Even though Christmas is almost here, we're already dreaming of cruises and vacations on the beach. The Spring 2009 collection by up-and-coming designer Austin Jade Murray has inspired our daydreams of tropical nights and sunny afternoons. We chatted with the young designer (she'is only 19!) to find out more about her new collection.

Tell us a little about yourself and your work. I am a nineteen-year-old full-time fashion designer. Each day is really different and never mundane. I think what allows me to be so creative and have fun with my job everyday is my interest in many things other than just fashion and design. I try to remain balanced in this crazy industry -- doing things like painting and drawing which makes designing easier. I never leave home without a sketch book in my hands.

How did you get started as a designer? I got my start in the industry early in my high school years by interning in NYC. I interned with Nanette Lepore, Adrienne Landau, and Nautica. By being immersed in the heart of fashion I learned very quickly about sketching, patterns, fabric, and bringing ideas to life. I knew pretty much from my first day of interning that this is what I wanted to do. I got more excited about going to Mood fabric store than most people get about going to a favorite rock star's concert. It was and still is my passion. I went to Savannah College of Art and Design for fashion design for less than a year. I was most impacted by my color theory class. It was in this class that I started to design with color being the focal point. While at Savannah I was accepted into Marangoni in Paris; however, while at home preparing to move I launched Austin Jade and decided to postpone school.



What inspires your work? My concept for the line is very simple -- Cut, Color, and Comfort -- which is what most people crave when shopping. My line is happy and feminine with a whimsical flair. All the names of the dresses are luxurious ports of call which make each piece special and more lavish. I like function and I wanted to create a line that ten years from now I wouldn't say "well I could never wear that now!" My line is for every age and the colors look great on all skin tones. The colors are inspired from the place that makes me most happy, the Virgin Islands: the tropical flowers, crazy colored buildings, and colors of the ocean. The shapes of the pieces are inspired from people like Sienna Miller, Jackie O., and Nicole Richie. But, nature has the most impact, because it is in nature that the most beautiful colors are found.

Who are your favorite designers? My favorite designers are Christian Lacroix for his tribute to femininity and ornate embellishments. Stella McCartney creates pieces that are what I like to think of as "sophisticated trendy". She's not afraid to mix edgy pieces in bold colors. I also love Phoebe Philo, the head designer of Chloe. Phoebe keeps the brand youthful, feminine, and always adds a vintage flair that creates a cutesy sex appeal.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? My top fashion and beauty must haves are almost a daily staple in my life. I am a big fan of Bobby Brown's hot pink blush and Narcisco Rodriguez's scent For Her. I wear my fringe moccasin boots with almost all of my dresses and a chunky piece of turquoise mixed with gold is a jewelry must have. I love Chanel's nail polishes, the deep purples and neutrals are my favorite. I've been recently stocking up on jcrew's bright sweaters to pair with my spring dresses so I can update them for summer and their driving mocs to wear with straight legged jeans.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? I would tell any aspiring designer to intern to gain experience. Whether it is for a large corporation or a small start up design company you learn the most by doing. Asking a lot of questions always helps. Taking sewing classes is a big plus. Knowing seams and how to construct will help when you are ready to launch a line. Knowing how to use CAD or being good at sketching is must to get across design ideas. But the most important thing in this industry I believe is people skills. I would recommend working in retail so you work with consumers. By understanding what the average consumer is looking for it will help you in creating your own collections. And finally, be your biggest fan. Believe in what you do and love what you do. You open yourself up to a lot of criticism when you're a designer and you have to learn to take it constructively.

Where can people find your work? People can find my work in fine boutiques across the US. A list of those boutiques is posted under the stores section on my website www.austinjade.com. You will also be able to purchase directly from my website austinjade.com by spring 2009.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.