Designer Profile: Desira Pesta

I sit idly at the Roebling tea house, admiring the old carriage home light fixtures and pale olive seats. I contemplate whether I want fragrant white peach tea or mint with a hint of ginger. And then in walks Desira Pesta, standing at 5’11 she stands out in the mildly crowded cafe. She immediately apologizing for being late (only by a few minutes) and tells me how she rode her bike up Bedford. Being a recent fashion design graduate myself and new to the city that never sleeps, I am very excited to meet up with a fellow alum who is doing what I dream about: creating her own line of clothes.

On Desira Pesta’s website she describes herself as pioneer of the DIY movement and has been steadily making her own clothes since 2003. She now resides in Brooklyn and works in a studio with fellow Etsy designers and artists. Desira describes Etsy, a website for artist and designers to sell their handmade creation, as an amazing platform to gaining recognition. Etsy Creator Rob Kalin has been very helpful in connecting Desira and other designers with a studio in Red hook.

So what exactly does Desira make? Anything but ordinary. Desira’s collection steers more towards avant garde appropriation of fabric. She admits herself that she is drawn to costumes. She recently designed outfits for the band These Are Powers music video. Desira describes it as a fun experience, and how could it not be when the band wants you to design fancy, deconstructed, alien, clashing patterns?

Besides that we discuss the tricky trade of handmades in today’s market. Being a one woman show Desira does everything from sewing to PR. This requires a great deal of self discipline and the wisdom of what to spend your time on. Desira stirs her coffee and reflects: “Hard Business can soften your creativity.” While Desira feels she still has not totally cornered her market, she has learned a great deal from experience. She would one day like to open up her own boutique, but for now is content with making a name for herself through Etsy and other social networks. With paint splattered jackets and blossant bell sleeves, Desira’s post modern designs are a perfect fit for those looking to express themselves through clothes.