Warm Leatherette

Interview Magazine September 2011
Candice Swanepoel, Saskia de Brauw, Anais Pouliot, Zuzanna Bijoch and Emily Baker
Photographer: Mert and Marcus
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Mctega's Friends Only Project + Interview

I found out about California-based jewellery makers Mctega around the time they started in 2008 and I've been in love ever since.

The project of Sarah McLellan and Kristina Ortega has reached underground success in just 3 short years with features in Nylon, Women's Wear Daily and even Snoop Dogg wearing custom rings in the video for that dreadful song "California Gurls". Using their science background they create colourful crystal-like necklaces that look like they were dug out of an ancient cave in some sort of mythical land.

They recently started their Friends Only Project, where for a mere $20 you can own a small limited-edition hand made necklace in any colour of the rainbow. They've also decided they're going to turn it into a contest and pick the top 5 photo submissions where a winner will be chosen to receive a special prize! Time is running out so get them before they go!




I read ages ago that you guys were both pre-med/microbiology majors when you met? What's the story?

Ahahah, I love how these stories twist and turn as many times as they are told! We were both science majors until our junior years when we both switched to fashion.
Sarah was premed and Kristina was microbio. Sarah almost blew up her organic chem lab so she decided maybe premed was not for her and Kristina was taking way more art classes than science classes. We actually met while interning at Rodarte, where we bonded over the madness that went on there.

How did you go from that to making jewellery and how has your schooling background influenced your collections?

We had both made the switch in college, long before we knew each other. We both love fashion and art, but are fascinated by the complexities of science. We had no intention of making science fashion pieces. It just so happened that our first necklace was a carbon ring inspired plate necklace made of polyester resins. We were these fashion outsiders creating jewelry with pipettes and test tubes and catalyst. Amateur scientists fashioning our cabinet of curiosities.

What are some of your other influences?

Our materials are the most inspiring to us, but every season outside forces inspire us as well. Last season it was stalagmites and California minimalist artists from the sixties. It can be anything-- we collect images and we walk around the natural science sections of libraries.

What materials do you use?

We work with polyester resin, epoxy resin, and sometimes urethane. We hand make silicone molds. And we use lots of dyes. We love color-- everybody needs more color.

You've come out with your first clothing collection, was it something that was always in the back of your heads?

Yes. We used jewelry just as a test to see how we could work together and what we could create. Clothing is what we primarily want to do.

Anything else in the works right now? What's next for Mctega?

We are working on some digital prints that we are super excited about. And we have new goals for 2011. We want to be more connected to our friends, fans, customers (or whoever cares). We are trying to put together some events in the LA area and online. We will see-- it's hard right now to be a new line, so surviving is a good goal too!
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Interview: Chloë Memisevic

Newcomer to the international modeling world, Chloë Memisevic is hardly a forgettable face. At just 17, the demonic beauty has walked for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Twenty8Twelve and Charlotte Ronson during the Spring/Summer 2011 shows. She was kind enough to answer some questions for Obscure Alternatives, talking about model apartments, music and Swedish designers.


How/When did you start modelling?
I started full time in June this year but got signed to my mother agent in Sweden a while ago.

Where are you from?
I am from the city of Malmö, in the very south of Sweden; 30 minutes from Copenhagen.

What's your favourite part about your home town?
The distance to Copenhagen? Perhaps all the small, hidden cafes in all the big parks.

Model apartments aren't as glamourous as everyone thinks they are, have you lived in any "interesting" ones? Any crazy stories?
The model flat in New York was by far the most interesting one. Since were talking New York, we are also talking cockroaches. So what we did was, we threw shoe boxes over them and just kept them in there. Also, we had a wicked door man who left us cupcakes on the rooftop. Not too bad...

Have you been to any terrible castings?
No castings have been absolutely terrible, but some might not have been as popular as others. Mostly when you've already been to 17 castings that day and end up at one that takes hours and its already late in the evening.
The BCBG casting in New York was pretty intense, we all waited for hours, as well as my phone got stolen in the middle of that chaos and I had tons of castings yet to be done that day.

What were some of your favourite shows to walk for Spring 2011?
Proenza Schouler was in my opinion the most beautiful show. I did looks for them and got to see all pieces and combinations many times. Everything is so well done and fits beautifully. The show was great. Meadham Kirchoff in London was also great fun. The venue was an old train station and the whole collection felt like being a kid in wonderland.

What's your favourite thing to do once the hell that is Fashion Month is over?
Sleep, sleep, sleep. Just do things in a normal tempo and not run around. Having time to see people again.

I understand that you're living in London now, do you have any favourite underrated/overlooked spots in the city?
I fancy having coffee or food at Broadway market in east London, which is very close to where I live right now. Also, just walking around in different areas of the city. I like Kentish Town for the atmosphere there.

What are some of your favourite bands? Have you been to any really good gigs recently?
Kent is my favourite and they have been since 9 years back. I listen much to Vive La Fete as well. Recently its been a lot of Beach House and The National playing. I did go to the Kent gig in Malmö a while ago and it was real good. Dark, cold and intense in a beautiful way.

Sweden seems to be an extremely fashionable country, what are some of your favourite Swedish designers/brands?
Richard Soderberg, who's the designer of Obscur is very talented and creates great pieces. The collections are all full of things I would wear, though its menswear. The clothes are quite unisex though.
Lina Österman makes interesting things that I like and Acne manages to always create something nice.



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