Gabbing with Gida Batista
By Denise Tong
The marriage between fashion and music is so close and long-lasting that it’s hard to think of one without the other. For designer Gida Batista, they are inseparable—her musical past flows directly into her stylish present.
Despite her lifelong eye for fashion, the native New Yorker first worked in radio and television production. As the Production Manager for a Dick Clark company, she produced and recorded Top 40 countdown shows, artist interviews, and comedy skits. She also handled clients such as Mariah Carey, Bill Murray, and Johnny Depp.
When Batista was off the clock, she wrote and recorded original songs. After moving to San Francisco, she was chosen as one of 20 finalists in the 1998 songwriting contest sponsored by Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair concert series.
But even as Batista began to find success in music, her interest in fashion grew steadily. She sketched handbags in the same intuitive manner in which she wrote songs, and began to entertain the idea of starting her own label. Eventually she decided to move back to New York and enroll at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).
She introduced the Gida Bavari label in 2005, offering a collection of luxurious yet practical handbags made of rich Italian leather. In a tribute to both sides of her family, “Bavari” combines her last name and her mother’s maiden name, Varisimo.
Now, two years later—her bags having been featured in Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) and Accessories Magazine—Batista introduces her smart and supple fall 2007 collection, which continues to uphold her philosophy that “the woman is the star, and fashion is her muse.”
With the opening of her new online store, she increases client contact and expands client service. Always mindful of her customers’ needs, she encourages their feedback and anecdotes.
Batista talked with Current Vine about her design process and hinted at what’s to come.
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CV: How would you describe your fall 2007 collection?
GB: My fall collection is a tightly edited group of bags that represent the essence of the Gida Bavari brand: runway chic meets streetwise savvy. They’re roomy handbags made of luxury styling and high-quality Italian leather and hardware. They come with smart features such as pen holders, a key snap, and plenty of pockets. Their soft, slightly structured look is relaxed, but sexy and sophisticated.
CV: How does your music background influence your designs?
GB: Music seems to influence my design process more than the designs themselves. The way I design is very much like the way I write songs—a free-form method on a totally blank slate, motivated by mood and expression only. I just take pencil to paper and start sketching random shapes and slowly elaborate from there.
I try to avoid thinking of trends, colors, hardware, or popular shapes during this process. Once some of those shapes take on life and detail on their own, I focus on them more aggressively and tailor a cohesive collection that is edited appropriately for my market. I am not re-inventing the wheel, but I think this approach helps to keep designs unique.
That said, I also study the Italian fashion scene by visiting Italy often and researching new looks for materials, particularly leather. This is essential in keeping the bags fresh and current, without chasing trends.
CV: Which of your bags is your favorite to tote around?
GB: It usually depends on how much I have to carry that day. The Madison tote is great for loading all kinds of stuff for the daytime: books, files, umbrella, light sweater, and so much more. It also has great easy access exterior pockets to hold my MetroCard, water, and energy bar when I’m powering through the city.
The Soho Hobo is perfect for the average day with a lighter load. It easily holds a book, makeup bag, wallet, sunglasses, and other essentials.
CV: What have been your biggest challenges?
GB: I am very detail oriented and heavily involved in every aspect of my business. Attention to detail is key in creating my collections and it will always promise great design, craftsmanship, and customer service. However, it can become very tasking in other areas of running the business. Learning to let go of certain responsibilities and delegating them to others has been very challenging for me, but I know it is essential for the company’s success.
CV: What has been your proudest moment?
GB: There have been several milestones along the way that have encouraged me, but one in particular was securing a coveted trunk show at the exclusive Henri Bendel in New York City during my very first season. Coming from a very different background of music and production, jumping into a whole new area of work was a bit scary. The invitation to show at Bendel’s was just the jolt of reassurance I needed.
CV: What’s next for you?
GB: There is a two-part goal for Gida Bavari. One addresses fashion at its best: Continuing to bring fresh and luxurious designs to the market, but in a carefully fine-tuned range of handbags for a woman’s every need—day to evening, work to weekend—in the most fashionable looks and materials. It’s not about making a vast collection, but about offering spectacular selections in various categories.
Since customer satisfaction is vital, the second goal focuses on developing superior customer service and acute attention to my clients’ desires. This includes the introduction of eco-friendly leather collections as the tanning industry develops fashionable and socially responsible options. The industry has already begun making great strides in this area, and I look forward to introducing an eco-friendly leather collection in the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
In addition, I have an interest in creating a shoe collection down the line—the obvious great complement to handbags. But I’ll have to keep my shoe concept confidential until it’s ready to launch, of course!
Pictured: Madison Tote in teal. Photo courtesy of Gida Bavari.
