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Red Carter is a premier swimwear designer. He’s known as Red, not Daniel, because of his hair color. Since 2003, he’s been suiting up beach lovers, poolside loungers and at-home sunbathers. Until recently, his sidekick was Satchmo, a beloved and very missed French bulldog.
Red Carter: About a month ago we lost Satchmo. He was a very old soul that was always at my side. Inquisitive, charming, more into people than other dogs. Satchmo was always with a smile.
WOOF Patrol: Sorry about your loss.
Red Carter - www.sandy-bottoms.com
RED: Satchmo was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. We went ahead with radiation. I’m happy to say he had a good life right until the end. It was really hard losing him. In many ways he was our company mascot. A constant presence in the studio.
W.P.: How old was he?
RED: Twelve. We named him after Louie Armstrong for his big mouth and tender smile.
W.P.: Did he inspire any of the designs?
Red: (laughing) Sure. There are those days when you are working on prints. You put all the fabrics down on the floor to get another perspective and that’s when Satchmo would get to work. He’d walk over and decide to lie on one of the patterns. That’s the one I’d pick to work with.
Photo credits: © www.scherleybuschphotography.com
Red’s design passion is handcrafted with inspirational tailoring. It’s playful, daring and anchored in originality. Individuals can turn heads by striking a pose in any of his suits. Red Carter provides equal opportunity wear-ability that flatters and highlights both youthful and sophisticated demographics.
The Red Carter label has built-in sex appeal while affording comfort and quality. Now Red Carter is pushing forward with Sandy Bottoms, a sub-collection sporting a unique French Dog logo honoring Satchmo.
The moniker red button on the back of Red Carter suits addresses the craft and vintage vibrancy of the designer’s pulse. Red Carter’s sub-collection, Sandy Bottoms with the Satchmo logo, parallels and extends the brand’s playful and flirtatious, appeal. There’s tasteful flamboyance to the styling that keeps everything together in a confident, sexy tone. The look captures “living life” while creating seamlessly memorable effortless moments. And, now ‘paw’ glamour adds to Red’s unstoppable allure.
Sandy Bottoms is geared towards a younger audience, however many would disagree with this labeling. Think the French-maid-outfit-turned bikini style and remember at any age a woman still enjoys her naughty-nice side. So whether on the beach or in the privacy of the maid’s quarter ... Red factors in the mojo in true doggedness.
Jennifer Mielke, Owner of the Joyella Boutique
W.P.: Can you tell us about Red?
J.M.: I love him I love him I love him!
I met Red at my store when he schlepped up the stairs with a suitcase full of the most fabulous swimsuits that I had ever seen! I'm pretty sure that was his first collection under the Red Carter brand, and I was impressed by his drive and his down to earth nature. As for the swimsuits, the colors were beautiful, and the cuts and finishes were amazing. They were flattering, pretty, and had the perfect amount of bling necessary for relaxing in lush Miami pools and beaches. I always looked for fresh, indie designers to carry at Joyella, and he was a perfect match for the style of the store.
Quickly his bikinis became a top seller for me. People loved the fact that they were cute yet sexy at the same time; and they were a little tongue in cheek too! They also had a cool retro vibe with the low cut bottoms and many of the prints being inspired by vintage moo-moos, dresses, and fabrics. People would often buy two or three per season - I personally have five or six, I think...
Jennifer Mielke moved to New York in 2005 to pursue becoming a real estate professional. Mielke’s experience gained as jewelry designer & owner of Joyella Boutique makes finding an apartment a pleasurable and of course, a perfect-fit.
Email: jmielke@aclawrence.com
W.P.: Did Satchmo pass onto you any life lessons?
RED: Satchmo had been with me from the start of our label’s launch. Everyday he was at work with me. He was an inspiration. When you lose a pet, a true family member, the impact is overwhelming. Not having him by my side has been difficult. I wanted to have a way to thank him for his contributions to my life and to my work. He’s been a companion, a partner and a couch potato co-designer. Keeping his memory alive is important to me and to the many lives he touched. Knitting him into the Sandy Bottoms design does this. Satchmo was charming and playful. So is his logo and legacy.
W.P.: What’s been the reaction to the Satchmo moniker?
RED: Sandy Bottoms has had very limited distribution. Since adding Satchmo there’s been an uptick that was unexpected and touching on a personal level. He always enjoyed being around people and they enjoyed him. It’s nice knowing he’ll still get to meet new people in a different way and that his spirit will live on.
W.P.: I think he’d like that.
Sandy Bottoms is not a secret at Victoria’s Secret. In fact one of Red’s designs is exclusively made for them. And Red Carter is red hot and smoking in the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. He’s also a fun and delightful interview.
Red enjoys his life. He’s a former California native that studied at the Otis/Parson School of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Growing up he was a competitive swimmer and record-breaker in sprinting, diving and water polo. It’s not surprising to discover that he has been in commercials, done voiceovers and even had some small movie roles. But fashion designing is his calling and passion. His fashion career started in San Francisco with Esprit, then followed with Guess Jeans, the Marciano Brothers, Rampage, Mossimo, Victoria’s Secret, Linda Wachner and Oscar de la Renta.
W.P.: What inspired you to launch your own label?
Red: I lost my job and landed in South Beach. The area’s fashion and lifestyle sensibility is rich in historical reference and is enveloped in vintage sensuality. It’s at all times provocative and enticing without trying to be. The fun, daring and colorful SOBE spirit and culture clicked for me as a designer.
As a self-confessed Red Carter fan - owning 4 suits, two hand bags and a beach cover - I can vouch for fit, fabric and function of the Red Carter collection. Also, I can add that Red Carter shows up in the most unexpected places. Recently Red Carter came to his own sample sale held at The Sagamore Hotel in Miami Beach. He was there to help out and see if everyone was having a good time. Like Satchmo, he’s always with a smile and at all times being true to himself and to his designs.
In the near future expect to be updated on puppy news for Red Carter. The loss of a pet is never easy. What they bring to our lives is immeasurable and valuable on many levels. So Red didn’t want to get another dog right away. Satchmo was a special dog with tremendous heart and old-world soul.
There’s always that look you will recall about your dog when he expresses the “want-to–play” mode. Sandy Bottoms captures Satchmo’s “let’s-play” passion. Be prepared after suiting up in a Red Carter for WOOF WHISTLES that will bring out your very own bark.
For more information: www.victoriassecret.com
Photo credits: Red Carter - (© www.redcarter.com) Sandy Bottoms Bikini (© www.victoriassecret.com).