Written by Tiffanie Petett

Oil-slicked and elbow-greased, after spending the day under the hood of her favorite Limited Edition, two-door Roadster, Setorii Pond transforms into a red carpet beauty, making a statement in the fashion industry with her eclectic design aesthetic that transcends far beyond your basic needle and thread. This car aficionado cross collaborates her undying adoration of classic automobiles with the soft sophistication of fashion to embody an edgy elegance in her pieces, aiming to highlight a woman’s natural beauty in every piece.

The recent launch of her Spring 2012 Resort Wear collection features an array of couture, handmade pieces, including silk chiffons and chic kaftans, inspired by the artistic nature of The Pond Collection. A unique assortment of 110 automobiles, The Pond Collection is a rare showcasing of classic, antique, and exotic cars, as well as film prop cars, racecars, and custom hot rods.  Some of Setorii’s favorites include the Ferrari 250 TR, Aston Martin AR1, 1939 Rolls Royce Phantom (featured in the film noir Sunset Boulevard), Tucker, and Jaguar XJ13. That’s right, this native newcomer can go from changing the oil of her locomotive wonders to creating fabulous haute couture designs—a talent only the most oddly inventive could fathom.

With calendars and a reality show underway, Setorii’s love for her grandfather inspired her to also create a coffee table book, The Art of Setorii, which highlights both her designs as well as the cars from her collection and photographed by Jeff Linett. Continuing to build her brand as a unique designer, Setorii’s pieces have been seen on celebrities and fashion icons, such as Kim Kardashian, Paula Abdul, Victoria Justice, Sophia Bush, Jillian Rose Reed, Alyssa Milano, Jayde Nicole, Bai Ling, and Bipasha Basu. Through it all, she lives by her mantra, “Create your own red carpet,” bringing imagination and alluring beauty to life through her ensembles. Still, her roots as a car lover persevere as she marries her lifelong passions, however seemingly different, from the highway to the runway.