Volume 3, Issue 12
June 7 - June 20, 2001

STYLE

BAUBLES AND TRINKETS

Local Designer Recuperates Denim Duds

The first thing most people say to designer Shannon Minger is, "Where are you from?" Her voice sings with an unusual accent that has hints of Ireland or England (or maybe even Budapest?). Locals must surely be surprised to learn that regardless of the tongues, Minger is 100 percent native-born right here in our fine city. "I lived in London for six years, and it was an amazing inspiration. There is a sense of freedom there, and they express it through their clothing," Minger said, "but I was born here in Denver, and I want people to know that I am, indeed, a local designer."

Pook London is Minger's decorated and restored denim label, and her designs are making a splash in her hometown. Inspired by the streets of the West End, Minger credits the vision of her line to her extensive travels abroad.

"Traveling helped me to broaden myself and I brought it back with me. The more I learned about the people, the more I learned about myself," Minger said.

It was at a very young age that Minger began to design. However, she confesses that her skills as a pattern maker started out a bit ... raw. "I started when I was really young by just taking material and laying it on top of my clothing for patterns and then cutting it out."

Italian opera stands out as Minger's muse, and she had early aspirations of going into costume design. "I wanted to do costume design, but finding a job was really hard, because once a theatre finds a designer they like, they stick with them. So, for a long time I was doing one-of-a-kind ball gowns and evening dresses. I loved embellishing them because it included a bit of costuming."

London would transform her through a vocational shift, as she enrolled and studied at the private Central School of Fashion. Her extensive training allowed Minger to involve herself in every aspect of the European fashion industry.

"It was great because we had this fantastic professor who would get us in to crash all the posh fashion shows."

Pook London's recycled denim line with nouveau embellishments and trims is perfect for a night out on the town.

"I love getting dressed up and going out. I started doing denim because I wanted to find a happy medium where you could wear denim all the time, even when dressing up."

Minger has just debuted a men's line in Pook London's repertoire, designing guys rescued denim with zippers, studs, and snake skin patches. "One of my best guy friends is great shopper and he really cares about style. He just couldn't find anything, so I started doing men's denim, too. Like a good girlfriend, I want men to have something they look good in, but will make them feel fantastic."

Minger has her eyes focused towards the future of local fashion and is hoping to play a major role in changing the face of the style industry.

"I really want to help bring the fashion industry to Denver. I want to have a fashion week like they have in L. A., Paris, or New York. I'd like to try to get a lot of the creative people in Denver together and provide them an outlet."

But even if she becomes the belle of the ball, don't expect Minger to ever just be sitting behind a desk in the director's chair. "I hope to be designing the rest of my life-- I just love it."

--Kity Ironton

Photos by Stefan Max