Susan Hable has long been known as a creative tornado, known for her ability to pushing the boundaries of print and color, no wonder she is often featured in major design publications.  Read about Susan's perspective on color and design.  read more

CAUS: Tell us about your background and what interests and inspires you.

Susan: I started Hable construction with my sister in 1999, named after our great-grandfathers road construction business... we knew that we would be making things and focusing on domestic manufacturing, the name was a natural fit. we have been very flexible to the market so we started by making things... bags, cushions, fashion accessories. the fabric was ours start to finish with my art being the patterns and then making product from those fabrics. color was always a focus too... we would get the words "fresh, organic, colorful and unique".  I have always been an artist... I knew it very young but it has taken me 40 years to call myself one. fabric is how my art is manifested for now. Hable construction has given me a voice to express my point of view  and fortunately, my business partner has always supported that! I am inspired by many things and as most artists would say but its true that i look at most objects and books and trips as opportunities to see them for different forms and colors. I am naturally driven and hardworking but i do get inspired by seasons changing and fashion changing... if I feel that my environment is moving faster than i am, i will move too.

CAUS:  How do you use color in your work?

Susan: I love to use color in my work... I have had to work on making the color vibrant but livable. strong pattern doesn't require many different colors, just the right ones.  i love color forecasting... i think that it is so exciting to push forward with color and inspire others with color. I think the design community needs color structure and a jumping off point to make their designs come to life. there will always be trend setters who don't rely on color forecasting but many others need forecasting to take one more step out of the fast paced world of manufacturing. the members of CAUS take it very seriously and work tirelessly to give direction that is inspiring as well as saleable knowledge.

CAUS: How do you use color in your work?
Susan: I track fashion. I love books, and I am trying to stay up with some blogs. there is so much information that you have to cull your sources and rely on your own vision and expertise. i don't think there is a must see event that is the same each year. this year, it was the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the met. next year will be something else. i love that uncertainty and the search for what i think it is!

CAUS: Who do you admire, follow, or think is doing great stuff?
Susan: I admire the world of interiors. i am the biggest fan of MARNI. it gets my pulse racing. i love my friends work- John Derian (shop owner/decoupage artist), Tyler Hays of bddw, Hugh Acheson(chef) and  Rinne Allen (photographer). all disciplines but all with a wonderful point of view and true craftsmanship.

CAUS: What impact do you believe the recession has on color?
i think the recession has had a huge impact on color. our clients have asked for happy color and bright accents for their home. luckily, we
have plenty of that in our collection. its like taking a pill when they come home.

CAUS: What do you see as the biggest trend to impact color as we move into 12/13
Susan: wSusan:e constantly talk about texture as well as color in our annual meetings. i think the fixation with texture is that you can achieve different levels of one color when its distressed and aged. during high point market, i get asked for aged old velvets and tea stained trims. this is mixed with watery prints... i think these effects create special color and ones that cannot be imitated so they seem more special. i also think the recession will remain as an undercurrent for the color trends. we have seen so many upbeat yellows and corals offset with rich dark chocolates. white is starting to surface -perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel?

CAUS: What are you currently working on that is exciting?
Susan: Work closely with the textile program at UGA. since moving to Athens, GA, it has been a wonderful opportunity to have a textile program that is growing and changing with a new state of the art facility. we have recently placed students in some amazing jobs working in print and textiles. the program continues to grow and be competitive with other major art schools focused on textile design. I am proud of the work that is coming out of the school..

CAUS: since you have been on the Interior Forecasting committee - what have you noticed to be some of the biggest changes?
Susan: Since I have been with CAUS for 3 years, I have noticed the biggest change by the new members that have recently joined the group. the continued enthusiasm and energy put forth by the members of CAUS. the amount of diverse careers of the members all working in the most fascinating projects and countries... it is a vibrant group of professionals all very concerned and serious about color. we all understand the value of our time at CAUS!

posted September 2011

INTERVIEW WITH CICI CHEN - owner of 80%20%

We talked with CeCe Chin of 80%20  who has been on the Women's Forecast Committee since 2008

The master mind behind 80%20 - the footwear company taking the industry by storm

CAUS - tell us about your background and company

CeCe - I am the President and Creative Director of 80%20 Footwear.  I started the brand after many years working on 7th avenue as a handbag designer.  I learned a great deal from my time at Michael Kors and Calvin Klein- however I really wanted to create my own shoes.  So in 2004 I jumped out on my own.  The lifestyle you live, the footwear that gets it. This is the world you create out of your own passion. You live your aspirations; we provide the shoes to take you there. Living the life: fun-loving fashion and easy, effortless style. 80%20 footwear.  80% life, 20% shoes=100% love.

CAUS - How do you use color in your work?

CeCe - All of our shoes are lined with a signature orange and cream stripe printed canvas or in some cases printed leather.  This color combination is reminiscent of my favorite desert from childhood, Orange Creamsicle.  I also feel orange is a classic non primary color.  I'm inspired by Hermes and their signature orange.  In footwear, the basics colors (black brown and natural) are always the "sellers", but we carefully chose our accent colors per the season.  For example, we're doing a hiking boot this season with double shoe laces.  One will be match the body of the boot (for example, black on black), but we'll also include another colored lace.  The shoe is designed to be worn with both laces, but I know some customers will want to remove the colored one.  I myself would remove the black one.

CAUS - What is your perspective on color forecasting?

CeCe - With design I think the first step is to identify the message or mood of the collection.  Is it serious or playful- both serious and playful.  What contradictions can we address?  Nostalgic and futuristic, classic but obscure?  This is where color forecasting comes into play.  It actually helps ground your design!

CAUS - What impact do you believe the recession has on color?

CeCe - Well grey is important now.   What's great about grey is that people are comfortable justifying the purchase as a basic, but it is also a fashion color.   There's more mood and variation of hue with grey than there are with black and brown.  Grey can have warm or cool undertones, it can be bluish, pinkish, greenish, brownish.

Check out the 80%20 website to learn more about Ce Ce and the collection: http://www.8020nyc.com

published June 2011