Interview with Designer JAC VANEK!
If you haven’t heard of Jac Vanek, get your head out of the clouds! She is the latest designer to get her line in Bloomingdale’s and partner with a ton of celebrities who don her wares, such as All Time Low, Cobra Starship, The Summer Set, The Academy Is…, as well as Miley Cyrus, Mandy Jiroux, and Chelsea Staub, to name a few. Read her exclusive interview with Glitter Magazine and find out more about this accomplished young talent!
Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Orange County, California. Mission Viejo to be exact. The good ole OC bubble. At what age did you start designing? I have always altered and reconstructed my own clothing for as long as I can remember, so it’s kind of hard to pin point an exact time when it all began. It was more of a shift from designing for myself to designing for others.
How did you get into designing? How did you get your big break? There have been a number of different points in my career so far that have been pretty monumental, but the most recent and prominent has been Bloomingdale’s picking up my line. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined being part of something so massive…sometimes it still doesn’t feel real.
What influences your work? I am influenced by anything and everything. Books, films, conversations, people, places, art, culture…you name it. Especially while traveling, I try to soak in as much as I can from my experiences and surroundings to use as inspiration while designing. Inspiration is everything to me.
What messages are you sending in your work? I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind, so I think this comes across through my designs. I am very open about what inspires me, and I want to share that with the world. Though I am a huge fan of minimalist and simplistic design, each piece is inspired by something bigger than myself. And I think I am able to form these special connections with my consumers, because I am able to show them what I feel.
How did your work catch on to so many celebrities? The thing that’s awesome about JV is everything has been straight through word of mouth. So, there has been no bribing or begging or making deals with certain celebrities to wear my stuff. Everything has been organic and honest, so whoever chooses to wear JV does so because they want to wear it. So I guess I have some pretty supportive friends!
Where can we buy your products? Jacvanek.com is your one stop shop for anything and everything, as well as select Bloomingdale’s and boutiques around the country. Keep checking back to my website for a full list of stores.
What is on your listening rotation right now? Oh man, this question! Since I’ve been in Australia and New Zealand for the past month, I’ve been really getting into bands from here, especially because of this incredible Australian radio station called Triple J. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Boy & Bear, Wye Oak, James Blake, Midnight Youth, Foster the People, Angus & Julia Stone, Gypsy & the Cat. And of course we can’t forget about the favorites : Mumford & Sons, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Beach House, etc etc.
Who are your favorite designers?
I’ve been really into Karen Walker recently. She is such an innovative and distinct designer, not afraid to take risks or push boundaries. I just got a pair of her glasses in New Zealand and haven’t taken them off my face since.
Any advice for other Girls Who Rock?
Advice for anyone who has a dream and a passion: follow what lights a fire in your heart. Do what makes you feel alive. Don’t let anyone dictate your choices in life, and don’t let anyone bring you down. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
