Speak up! Sunday Q&A Session

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A designer asked me how he could avoid Labor Issues in production of his line and keep costs low?

For small business owners this is a very important question. While 98% of shoes and apparel are made overseas, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association, don’t be discouraged if you wish to produce American only made clothing.

Being able to keep a close eye on your product is key for smaller companies. You may not have the resources to fly employees out to check the conditions and ensure there aren’t child labor, structural buiding issues and other key factors that are not in compliance with your company’s ethics.

Therefore, I recommend utilizing a manufacturer in your own backyard. People tend to think that manufacturing oversees saves you tons of money. Perhaps it did at one point but currently some companies are shifting course with the push for increase pay overseas. It may still bode true for some products and individual companies to get a better “deal” but at what cost. Although wages in U.S. are higher than Asia & Mexico, manufacturers here are starting to streamline production using technology, through these methods they are able to then keep costs a little lower on this side. I believe with the right research you may be able to save money staying within your territory.

Here are a few suggestions:

1) NYC Garment District

listing of NY manufacturers and other great morsels of information

2) Manufacture is an incubator for those wanting to make clothes domestically

3) Maker’s Row profiles the best American Factories. You can search the site by the type of product you wish to have made and you will be given a list of results. You can contact them via the site or directly, send pics about what you need made etc. this is a great tool

4) Set your sights out of state in Raleigh, North Carolina or Fort Wayne, Indiana considered to be manufacturing hubs as well. Here are some links to listing of manufacturers in these areas Raleigh and Fort Wayne


Hope that helped! If you have a question then Speak Up! Send questions to danaleefrancesca@outlook.com!

Fashionably yours,
Danalee Francesca

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Sustainable Fashion Show NYFW

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Designers featured Sarah Carson Cloud of LEOTA and Tamara Leacock of ReciclaGEM
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The NYC Fair Trade Coalition created a platform to promote Eco-fashion and Fair Trade. They started this event in 2012. Check out Magnifeco who supported NYCFTC for this event.

 

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Fashionably Late Post,
Danalee Francesca

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Blue Man Swimwear

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Rogues Gallery presented a group of emerging designers during Fashion Week, they included Haneefa M., Puzzled By Agape, Lip Gloss-n-Stilletos, B’klyn Clothing Lab, Corinne Monique. I was able to catch a show for the swimwear line Blue Man designed by Daniel Azulay.  Inspired by Brazilian life and culture this collection is playful, sexy and imaginative. See for yourself.

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Fashionably yours,
Danalee Francesca

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Fashion Fridays: Designer Spotlight with the Domino Effect

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I happened to meet this young lady on the train this morn when a woman sitting next her started coughing uncontrollably.  Just as I have been for several days, no doubt due to allergies.

I offered the woman gum to aid her in her cough session, told her the mint flavor would soothe her throat.  The young lady and I, not the cougher, started asking one another what to do when you can’t stop coughing, put your hands over your head or something, we shared a giggle.  Anyway, I peeped her earrings and thought they were adorable, so of course I told her. I can’t help compliment people when they look good.

To my surprise she said she was a designer. Yay, love meeting aspiring designers. She told me she created these domino earrings and designs handmade jewelry. She also has an extensive vintage collection and loves finding pieces when she travels. She is branching into the vintage style area, looking to share her finds with the public. Happy that the cougher had a hand in connecting us, funny how I meet people, if you only knew my life on a daily basis.

So without further ado meet Ms. Derline Volney. I snapped a pic of her and the earrings. I am going to have to purchase a pair and get in on this domino effect!
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You can contact her at Facebook.com/Confessionsofbeauty or on Instagram/Confessions of Beauty.

Fashionably yours,
Danalee Francesca

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Fashion Law Institute Fashion Show

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The FLI Cafe show featured a select number of designers to show at the tents in celebration of their 3rd Anniversary and Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinics. The Institute and Clinics provide independent designers with legal advice specific to the fashion industry.

The show featured Blaise Kavanagh, Phyn, Cabiria, A Ray, Ex Ovo, and Sievering.

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Susan Scafidi, founder of the Fashion Law Institute, a leader in Fashion Law

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Meet Emme, a leading plus-size model

A major highlight of the show was Eden Miller’s collection Cabiria, she is the first designer to show a plus-size collection at the tents. Eden states “We fill a niche for plus-size women who want high quality modern classics and aren’t afraid to be noticed. We deserve beautiful clothes.” I agree. It is a milestone in the fashion community to have a collection of this nature shown at the MBFW tents.

 

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Meet Eden Miller designer of Cabiria

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Ms. Chearice Vaughn, just beautiful wearing Cabiria

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Meet Ms. Francis wearing Cabiria

Check out these designers and support them however you can. If you are an attorney looking to volunteer or a fashion industry professional and have a legal.question, please click here for more information about the Institute.

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Beautiful young ladies wearing Sievering Bridal and Evening Gowns

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I met a great blogger at MBFW, Yoli from yolisgreenliving.com check out her site!

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Katrin Zimmerman designer of Ex Ovo

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Wearing Ex Ovo Jewelry

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Drama: Social Media Activists Target Fashion Week

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<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=19918430“>ABC News Article

So do you think we will see more black models this season? Well, that is what social media activists are asking. Let’s hope so or all hell will break loose via social media and the like. I feel like if designers don’t have a diverse group of models that represent me and the dollar I spend then there is no need for me to put your clothing on my back! That may be their attitude toward the situation as well. But, on the otherhand perhaps you need to force the hand of those wanting us to support them and provide them with profits yet time and time again only send one type of model down the runway.

Bethann Hardison, is leading the charge in this media campaign that launches next month during Fashion Week. She is a former model and agent, bent on shaming the designers that don’t include black models. I applaud her for bringing it to the forefront, race has always been a problem in fashion like in every industry, but you really see it smack in your face as model after model strut down the runway.

Like the article says let’s see who sticks there neck out and tweets about the lack thereof during the shows. People may not want to suffer the repercussions of throwing their favorite designer under the bus, especially if you were invited or are somehow indirectly employed by the designer. We shall see! Drama 🙂

Fashionably yours,
Danalee Francesca

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Fashion Fridays: To Shorts or Not To Shorts?

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Is the question?  I have always been scared of shorts, true story.  I am a curvier woman, so shorts can come off a little sexier than I may want.  But, I get so jealous when I see women strutting around carefree in their shorts.

Summer is almost over so get it in, or wear them in the Fall with some leggings, I feel like you can still rock that style. I am thinking the best type of shorts to get are looser fitting. Hear me out, fitted can look good depending on your body type however if you share my fear, then loose in the thigh area may be the way to go. But it has to be styled right, I don’t mean some baggy homely looking shorts, I mean nicely tailored to your body shape.

I’ll let you know if I take the plunge. I have to find a pair I can really fall in love with 🙂

These are some different ways to wear your shorts, with a longer sheer top, I like that style, cut off jeans with heels, a little looser for your bike ride, or very sexy and fitted for a night out.

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Fashionably yours,
Danalee Francesca

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Fair Fashion NYC Event

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Fair Fashion Pop-Up Shop

You are invited to attend this Pop-up shop event on New York City’s LES, 75 E 4th St, Thursday, August 15, and Friday, August 16, 2013, from 6-9:00 PM, sponsored by the New York Fair Trade Coalition. Come and meet the designers behind these brands and find out more about Fair Trade. Natalie Frigo’s has amazing jewelry, I met her at Bhooki back in June, check out my Sustainable Fashion post. Soham Dave’s ethical apparel, DestinyFoundation/Reflection’s accessories, and BHAVA’s vegan footwear by Francisca Pineda, who I also had the pleasure of meeting and talking with.

Destiny Reflections Foundation sounds like a great organization, based in Kolkata, India, which employs victims of exploitation. They make bags, scarves, and other household goods using traditional Indian techniques. Be sure to stop by and meet Soham Dave also creator of Reborn, an eco-lifestyle brand. Every piece is hand made by women artisans in India. Jewelry designer Natalie Frigo sculpts all of the designs by hand in her lower Manhattan studio. BHAVA created by Francisca Pineda, a fashion footwear line sources quality hand-woven, organic, recycled and cruelty free components.  

The New York City Fair Trade Coalition, defines “Fair Trade” as a system of exchange that ensures livable wages to workers, safe working conditions, and environmentally sound company policies. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire is an example of a time in history where labor issues came to the forefront. I learned more about this fire and it’s impact at FIT’s exhibit last year (read here). On March 25,1911 the fire occurred in New York City and as stated in article, it led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards. The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union also grew out of that tradegy, where many young women jumped to there deaths because the owners locked doors leading to steerwells where they could safely exit. Many owners did this to ensure workers could not steal garments. The same seems to be going on today with the many occurrences, most recently the building collapse in Bangladesh where once again several young women died and were injured (Read NPR Article).

Attend this event to get more perspective. Perhaps you want to support Fair Trade fashion and help in bringing more awareness to the labor issues that still exist in the world.

Fashionably yours,
Danalee Francesca

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