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The best designers you’ve never heard of.

Retro Revival
At Austin’s Cordelia Designs, founder Megan Patton fuses vintage flair with funky modern-day styling.

Name: Megan L. Patton
Age: 24
Business: Cordelia Designs (CordeliaDesigns.com)
Location: Austin

What’s your earliest fashion-related memory?
I’ve been interested in fashion design for as long as I can remember. When I was very young, I broke into my mom’s stash of plastic garbage bags and taped, knotted, and tore them into ravishing gowns. Later on, when I was four, my mom taught me how to hand-sew, and when I was nine, I learned how to use a sewing machine

What prompted you to start selling your designs online?
A few years back, I was shopping at a boutique in Honolulu, and I saw a cute handbag that was selling for $300. I thought, “Sheesh, I could do that!” And the idea of creating my own line was born. My boyfriend is a Web designer, so he helped me set up an Internet storefront. The process was actually easier than I thought it would be; the hardest part was coming up with the materials on my starving-student budget.

You graduated from the University of Hawaii with a theater degree. How has your drama background influenced your designs?
My experience in theater has had a profound impact on my designs. I think of clothing as a costume for life, and I believe everything a person wears should say something about her. For me, fashion is just costume design for hip, funky “characters.

How have your designs evolved over the past few years?
When I launched my Web site, I had only a few hodgepodge handbags for sale. But since that time, I’ve worked very hard to create my own distinctive style. The pieces I make now are much more visually compelling than the ones I started with.

What’s your workspace like?
I work at home in a second bedroom that’s been converted into an office/studio. My poor boyfriend has his desk on one wall, and the rest of the room is overflowing by my sewing paraphernalia. I’m able to do a lot in that space, but I long for a proper cutting table.

Where can we find your clothing and accessories?
For the past few years, they’ve been available exclusively through my Web site, but I just moved a chunk of my inventory to IndividualFashion.com, and I’m in the process of branching out into boutiques.

Are you noticing any new trends among your customers?
I’m pleased to report that I’ve seen a return to detailing. There’s a big demand for retro pieces, and a large part of their appeal is in the fetching details that used to be standard in clothing.

What inspires you to create a particular design?
Sometimes I’m inspired by specific things; other times I’m struck with an idea when I’m staring at a blank page. But my greatest source of inspiration is the fabric. The material itself often seems destined to become something or another.

Do you have any favorite designers?
There are some contemporary designers I like, but I’m more inspired by designers of the past. Mary Quant is my all-time favorite, and I’m also a big fan of Madeleine Vionnet’s beautiful bias-cut gowns from the ’30s. There was so much glamour and elegance in those clothes, and I want to create a similar sense of glamour and elegance in my designs.

The Feather and PVC Handbag ($100) is made of black PVC with denim details and feather accents on both sides.

The Stepford-style, floral Christina Dress ($150) features a full skirt, boatneck front, and plunging V-back with button closures.

The designer, in the Emma Coat Dress ($250), puts a futuristic twist on the Avengers classic in shimmery pink denim with thick silver zippers.

Photo Credits: Jeremy Pippin

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