Claire Jane Vranian is a fearless, captivating and inspirational fashion designer and entrepreneur straight out of Britain. Lucky for me, she lives right here in Las Vegas and has become one of my favorite friends. She brings UK flavor to Las Vegas style with her to-die-for handmade handbags, rock star-style t-shirts and vibrant, sexy hair fascinators all of which can be purchased at InspiredbyClaireJane.com. Her designs are already capturing the attention of celebrities and can be found on former “Girls Next Door” twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon and Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott.

I got the chance to interview Claire Jane to find out how she got started, what inspires and motivates her and what the future holds for her and her label.

LS: It seems like you just jumped into designing head first. Like the idea sprung on you, and you just jumped into it. Is that what happened?
CJ: Absolutely. I’ve always been surrounded by a lot of artists, because of my special effects makeup background. And, I’ve always felt that there’s something out there for me – my passion. And I literally woke up one morning and thought, “I’m going to make a bag.”

I get inspired by fabrics, and I had walked into a quilting store in Utah and I had seen some fabrics and they seemed so cheesy but I thought, “Something needs to be created with these fabrics, kind of rock and roll.” And two days later I bought some fabrics and made a bag. And that was my very first bag, about a year and half ago.

I just found that I could do it, with literally no experience in sewing. I asked my sister, “Do you have a sewing machine I can borrow?” and she’s like, “Sure.” And I’m like, “Well, can you show me how to thread it?” And she was making some costumes, so she showed me how to sew a straight line. So, I put my two pieces of fabrics together, sewed on some straps and I had my handbag.

I just constantly worked and worked on fabric combinations, and I just found I had a passion for it. And I could express myself in way that I hadn’t been able to before.

LS: With that first design, were you thinking about selling, or were you thinking about creating?
CJ: I was just thinking that I wanted to make a bag for myself. Something for me, something personal that I could say, “You know what? I made this.” I took it out and then I gave it to my sister, Amanda, and her friends asked, “Where’d you get that bag?” And she’d say, “My sister made it.” And then I made a bag with skulls on it, and that one is really when I realized I could sell them. People stopped me on the street to ask me where I got it from.

But the t-shirts are a whole other story. We were in Dublin for Joe Elliott’s birthday, and he said to me, “I really love your handbags. Can you make me a jacket to wear onstage?” And I laughed and said, “Honey, I can sew a straight line for handbags, but jackets? I’m not there yet.” And I thought about it for awhile and thought that this could be a great opportunity for me to do something, so I told him, “You know what? I can design a t-shirt for you.” And that’s why my first designs were the Union Jack, you know, the whole Def Leppard thing. That’s how it all started with all the British flags. So, I have to thank Joe Elliott for getting me into t-shirts. And he wore them onstage straight away.

LS: Did you ever think you couldn’t do it?
CJ: In what respect?

LS: Well, it doesn’t seem like you ever had limits or doubted yourself.
CJ: I believe in myself. I believe I can do it. I believe everyone has the ability to become the best they can be. I am determined to make it work. And, I just work really hard at it. And I get a little insecure sometimes, thinking, “I love it. Will anyone else like it?” Then I have to really pull back and go back to my principle feeling and go back to the integrity of that I’m doing it for me. I’m expressing me and my art form. That’s what I’m doing in designing.

LS: Would that be your advice to anyone who wants to be a designer, but is scared to do so?
CJ: Yeah. Just believe in yourself and do what makes you happy. And I really don’t follow any trends. I never have. Even when I was younger and in school, I used to like to do my own thing. I’ve never really followed fashion. I’m more like, “I like that. So I’m going to wear it.” And, I think I’ve kind of gone back to my inner child a little bit. And that’s what gave me my strength.

LS: So how would you describe your aesthetic?
CJ: I’m influenced by a lot of things, but definitely rock and roll chic. But, I’m getting into classic designs. I want to produce a classic line of clutch bags that people can use everyday, with functionality so that people can take them to lunch or take them out to a dinner party or wear them out to a nightclub. Keep it kind of basic and classy. But, I’m all about the linings inside as well.

LS: Five years from now, where do you want your collection to be?
CJ: Well, on the front page of Vogue, of course!

WIN FASHION FROM INSPIRED BY CLAIRE JANE
You can win the Banana Cream Burnout Razor Back Tank top which features a beautiful crystal design PLUS a hair fascinator of your choice simply by doing only one of the following:

• Like the Inspired by Claire Jane Facebook fan page and tweet me on Twitter or leave a comment below to let me know you’ve done so.

• Or follow @InspiredbyCJ on Twitter and tweet me: “Hey, I love @InspiredbyCJ and am following her now.”

• Or leave a comment below and just tell me why you love Inspired by Claire Jane.

You have until the end of June to enter. One winner will be chosen at random and will win one Inspired by Claire Jane Banana Cream Burnout Razor Back Tank in the size of her choice and any hair fascinator of her choice, too. Thanks for entering and good luck!

See my own Inspired by Claire Jane fashion in this animoto slideshow.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.