Around NYC: International Playground

Spunky yet sporty, classy, not trashy but flashy. Pretty much sums up the style and theme of the well known domestic and international based warehouse/retailer International Playground. 

International Playground is founded on the fundamental blend of fashion, art, music and lifestyle with designers like Mary Meyers, Chromat and so many more international and American based designers. Each have their own unique spin on fashion, Chromat with their intricate swimsuit and body cages that can be seen on sites like Nasty Gal. 

Many designers that International Playground do business with are ones that are either ermerging or have already established themselves in the fashion industry. Some may be more established in other countries like Finland or Germany  where they have great recognition when foreigners travel to International Playground's Broome Street location in SoHo. 

As in intern at a PR agency I have came to learn that there are so many different faucets in the fashion industry, some well known and some people don't even think exist. The fact that International Playground have became a retailer with a brick and mortar location and online site and the wholesaler and PR firm; they do everything. It's nice for them do a lot for their clients because they build a strong bond. Also having a strong bond allows them to voice their opinion on the collections as they are the retailer and they know what sells and what doesn't sell as they are aware of the market and they can guide their clients in a direction that is more wearable for their target market. 

International Playground was so much fun being able to take a look behind the scenes, Jonny the co-founder is great as he truly knows what he is talking about and he really is passionate about his job and it is really nice to see someone who enjoys their job. Not to mention the fact that he personally knows Erin, my boss at Agentry. It truly is a small world. 

Till next time. Xx 

Scatter my ashes in Bergdorfs

One of my favorite places in the world, Bergdorf Goodman, so magical; rows and rows of beautifully lit jewelry cases filled with shines objects, rooms and rooms filled with pointy high heels with red soles and racks of delicate silks and tough leathers. A place so magical that it could move me to tears. On my 16 birthday my mom took me to New York for the very first time, I was in complete awe of the entire city and instantly fell in love. While on my trip she took me to the three B's: Bergdorf, Barneys and Bendel, and of course my favorite was Bergdorf Goodman. Much hasn't changed in the past four years since I was there last, the rooms are still romantically lit and the sales associates are still impeccably groomed and full of knowledge and ready to sell. 

This trip we were required to look at a few well known designers, Prada, Alexander Wang, Thom Brown, Alaïa, etc. each designer has their own room and their own take on visuals, but each and every will was beautifully presented.  

Bergdorf is the epitome of luxury fashion are is always on top of its game when it comes to marketing and positioning whether it be their online site or their hefty magazine that I grabbed while I was there. If your product is carried in Bergdorf then you know you have made it in the fashion industry as you are in a store where the biggest names are being carried and hundreds of socialites and celebrities and other notable people in the fashion industry go quite often. They see your product there and from that they give you so much street credit and help rep your brand. 

KSU around NYC: Tenant Museum

    

Last week the group and I traveled to a very interesting place in New York, a tenant museum. At first I didn't know what to even think because frankly, I've never heard of a tenant museum. Located in the lower east side, the Tenant Museum is known as a very historical faucet in the fashion industry. Years ago when the fashion industry started booming in New York City, the lower east side was a very popular place for immigrants to come and work and live all in the same location. Immigrants from Russia, Prague, Germany, Polish and so many more countries around the would would come to the states to take refugee and have the ability to start a new life and take care of their family. From mothers and father, their children, grandparents and strangers, they would all work and live in the same spot. I could never imagine working in such a tight area with people I really don't know, especially if there is no AC, proper plumbing and running water, not many windows and not to mention the constant fear of disease and infection as there is no proper medical facilities or proper way to care for wounds or illnesses. 

Tenants were the old school sweatshops as most of them got shut down due to the New Yorkers from the west side and wealthier areas of town realizing that many people were becoming ill with polio or tuberculosis and the fear that the clothes being sold to stores like Macy's and Brooks Brothers would contain the disease. We needed these tenant workshops because the products were being made domestically and there was a fast turn over as they were being created and sold all in the same city. Workers would be doing things on the product line from putting the patterns together, to the trims and finished to the ironing. Workers from all ages were working on the product line starting at children old enough to do small projects to help their parents, potential owners or workers, out. 

Unfortunately I was not able to see the full museum as a fellow classmate got extremely ill during the tour, I still found it extremely informative and it is such a large part of the fashion industry's history. We have the production line process and now because of what we learned from the tenant workshops. Personally I believe that it was wise for the government to shut down many of the tenant workshops because the workers were living and working in such an un livable environment. It wasn't fair for workers to work and live with strangers and working hours and hours in such poor conditions. We have learned from our past mistakes and now are enforcing the bring down of sweatshops around the world and are promoting products being created domestically because we have stricter laws and regulations versus sweatshops in countries like China and Bangladesh where a few years ago a sweatshop collapsed killing hundreds of innocent workers. If only that factory was properly maintained thousands of lives would be saved. The fashion industry is constantly evolving and all we need to do to keep it evolving is to listen and grow. 

Till next time, cheers xx

A night at FIT

Tonight my roommates and I traveled to the FIT museum where they were featuring an exhibit that focuses on the pairing of fashion and dance. From George Balanchine to Martha Graham and Leon Bakst. Notable dance influencers that have changed the way dance will be performed then, now and the years to come. The pairing of fashion and dance are such a likely combination as the two focus on the body and movement and accentuating the body's silhouette. Creating lines that create an allusion of elongating the neck arms and legs, mimicking shapes and patterns of animals and other creatures to bringing back century old uniforms and costumes. So many designers over the years have been influenced by dance and they have used their imaginations to create dance costumes themselves. Working with The Ballet Russe or The New York City Ballet for shows like Rubies to The Nutcracker. Designers like Dior, Balenciaga, Prada, Rodarte and so many others have created one of a kind tutus, leotards, pointe shoes, etc to be showcased on the wonderful and magical stage. 

Walking into the museum, you could instantly get a feel for the dance passion, the hallway with still pictures of a male and female dancer in the mist of performing a contemporary piece. On the other walk they had a video of multiple dance performances like Swan Lake. Then walking into the room itself was so grandiose. So many mannequins dressed in impeccable pieces. My personal favorite were the pieces that George Balanchine used for his shows. They are really the quintessential dance pieces I would as a little girl dream of wearing. As a dancer for the past 12 years I have worn hundreds of different costumes and I always appreciated a well tailored and designed costume. They not only caught  the audiences and judges attention but they made the dance and me feel important and beautiful. 

Dance and fashion will always be a common pairing and I'm so excited to see what designers can come up with for the years to come to really emphasis on the beauty that dance brings. 

KSU Around NYC

Last week we had the opportunity to go to such a cool place-- a marking company where they make the markings for designers like Rag & Bone, Ralph Lauren, etc. Make a Marker is in New York city and has made their 'mark' in the fashion industry for many years especially as a new CFDA member.  We need companies like this because they don't become attached to the product like other companies in the fashion industry could. Also it's great to have a company in local New York because of a pattern maker is confused on a design for let's say a striped shirt then they can easily go to the actually location versus having to make multiple phone called to places over seas or in another state. What markers do is take the pattern that is sent from the pattern maker and cut the pattern, they ensure that the notches are all in line with each other along with the pattern being symetrical. Last thing a designer wants is to have a striped sweater not be straight. They also adjust the sizes of the garment to ensure that the fabric will have proper stretch and shape when it is cut for production. This process is so important because it saves the designer time to use a subcontractor to do the cutting and layout work so their garments are produced in a timely manner. Don't mind the car, lollipop in the picture, she just wanted to hang out. 

Till next time. Cheers. Xx