We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anna Leighton aka Annatarian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Anna , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
How did you learn to do what you do? I owe much of my foundational knowledge to the deep-rooted legacy of creativity and resilience in my family. My journey in fashion began generations before me. My grandmother worked for iconic fashion figures like Travilla and Mr. Blackwell, and I was fortunate enough to inherit her discerning eye for detail. Furthermore, with grandparents who worked as couturiers, engravers, and artisans, I naturally gravitated towards a life in the arts. My formal education at Otis College of Art and Design was instrumental, where I honed my skills further and was immersed in an environment that nurtured my creativity. I went on to work for various fashion brands in Los Angeles before launching my own eco-couture brands, Annatarian and PeaceLoveEarth Jewelry.
Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
I learned designing and crafting by doing it: before school, during school, then working in the business. So my first part of the answer is to just start doing it, the sooner you start the sooner you will learn! The second part of the answer is that fashion and really any creative act, where you want that to be your livilhood, you have to learn about business and cashflow, sales and marketing. I now firmly believe it is not a product until you have a marketing plan in place and in action- I wish I came to this realization much earlier in my career. Finally, 3D design technology, like Vsticher, CLO 3D and Blender I am still learning and applying, and I wish I already knew them! But, I have been using AI for fashion design for two years already and I love it sooo much I can’t even express- it’s what I have dreamt about all my life!
What skills do you think were most essential?
Beyond the technical skills of pattern making and couture sewing, adaptability has been crucial. Fashion is an ever-evolving industry, and staying relevant requires the ability to embrace change. My grounding in sustainable fashion and my open-mindedness towards new tools like AI have been incredibly valuable. Additionally, the ability to blend traditional and modern design philosophies has been vital in setting my work apart.
What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Initially, there was the challenge of reconciling the fast-paced, sometimes ruthless world of fashion with my deeper desire for meaningful, sustainable creation. The industry wasn’t always receptive to eco-friendly approaches, which sometimes felt like swimming upstream. Also, there were personal challenges and I took a hiatus with my fashion collection, which was a period of reflection but also distanced me from my path. The pandemic, however, provided clarity, reigniting my passion and driving me back to my true calling.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My creative journey has always been inspired by the philosophy that each one of us is unique, and thus, deserves something equally special. That’s the idea behind my “one-of-a-kind because you are” dresses. As an ardent supporter of eco-effective design, my work embodies this principle. Eco-effective design isn’t just about being sustainable; it’s about creating in a way that positively gives back, eliminating the concept of waste altogether.
My introduction to eco-effective design was a serendipitous encounter with the visionary behind the “cradle to cradle” concept, William McDonough. I still vividly remember a talk in 2001 where he spoke about cars that fertilize and paint that’s nutritious. I felt an immediate connection, as if I had met a fellow creative soul who shared the same wild, beautiful dream of a better world. When I met him in person in 2003, I felt validated in my mission. His revolutionary ideas, such as designing a factory where water exiting is cleaner than when it enters, resonated with my own aspirations. He championed luxury within eco-effectiveness and encouraged indulgence in the joy of creation, emphasizing the idea that we don’t have to sacrifice luxury to be eco-conscious.
This foundational principle of eco-effective design can be broken down into two core categories: Biological and technical nutrients. Biological nutrients are organic materials that can safely return to the biosphere, nourishing other life forms, while technical nutrients are materials that can be endlessly cycled through the production system.
I create “One-of-a-kind because you are.” dresses for clients using these principles, while blending in various eras using vintage finds, eco fabrics and storytelling.
Beyond clothing, my jewelry line, PeaceLoveEarth, echoes the same ethos. Annatarian products have been showcased in premier magazines like The Knot and WWD, and on television networks including The View and the Style Network. Also at esteemed platforms such as the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, Chicago Nature Museum, Sundance Film Festival, Grand Performances with Al Gore, the Oscars red carpet, and even in films like Transformers.
I’m also thrilled to share that I was among the Top 10 at the first International AI Fashion Week https://fashionweek.ai/aifw-top-10/, showcasing the fusion of technology and fashion. This accomplishment was a significant milestone, blending my passion with cutting-edge AI design. Currently, I’m excited to be competing again, demonstrating the evolution of my work in this innovative field with my collection called ‘Harmonia: Peace is the New Revolution’.
I believe in the power of positive change, embracing beauty in all its forms, and relentlessly seeking truth. As an artist, designer, and woman, this is my pledge—to create a world where art and fashion uplift and celebrate our people and our planet.
On another note/project, I also work a lot with my partner in life and art, artist and technologist Daniel Leighton. I am very proud of what we have created together. It is an Augmented Reality experience for Downtown Los Angeles called “Angels of LA” which is part of “Grand Ave Augmented” It celebrates all the creatives/angels that make have contributed to what Los Angeles is! Here is a brief description: “From the rich culture of the indigenous Gabrielino-Tongva people, to the immigrants who helped build this city, Los Angeles’s greatest resource is our diverse community.
Angelenos speak over 300 languages and have a variety of cultural pockets within the city like the Byzantine-Latino Quarter, Little Tokyo, Filipinotown, Little Armenia, Leimert Park, Tehrangeles and so many more.
These cultures all contribute to the gifts our city brings to the whole world.
From art, film and fashion to the sciences and technology, our creatives are nourished by one another as well as the creatives that came before us.
The “Angels of LA” are these people, past and present, and Los Angeles is an example of diversity, peace and progress in action.”
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Art isn’t a remote concept reserved for galleries or theaters; it’s a fundamental thread in the tapestry of everyday life. Everything, from the design of our utensils to the melodies that drift from our radios, bears the fingerprint of artistic endeavor. Artists are architects of our emotional landscapes, translating the human experience into tangible forms that resonate, challenge, and inspire. Their work is a dialogue, a shared journey of exploring what it means to be human. In a world sans art, we’d find ourselves bereft of this rich narrative — a narrative that, throughout history, has been not just a source of beauty, but a beacon of reflection and change. Recognizing this omnipresence of art is vital, as it underscores the profound truth that without the creative spirits who dare to express, innovate, and defy, our world would be not only less colorful but less human.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I love listening to the ” How I Built This” podcast. There are as many paths as there are people and I love listening to entrepreneur’s journeys. I have learned so much!
Contact Info:
- Website: Annatarian.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/annatarian
- Facebook: facebook.com/annatarian
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/annatarian
- Twitter: twitter.com/annatarian
Image Credits
Anna Leighton