2008 Woodie Awards
Baking the Soul Pie
Local clothing designer brings personal touches to her clothing.
Chris Hoff
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Culture
As a fashion designer in Humboldt County, Kacey Ross's engaging smile helps her to connect with new customers. Ross moved to Arcata three and a half years ago from Arkansas, and now owns a small clothing business above Plaza Design, just off the plaza.
The name of her business, Soul Pie, says a lot about who she is and the style that she designs for her customers. She explained that the concept for Soul Pie comes from how you share parts of yourself with people throughout the day, like pieces of a pie. At the end of the day, you are left with the empty pie tin and need to replenish it. Doing something that you love, something creative, is how you bake more soul pie, Ross said.
Kristin Lane, a sophomore nursing major, is a customer who is inspired by Ross, and finds her designs to be energizing. "I don't know anyone who loves their work as much as she does," she said. Lane calls the style of clothes that Ross makes funky and retro, and said that they are definitely her own designs. Lane is drawn to the clothing by the unique colors and styles that Ross uses.
Ross strives to be unique. "I don't want to learn the real way it is supposed to work, because I feel like then I am limited," she said about her style. She explained that she wanted to do things her own way, not the way that bigger fashion houses do things. This desire to create unique and interesting clothes shows in her work.
The best way to imagine what style of clothes Ross makes may be to picture a celebrity wearing them. The celebrity most likely to fit in her clothes would be Kirsten Dunst. "She made me love Marie-Antoinette," Ross said about Dunst's role she played as the French queen in the Sofia Coppola movie. Ross said the celebrity that she would most like to design clothes for is Dunst, who is famous for her quirky style, and Ross describes her as being fun and adorable.
Another one of Ross' customers, Kona Morris, loves the clothes Ross makes. Morris, a Humboldt State University creative writing and philosophy alumni, was given a birthday gift certificate for a custom-made dress by her boyfriend. Morris said that when she was having her dress made, Ross wanted to wait until she had met Morris in person to see what her style was. Ross asked about colors and styles Morris liked, and talked to her about the kinds of clothes she liked to wear. Morris said Ross explained that she would sometimes look in people's closets to get a feeling for the kind of clothes they wore. Morris, who has worked with Ross for about a year, said that Ross is very good at finding out what customers want.
The name of her business, Soul Pie, says a lot about who she is and the style that she designs for her customers. She explained that the concept for Soul Pie comes from how you share parts of yourself with people throughout the day, like pieces of a pie. At the end of the day, you are left with the empty pie tin and need to replenish it. Doing something that you love, something creative, is how you bake more soul pie, Ross said.
Kristin Lane, a sophomore nursing major, is a customer who is inspired by Ross, and finds her designs to be energizing. "I don't know anyone who loves their work as much as she does," she said. Lane calls the style of clothes that Ross makes funky and retro, and said that they are definitely her own designs. Lane is drawn to the clothing by the unique colors and styles that Ross uses.
Ross strives to be unique. "I don't want to learn the real way it is supposed to work, because I feel like then I am limited," she said about her style. She explained that she wanted to do things her own way, not the way that bigger fashion houses do things. This desire to create unique and interesting clothes shows in her work.
The best way to imagine what style of clothes Ross makes may be to picture a celebrity wearing them. The celebrity most likely to fit in her clothes would be Kirsten Dunst. "She made me love Marie-Antoinette," Ross said about Dunst's role she played as the French queen in the Sofia Coppola movie. Ross said the celebrity that she would most like to design clothes for is Dunst, who is famous for her quirky style, and Ross describes her as being fun and adorable.
Another one of Ross' customers, Kona Morris, loves the clothes Ross makes. Morris, a Humboldt State University creative writing and philosophy alumni, was given a birthday gift certificate for a custom-made dress by her boyfriend. Morris said that when she was having her dress made, Ross wanted to wait until she had met Morris in person to see what her style was. Ross asked about colors and styles Morris liked, and talked to her about the kinds of clothes she liked to wear. Morris said Ross explained that she would sometimes look in people's closets to get a feeling for the kind of clothes they wore. Morris, who has worked with Ross for about a year, said that Ross is very good at finding out what customers want.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Kathy
posted 2/27/08 @ 7:29 PM PST
Interesting article. Wish I could see some photos of her clothing.
KG
Seth M Smith VI
posted 2/29/08 @ 10:42 AM PST
Soul Pie Rocks!
I want to learn more, but where is the contact info? Location or number? Anything.
Good article, though.
SMSVI
Julia H
posted 3/20/08 @ 1:40 PM PST
Same comment as above. Could you provide me with contact details?
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