The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2022 - Issue 32

CC MASON bitebags C C Mason is a woman of many talents; she’s a fashion writer working with international publications like Vegas 2 LA and My Soho Times , a spokeswoman and a brand ambassador. She was the official vintage fashion cor- respondent and filmed multiple commercials for Goodwood Revival. As a child, she studied and built robots, winning a world championship title in robotics and landing a permanent spot in NASA’s archives. However, the creative confessed her most significant accomplishment is becoming a designer, with her first designs sold on Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Amazon. She revealed when she was a little girl, her mum sewed all of her outfits and would order red with gold lettering custom tags from the catalogue that said, ‘CC’s Closet’ and stitch them to her clothes. “I told her we would design the pieces and create our collection one day.” In 2021, after CC hung up her robotics medals and band shirts, she eagerly delved fully into fashion and entertainment as a business. She approached the New York brand House of Want to make the first step in her design dreams come true with a collection of handbags. CC has been in the fashion industry for almost a decade as a model and a digital creator. Her experiences opened the door to a wide range of global styles, so she could pull inspiration from many places while designing her pieces. She gives credit to fashion week runways for inspiring her to create handbags. “A fabulous bag or belt can make or break a look, and I feel like they’re the cornerstone for all good outfits, especially on a catwalk,” says the fashionista. What does fashion mean to CC? “Fashion, to me, is freedom of expression, being able to create the character you want to be every day. Fashion gives confidence in a way no other thing can and brings people together worldwide, which is priceless.” When staying up to date with the city’s style, the designer explained it depends on the city you are in. “I spend my time between England and Los Angeles, and they couldn’t be more different. Los Angeles is the absolute definition of casual. The people who walk around in dirty sweatpants with their hair up in messy buns are almost all millionaires; they have nothing to prove! On the other hand, England is full of people who care about every detail of their outfits whenever they go out. Regardless of their style, from head to toe, everything is thought out, even the tracksuits!” CC prefers drawing her designs rather than constructing them because she can go through the design iterations faster until she lands on what she wants. The first accessory she designed was a pair of earrings, two sets of crystal drop earrings hooked together she wore to a school dance and still has. However, she confessed she does not have pierced ears. “I’ve tried, and it never worked for me!” She often has to make her clip-on by glueing pieces together. Since the handbags are her first accessories collection, she still needs to determine her design signature. However, she wishes to normalise ‘daytime sequins’ in the future. “I started this with my sequin bag, a warm rose gold, a purposely neutral colour, hoping people will start to warm up to the idea!” She loves when her designs come to life. “Being able to hold some- thing in your hands that was only thought about six months ago is simply unreal!” The designer shared it usually takes around eight months to a year from conception to launch, and the most important thing is to ensure her creations are accessibly priced. CC believes fashion should be for everyone. According to the fashionista, quality products come down to the hardware, as she considers cheap zippers and clasps can completely ruin any design, no matter how inspired. “When I’m buying clothes and accesso- ries for myself, it’s the first thing I look at to see if the product is quality!” Countless designers constantly inspire CC, her current favourite being the House of Prada. “They always seem to have their fingers on the pulse of the accessories market,” she said, “and their handbags are beautifully timeless while still being fresh.” Her goal is to make sure everyone feels famous when they wear her bags but saying that, she would love to see HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales, or Paris Hilton carry them! “I know you couldn’t get two people who are more H.O.W. We #CC