Food & Drink
Sonia McBride: Most Innovative Line
By Seattle Mag August 21, 2012
This article originally appeared in the September 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
The line: The Central District-based designer (who works for a Ballard biking pannier company by day) describes her line as “urban cycling clothing for the professional woman,” as seen in garments like a violet pencil skirt that unzips on the sides to give more leg room to pedal. Other thoughtful details: reflective satin fabric on zippers and trims; the charming wool jacket’s mini capelet that protects against the wind; and double-reinforced seat and articulated-knee seaming on twill pants.
Creative spark: “For me, the design process starts with identifying a problem,” says the 25-year-old of her line. “As someone who commutes on my bike every day, it was obvious that there was a lack of functional and fashionable biking clothing for women, so I started trying to look for a creative solution. I’m inspired to find where those practical solutions, and then aesthetics, meet in a really realistic but beautiful way.”
Mission statement: “I also hope to encourage more women to use a bicycle as part of their daily routine, both as an environmentally responsible means of transportation and for the health benefits, too. On a larger scale, I’m hoping to help change what prototypical ‘cycling clothing’ looks like by adding stylish options.”
First garment created: “I made this peasant blouse in middle school; it was off the shoulder in a very bright white. I was so excited about it, but by the time I actually finished sewing the elastic neck, I didn’t even want to wear it anymore.”
How personal style influences her designs: “I’ve always had an affinity for structured, tailored vintage wear, like my grandmother’s clothing from the 1950s, so that love definitely comes out in my clothing.”
Line: Babecycle
School: Seattle Central Community College School of Apparel Design, Class of 2011
Find it: babecycle.com or etsy.com/shop/babecycle
Clothing pictured (From left to right): Double-faced wool/cashmere flannel coatdress with bias-cut skirt, curved front pockets, vintage wool ribbing on collar and cuffs, and double-needle topstitching details. McBride wears her own designs, a wool twill and wool cashmere/flannel combination fitted vest over a lavender wool/poly blend jersey knit long-sleeve top with cowl detail at shoulder and wool/cashmere flannel pencil skirt with side zippers; tights, shoes and earrings are her own. Wool jacquard cycling cape with scalloped edge, seamed curved welt pockets and ribbed collar, paired with lavender short-sleeve top (fabric details listed above with long-sleeve top) and wool twill equestrian-inspired riding pants with reflective satin tape belt loops and reinforced seat.
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