Nanette Lepore Resort and Swim 2014

We're hitting the last of summer! Locavore designer Nanette Lepore put on two great presentations in the past few months. First, she presented her resort collection of bodies that paired a traditional porcelain print and a contemporary, digitally printed floral into chic rash guard tops and bottoms.

Nanette Lepore's Miami Fashion Week swim show brought us more great prints.  The suits were great, but the long, flowing dress cover-ups and tunics were perfect for beach to soiree dressing.  Unusual color combinations like the apricot tunic and ice blue embroidery was a great way to update basic silhouettes.

When asked if the beach was now the new runway, Nanette replied, "Absolutely! Everyone wants to be able to express themselves and look fabulous no matter what they're doing."

Back in the NYC showroom, I enjoyed browsing through all of the coordinating accessories.  Nanette carries through her patterns and colors into fun, wearable shoes.  The handbags are built with a tech-savvy customer in mind.  The brightest colors of her palette are well represented.

Much of Nanette Lepore's collection is made in New York.  She was one of the most visible advocates for Save the Garment Center in NYC.  Her advice to new designers on deciding to produce locally: "Do it! The costs are about the same and you'll be able to have more control over everything. It's so worth it!"

What do you think of designers who produce locally?  Would that be more appealing to you as a shopper?

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Modern Vice - Made in NY

What are your vices?  Are they funky, upscale footwear made in the heart of New York's Garment District? The Adoni family is a multi-generational shoe producer.  Jordan and Jensen Adoni are shoe design entrepreneurs whose father opened a factory in Brooklyn many years ago.

The two brothers are now bringing their love of New York to their label, Modern Vice.  The upscale shoes are made with luxury materials right in the heart of Midtown's fashion center.  If you visit their factory, you will see skilled artisans dying, cutting and stitching the products right in front of your eyes.  The brothers themselves are very hands-on.  You could probably find them at the factory any day of the week morning or late night.

The trip to their factory was the highlight of an evening hosted by hot NYC retailer, Cloak and Dagger, which showcased some of their other top collections as well.

Like your food, it pays in style and conscience to shop local.  Check out more photos of the Modern Vice factory and event here:

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Nanette Lepore Spring 2013 - Pantone's Color of the Year

 The color emerald was just announced as Pantone's color of the year for 2013.  According to the color agency, the hue represents “clarity, renewal and rejuvenation.”  One fashion designer Nanette Lepore was clearly clairvoyant on the importance of emerald in her spring 2013 collection.

The bright jewel shade was the most prominent color on her runway in both solids and a range of botanical prints, often mixed together.  Her accessories of handbags and shoes also reflected the significance of emerald green.   There was an upscale garden party feeling to this collection, with white, back and shades of last year's color of the year, tangerine thrown in.   (See the rest of the collection here.) You would think the cheerful look of the clothing would transfer into happier looks on the models, but they looked rather annoyed as a whole.  Why is that necessary?

Nanette Lepore is one of the most prominent advocates for Save the Garment Center and keeping fashion manufacturing in New York.  Believe it or not, with the efforts of designer like herself, garment production in this country has actually risen 11% in the recent year.  Let's hope more designers jump on this bandwagon.

Pantone chooses the color of the year based on factors like travel destinations, uses in popular art and film.  After the color is announced, watch the trickle effect into home interior and fashion design, beauty trends and advertising graphics.  Peter Pan has never been so fashionable.

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Chado Ralph Rucci Spring 2013

American couture. The term is tossed around lightly, but Ralph Rucci is the one designer whom it truly applies to.  The designer's New York Fashion Week show was a striking display of the capabilities of his New York design studio.  He is the only American accepted by the Chambre Syndicale in Paris for Haute Couture.

Signature Chado Ralph Rucci details, like the anatomically flattering seaming was present.  The color palette had clean white and black, but with gorgeous shots of neon sorbet colors of bright tangerine, lemon and raspberry pink.  There were a few pieces with shine and feathers for more novelty texture for his Spring 2013 collection.  

Wearing an exquisite couture creation, made in New York is as patriotic as fashion gets, (at least until you find a way to wear Miss Liberty's copper robes). 

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4th of July Fashion: Made in the USA

What is your Independence Day fashion resolution?  Is it to show your patriotic side by shopping
designers who produce their collections stateside?

Recent news that the Garment Center’s roots are being downplayed to accommodate other tenants was devastating to an industry that has struggled to stay in New York for years. While costs are the obvious factor in designers going overseas, one can’t forget the many benefits of producing in the United States.

Local factories are essential to designers who don’t have the volume of mega-brands going overseas. 
Independent brands also offer a unique vision in fashion and can produce quicker to react to trends, and customer preferences.  

I recently found some family-owned companies that have been in the Garment center for generations.  M & S Schmalberg makes custom handmade fabric flowers from antique tools dating back 150 years. They are hand-cut, painted, dyed, glued, trimmed, embellished into a work of art that soon becomes another work of art as part of another designer's creation. They are unique to the industry and an art that thankfully, many designers know is worth preserving. For the artistically inclined, you can take a workshop and tour of this amazing studio to learn the craft yourself.

Dersh Feathers is another mainstay in the area that has supplied high-quality feathers to top designers, costume makers and creative legends for decades. This is a smaller place than you would imagine for the range of colors, textures, birds, feather shapes that they carry. Leave your allergies at the door, there are feathers EVERYWHERE. 

Check out these designers who use local suppliers to produce their collections:
 
Angel Sanchez:
This designer and architect may have had his roots in Venezuela, but his label has been a proud New Yorker since 1997.  His architect background is visible in the structured looks of his bridal and eveningwear line.  His fans include Eva Longoria, Taylor Swift and Beyonce.

Ann Yee:
A graduate of Philadelphia University, Ann Yee designed knits for labels like Alice + Olivia, Barney's and LaROK before branching out on her own.  Her collection reflects a mastery of fabric and draping.

Designers who have previously been profiled in Ms. Fabulous and produce in the U.S.A. include: Ralph Rucci, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, RichardChai and Milly.  Even more...  Douglas Hannant, Anna Sui, House of Waris.

To learn more on how to Save the Garment Center, click here for resources.

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American-Made Designers

Happy Fourth of July! That's American Independence Day to everyone overseas.  While foodies are flocking to the "locavore" movement of consuming locally produced goods, I think it is important to do the same for fashion.

Here is a spotlight to some of my favorite labels produced in New York:

Nanette Lepore is a perfect duo of artist and entrepreneur.  Together with her husband/business partner Robert Savage, she counts poets, painters, celebs and fashion editors as fans.  She is one of the most vocal and visible designers in the mission to keep NYC's Garment Center thriving.

Jennifer Chun designs a polished collection of tailored pieces with a relaxed chic attitude.  She honed her design skills at Derek Lam and Michael Kors before branching out on her own.

Yeohlee Teng's architectural approach to fashion has made her work sought-after subject at many museums for design and fashion.  She brings philosophy to her designs and popularized the look of the "urban nomad".

If you want to learn more about producing a great clothing line in NYC, check out Save the Garment Center .  It is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading awareness about keeping clothing manufacturing in New York City.

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Strut the Sidewalk Catwalk on Broadway

A lot of attention has been paid by the media in saving New York's Garment Center. Local Organizations like Save the Garment Center, the CFDA and Made In Midtown have been fighting to keep New York’s fashion industry intact with local manufacturers.

This week through the September 3rd, New York designers are taking this fight to the streets. The pedestrian-friendly parts of Broadway between 35th street and 42nd street will be home to the Sidewalk Catwalk.

Thirty top American designers and student teams have created original mannequins attired in a signature look. The lineup includes icons like Diane Von Furstenburg, Isaac Mizrahi and Donna Karan. New guard designers, Prabal Garung and Jason Wu are represented as well. Many of these designers, like Nanette Lepore manufacture their clothing in New York as a vital part of their business.

In addition to the exhibit, the original artwork for the mannequins is being auctioned to benefit Materials For the Arts. The organization donates supplies and support for arts programs in schools.

Care to take home a piece of garment center history? Bid here.

Sidewalk Catwalk

Click for Full Slideshow Photos by Adam Weinstein

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