directly.
“This event happens about once a year and features lots of local designers,” Li said. “During the event I was able to speak to customers about the brand and it was also very exciting to see them get excited about the handmade market.”
From her spot within the festival, she realized she’d love to get her line into “Tortoise” and other stores on Abbot Kinney and eventually open her own shop. Her style antennae was tweaked too, by the beach goers she met at the event. Now she’d like to include more beach-friendly clothes in her line. The web address for the Abbot Kinney Festival is: http://www.abbotkinney.org and takes place.
“One thing I noticed was that the girls who visited liked the flowy skirts in salmon pink because they were feminine and classy enough to be worn to clubs, concerts and other places,” Li said.
Through additional feedback she’s also learned her customers appreciate how wearable her skirts are because they have elasticized waists and the dresses have elasticized backs. Comfort is a priority for Li and she prefers wearing t-shirts and tank tops. Her personal style philosophy was further reinforced when she became a fulltime designer for a children’s clothing company and noticed the problem buttons and zippers caused.
“It affected how I design adult clothing so I don’t use them,” Li said. “I want my clothes to represent a design that’s so easy to wear you don’t have to think about it but it can still stand on its own and be fashionable.”
Originally from Taiwan, she believes her culture influences her too because her designs aren’t too revealing and are conservative enough to be worn for work. The reason her parents brought she, and her siblings, to the United States was to obtain a good education and career. While growing up she claims her mother sewed a lot, and although she didn’t teach her that much, she fondly remembers how they worked together on a leopard print skirt for a senior high school project.
“I’m the black sheep of the family because I went into the arts,” Li said. “My parents wanted me to go into something more stable, like business, because they didn’t think I could survive economically in the industry.”
Undeterred by their opinion, and passionate about her dream, Li enrolled in the Fashion Design program at CSULA, where she excelled at flat pattern making and sketching.
“I liked the department because it was really small,” she said. “They had excellent fundamental courses that definitely helped me later on.”
It was on her first job, as a shipment tracker, that she earned the nickname Annie Bananie, after a playful co-worker started calling her that for fun. She later decided to use it as the name of her company because it was catchy and reminded her of this job. On her second job, as a pattern matcher for “Self Esteem,” she continued to learn about the field. Surprisingly it wasn’t until her third job as an assistant for designer Gracie, for “Nick and Moe,” that she became enthusiastic about fashion.
“Back in the day I wasn’t interested in it, then when I started creating technical pads, graphics and prints for Gracie she was such a great inspiration and role model she made me excited about it too,” she said.
A fan of A-lines, baby dolls, florals, eyelets and other 1980s’ silhouettes and fabrics, Li might’ve picked up her penchant for eyelet from Gracie since that’s her go-to fabric and she uses it frequently. Right now the longer skirts, ¾ length sleeves, boxy coats and tops reminiscent of Grace Kelly in the 1950s are also catching her eye. For summer 2014 she’s expanding her repertoire by making versatile separates you can wear almost anywhere, including the beach. Dresses are featured heavily, and she insists that if a customer were to invest in one piece from the line it should be a cute dress.
“I want the collection to be a little bit hip so I’ve made it edgy by adding a pop of yellow,” she said.
Three years ago when she started her company she found that the biggest challenge was doing everything on her own, but now she realizes it’s a good idea to get help from others. Initially her design process begins with an idea, then she selects the fabric, sketches and plays with drawings and drapes the fabric on mannequins.
“It’s a long process but I usually create ten to fifteen styles a season,” she said.
Since she’s a small company she selects stocks or remnants from fabric stores, located downtown, and buys them in bulk. In her hand is her trusty sketch book that she draws, makes notes in and refers to for ideas. Finally, when it’s time, she tries everything on herself, fits samples on her friends and closely studies people who try on her finished garments.
“When I’m fitting something I go through a lot of trial and error,” she said.
Thin, neat and built like her customers, she feels her signature piece has a basic bodice, sheering waist and an A-line silhouette that’ll fit most bodies. To accommodate the warmer weather in Los Angeles most of her tops and dresses are either sleeveless or short-sleeved. Priced moderately, she also designs her clothes to fit with older pieces in a wardrobe, yet reflect and keep up with the trends each season.
“I want to make designs that’re comfortable, easy and casual for women who’re as feminine and strong as I am,” Li said.
Available largely on her website and at shows and festivals in the future Li wants to keep building up her business online and design more solid colors so she can do mass produce her clothes for a wider market.
Li’s designs shared during this interview are available on her website.
Li’s Advice for Budding Fashion Designers:
One: Learn as much as you can and besides taking design and other fashion-related courses also take small business courses to learn about the business side of the business (i.e., marketing and selling);
Two: If a customer won’t wear it you won’t stay in business.
Three: It’s all about hard work and product development.
Four: You need to have a kind heart and be concerned about your customers.
Five: You need to make sure your customers are happy.
Li’s Advice for Consumers:
One: Buy and wear the right size.
Two: “Since I make tops that are denim-friendly and look good worn with denim pants and flats, or dressy pants, you can pair with one of the tops for a casual but hip look,” she said.
For more information, persons interested can visit: www.anniebananieapparel.com.