Dear Suzi,
I am so very happy to this opportunity to share our talk with the public. Thanks for taking time out of your very busy schedule to let me interview you for my blog. xoxo Gwen
What challenges have you overcome during the past few years?
losing my dog sweet billy 
made me realize how sedentary i had become and it made me realize too that it was time to get over an unhealthy relationship. without any ties to Portland i packed my bags and moved to Basalt, Colorado. i agreed to lease a retail space for a few months during the summer and ended up staying to open a second location in Aspen. and i did all this during the great recession! as a result i am much happier and business is better than ever-life is good.
What type of work environment do you prefer?
i prefer a fast paced, high energy environment that is a place to be creative or calm when i need it to be. an environment that encourages positive communication between staff and customers is important to me. i love a clean minimal space that is textural and tactile.
i need my home environment to be inspiring and a refuge.
W
hat trends have you set lately?
that’s easy. i know souchi has brought back the headscarf to Aspen because we have sold over 100 since opening. and i see women all around looking very chic in my scarf! this accessory is retro inspired and borrows from the style of Julie Christie and Jacki O.
Who is your celebrity crush?
i have a few. Perry Farrell, lead singer of Jane’s Addiction. i have loved him since the beginning! plus Johnny Depp
and Ice T
That’s a fabulous list!
Next question. What is your birthstone ?
sapphire. (Sapphires are the September birthstones and are known as the stones of creative expression, intuition and meditation. Wearing this stone helps connect to the power of the universe.)
Your 3 must have accessories for Spring 2012?
- souchi bamboo head scarf (see photo above)
- roman leather classic sandal with a low ankle strap
- bright, big, colorful necklace
Your Fashion Idol?
Tilda Swinton because she is fearless and true to herself and fashion.
Your three favorite colors of the moment?
1. aqua 2.orange 3. a pale sandy beach color
Who do you admire most in the industry?
Ann Demeulemeester, a Belgian fashion designer. her tailoring is impeccable! she uses only the best quality fabric and her designs are meticulous. she cuts her clothes for curves, for real women, even if some classic pieces are boy inspired. she has been around for about 25 years and found in the best retailers worldwide. her designs are timeless. i have her boots, pants, skirts and an opera coat which i mix with pieces i bought twenty years ago with clothes from her line i bought last year. she has inspired me as a designer and business woman and has shown me how to create a Souchi collection for women so they are able to build a wardrobe which never goes out of style.
Any advice for beginners?
you have to build up a thick skin to last in this industry because rejection is huge and you get it from customers and buyers (retailers). you have to learn to believe in yourself and what you want to do. you have to make a decision whether you want to design for love or fame or money because it makes a difference in how your live your life. this decision determines where and how your products are produced, the amount being produced and what is eventually designed and manufactured. there is a lot of temptation out and growing competition so you have to be true to what you want and why.
Thanks you Suzi Johnson.
Namaste, Gwendolyn
