All grown up

The prince of prints: David Peck showcases innovative designs in Fashion Houstonrunway show

David Peck developed several prints for his spring 2013 collection.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
Peck's collection features bold geometric patterns.
Photo by Vara Pappas
Peck says his colletion is aimed at the woman who is looking for quality andaffordable price.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
Peck featured a number of gauzy etheral gowns.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
Peck says his customers love color.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
Peck made origami flowers and photographed them for a print.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
Peck used silk noil, a nubby, low-sheen fabric that resembles cotton and linenin a number of his designs.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
Several looks include a mullet hem - shorter in the front and longer in theback.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
A highlight of Peck's collection is his distinctive fabrics.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com
This print came from an 1850s map of Paris.
Photo by © Chinh Phan/CultureMapSNAP.com

After a year's hiatus, David Peck returned to the Fashion Houston runway Tuesday night, and it was interesting to see how far he's come in such a relatively short time.

Since presenting his first-ever runway collection at the inaugural Fashion Houston in 2010, Peck has expanded his collection (he showed a whopping 41 looks this time around), added more retailers around the nation (30 this spring alone), and has been the featured attraction at Aspen Fashion Week and at the Tootsies store in Atlanta, where his distinctive CrOp by David Peck collection has developed a following.

"The collection is a little bit bigger, which is great and I think we know better who our customer is," Peck explained after his show.

"The collection is a little bit bigger, which is great and I think we know better who our customer is," Peck explained after his show. "It's the woman who likes to dress well. She looks for quality and affordable price. She likes color. I think we're getting to be well known for tailoring and how things fit."

His collection features bold geometric patterns in bright colors and digital prints, which are a specialty of Peck's. He based the prints on books that inspired him as a child, including one featuring a print of a map of Paris from the 1850s and a fish print from the children's poem, "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" by Eugene Field. Peck made a cardboard fish and photographed it to make the print.

He also made origami flowers and photographed them for a print. "I was big nerd growing up. I loved the child craft encyclopedias World Book had. They would always have a make-and-do craft book and I like to make origami," he confessed.

Diverse collection

The collection is diverse, with etheral gowns of gauzy chiffon and sporty racerback tank-designed gowns made from sporty matte jersey that outlines practically every body part. Striped dresses, several with mullet hems (shorter in the front, longer in the back) contrast with jumpsuits and shifts in a floral yellow fabric.

"We've never claimed to be completely organic, but we try to make responsible decisions to make a positive impact, no matter what we do."

All the looks were accessorized by colorful handbags created by Houston designer Elaine Turner.

Another highlight of Peck's collection is his distinctive fabrics. For the geometric patterned pieces he used silk noil, a nubby, low-sheen material.

"It looks like linen or cotton but it's silk so it maintains the color more and stays vibrant even after you wash it, "he said.

Peck emphasizes natural fibers, including silk and organic cotton. Some striped and pink sparkly fabrics were hand woven in India using a process that requires no electricity and maintains traditions that date back thousands of years. The digital prints are done locally in a method that doesn't hurt the environment. And the matte jersey fabrics come from an East Coast mill that is one of the last to manufacture the product.

"We've never claimed to be completely organic, but we try to make responsible decisions to make a positive impact, no matter what we do," he said.

Expanding production

Peck is leading a group of young designers who are determined to design and manufacture high-quality collections right here in Houston. Not only does he produce his entire collection here, he also manufactures clothing for other designers.

"The fashion calender is going to have to shift in some way or designers are going to have to be more innovative and at least offer some things immediately."

"We are going to be producing more than 60,000 garments in our factory and we are gradually figuring out how to expand it," he said.

He also a leader in getting the product to consumers as soon as possible. He is offering several looks for spring directly off the runway online and at a trunk show at Tootsies today.

"The fashion calender is going to have to shift in some way or designers are going to have to be more innovative and at least offer some things immediately. From the very beginning of the brand, we've talked about being able to do it this way," he said.

"It may take a little while before it fully changes but now that fashion and the media has become so public, it's not guarded anymore. It's not people sketching in the salons of Paris and nobody being able to take a photograph. It's out there basically as soon as it happens."

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SIMPLY (EAR)RESISTIBLE

Score free Shake Shack for one day only at juicy collab with charming Rice Village jeweler

Photo by Studs

For one day only, customers will be able to get their ears pierced and shop for earrings while enjoying tasty Shack fare in one place.

Popular ear piercing barStuds made a name for itself by offering a customized piercing experience for those who aged out of places like Claire's but wanted an alternative to a tattoo parlor for piercings. With 19 locations nationwide, Studs offers a wide assortment of earrings that range from classic shapes, to huggies, flatbacks, and dangling charms.

Studs has once again added to their earring selection with their latest collaboration with Shake Shack. They created an adorably beefy earring to add to any burger lover's Earscape.

Studs and Shake Shack created a limited-edition Burger huggie earring and Earscape set. Photo by Studs

Retailing for $32, the limited edition Shake Shack burger huggie comes as a 14K gold-plated hoop with a loaded hamburger charm. Shoppers can opt for the $64 pair, but Studs is also currently offering a discount on the Shake Shack x Studs set. For $78, earring enthusiasts can get the two Shake Shack burger huggies, the 14K-gold Smiley Stud and the 14K-gold Micro CZ Stud.

What's even better than cute earrings? Free Shake Shack! On Thursday, September 28th customers can enjoy free bites from Shake Shack while they shop the new Shake Shack Charm Huggie collection at Stud's Rice Village location.

For $78, earring enthusiasts can get the two Shake Shack burger huggies, the 14K-gold Smiley Stud and the 14K-gold Micro CZ Stud.Photo by Studs

Shake Shack is known for their always made-to-order fare including ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, hand-spun shakes and their new Veggie Burger and non-dairy offerings.

Interested shoppers can RSVP here.

Studs Rice Village, 2567 Amherst St.; (832) 981-2869. RSVP here.

studs earrings shake shack houston earring bar studs and shake shack

All grown up

The prince of prints: David Peck showcases innovative designs in Fashion Houstonrunway show

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Game-changing new downtown plaza named for Houston icon Lynn Wyatt finally opens this week

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SIMPLY (EAR)RESISTIBLE

Score free Shake Shack for one day only at juicy collab with charming Rice Village jeweler

All grown up

The prince of prints: David Peck showcases innovative designs in Fashion Houstonrunway show

3 Houston universities rise to the top in new list of best Texas schools for 2024

Game-changing new downtown plaza named for Houston icon Lynn Wyatt finally opens this week

Houston's oldest craft brewery wins top spot at Great American Beer Festival

SIMPLY (EAR)RESISTIBLE

Score free Shake Shack for one day only at juicy collab with charming Rice Village jeweler

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