It's a bittersweet ending!

 I am in utter shock that my internship is coming to an end. This entire summer has been life changing for me. Starting my summer with Ghana and ending it with my internship on SSI has been amazing.  I hope I can remember everything I've learned over the past six weeks and use it to the best of my ability.

I would rate my overall performance a nine out of ten. I feel like I worked the hardest I've ever done before. I do realize I was at the beach the entire summer and it was not a normal 9 to 5 internship but that did not stop me from working beyond my full potential. I have learned so much about  what it truly takes to make a clothing line and run a high end store. Leslie also went above and beyond to show me how to sew, use illustrator and let me read over her books from Parsons School of Design. I always made sure I communicated and dressed in a professional manor while working with Leslie and working in the store NANCY. I believe that my professional judgement has grown over this summer, but I know that I still have a lot to learn and experience to really understand this industry.

Like I've said in other posts Leslie has not only been a wonderful boss but an amazing mentor. She has counciled me on many occasions on my life, job and resume. I am so grateful to have been able to learn from such a wonderful woman and designer. I wish the best of luck to her as she leaves SSI to start a new life in Iowa with her husband. I truly am going to miss her.
 

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman

It's not about the hangers matching...

 

In what area of your internship do you feel your greatest abilities lie?

Defiantly, product development and customer service. I loved every minute researching and designing a line. It made me feel worth while and accomplished. Since I had the opportunity to work in NANCY, my knowledge of customer service and managerial skills allowed Leslie and Nancy to trust in me to be by myself in the store. 
In what areas do you need to improvement?
I grew up learning that there is always room for improvement and to never settle. I would love to learn more about sewing,  pattern making and illustrator. Leslie got me started on my way to feeling comfortable with each thing but I'm always pushing myself to improve. 
What was your best experience?
Designing the pre-fall line for Ben and making a lookbook. I'll post pictures of the line and lookbook this week. I thoroughly enjoyed my morning meetings with Leslie and working with her in the store.
Worst Experience?
Towards the end of my internship I felt a like there was a little wasted time when I was stuck in the store all day by myself. I totally realize I'm an intern and should not complain but I felt a little used and forgotten about. Thankfully I love retail and helping people so it worked out in the end.
Biggest "fashion lesson learned'?
It's not about the hangers matching in the store but the experience of buying clothing and quality of  clothes. Working in the store I noticed women cared more about customer service and the quality of the clothing than the fact none of the hangers matched. Another thing I learned, is that patience and endurance is important for the fashion industry. It's okay to smile and nod if you do not agree with someones ideas or views on a trend or etc. 


To sum up my internship and my biggest fashion lesson learned... watch this video of an amazing designer and artist VIDEO

    "It’s a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together."  — Alexander McQueen

Designers Revisit Copyright Protection

FAMILIAR LOOK Copies of royal wedding attire by ABS by Allen Schwartz.

 On Wednesday, ABS by Allen Schwartz began selling a series of royal-wedding-inspired dresses that includes a fairly good copy of the Alexander McQueen gown worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, for $1,100. That same night, Representative Bob Goodlatte, a Virginia Republican, reintroduced legislation seeking to grant copyright protection to designers, presumably discouraging exactly that kind of knockoff fashion.

Now five years into a campaign by the Council of Fashion Designers of America to enact some sort of protection for original designs, the proponents of such legislation say they have their best chance yet at seeing a bill become law.

One of the biggest differences in the new bill is that designers would have to prove that a copy is “substantially identical” to their originals, rather than “substantially similar.” In fact, it is difficult to imagine what exactly would be protected, though Mr. Kolb said that Kate Middleton’s wedding dress would probably be a good example, or anything you might see at the current Costume Institute exhibition of Alexander McQueen. But passage of the bill would be a symbolic victory for designers, especially those who have suffered financially by the widespread copying of their work.

Mr. Schwartz doesn’t think so. Pretty much anything that is created in fashion, he argued, is the result of what is in the air, so if two people are doing the same thing, it means they are both on trend. With his red-carpet-inspired dresses, he usually makes enough small changes that it would be hard to call them identical to the original, even when they look alike. “It’s hard to prove because it’s not the truth,” Mr. Schwartz said. “Can you imagine? These people would go around saying they made the first asymmetrical dress. It’s egocentric and it’ll never fly.”

click here to read more  

This has been an on going discussion between Leslie and I. Coming from a designers prescriptive, Leslie agrees with Mr. Schwartz that it will be extremely hard to prove how a piece of clothing has been copied and who can truly say they made something first. Before reading and talking with Leslie, I was on the CFDA's side. I still believe that there should be some rule/law that designers should follow but in a realistic manner that will prevent an unnecessary uprising. All in all Leslie and I are interested how this will play out in the years to come.
 
WILSON, E. (2011, July 15). Designers Revisit Copyright Protection - NYTimes.com. Fashion - Fashion Week - On the Runway Blog - NYTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/designers-revisit-copyright-protection/?ref=fashion 


Week:Six

Company Name: Ben

Internship position: Product Development Intern

It's All About The Illustrator And The Power of Patience

This will be the death of me.

 This is the first time I  had to work on my patience during my internship thus far. I have so much more respect for anyone who sits in an office all day and works on drawing flats in illustrator. Thank goodness I found out now that its not for me.  I am so grateful to have an understanding and appreciation for illustrator now but I do not think I will be doing it full time. 

I really value my time learning how to do things through listening and watching. I believe that it's part of the experience to just watch and listen to truly understand whats going on.  I feel that I have gained a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to put a line together and when to learn to have fun. My experiences with Leslie have been wonderful and I'm going to miss her terribly. I have been so blessed to be around positive and independent thinking women this whole summer. I can truly say I am a better person today from all my experiences and knowledge gained from all the people I have met this summer.

"Seek the wisdom of the ages, but look at the world through the eyes of a child."

~ Ron Wild

Analysis: Sell Or Go It Alone?

markets-news

ready-to-wear-sportswear

url=_markets_news_staying_independent_vs_selling_out_3701351_print_;

login=n;

kw=;

true

markets/news

3701351

 

To sell or not to sell? That is the question.

The contemporary sector, which was on a hot streak for several years before the recession hit and has been rebuilding, is bustling with mergers and acquisitions activity. Catherine Malandrino is rumored to be negotiating with Kellwood Co., while Andrew Rosen is talking with Proenza Schouler. In the past year or so, Steve Madden Ltd. purchased Betsey Johnson, while Kellwood added Rebecca Taylor and Adam to its contemporary stable, which already includes Vince. VF Corp. has purchased Ella Moss and Splendid; The Jones Group Inc. added Robert Rodriguez and Rachel Roy to its lineup, while Tory Burch took on Mexican investors. Rosen, chief executive officer of Theory Link Holdings, made private investments in firms such as Alice + Olivia, Gryphon and Rag & Bone.


As these brands benefit from larger corporate parents and more financing, other firms mull whether to also seek a buyer or go it alone in the increasingly competitive sector. Industry executives pointed out the three main reasons firms decide to sell their businesses are that they reach a point where they want to start opening retail stores, they want to expand their product offerings and they seek to develop a larger international business. All of these require capital, resources and manpower. A well-financed owner also allows firms more opportunities for marketing and advertising.  Of course, the downsides can be giving up ownership and control and, in some cases, losing rights to one’s name and leaving the company they founded altogether.

Firms such as Nanette Lepore, Milly and Tibi — all of which are husband-and-wife run businesses — have chosen to remain independent, which they say allows them to grow at their own pace and call the shots. But the interest from strategic and private equity investors is at a fever pitch.

While these brands prefer to remain independent, the likes of Rebecca Taylor, Adam and Vince are pleased they sold their businesses to Kellwood, which has enabled them to expand their retail network and launch new categories.

“Being part of a large organization allows us to benefit from shared resources,” said Beth Bugdaycay, ceo of Rebecca Taylor, citing areas such as human resources; accounting; legal; IT, and customer service. Rebecca Taylor, which was sold to Kellwood in January, expected to be fully integrated by this past June. The company generates between $35 million and $40 million in wholesale volume.  “We felt the timing was right to find a strategic partner. We had two objectives: to expand the product we’re offering and to have an accelerated retail rollout. We felt we could get there on our own, but at a much slower pace. We felt it could be faster with a partner.”


Adam Lippes has had two investors since he started his company. Since Kellwood acquired the firm, Lippes has seen improvements in areas such as production, financing, merchandising and sourcing. “It’s been a really great relationship,” he said. Kellwood took over the warehousing and beefed up the back of the house and fabric department.


 I brought this article to one of our annual morning meetings last week and found that Leslie was very disappointed in Rebecca Taylor for selling out. Even though she was disappointed in Rebbecca Taylor, she really enjoyed Amy Smilovic's views and ideas of the time & place to sell your company. On a side note Amy Smilovic is from St Simon's, Ga and has one of her stores here on the island. So it was interesting to see Leslie's take on her thoughts since she has met her a couple of times. 

 Click Here for More 

Lockwood, L. (2011, July 6). Analysis: Sell Or Go It Alone? - Fashion Markets News - WWD.com. Fashion, Beauty and Retail News - WWD.com. Retrieved July 10, 2011, from http://www.wwd.com/markets-news/staying-independent-vs-selling-out-3701351/print/ 

Week: Five

Company Name: Ben

Internship position: Product Development Intern

  

Fashion Fades, Only Style Remains The Same

  This past week went by extremely fast. Probably due to the 4th of July and working non-stop on finishing up the pre-fall collection for this upcoming week. I'm sooo excited to see the finish product. Leslie has been a major help on pretty much all of it and has been an amazing mentor. :-)

While working in the store last week, I had to opportunity to touch and try on some of the clothes to get a feel for all of NANCY's clothing. The store has clothing, shoes, purses and jewelry all at high end prices but that does not stop me from dreaming. Leslie said they price everything on what the vendor suggests or they decide on the price when the item comes in the store. Nancy gets the final say before it gets put onto the floor. It's an in-depth/crazy process but it works for them and that's what matters.

DRIES VAN NOTEN  $1,005.00 - 100% Silk and fits like a glove

MATTHEWJAMES $315.00 - Must have skirt for me

The Row $425.00 - This feels AMAZING

SOFIE D'HOORE $560.00 - I want this real bad. The perfect granny sweater.

 Above are some of my favorite items in the store. The majority of the apparel is updated classics with a twist, which I love and want. The SOFIE D'HOORE is an undated sweater that can be worn both ways from the front and back. I am now a fan of anything and everything from The Row. The quality and feel of their clothing is incredible.  The pictures really do not do justice on the quality and look of these items.

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” 
- Coco Chanel quotes

Spec Sheets, Sewing & Decorating

 This past week has been an eventful one. Leslie started me on the spec sheets for all of her flats so it's neat and organized for the next person who works on ben. She also taught me how to sew and sew a button... everyone get ready  because now I am capable of fixing your buttons or sewing on a button :). 

Leslie is letting me borrow one of her older sewing machine to practice on. I can officially make my own scarves now.

This is my first try at sewing ever. I practiced following Leslie's pre-made green lines to get a feel for sewing in a straight line.

The next photos show me altering my new shrug from Ghana. Thank goodness the pattern does not show my nonexistent straight line.