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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LEGGINGS + LATTES

Athleisure giant Lululemon opens Houston flagship with in-store cafe

Photos courtesy of Lululemon

Hundreds of shoppers lined up for the grand opening of the first-ever Lululemon x La La Land Kind Cafe store opening in Highland Village on December 19 .

Athleisure giant Lululemon is back where it all started. The brand has opened a massive new Houston store at Highland Village, returning to the shopping center that launched its Texas retail run in 2007. This time, however, it is not a small boutique. It is a full-scale flagship store with the first-ever La La Land Kind Café inside, giving Highland Village one more reason to draw a crowd.

The cult-favorite café serves exclusive drinks created just for this location, including a Double Chai Latte and Coconut Cloud Matcha. In-person shoppers can score drinks at 50 percent off through January 4 and via the app through January 16.

La La Land Kind Café also joins Lululemon’s Partner Perks program tied to Lululemon Membership, giving members access to select benefits. It makes it easier for shoppers who treat errands like a routine to use coffee as a delicious reward.

Lululemon x La La Land Texas-based artist Kyle Steed adds to the local appeal of the new Highland Village store. Photos courtesy of Lululemon

The new store is directly next door to the brand's first Texas outpost, which made Highland Village ground zero for Lululemon's growth in the state. At 9,400 square feet, the outpost is among Lululemon’s largest in the country. The space, previously owned by Smith & Wollensky, traded steaks for elevated sweat-sesh style.

Shoppers can expect a light, bright, and spacious shopping experience with a full range of products for both women and men. The store features branded apparel from the Lululemon x La La Land Kind Café collaboration, as well as a limited-time sweatshirt designed by local graffiti artist Donkeeboy, available as a gift with purchase (over $300, while supplies last). Adding to the local appeal, the store features a mural by Texas-based artist Kyle Steed.

Here's a tour of the store courtesy of popular influencer Marfisa Fiala

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Lululemon x La La Land Kind Cafe, 4007 Westheimer Rd, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77027. Store Hours: Monday-Saturday: 7 am - 7 pm and Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm.

Photos courtesy of Lululemon

Hundreds of shoppers lined up for the grand opening of the first-ever Lululemon x La La Land Kind Cafe store opening in Highland Village on December 19 .

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