SHOWROOM NEW YORK PRESENTS...

Advice -

2010-01-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hello, please check back often as we will be featuring advice from seasoned and just starting out designers.

Today's advice comes from Layla L'obatti of Between the Sheets

"Don't put music on your site, have an IMAGE of your product/brand on the main page-NOT FLASH"

Francoise Olivas - Beautiful Clothing, Beautiful Mission

2010-01-12T08:24:00.000-08:00

Part of the beauty of the fashion industry is the route that people have taken to get there. There are not two stories alike. Sure most designers have had training in some form, and have gained practical experience in a work environment whether through an internship or an entry level job yet everyone's course has surely differed.

For Francoise Olivas, her entrance to the fashion world began a little later in life. She originally went to FIT to become an art director, and worked in advertising for about ten years. When she was stranded in London during 9/11, Francoise had time to reflect on her life. Although she had a successful career which would be more than fulfilling to your average person, it wasn't rewarding enough for Francoise. She knew that it was important for her to accomplish something more meaningful, and to help people from around the world. I interviewed her because inspiring, especially for young fashion students such as myself.

Francoise has always been inspired by her family's diverse tastes and textiles of foreign countries. She believes that through this awareness of other cultures she was able to create the idea of blending beauty with fair trade pieces. It is an effort to do more than just design clothes. Using fair trade pieces is a way to give back to communities in third world countries that desperately need assistance.

Her dream began to take shape as she went back to FIT to study fashion design, and interned for Nanette Lepore and Kate Spade. During this time, she attended a march for women's rights in Washington D.C with her mother and their neighbor, Rosanne. As she was explaining her fair trade ideas to Rosanne, she replied with 'You are about to meet some of the most influential women in the world'. Francoise was unaware of the help she was about to receive. When she arrived at the global conference, she stood up and shared her mission. The women responded with immensely positive feedback and they helped her make contacts with NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations around the world). After receiving her first bonus from a fashion show, rather than treating herself to a fancy dinner, she bought her first plane ticket to Guatemala. This was the start of a lasting relationship with these women.

The NGOs helped her to plan everything out and over time she learned how to work with the communities so that everyone benefits. There is a balance within the villages, and it is important to not upset this by over or under paying for work. The NGO helped her to establish factors such as fair minimum wage prices that will not upset this balance. The textile work that they do is on backstrap looms or foot looms, so the widths are restricted. She mainly incorporates them into her collections as trims and accents. Once she began working with Guatemala, the village helped her to connect with other villages with different products and to expand her network.

During our interview, she described the women that she works with and how employing them greatly improves their self worth and said this is the most rewarding part of her job. She works mainly with women as they are the ones who have been doing the textile crafts for generations while the men of the villages were doing woodworking,
farming or are jewelry artisans.

In cases such as Guatemala who had been fighting a civil war for 36 years, or Sri Lanka a fishing society devastated by a tsunami there have been many casualties amongst men. This makes it especially more important for the single mothers to be employed as they try to rebuild. Her pieces contain work from additional countries such as Afghanistan, Argentina, Cambodia, Ghana, and Mexico.

Francoise's designs are not only fair trade, but they are also organic. She described that there are different shades of green, but that all of her designs are 100% organic, beginning from the raw materials, and through the dying and finishing processes. She also produces her collection locally in NYC's Garment District, as she is a fighter in the effort to preserve it.

I asked her for advice to young designers wanting to work in the organic market yet have limited funds. Apparently organic jersey is the cheapest fabric and it is also extremely versatile. Another pointer was to start small and create a collection that has limited pieces yet a clear perspective. She believes that the most important part of being a designer is to find your voice. It is also
important to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin and to be able to withstand being critiqued.

For Francoise Olivas, she looked to fill a niche in the market to combine beautiful garments with ethical practices. She wanted her pieces to tell a story and now she sees two, from the woman wearing it and the women who helped to create it. Can you be proud of the history behind your outfit?

by Caitlin Kane

Showroom New York Jury - January 14th

2010-01-06T12:06:00.000-08:00

________________________________________________________________________

Contact:

Erika Sanchez Samantha Bhatty

Erika.sanchezpr@yahoo.com Director Sales/Marketing Showroom NY

917-318 5697 sbhatty@showroomnewyork.org

212-575-5040

SHOWROOM NEW YORK SEEKS YOUNG DESIGNERS

TO JOIN FOR FALL/WINTER 2010 SEASON

New York, NY – January 5, 2010 -- Showroom New York, a showroom funded by the state of New York whose aim is to promote “New York Made” fashion, is holding their Showroom Designer Jury on January 14^th at Stoll Fashion & Technology Center. The Showroom is seeking contemporary ready-to-wear and accessory designers to join the showroom for the fall/winter 2010 season.

The designers will be judged based on quality, innovation and marketability. Collections of a selection of pre-screened New York City designers, both designers currently housed at the showroom and new designers hoping to join, will be reviewed by a panel of industry professional including Tanama Besosa Castillo Market Editor of Allure Magazine. Additional panelists to be announced.

Acceptance into the showroom includes sales representation through the fall/winter 2010 season amongst other networking opportunities. In addition to representation, Showroom New York offers business and marketing support as well as sourcing referrals for local production.

“Showroom New York has the potential to give great exposure to many talented designers living in New York City who don’t necessarily have the resources to market their line,” says Samantha Bhatty, Director of Sales and Marketing at Showroom New York.

Last September, several designers at Showroom New York were invited to showcase their spring/summer 2010 collection at the Showroom New York booth at Coterie trade show in New York City.

Designers hoping to enter should contact Showroom New York before January 11^th to submit clothing. For more information on the Designer Jury and Showroom New York, please visit www.showroomnewyork.org.

About Showroom New York:

Showroom New York is the first of its kind in New York City. The concept of the showroom is to incubate and nurture young talent in a non profit spirit. Motivated by its mission to support apparel manufacturing in New York City, The Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC) launched Showroom New York in January of 2008. Showroom New York and the GIDC's efforts are contributing to ensure the Garment District will be there for the Anna Sui, Elie Tahari and Marc Jacobs of tomorrow. One of the main requirements for submission into the showroom is manufacturing in New York. Without local apparel manufacturing, New York will cease to be one of the fashion capitals of the world.

About Stoll Fashion and Technology Center:

The new Stoll Fashion & Technology Center – New York is located at 250 West 39^th Street, in the heart of the Garment District of Manhattan. The Center is built around various core concepts such as “inspirational archive”, "prototype sampling”, “sourcing”, and "training”. New York, as a fashion trend-setter, is the right environment for Stoll’s new US-based knitwear development facility. We are a meeting place where American Knitwear Designers and Developers, Business Partners and our existing Stoll Customers can get together and work on new knitwear developments and solutions. We work with both large and small companies to produce high-quality knitted samples. In addition, Stoll Fashion & Technology partners will find a platform to present their solutions for yarn sourcing and manufacturers will discover innovative ways to combine knitwear design and functionality under Stoll’s motto “The right way to knit".

Newest Designer to Showroom New York: Leanne Marshall

2009-07-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

Showroom New York would like to welcome our newest designer Leanne Marshall, winner of season 5 Project Runway. A Portland, Oregon native, and a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Leanne is now a full fledge New York designer, and the transition is very apparent in her fall 2009 collection, compared to her spring 2009 Project Runway collection, Making Waves, which had a much more natural and organic feel. She says the drastic change “signifies my (her) transition from Portland to New York.” She goes on to say the fall 2009 collection was “inspired by the skyline of Manhattan that I (Leanne) could see from my (her) window in Brooklyn.”

Leanne says that she is excited to join Showroom New York because she has been in search of a showroom for quite some time, and had yet to find the right fit. She says she is “excited to join the showroom because most showrooms only house your collections, and help to make sales, but none help with the production of the clothes.” Leanne is new to production, and relatively new to New York, so she is happy to have the assistance of the showroom in finding quality factories and vendors to produce her collection.

She is also very passionate about local production and keeping the garment industry in New York alive, which is another reason why she says Showroom New York is “a perfect fit” for her. When asked if she would always keep her production local, she responded with a simple, but firm “Definitely”. She elaborated by saying that “there are so many capable people here that need jobs.”

Of course, with the current economy, entering into any business venture can be risky. When asked how she feels about starting a brand in this situation, Leanne plainly states that she “couldn’t imagine being anything else.” She goes on to say that she is lucky because she “received lots of exposure from the show (Project Runway).” With the economy in mind, Leanne’s fall 2009 collection is “designed with a well rounded price range”.

With her fall 2009 collection now in production, Leanne is getting an earlier start on her spring 2010 collection. Although she says she has a bad habit of procrastinated, she is learning from her mistakes along the way, and has high hopes with the help of Showroom New York in conjunction with the Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC).

Dinna Soliman Brings Sexy Silhouettes to Spring!

2009-04-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.dinnasoliman.com/

Spring is about change and new awakenings. In 2009 we need to be ready for the unexpected. This season Dinna Soliman has a fresh take on survival. The new collection captures the essentials of the outdoors and translates them into everyday urban life. An abundance of oversized cargo pockets and nylon strapping impulsively accentuate sexy silhouettes as jersey, linen and mesh in earthy neutral are highlighted by tangerine. Military functionality has found its innovative personality. Dinna Soliman originally set out to become an architect. After one year of study at the University of Maryland the underlying urge to work in fashion could not contain itself. In 2001 she moved to New York City and studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology as a part-time night student. During the day she began learning the ins and outs of the fashion industry. Rather quickly, Dinna was able to spearhead her way into a promising career as a designer for several major commercial apparel brands. She worked on a gamut of product ranging from women’s wear, juniors, children’s and even menswear. In 2007, after collecting 6 years of industry experience, she set out to debut her namesake collection where technical elements are commonly fused with feminine silhouettes.

KAHRI BY KAHRI ANNE KERR

2009-04-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

From the Farm to the Big City
Growing up on a farm outside the hamlet of Tripoli in northeast Iowa, where fashion is of little concern, KahriAnne Kerr broke the mold. From an early age, KahriAnne loved all things creative and artistic

KahriAnne headed out to NYC in August 2003 to attend the fashion design program at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology. KahriAnne then began to sell her collection in NYC stores and e-boutiques. Kahri also set up a temporary mini-store in SoHo, as a part of the designer collective, Burrow, in Spring 2005. After FIT, KahriAnne focused on designing and selling her collection, as well as working various design jobs in the fashion industry.

Now the hip, funky, rocker chic women’s contemporary clothing line Kahri by KahriAnne Kerr is sold at over 20 boutiques across the US, England, Scotland, and Israel, as well as 30 online boutiques. Kahri has also been featured in many fashion shows with celebrity hosts and performers, such as Kanye West, MTV’s Quddus, BET’s Melissa Ford, Keenyah Hill and Naima Mora from America’s Next Top Model, on TV programs, such as Fuse TV, 99% Fashion, and BPM TV, as well as many magazines, such as Interview, React, US Weekly, Rockpile, The Ave, Shut Up, Exactly, Venuszine, and more. Recording artists such as Fergie, Aubrey from Danity Kane, Brandi Carlisle, and Paris Hilton have also rocked Kahri gear on and off of their video shoots.

Now go on and Be Rebellious!

TO: 2FER!

2009-04-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

http://2fer-nyc.com

The Brand: Wardrobe for Modern Women....fer , came from Latin word “facere”, which means to produce. 2fer was created by a team of 2 designers, and the philosophy behind the brand is to provide wardrobe for modern women who appreciate fashion and style. As fashion has become more accessible for the general, it is no longer just a rare luxurious treat and the way women dress themselves nowadays is different from last decade, women are asking for clothing that are easy and versatile, but with right amount of details to make it special. 2fer’s philosophy is mixing and matching, as well as layering pieces, and we encourage our women to do the same when dressing themselves.

Continuing the flirty mood and adventurous spirit from last season, but with an approach of grown up attitude; 2fer attempts to prepare their women for the cold climate in all senses and perspectives. The collection shows mixing and matching of textures in fabrication by drawing inspirations from nature sceneries and phenomena such as aurora, pink cloud, and also all sorts of landscape in Arctic. Asymmetrical and layering details have been developed as 2fer’s signature look; by combining warm color story and cozy silhouettes 2fer wants to bring women a sense of coziness and comfort for their mind, but remain looking fashionable and stylish for their body in Fall/Winter ‘09 - ’10.

FROM TWEED TO "TWITTER": FASHION FOLLOWS

2009-04-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

Haven’t you ever wondered what your fave mags and models were doing every second of every minute? Its like reading your yearly subscription of Vogue each month, and getting daily doses of Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) is just not good enough these days…we need more, more, more! I wouldn’t consider it snooping, just more of an obsession with everything totally fab. As fashion begins to expand its market from brick and mortar to monitors and mouse pads, we all can “tweet” away with Twitter icons like The Daily, Vogue, celebrities Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Ashton Kutcher, and of course Brittany. So if you could please place those night goggles and phony press passes down; you can now employ as an online fashion stocker by tweeting your way to fabulosity. The Garment Industry Development Corporation (GIDC) launched its profile in March 2009 with local NY designers and industry professionals following the cycle of today’s fashion production. According to Alexandra Mora, GIDC Marketing Director, “Twitter is the trendiest way to keep up…Every Fashionista Tweets!” Become an insider, and follow the lives of fashion’s chicest profiles.

THE TRIBAL BEATS OF FASHION!!

2009-04-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Lions, Tigers, and Bears…Oh My! This spring, Fashion takes a turn into the wild, tribal prints are being seen everywhere. From Louis Vuitton’s Kalahari edition handbags which carries the traditional monogram print, trimmed in metallic leather, large beaded rope enclosure with a round supple shape ($2600) to Jimmy Choo high heeled silver beaded woven sandal, adorned by a moccasin leather fringe ankle strap (Coming Soon). Rhythmic drums are beating into the streets, while Fashionistas fill their wardrobes with Indian, Asian and African inspired designs. Luckily, you don’t have to “Dance with Wolves” to find these styles, stores like H&M, Forever21, and Topshop are mixing things up as well. Now ask yourself, would you rather be the little Indian that could or the Chief of style…My Answer: Don’t be left wearing your Pre-Millennium collection this spring/summer season! Free that inner beast, become one with Mother Nature, and Bring colors of flavor into that gray slated winter wardrobe. Let your style be your guide into the Safari lands of Africa, and roar with attitude as you sashay down 5th Ave.

THE PASSION BEHIND SHEILA ELAINE

2009-03-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

Sheila Elaine is an energetic young accessories company with a passion for creating edgy and elegant accessories and clothing. Our design process begins by pondering a new piece of fabric for all of its possibility and potential. We then envision design concepts and work to utilize the elements of fabric, texture and color in unexpected ways. In a very real sense, our pieces are collages: novel arrangements of shapes designed to work together to achieve dramatic effect.
Sarah Wagner is the Founder and Designer of Sheila Elaine. The Sheila Elaine line was named in memory of her two very fashionable aunts, Sheila and Elaine Sarah was raised in Memphis, Tennessee (home of Elvis Presley) amidst a family of talented amateur artists and musicians. After graduating college with a B.A. in communications from Yeshiva University, she spent time working in advertising before marrying and moving to Paris, France. She has been vastly inspired by her world travels, experiences and the art of her family members, to keep adding to the Sheila Elaine repertory.
Shelbee Teller is the Head of Sales & Production for Sheila Elaine. For the past three years, Shelbee has been an integral part of the design process, and manages Sheila Elaine’s Production and Sales teams. Shelbee has taken Sheila Elaine from bolts of fabric on a New Jersey dining room table to boutiques all over the world.

http://www.sheilaelaine.com/

NATURE VS FUTURE

2009-03-23T11:41:00.001-07:00

http://www.naturevsfuture.com/

The birth of ‘naturevsfuture®’ was in the spring of 2002 by Brooklyn born Nina Valenti. Launched 6 years after graduating Parsons & designing streetwear, Valenti needed to create her own line that would expose her unique aesthetic. The name was inspired by the designer’s belief that there is a constant struggle between nature and future, a pressure between organic forces and technological ones. “The more we advance the more we need to consider nature before we deplete it. In this tension to find balance is the living energy of the collection and hence the name.” says Valenti. Designed with an eco-conscious approach, ‘naturevsfuture®’ acknowledges the increased environmental concerns & the need to preserve & respect the earth while advancing. Valenti chooses to incorporate more & more organic, sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable materials in the collection each season. Mixing such fabrics like organic cotton, organic wool, hemp, soy, bamboo, seacell® (seaweed), lyocell (wood pulp), Ingeo™ (created from corn), along with recycled & technological fabrics such as Polartec® (made from soda pop bottles or industry waste) she creates pieces that have a futuristic edge yet are inherently classic.“Naturevsfuture®” believes in minimizing waste. Pieces are created for longevity. They are collected & worn until they diminish rather than discarded after a season. “We learn every day so we can make better decisions on how we proceed. We try to spread environmental awareness through our products from the knowledge we acquire.” says Valenti. The collection is produced locally in NYC. Nina’s designs are a self-generated product of imagination blended with her passions from architecture, furniture, music & art. Valenti’s inspiration is drawn from all that stimulates the senses. Working with the body as the palette, balance, line quality, rhythm & movement are the elements Valenti incorporates into each piece. “‘Naturevsfuture®’ is an artistic statement in the form of clothing. It fuses classic with cutting edge, & deconstructive with a refined elegance to create a new & exciting look, suiting ones complex personality. Blending natural & futuristic fabric with architectural designs NVF is a new breed of organic futurism via clothing. It’s functional, comfortable and bold, made to truly fit the body.” says Valenti. The woman that wear ‘naturevsfuture®’ are intelligent, independent & creative women that do not follow trends but rather make their own statement. They like to look sexy but with a sophisticated & creative edge.
For such a young line ‘naturevsfuture®’, has received a promising amount of positive attention from the press including reviews in WWD, Italian Vogue, ELLEgirl, Nylon, Fader, Lucky, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Time Out New York, E The Environmental Magazine, The Ecologist (London), Rachel Ray Magazine, Block, DigitAll, Plenty, Fancy, NRG, 24/7, The Christian Science Monitor, The Daily News & The New York Post as well as website magazines such as Treehugger, The Huffington Post, JC Report, Trendcentral, The VillageVoice.com, Daily Candy & Mightyflirt.com. Valenti’s clothing has been spotted on celebrities like: Tina Faye, Parker Posey & Deborah Harry. ‘Naturevsfuture®’ has also made TV appearances on the ‘Today Show’, ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ on actress Lauren Graham & on ‘General Hospital’. ‘Naturevsfuture®’ has also appeared on the ‘Gilmore Girls’ and on ‘What Not to Wear’ (on the well dressed host of course). VISIT Nature Vs Future on www.showroomny.org!

THE ELEGANCE OF EVERY WOMAN: EVA KHURSHID

2009-03-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Eva Khurshid

http://www.evakhurshid.com/

Eva Khurshid New York is the first fashion line created to address the wants and needs of the modern woman. This concept is key to the heart of the brand, as it fills the fashion void that co-founders Fatima Monkush and Nyla Hashmi experienced growing up – the lack of clothing that allowed them to dress modestly while staying true to their inherent personal style. The Eva Khurshid woman exists across different backgrounds and cultures; she is career driven and sophisticated, with an on-the-go cosmopolitan lifestyle. Her confidence is captivating and her wardrobe is constructed in a way that appears effortless, refined and fashion forward; her clothing is not provocative yet she never goes unnoticed; she is EVERY WOMAN. The brand provides a new approach to fashion where the Eva Khurshid woman is in control of what she represents. Eva Khurshid brings to life the design-duo’s voice and vision, of giving women a choice and options in their outfits, of offering layers and pieces that can mix and match perfectly and can easily translate from day to night, for different occasions. The Fall 2009 collection offers both basics styles and signature looks that transcend time and trend to become instant classics in any woman’s wardrobe.

THE FRUITS OF FIG: SHOWROOM NEW YORK HITS THE MARKETS

2009-03-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

Showroom New York is on the road from the Big Apple to the FIG Tree. We're showcasing some of New York's premier designers: Anomaly Jewelry, Courtney Simmelkjaer, Deibe Rondon, Dres, Celestino by Sergio Guadarrama, Eva Khurshid, Sheila Elaine, Audrey & Me, Gina DeSilva, Chulette, and La China Loca. The FIG tradeshow will be taking place from Thurs. March 12th- Sat. March 14th; where buyers such as Nordstrom, Stanley Korshak, Tootsies, Forty-Five Ten Maison Weiss, By George, and Julian Gold will be in attendance. Dont worry New York we'll back be home in no time...Make your appointment to see what SHOWROOM NEW YORK is harvesting for the FALL 09 Season!

MY OBESSION WITH DRES COLLECTION!!

2009-03-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Dres Designs
www.dresdesigns.com

No stranger to the industry, DRES has shown numerous times with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in both New York and Los Angeles. Andres, the company’s founder, has worked with big designer labels Ralph Lauren, TSE, and independent New York labels Benjamin Cho, Zaldy and Alexander Wang. DRES has been featured most recently in Vogue, Style.com, WWD, Surface, BlackBook, Lucire,Time Out New York, AM New York and on TV’s “ The View.” Formerly a ready-to-wear designer, Andres’ obsession and primary focus is his line of perforated accessories. The DRES Collection uses the finest, most supple, thick Italian leather custom perforated by local craftsmen. DRES was titled “the King of Perforating” in newspaper AM New York. DRES SPORT launched last season with untraditional totes pairing industrial canvas with durable rubber bottoms.

SHOWROOM NEW YORK DUSTS OFF GARMENT INDUSTRY

2009-03-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Whooooooo.....!! Showroom New York blows the dust off the Garment Industry by bringing exposure to up and coming New York designers. The Garment Industry Development Corp. (GIDC) proudly introduces Showroom NY, featuring a select group of designers who produce in New York. GIDC has an exciting mission to strengthen the local apparel industry and help maintain New York City’s position as a global fashion capital. Over the last two decades, GIDC has become the place where design meets production, linking designers, labels, retailers and the City’s high quality manufacturers. Since 2007, Showroom New York has provided a professional venue for designers such as Celestino by Sergio Guadarrama, Dres, Dinna Soliman, 2Fer, Deibe Rondon, Eva Khurshid, Harvey Faircloth, Nature vs Future, Gina DeSilva, La China Loca, Sheila Elaine, Francoise Olivas, Chulette, Audrey & Me,Courtney Simmelkjaer, Karen Sabag and Kahri by Kahri Anne Kerr. Showroom New York has established promotion by showcasing designers in 7th on 6th runway shows, Spring 2009 "Sew New York" and Fall 2009 "TWENTY FIVE THE SHOW", as well as the FIG Tradeshow held in Dallas, TX. No matter what DOW JONES may say, the New York Fashion industry is ALIVE and Showroom New York is LIVING It!!