Quincy Crutchfield, Designer of Sins&Virtues Lifestyle Interview

As our biggest event ever- La Femme- nears, everything seems to be falling into place, literally. Thanks to Quincy Crutchfield, the up-and-coming designer of Sins&Virtues Lifestyle,  great necklaces, earrings, and bracelets will be seen cascading down our models' bodies as they strut down the runway on April 15. 

We've posted some images featuring Sins&Virtues designs, in addition to sitting down with the designer himself, to get your just as pumped about his jewelry as we are!

Hemline: What made you decide to start designing Sins&Virtues Lifestyle?

Quincy Crutchfield: It began as a “hmm let me see if…” I had a rosary that I really liked when I was younger, and I lost it.  So, one day I thought I could probably make one.  I had a friend text me the pieces I needed while I wandered through Hobby Lobby and Michaels, found the pieces, and went home and got to work… and the fascination with designing jewelry began!  Now, however, all of my pieces are made from a combination of vintage pieces I find and new materials.

H: Sins&Virtues Lifestyle seems like a pretty loaded name; what's behind it?

QC: The core meaning is simple and one of the mottos for the line… we are good, we are bad, we are only human.  No one is perfect but yet we try to achieve some form of perfection.  Also it just articulates the fight between good and evil, and which side we allow to be most evident in our lives.  Digging deeper into why I named my line Sins&Virtues, I would say it is because all of my designs have duality to them.  Especially my clothing designs.  The tag line for my jewelry says that “our beauty is in our imperfections” and again it ties in with Sins&Virtues because we do have flaws (sins), but we also are beautiful in those flaws because we have virtues that we strive to make more prevalent and do good things. I view creativity as a gift and a curse, as well. I love painting, drawing, and designing so much while I’m doing it, but once it’s done there is a constant struggle to duplicate the beauty of the creation or to make the creation better. Also I just like the name because it sounds cool! 

           

H: Where do you draw inspiration from?

QC: Literally everything!  It could be my environment at the moment, music, art, television, random lyrics from poetry, or anything in between. It’s weird sometimes because I will be in the middle of something and then all of a sudden I get an idea, and I have to put it on paper right then.  Even when I sleep, I will get ideas and have to get up to sketch them.   My friends think I’m crazy sometimes because I’ll totally zone out when I get new ideas but talk about them out loud.  One of my coworkers said I should mention that I zone out in staff meetings as well and doodle designs. I still hear what’s being said, though!   

H: What kind of woman wears your jewelry line?

QC: I don’t really design for a specific demographic because my pieces are more like art.  I just design and create them with a vision in mind.  Also I don’t just design jewelry for women, I also have pieces for men.  Women’s jewelry is just more fun.  I’ve designed jewelry for females anywhere from the age of 2 all the way 80+ years old.  

H: As a man, what equips you to understand what women want to accessorize with?

QC: Definitely my abilities to observe and listen.  I also have friends that I bounce ideas off of and let them get the first peek at new designs.  I also like the “try and see” method; I’ll make something and see what kind of a response it gets.  Another asset is probably my ability to learn- from my mistakes, from others, and just to learn in general.  I love fashion, so I pay attention to it and just see what’s new and what people are wearing, then put my own twist on it!

H: What's in store next for fans of Sins&Virtues Lifestyle?

QC: CLOTHING!  I already have some t-shirts, scarves, sweatshirts and hoodies floating around but I look to fully launch my website and clothing line in October of this year.  So add Sins&Virtues as a friend on Facebook, and you will always be current on what is going on with that.  Sins&Virtues started solely as a clothing line, the jewelry was a byproduct.  There is a TON of stuff in store for fans of Sins&Virtues, but I can’t let the cat out of the bag just yet on some things.  I have to keep you guessing.

H: Where can customers find your jewelry?

QC: They have to get it directly from me!  My website is on the way though, which will make it a lot easier, but even then I don’t want to totally lose the interaction with the customer.  Especially since all my pieces are one of a kind, and I tailor them to the person and their style.  7Sins7Virtues@gmail.com, Twitter.com/SinsAndVirtues, or facebook.com/Sins7Virtues are the best ways to keep in touch with me!