5 Minutes with Adam Lippes – Edo Inspirations For Lean Profiles

“On a visit to The Peabody Museum, I saw an exhibit of photographs from the Edo Period (1850’s) in Japan, just after they had opened the country to rest of the world. These were hand-painted photos designed to attract tourists of that period to Japan. What caught my eye was the serenity of the images, [and the] bright colors that the hand-painting brought to the photographs. You can see it most in the colors and embroidery in my collection for this season, if not the actual silhouette.”

story by Sandy Ramirez
photos by Sandy Ramirez, Ron Adar, and Freda Henry

Adam Lippes is the designer behind ADAM, a label which showed its Fall 2009 Collection on Valentine’s day here at New York Fashion Week.

5 Min – What was the inspiration for your collection?

Adam – On a visit to The Peabody Museum, I saw an exhibit of photographs from the Edo Period (1850’s) in Japan, just after they had opened the country to rest of the world. These were hand-painted photos designed to attract tourists of that period to Japan. What caught my eye was the serenity of the images, [and the] bright colors that the hand-painting brought to the photographs. You can see it most in the colors and embroidery in my collection for this season, if not the actual silhouette.

5 Min – Can you show me an example?

Adam – With this jacket we used embroidery to create this crane feather detail, based on Japanese drawings from that period, bringing the art itself to life.

5 Min – How would you describe the silhouettes you designed this collection around.

Adam – Well it’s mostly pants and skirts for a lean profile. I design for an eclectic girl.

5 Min – What inspired you to become a designer?

Adam – Well, I’ve always wanted to be a designer. After getting my degree in psychology at Cornell, I traveled to Paris. It was there that I made the decision to become a designer. After that I worked at places like Oscar De La Renta, and now I’m here.

5 Min – In a hundred years, what do you think history will say about you?

Adam – That I created clothes that were colorful, fun, wearable, and approachable.

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