L.A.'s 30 Under 30: The City's Rising Stars
The Designers: Dakota Solt and Lisa Ziven of Crybaby Presents
We’re big fans of creative collabs here at R29, and are always on the lookout for teams of two or more who work together to make big things happen, which is one of the many reasons we love Dakota Solt and Lisa Ziven of Crybaby Presents. While these two have known each other forever, it wasn’t until after they completed art school at RISD and moved back to L.A. that they forged a professional partnership to start the edgy fashion line. “The collaborative aspect of Crybaby is new to both of us,” says Solt. “It can be hard working with people in general because of egos and clashing opinions, but for us we just mesh and grow our ideas.” Together, these plucky pals have not only developed a collection that’s quickly gaining a following, but they also run a “migrating gallery,” producing original videos of artists and musicians all under one (roving) Crybaby roof.
With a bevy of events, an online store, and designs entering a second season, it’s clear that this inspiring team is just getting started and rip-roaring to go. Whether multi-tasking during synchronized hair-color and nail appointments or brainstorming en route to an appointment with a pattern maker, the duo seems to always be on the clock. “Some of our best ideas come to fruition on the various freeways of Los Angeles!” says Ziven. With fine arts fueling them both (Solt’s training is in painting and Ziven’s is in fashion), the two have everything it takes to make daring designs a reality. “The fact that I know construction and pattern making alleviates Solt from having to think about that aspect of design so she can run with her ideas. It makes for a killer combination.” After perusing their latest trippy lookbook, we’d have to agree.
—Elizabeth Parks Kibbey
Hair by Jacquie Fetch, makeup by Mayera Abeita and Ali Magee.
in NYC