Interview with Kari Vettese- Designer and Creator of Marilyn Hatten

The 22-year-old designer and student, Kari Vettese, created Marilyn Hatten designs with the idea of embracing the sensual nature of every
woman. Drawing from her cultured Spanish and Italian background, she celebrates strong women and natural beauty. I got to interview the talented designer and discuss everything from her brand to her designs to her journey. Read below to get the scoop on Kari Vettese and Marilyn Hatten:

Her Designs

Vettese has always been an artist. She explained that she always wanted to portray her art and her love for art and design together, so she just combined the two worlds and created Marilyn Hatten on her own.

“I just wanted to create a brand that shows artistry on design.” -Vettese

The MH designs and their shades of nude, earth tones, and white create a casual elegance. Vettese expressed that the concept behind the woman of the brand was to bring back the classic woman with a modern twist. She went on to say that we’ll see that a lot of the designs are classic, but at the same time, with the earth and nude tones, it brings out the simplicity of being a woman.

“We stand for a woman is a woman. There’s no size or color to her, and I feel like the designs really portray that very well.” -Vettese

Vettese explained that the sizes of her designs are not your average small, medium and large.

“Our sizes and fabrics are very forgiving and versatile,” Vettese said. “I wanted everyone to feel included.”

As for her favorite clothing item, Vettese said that if she had to choose one, it would be the Rosa Roja Dress because it has her art on it.

“The red rose was art that I created it and we put that on the design,” Vettese said. “I feel like it’s more personal to me and the brand because of the fact that it stands for artistry and I’m really trying to portray that.”

The Brand

Not only are the designs themselves unique, but the name of the brand is unique as well. Vettese explained that name, Marilyn Hatten, came about for two reasons. First, it comes from a golden colored bougainvillea flower.

“The bougainvillea flower comes in many colors, one of the golden colored bougainvillea flowers is named Marilyn Hatten so I kind of named it after that because that specific color of bougainvillea is found typically in Spanish cultures so since that was a huge inspiration behind the woman and who she is, I felt that connected very well,” Vettese said.

The second meaning,Vettese revealed, is it sounds like a woman’s name. “I just wanted everyone to be like who is she?” Vettese said.

Vettese also expressed that her brand really has no specific or ideal person to wear her designs.

“Honestly, we don’t really put any specific type of women in a box to who we’re reaching. I would say anyone of any age and size, we really just stand for, a woman is a woman so anyone, everyone.” -Vettese

Her Journey

Becoming a designer has definitely not been easy, but Vettese says
she always believes preparation meets opportunity.

“Just staying prepared has really helped me just really knowing my craft and my art very well first and foremost, so you never really get lost on the journey.” -Vettese

Vettese is still in school at USD studying business, but following her passion to become a designer has been nothing but an awesome journey and experience.

As for some advice to younger designers, Vettese says that it’s very important to start where you are with what you have.

“I would say let your craft be your main focus and really sharpen that first.” -VetteseShe adds it’s important to be ready and prepared for when an
opportunity comes along.

The Future

As for the future, Vettese just hopes to reach as many people as possible. Whether it be women, men, boys or girls, she hopes her brand touches them in some way.

“I just really hope the artistry behind the brand and the actual concept reaches many people and just really inspires them to really just feel empowered and confident in who they are.” -Vettese

I for one can’t wait to see what other designs and items she creates on this amazing journey of reminding us all that our inner glow comes from within. Head over to the Marilyn Hatten website to check out the designs and clothing items for yourself!

Also, don’t forget to follow Marilyn Hatten on Instagram to see behind the scenes pictures of the designs and other inspirations!

story online at Sarah Scoop: http://sarahscoop.com/interview-with-kari-vettese-designer-and-creator-of-marilyn-hatten/

Out of the Darkness Walk fundraises for suicide prevention and awareness

Sunday’s second annual Out of the Darkness Walk shed a light on suicide awareness and prevention by raising funds for research, education and support programs for those affected by suicide. The program included several speakers, a blessing from a local minister, a balloon release and a mile-long walk around campus.

More than 600 people registered for this year’s walk, and $24,711 was raised through donations, more than doubling last year’s numbers. Online fundraising is open through December.

Junior Maddy Gumbko, chairman for the walk, helped plan both this year’s and last year’s walk due to her personal connection with suicide.

“I lost a very close friend to suicide, and there are so many other people out there who have, too,” Gumbko said. “It’s an illness. These people are in a dark tunnel, but it’s 100 percent preventable.”

In Mississippi, suicide is the second leading cause of death for the ages 10-24 and is the 12th leading cause of death overall. On average, one person dies by suicide approximately every 20 hours in the state. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has worked to pass laws regarding suicide prevention in the state.

“This walk addresses the elephant in the room and lets people know, especially on college campuses, that they’re not alone and there are resources out there to help them,” Gumbko said.

AFSP board member Pam Smith’s son committed suicide two-and-a-half-years ago. In her role, Smith promotes awareness and educates others on suicide prevention by helping plan walks, events and various other programs with all the funds AFSP raises.

“Once in a while, I’ll look up to my son, and I thank him for giving me a second job,” Smith said.

In addition to the programs AFSP offers to high schools and universities, it has firearm awareness programs which provide free gun locks. AFSP also holds various events, including Strikeout for Suicide, Singing to Save a Life and its annual Survival Day, planned for next month at Saltillo City Hall.

AFSP also has the ASIST (Applied Suicide Invention Skills Training) program through which people can become trained caregivers and help prevent someone from committing suicide.

“I get calls constantly from parents if they think their child is suicidal and from people themselves who are struggling,” Smith said. “If I think it’s very serious and there could be self harm, I call an ambulance.”

Kathryn Forbes, senior president and founder of the Ole Miss Active Minds chapter, paired up with AFSP and helped promote this walk to help spread mental health awareness.

“Mental health and suicide awareness is really close to my heart and something that should be talked about,” Forbes said. “This walk promotes this talking and keeps these tough conversations happening.”

Active Minds is planning other events to help spread mental health and suicide awareness throughout the year. It also has a Mental Health week planned for April.

Associated Student Body President Dion Kevin was walking at the event to remember his fraternity brother who took his own life and said he believes there should be more events like this walk in the future.

“It’s important for the campus communities to seek adequate answers to this problem,” Kevin said. “It really falls on the younger generation, and it’s important to learn about suicide prevention.”

The group’s next planned Out of the Darkness walk is next Saturday in Tupelo.