Black Lotus clothing is the creation of Christina Molcillo, inspired by the bellydance scene of the Bay Area. Born and raised in Fremont, California, Christina attended the Academy of Art San Francisco and tells us that “Fashion was my final choice after taking a photography class, illustration, and computer graphics. I always knew I wanted to do something artistic but couldn’t pin down exactly what. The thought of being a fine artist bored me.

“I spent one of my summers [while since in high school] studying all the above at AAC – it was then that I realized fashion involved everything I loved. I got to illustrate my designs, take pictures of them and use computer graphics in my marketing. I love the energy of fashion shows and thought if I became an illustrator I’d be cooped up in a room all day alone. Funny, cause I do all my own sewing and ended up being cooped up anyways. But at least I get to emerge when there are fashion shows, or vending events.”

Christina was drawn to tribal bellydance upon seeing a dancer perform one Christmas at the Dickens Fair. She loved the costuming and found the moves to be simple; “I immediately thought, hmm, I could do that.” They spoke after the performance and Christina was told about the dancer’s troupe, Fat Chance Belly Dance. “I went home and did my research on the computer and found there was a whole culture [behind tribal dancers]. I found Belly dance classes at an adult school near me tought by Celena and that’s where it all began.”

With the growing popularity of raqs gothique and tribal fusion, she finds these art forms pair well with our scene. She tells us, “Belly Dance in general is a very mysterious and sultry dance. It doesn’t surprise me that Goths would naturally be drawn to it. Goths have always been overly dramatic, and what better way to accompany it then a stage and elaborate costuming!

“I also feel that the dancing style and all its romantic charms are both very similar. Swap a few of your Goth moves for belly dance moves and, surprise, they work just as well! Not to mention both cultures have old world charms, intricate jewelry, and lots and lots of fabulous clothes. There a match made in heaven... hmmm.... Or hell.”

Christina originally began working with a partner, Jennifer from From The Fig Tree in the initial launch of the Black Lotus line that was first sold on Ebay. They started with cholis and harem pants manufactured with their own special flavour, but they amicably and mutually split.

“We parted ways because our styles are so different. She’s really into hippie patch-work type stuff and I love it, but wouldn’t want to make it. She feels the same; likes my style, but can’t design it.”

Christina finds her inspiration in the fabric store. “I know what I like, and when I see it, a garment appears in my head. I then go home and try to recreate it. Sometimes I don’t get around to it for months, I just store it upstairs in an imaginary file. I also have an addiction to fabric, beads, yarn, and silk screening materials. I have an entire room filled with fabric that I bought just because I liked it, or it was on sale, and then add it to the collection and eventually get around to using it.

“I do my best to pay attention to what belly dancers really wear; I take note of patterns and silhouettes. I really don’t like looking at what other costumes are out there. The worst place to get inspiration, is from someone else’s Ideas.

“Unfortunately for me, my best time for creative thoughts is in the middle of the night, while I’m trying to sleep. I’m an insomniac; ideas just keep coming and coming. It’s really annoying, but I’ve come up with by best ideas lying in bed. ”

Christina creates costumes that look less costumey and are the outfits she’d like to wear. She claims that the traditional tribal gear was exhausted and she wanted to take a different route. Originality is important to her and “It wasn’t until I finished my pieces that I laughed because I realized I used nothing of the traditional belly dance costume. Off the bat, I don’t even think it looks like belly dance costuming more like stuff you’d wear to Burning Man.”