Whether you're an avid fashion follower, looking for some inspiration, or just appreciate a nice use of filters, here are our top picks for the coolest Instagrams you need to be following right now!
photo via Cara Delevingne
Showing posts with label runway shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label runway shows. Show all posts
October 23, 2014
September 18, 2014
Fashion Week Part 2
Welcome back for part two of our NYFW wrap up! Today we'll cover the rest of our Fashion Week circuit and continue to introduce you to more must-know emerging labels hitting the New York fashion scene this season.
photo via Peter Roessler
September 16, 2014
Fashion Week Part 1
We have been busy bees at MBF covering event after event during New York Fashion Week, from off-site venues to the tents at Lincoln Center. To name a few, we covered Nolcha Fashion Week, the Angola International Fashion Show, the Snowman Runway Presentation, and even went inside the tents to see Custo Barcelona hit the catwalk. We also attended off-site events such as Manufacturer New York’s Second Anniversary Bash, the Refinery29 Country Club, and Christian Siriano’s fragrance launch party.
At 17 and self-taught, the Houston based designer Amir Taghi made his debut at New York Fashion Week this season with a collection inspired by fierce women chasing after their dreams. He name dropped icons like Bianca Jagger, who was known for her signature low cut suits that were the perfect combination of sexy and elegant. Overall, his designs reflect his Persian background and emit an unapologetic sense of sophisticated luxury which is so consistent with the chic southern style he surrounds himself with.
Please check our Facebook and Instagram for great street style pics from all these events during New York Fashion Week.
This is part one, stay tuned to part 2 to be posted soon!
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
At 17 and self-taught, the Houston based designer Amir Taghi made his debut at New York Fashion Week this season with a collection inspired by fierce women chasing after their dreams. He name dropped icons like Bianca Jagger, who was known for her signature low cut suits that were the perfect combination of sexy and elegant. Overall, his designs reflect his Persian background and emit an unapologetic sense of sophisticated luxury which is so consistent with the chic southern style he surrounds himself with.
photo via Carrie Hammer
Carrie Hammer creates customized business dresses for the modern woman and what better way to empower her collection than to have real life professionals strutting down the catwalk? Replacing runway models with role models, Carrie is making a major statement by equating beauty with success. Held at The Fashion Law Institute, this year's diverse lineup included the likes of top female executives from Shoppable, The Li.st, Amazon, Intuit, Fast Company, Apple, and both Geena Rocero a transgender model as well as Karen Crespo, a quadruple amputee who walked the runway for the first time with her new limbs.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
We came across the swimwear line Feelo'je at the Angola International Fashion Show who's tropical palette and Caribbean vibes brought together a striking collection of bold bikinis inspired by the sunset. The designer Janay, who officially launched her label at age 17, came up with the name Feelo'je to pay homage to her hometown and merge it with her "feel" for fashion.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
Another noteworthy designer at the Angola Fashion Show was Lucrecia Moreira who blends African, European and American cultures into one cohesive line. This collection in particular was inspired by the Mao collar but reinterpreted and applied to dresses of varying lengths and cuts.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
NAMM also known as "New Age of Money Makers" is a cool menswear label that draws inspiration from modern art, architecture, and represents a team of ambitious 20-something Millennials. Shown at Manufacturer New York, designer Ron Wallace is working as the first incubator for the new initiative, which has really helped mature his aesthetic and grow as a designer. The collection is credited for it's fine tune details and is looking to expand to a bigger show and larger venue next year, possibly even in Paris.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
Portuguese designer Katty Xiomara who is known for her graphic themes, strayed a bit from last season's geometrics and color blocking, and introduced a focus on the structure behind the geometrics. Shown at Nolcha Fashion Week, the clothing had a lighter, softer, more transparent take for summer and with the label's popularity quickly gaining momentum, she's definitely one to keep an eye on!
photo via Nolcha Fashion Week
Also spotted at the independent fashion show Nolcha was the contemporary lifestyle brand, Charles & Ron. The self-taught couple created the collection by transforming photographs from their capital city of Malta into a captivating display of prints. Overall, the brand is deeply rooted in their Maltese culture and truly symbolizes the spirit of the Mediterranean.
This season Refinery29 really made a splash at NYFW and introduced their interactive Country Club pop-up concept down on Mercer Street in SoHo. Here fashionistas were able to take a break from all the Fashion Week madness and enjoy snacks and refreshments as well as a nine-hole mini golf experience inspired by different designers like Suno and Marc Jacobs.
Refinery29 also teamed up with Lord and Taylor to present The New Class of Designers showcase called Brand Assembly. Together, they produced a runway show featuring advanced contemporary designers which included the likes of Sachin + Babi, Priority Ten, and Calla. Right now these up and coming labels are available to shop at the Brand Assembly concept shop both online and at the Fifth Avenue flagship.
And lastly one of our favorite Fashion Week events was the Cara x Mulberry Scavenger Hunt. With the help of Refinery29, about 30 girls were stationed throughout the city on bikes giving away custom totes filled with keys. Out of all these giveaways, only three lucky keys, each at one Mulberry location across New York, were actually able to unlock the padlocks holding a handbag from Cara's new Mulberry collection. One of our team members was able to track down the Refinery29 girls and get a key, but unfortunately it did not unlock the case holding the handbag turned backpack. However, it was definitely some good old fashionable fun!
photo via Refinery29
Refinery29 also teamed up with Lord and Taylor to present The New Class of Designers showcase called Brand Assembly. Together, they produced a runway show featuring advanced contemporary designers which included the likes of Sachin + Babi, Priority Ten, and Calla. Right now these up and coming labels are available to shop at the Brand Assembly concept shop both online and at the Fifth Avenue flagship.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
And lastly one of our favorite Fashion Week events was the Cara x Mulberry Scavenger Hunt. With the help of Refinery29, about 30 girls were stationed throughout the city on bikes giving away custom totes filled with keys. Out of all these giveaways, only three lucky keys, each at one Mulberry location across New York, were actually able to unlock the padlocks holding a handbag from Cara's new Mulberry collection. One of our team members was able to track down the Refinery29 girls and get a key, but unfortunately it did not unlock the case holding the handbag turned backpack. However, it was definitely some good old fashionable fun!
This is part one, stay tuned to part 2 to be posted soon!
March 13, 2014
The Perfect Match
Technology is finally getting a major style upgrade. While we've been watching the evolution of wearable technology for a while now, it has yet to really make a fashionable statement. However, now we can not only create the impossible but wear it too. Functionality may be key, but if it can look good in the process then what's there to lose?
photo via NY Post
Imagine 3D printed press on nails, a bag you can never misplace, or a sweater that lights up depending on your mood. Well guess what? It's all possible. There is even a new jewelry line that detects sign language and a ring that brings the gestures of a magic wand to life.
We've consistently been seeing the evolution of advanced fabrications and smart clothing grace the runway more and more each season. At the most recent Paris collections, Iris van Herpen was the latest designer to experiment by mixing "the artisanal and the technical." Her collection deemed "biopiracy," explored the theme of "owning something you don't" and blended silks with tiny threads of plastic.
Francesca Rosella of CuteCircuit took an entirely different approach this Fashion Week by giving her models the power to customize their outfits via an iPod. These garments did everything from shimmer to change color and even play videos through the use of micro-LED lights and camouflaging batteries as buttons or clasps.
Trackable wristbands are about to be a thing of the past. Tory Burch has teamed up with Fitbit to create a tracker disguised in well-designed pendants. There's also the Shine, an aluminum disc designed by Misfit Wearables that comes with optional necklace and leather band. Surprisingly enough, the wrist isn't exactly the best place to be collecting data since we tend to move it in unpredictable ways so keep an eye out as a new crop of wearable tracking devices emerge in some unexpected places.
Kenneth Cole is one of the first companies to thoroughly incorporate Google Glass into its marketing campaigns. This new initiative invites men to document gentlemanly deeds they perform each day via an app and Google's cutting edge eyewear. Through an omni-channel approach, the 30 year old label is promoting its new men's fragrance across multiple platforms and appealing to a select group of fashion's most innovative.
3D printing and technical fabrics may be the future of technology infused fashion, but this is just the beginning. With the help of bluetooth developments, new fabric innovations, and of course, style worthy developments, we are about to reach a new era where we won't have one without the other. It's looking like fashion and technology just may be the perfect match.
photo via NY Times
We've consistently been seeing the evolution of advanced fabrications and smart clothing grace the runway more and more each season. At the most recent Paris collections, Iris van Herpen was the latest designer to experiment by mixing "the artisanal and the technical." Her collection deemed "biopiracy," explored the theme of "owning something you don't" and blended silks with tiny threads of plastic.
video via NBC News
photo via NY Times
Trackable wristbands are about to be a thing of the past. Tory Burch has teamed up with Fitbit to create a tracker disguised in well-designed pendants. There's also the Shine, an aluminum disc designed by Misfit Wearables that comes with optional necklace and leather band. Surprisingly enough, the wrist isn't exactly the best place to be collecting data since we tend to move it in unpredictable ways so keep an eye out as a new crop of wearable tracking devices emerge in some unexpected places.
photo via Business Insider
3D printing and technical fabrics may be the future of technology infused fashion, but this is just the beginning. With the help of bluetooth developments, new fabric innovations, and of course, style worthy developments, we are about to reach a new era where we won't have one without the other. It's looking like fashion and technology just may be the perfect match.
March 6, 2014
MBF Profiles: Danielle Meder
We first mentioned Danielle Meder two weeks ago during our Fashion Week Roundup and were so impressed by her visionary illustrations that we had to know more. With fashion week just over yesterday, we thought it'd be the perfect time to catch up with the famed live sketch artist and find out how she got in the business and what medium she plans on working with next.
MBF Trend Consulting: Please tell us a bit about your background. How did you become an illustrator and specialist in designing paper dolls?
Danielle Meder: I was homeschooled when I was a kid so I had a lot of time on my hands. We grew up in a log home near a very small town, and my first contact with the idea of fashion was through history books I got at the library. I started drawing paper dolls inspired by the history of costume when I was just a kid. When it came time for me to attend university, I chose an applied program in fashion design so I would be able to learn the technical aspects of pattern drafting and sewing.
photo via Danielle Meder
Danielle Meder: I was homeschooled when I was a kid so I had a lot of time on my hands. We grew up in a log home near a very small town, and my first contact with the idea of fashion was through history books I got at the library. I started drawing paper dolls inspired by the history of costume when I was just a kid. When it came time for me to attend university, I chose an applied program in fashion design so I would be able to learn the technical aspects of pattern drafting and sewing.
MBF: You are calling yourself a Trend Theorist. What are the thoughts behind being a Trend Theorist?
DM: I’ve been fashion blogging for quite a while, writing about ideas and sharing my drawings. However, once fashion blogging became a trendy thing around 2008, I found that the assumptions people made about being a “fashion blogger” no longer accurately reflected what I was doing. So I invented a new title for myself, and that is “trend theorist." It’s not totally clear what a “trend theorist” is, which means I get to define it for myself.
photo via Danielle Meder
DM: Thank you! This season I was most excited to sketch Son Jung Wan, Yigal Azrouel and Skingraft. I was given access to these events by sending a request to the designers’ PR contacts a few weeks before.
MBF: When did you start sketching at live events? How has it changed/evolved over the last couple of years?
DM: I’ve been sketching at runway shows since 2006. It used to be very rare to see people sketching at the shows – but in 2013 there was a very identifiable uptick of artists at fashion shows – from young students to more venerable illustrators like Bil Donovan.
MBF: When sketching fast passing models how do you capture the essence of the look in seconds? Also how do you quickly determine whether to use the Ipad Paper app or watercolor?
DM: I decide on what medium I am using before the show starts. Once I am sketching while the show is on, I don’t have time to think too much about anything – live runway sketching at its best is spontaneous and intuitive.
photo via Danielle Meder
MBF: You have worked with a variety of clients – what project enticed you the most?
DM: My two favourite projects were collaborating with FiftyThree on live sketching New York Fashion Week on the iPad for Women’s Wear Daily, and a series of magnetic paper dolls I produced for The Cut.
MBF: In your opinion, why is live sketching becoming an emerging trend? Was it ever this popular before?
DM: I think the current trend for live sketching is a reaction to the ubiquity of photography. People are interested in alternate ways of recording events that have a more human touch.
MBF: What are the biggest challenges you encounter when working with clients and how do you overcome them to take your career forward?
DM: Certainly the challenge that I’m most concerned with is avoiding running with packs of other young people doing the same thing I’m doing. Being independent is both a curse and a blessing; I have absolute freedom within the confines of my circumstances. Transcending my station in life using whatever limited resources I have available is the locked door I am picking at, every single day.
photo via Danielle Meder
DM: I am more interested in content than medium – so fashion itself interests me far more than illustration as a practice or whatever pencils and paper I happen to be using. I see my future expanding beyond illustration, as I’m becoming more interested in returning to my training as a designer and working with physical materials.
MBF: Who are the people that inspire you most? Do you follow other illustrators or blogs to get ideas?
DM: I avoid following other illustrators as it’s very important for illustrators to be different from one another – I don’t need the existential angst of comparing my career to others, and I don’t want to risk having my style unintentionally influenced by other illustrators. As such, I tend to study the work of dead illustrators more closely (especially Joe Eula and Kenneth Paul Block) and keep glancing sideways to maintain an awareness of the careers of my peers.
I am very inspired by writers, and I have a lot of friends who are writers. I find a certain kinship with the way that they think and work. Whenever I talk with my friends who are writers, I walk away with a million ideas.
photo via Danielle Meder
MBF: Our MBF Profiles ends with a questionnaire that follows in the footsteps of Proust's Questionnaire and American TV show host James Lipton's "10 Questions."
MBF: Your favorite swear word?
DM: “Fuck.”
MBF: Your least favorite word?
DM: “Should.”
MBF: Your favorite word?
DM: “Freedom.”
MBF: What turns you on?
DM: Blue collars.
MBF: And of course, what turns you off?
DM: Academics.
MBF: What sound do you love?
DM: Industrial steam irons.
MBF: If you could pick any profession – what might you be?
DM: My own. But if I had to choose another, I think I’d like to work in a greenhouse. I like tending to plants and I enjoy warm places.
MBF: If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?
DM: Paris…missing another PFW at the moment.
MBF: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
DM: “…”
February 20, 2014
Off-Site On Trend: Part II
This year we attended two leading independent designer showcases held during NYFW that help a new array of global talent break into the industry. Held by RUSK, Nolcha Fashion Week was presented on Pier 59 with more than 30 designers in womenswear, menswear, and accessories exhibiting.
A combination of sophistication, femininity, and an eye for fabrics has led to the evolution of Katty Xiomara. With Portuguese decent and a love for the nostalgic, she has created a poetic and idyllic character for the modern woman's wardrobe. Her latest collection was inspired by the popular Sunday comic, Peanuts. Through the usage of graphic details and free hand drawings, she evokes the personalities of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the like, to transform us to the fun days of our youth.
As we mentioned last week, we also attended Launch NY to see the Bow & Drape x Paper Fashion collection. Bow & Drape is a label dedicated to building confidence among women through their personalized approach to clothing. The brand channels your inner Molly Ringwald meets Judd Nelson and is all about creating feminine pieces that radiate a bit of attitude. Their collaboration Watercolor Artist Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion created two custom prints, a spatial floral and a lipstick conversation print.
Not only have we seen such a surge in new emerging talent but there has also been a fresh update to the audience as well. What once was limited to only the most prestigious editors and buyers has evolved to a guest list of "it" girls, celebrities, and bloggers. The most recent shows have even come to include everything from streetwear photographers to illustrators to gif artists like the bloggers Tumblr sent to fashion week or the infamous Live Runway Visionaire Danielle Meder.
photo via Katty Xiomara
A combination of sophistication, femininity, and an eye for fabrics has led to the evolution of Katty Xiomara. With Portuguese decent and a love for the nostalgic, she has created a poetic and idyllic character for the modern woman's wardrobe. Her latest collection was inspired by the popular Sunday comic, Peanuts. Through the usage of graphic details and free hand drawings, she evokes the personalities of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the like, to transform us to the fun days of our youth.
photo via Jessica Frankl
As we mentioned last week, we also attended Launch NY to see the Bow & Drape x Paper Fashion collection. Bow & Drape is a label dedicated to building confidence among women through their personalized approach to clothing. The brand channels your inner Molly Ringwald meets Judd Nelson and is all about creating feminine pieces that radiate a bit of attitude. Their collaboration Watercolor Artist Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion created two custom prints, a spatial floral and a lipstick conversation print.
photo via Danielle Meder
Not only have we seen such a surge in new emerging talent but there has also been a fresh update to the audience as well. What once was limited to only the most prestigious editors and buyers has evolved to a guest list of "it" girls, celebrities, and bloggers. The most recent shows have even come to include everything from streetwear photographers to illustrators to gif artists like the bloggers Tumblr sent to fashion week or the infamous Live Runway Visionaire Danielle Meder.
February 18, 2014
Off-Site On Trend: Part I
Since IMG announced plans to reinvent the structure of NY Fashion Week's main venue Lincoln Center, the bi-annual event has been criticized for being too “tradeshow like” causing many designers to move off-site. This has sparked more innovative platforms like that of Manufacture NY, an eight day fashion week that combines runway with retail situated down on West 17th Street.
With an audience and exhibitor list full of the young, cool and inventive, the relaxing atmosphere of Launch NY was a great break from the usual frenzied tents. The independent designer focused event acquainted the industry with a plethora of emerging multi-talented artists and visionaries. Not to mention, the space was cleverly attached to a retail store selling a few of the featured designers' merchandise.
Here we were introduced to Mimi New York, a collection of unique pieces that combines antique fabrics of lightweight lace, fringe, and other hanging details to give each garment a one of a kind look. By mixing various lace colors and proportions, designer Mimi's artistic eye creates high-end, handmade, and sustainable clothing.
Born and bred by Bulgarian designer Milena Encheva, Minnoji is a New York based womenswear label that creates sophisticated clothing that can be worn from day to night but with a dark, romantic twist. Her most recent Fall collection had a unisex appeal with its heavily androgynous theme, which she believes is the future of fashion.
By adapting her training in apparel design and applying it to working with metal, Pratt Art Institute graduate, Laureluxe was able to pursue her ultimate passion for jewelry design. Some may say her work references Egyptian and Persian cultures but either way, her handmade pieces are truly creative wearable art.
Inspired by a love for animals, nature, and a Made In The USA mentality, Simply Natural is a line of denim developed from natural dyes grown in the northern US. By hosting a trunk show at Manufacture NY's new retail component, this farm to consumer concept showcased their completely cruelty-free alpaca fleece that is sheered directly from the animal before spun into yarn, designed, and made into apparel.
Stay tuned for Part II of our NYFW chronicles...
With an audience and exhibitor list full of the young, cool and inventive, the relaxing atmosphere of Launch NY was a great break from the usual frenzied tents. The independent designer focused event acquainted the industry with a plethora of emerging multi-talented artists and visionaries. Not to mention, the space was cleverly attached to a retail store selling a few of the featured designers' merchandise.
photo via Udor Photography
Here we were introduced to Mimi New York, a collection of unique pieces that combines antique fabrics of lightweight lace, fringe, and other hanging details to give each garment a one of a kind look. By mixing various lace colors and proportions, designer Mimi's artistic eye creates high-end, handmade, and sustainable clothing.
photo via Udor Photography
Born and bred by Bulgarian designer Milena Encheva, Minnoji is a New York based womenswear label that creates sophisticated clothing that can be worn from day to night but with a dark, romantic twist. Her most recent Fall collection had a unisex appeal with its heavily androgynous theme, which she believes is the future of fashion.
photo via TUR Photography
By adapting her training in apparel design and applying it to working with metal, Pratt Art Institute graduate, Laureluxe was able to pursue her ultimate passion for jewelry design. Some may say her work references Egyptian and Persian cultures but either way, her handmade pieces are truly creative wearable art.
photo via Simply Natural
Inspired by a love for animals, nature, and a Made In The USA mentality, Simply Natural is a line of denim developed from natural dyes grown in the northern US. By hosting a trunk show at Manufacture NY's new retail component, this farm to consumer concept showcased their completely cruelty-free alpaca fleece that is sheered directly from the animal before spun into yarn, designed, and made into apparel.
Stay tuned for Part II of our NYFW chronicles...
January 23, 2014
American Beauty
We have been following the Made in the USA movement since early 2012 and this year, it's beginning to really reach its peak. Due to the recent tragedies in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Haiti, larger more established companies are linking up with new and innovative ones who are specifically geared towards a Made in America mentality.
One of our favorite organizations, Manufacture NY has collaborated with Texworld USA to connect independent designers with exhibitors who offer smaller minimums, eco-friendly textiles, and domestic sourcing. Manufacture NY's mission is to "reawaken and rebuild" the fashion industry by fostering the next wave of creative talent all while remaining transparent and sustainable. Their headquarters are based right in the Garment District and furnished with sampling rooms, classrooms, conference rooms, fitting rooms, computer stations, and already in use by over dozens of local designers and members. According to the founder Bob Bland, "The fashion loving public is embracing Made in the USA and it has become a major selling point." They have already started promoting for Fashion Week as they partner with retailer Adorama who specializes in photo shoot equipment rentals, to produce a state-of-the-art runway experience.
Most recently we attended the event, Made in the USA Founder Forum 2014, organized by Manufacture NY that hosted a panel of experts including the co-founders of Maker's Row. This online marketplace introduces American manufacturers to businesses and has literally broken down transparency into a 6 step process, from sketch to production. And now, they are taking it to the schools to help emerging designers understand the know-how of manufacturing so they will have the choice to either work for Fortune 500 companies or build their own brands. Not to mention, they have teamed up with Cotton Inc to gain more insight about cotton growth as well as to connect textile firms with US cotton growers.
As this enthusiasm for Made in America continues to gain popularity across the US and consumers make it clear that there is a demand, retailers like Brooks Brothers and Walmart are finally seeing the value in promoting locally made products. With that said, the advantages are pretty obvious – lower shipping costs and weather adaptable production – which is why, preserving the Garment District has become such a powerful cause. Ralph Lauren is just one of the major fashion houses supporting NY garment manufacturers by contributing to the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, a partnership between the CFDA and Andrew Rosen to help grow and sustain existing factories within the five boroughs.
Since NYC is home to almost 7,000 small factories, producing everything from pianos to fashion to food, printing, and furnishings, there's also Made In NYC, a project of the Pratt Center for Community Development. This organization not only caters to manufacturers but also consumers who can shop local products, learn about emerging designers, promote sustainability, and even create jobs. In the end, for any city to be fully sustainable, local manufacturing is a crucial component and with so many bustling industries, NYC has an undeniable potential to live up to.
Nanette Lepore, who is a major advocate for saving the Garment District is just one of the many designers committed to the diversity and craftsmanship sitting right here in midtown. Most recently, she's caught the eye of new Mayor, Bill de Blasio by dressing his wife, Chirlane McCray and daughter at his NYC inauguration. In a statement made by McCray, "Chiara and I are proud to be wearing this beautiful clothing today, that was made right here in New York City. This city needs more creative entrepreneurs like Nanette Lepore who are committed to keeping our city's garment industry thriving."
Flint and Tinder, who just launched a new shirt and slack line called "Perfect Flannel," is another US made brand you need to know about. If that's not enough to win you over, all their products have a 100% quality guarantee, including their 10-year hoodie and locally made men's underwear line.
Even the shoe pioneer New Balance is on a crusade to produce the first fully American made sneaker. While about a quarter of their shoes are already labeled "Made in the USA," they still contain components made overseas so let the challenge begin!
Whether you've already jumped on the Made in the US bandwagon or not, there are a ton of brands made right here that you may not even realize, and this is just the start.
video via Manufacture NY
video via Ecouterre
photo via Sourcing Journal Online
As this enthusiasm for Made in America continues to gain popularity across the US and consumers make it clear that there is a demand, retailers like Brooks Brothers and Walmart are finally seeing the value in promoting locally made products. With that said, the advantages are pretty obvious – lower shipping costs and weather adaptable production – which is why, preserving the Garment District has become such a powerful cause. Ralph Lauren is just one of the major fashion houses supporting NY garment manufacturers by contributing to the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, a partnership between the CFDA and Andrew Rosen to help grow and sustain existing factories within the five boroughs.
photo via Made In NYC
Since NYC is home to almost 7,000 small factories, producing everything from pianos to fashion to food, printing, and furnishings, there's also Made In NYC, a project of the Pratt Center for Community Development. This organization not only caters to manufacturers but also consumers who can shop local products, learn about emerging designers, promote sustainability, and even create jobs. In the end, for any city to be fully sustainable, local manufacturing is a crucial component and with so many bustling industries, NYC has an undeniable potential to live up to.
photo via fashionista.com
Nanette Lepore, who is a major advocate for saving the Garment District is just one of the many designers committed to the diversity and craftsmanship sitting right here in midtown. Most recently, she's caught the eye of new Mayor, Bill de Blasio by dressing his wife, Chirlane McCray and daughter at his NYC inauguration. In a statement made by McCray, "Chiara and I are proud to be wearing this beautiful clothing today, that was made right here in New York City. This city needs more creative entrepreneurs like Nanette Lepore who are committed to keeping our city's garment industry thriving."
video via Flint and Tinder
Flint and Tinder, who just launched a new shirt and slack line called "Perfect Flannel," is another US made brand you need to know about. If that's not enough to win you over, all their products have a 100% quality guarantee, including their 10-year hoodie and locally made men's underwear line.
Even the shoe pioneer New Balance is on a crusade to produce the first fully American made sneaker. While about a quarter of their shoes are already labeled "Made in the USA," they still contain components made overseas so let the challenge begin!
Whether you've already jumped on the Made in the US bandwagon or not, there are a ton of brands made right here that you may not even realize, and this is just the start.
January 16, 2014
Thinking Forward to S/S 2015
Spring/Summer 2015 represents the season of forward thinking. So progressive in fact that it has taken many of the tried and true trends from last Fall and reinterpreted them into a lighter, more minimal aesthetic. The industry is finally learning to evolve with the current pace of the world, from technology to globalization to consumer behavior. Now that we know what works, we can really focus on developing design and functionality to make what we wear the best it can be. This by no means suggests a stop to experimentation but instead we've become interested in advancing fabrication standards, fit customizations, and of course, the overall construction and appeal of what we are wearing.
Liquid fabrics, bare midriffs, tons of transparency, and a renewed 90's minimalism really set the ambience for the latest Fashion Week extravaganza. While florals and tribal references definitely ruled the runway, athletic influences are modernized by cool approach to layering and tennis inspired uniforms. Despite all the cropped tops, things remain modest with classic menswear tailoring in soft feminine fabrications. From an airy elegance to a strong desire for nonconformity, punk rock inspired glamour lives on in fluid fabrics and iridescent tones. grunge and punk continue as does the new age gypsy but both taking casual to eclectic. Pants are wider and looser with even culottes making a comeback. Abstract marble swirls, bold tropical florals, brand logos and sayings, and an artistic movement from the street to the gallery lead print directions. Details like sequins, fringe, feathers, and crystals revamp the ordinary.
If Orchid is the color of 2014, it is without a doubt that blue will reign next year as purples and greys get watery accents. From cobalts to mint, turquoise, navy, indigo, and sky blue, this the most predominant colour direction for the S/S 2015 season. Not to mention, reds get pinker, candy colours brighter, brights deepen, and pastels neutralize. White stands strong yet again as the prevailing palette cleanser and represents minimalism in its purest form.
So without further ado, here is our Spring/Summer 2015 teaser. For the full report, please email: contact@mbf-trend-consulting.com.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
Liquid fabrics, bare midriffs, tons of transparency, and a renewed 90's minimalism really set the ambience for the latest Fashion Week extravaganza. While florals and tribal references definitely ruled the runway, athletic influences are modernized by cool approach to layering and tennis inspired uniforms. Despite all the cropped tops, things remain modest with classic menswear tailoring in soft feminine fabrications. From an airy elegance to a strong desire for nonconformity, punk rock inspired glamour lives on in fluid fabrics and iridescent tones. grunge and punk continue as does the new age gypsy but both taking casual to eclectic. Pants are wider and looser with even culottes making a comeback. Abstract marble swirls, bold tropical florals, brand logos and sayings, and an artistic movement from the street to the gallery lead print directions. Details like sequins, fringe, feathers, and crystals revamp the ordinary.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
So without further ado, here is our Spring/Summer 2015 teaser. For the full report, please email: contact@mbf-trend-consulting.com.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
January 9, 2014
Athletic Hype
Well it's a New Year and you know what that means...a rise in gym memberships as people strive to fulfill their annual resolutions to get fit. Not only will the gyms be packed these first few weeks of January, but we've been having a lot of mainstream conversations concerning athletic wear. It's now a lifestyle more than ever, especially as fashion and fitness begin to merge.
Over the past few seasons, things have been getting much more active, especially with the most recent Spring/Summer 2014 shows. From sneakers on the runway at DKNY to tennis influences at Lisa Perry and Tommy Hilfiger's scuba fabrications, this sporty attitude is getting us hyped up. All you have to do is look around and you'll notice the influx of technical fabrications in clothing, people interchanging their wardrobes from gym to work and back again, and the onset of athletic gear influences hitting Hollywood like in "The Hunger Games." Everyone has fitness on the brain and the industry is catching on to the craze as well.
As far as the marriage between fashion and athletics goes, it all stems from the obvious: wearable technology. Nike leads the pack with the introduction of its Fuelband SE that measures your whole body's movement to give you better insight into how active your everyday life is. This innovative limited addition gadget nearly sold out following the most recent holiday season. And with the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Gear smart watch, Google Glass, and of course, Burberry's former CEO moving to Apple, who knows what the future will bring.
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
Over the past few seasons, things have been getting much more active, especially with the most recent Spring/Summer 2014 shows. From sneakers on the runway at DKNY to tennis influences at Lisa Perry and Tommy Hilfiger's scuba fabrications, this sporty attitude is getting us hyped up. All you have to do is look around and you'll notice the influx of technical fabrications in clothing, people interchanging their wardrobes from gym to work and back again, and the onset of athletic gear influences hitting Hollywood like in "The Hunger Games." Everyone has fitness on the brain and the industry is catching on to the craze as well.
photo via NY Daily News
It's not only on the runway but hitting mass market retailers as well like H&M with their new activewear collection. The fast fashion mega-giant has announced that it will be dressing the Swedish Olympic and Paralympic teams at the fast approaching 2014 Winter Games as well as the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2015.
In other news, the cutting-edge brand, Under Armor is planning to open its first NYC location early this year in SoHo, which will also be its largest store to date. This neighborhood is really heating up especially with the already existing Adidas, Sweaty Betty, Athletica, and Lululemon shops. In addition, rumors have been circulating about the opening of a Niketown which would really create some competition.
photo via NY Times
In other news, the cutting-edge brand, Under Armor is planning to open its first NYC location early this year in SoHo, which will also be its largest store to date. This neighborhood is really heating up especially with the already existing Adidas, Sweaty Betty, Athletica, and Lululemon shops. In addition, rumors have been circulating about the opening of a Niketown which would really create some competition.
video via Nike
As far as the marriage between fashion and athletics goes, it all stems from the obvious: wearable technology. Nike leads the pack with the introduction of its Fuelband SE that measures your whole body's movement to give you better insight into how active your everyday life is. This innovative limited addition gadget nearly sold out following the most recent holiday season. And with the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Gear smart watch, Google Glass, and of course, Burberry's former CEO moving to Apple, who knows what the future will bring.
photo via ft.com
So whether you're into the athletic thing or not, fashion is proving that fitness is an important aspect of our current lifestyle. Wearable technology is getting smarter as new applications allow us to track and predict behaviors via clothing, watches, and footwear. What we wear tells says a lot about who we are already, but with these new innovations, we will learn how to live both fashionably and healthy.
October 24, 2013
RTW SS14 Sneak Peek
With Fashion Week finally over, one thing is for sure, there are absolutely no rules. The past couple of seasons in particular have confirmed this by blending what we typically think of as Spring/Summer with Fall/Winter and vice versa. These days anything goes whether it be furs, culottes, shorts, cropped tops, sheers, you name it, and this isn't the first time you've heard us say this.
As far as moving forward, we've seen most of the key trends on the catwalk before, they've just been given simple updates like changing hemlines, fresh color combinations, new styling techniques and ultra modern silhouettes.
Overall, we are looking at a super feminine season with lightness and fluidity, key sports influences and cutting edge technology as far as prints and fabrics go. Minimalism was the name of the game this time around with a sleek approach to shapes and details. We see a 90’s take but fresher, softer, and at the same time more minimal. Ethnic influences from all different parts of the world are predominant including the likes of Africa, Asia, India, and even the Middle East. The skirt is the new statement piece with new hemlines from midi to calf lengths to just above the ankle.
Not to mention, the most epic news of the week was the announcement of the last ever Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton show! So from New York to Paris here is our sneak peek of what to keep on your fashion radar for the seasons ahead!
For the full preview, click here! Stay tuned for the Key Trends SS15 available December 2013...
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
As far as moving forward, we've seen most of the key trends on the catwalk before, they've just been given simple updates like changing hemlines, fresh color combinations, new styling techniques and ultra modern silhouettes.
Overall, we are looking at a super feminine season with lightness and fluidity, key sports influences and cutting edge technology as far as prints and fabrics go. Minimalism was the name of the game this time around with a sleek approach to shapes and details. We see a 90’s take but fresher, softer, and at the same time more minimal. Ethnic influences from all different parts of the world are predominant including the likes of Africa, Asia, India, and even the Middle East. The skirt is the new statement piece with new hemlines from midi to calf lengths to just above the ankle.
Not to mention, the most epic news of the week was the announcement of the last ever Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton show! So from New York to Paris here is our sneak peek of what to keep on your fashion radar for the seasons ahead!
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
September 12, 2013
Let's bring it back to the Catwalk
Has Fashion Week become a mass market kind of event? We see more and more shows every year added to the calendar, many being live streamed or available digitally on demand via the internet and apps. Before the tents were reserved for only high-fashion brands and now any designer that can afford it can produce a show from Desigual to Project Runway to Nautica. Not to mention, the audience is no longer limited to the industry's most honored insiders like editors, credited bloggers and buyers, but it's become a social event that invites everyone from non industry related guests to wannabe celebrities.
So how relevant are the shows anymore as they lose their exclusivity? Just think of flying and how it's become an everyday norm. In order to stand out you need to rent a private plane to prove you're privileged. With 350 shows this year and tents filled up with spectators that have no direct connection to the industry looking to get a glimpse of fashion's finest or use the event as a publicity stunt, how do we preserve the sacred nature of Fashion Week and keep it about the catwalk, not the guest list?
At a recent fashion council meeting, the Queen of the wrap dress, DVF, mentioned that in a few years all the shows may be showing digitally. With everything moving into cyberspace and no real way to predict the future anymore, this tactic may be the only way to bring exclusivity back by limiting access to clientele, editors, and buyers actually interested in purchasing and promoting the brand. Just think of the amount of money designers can save from producing shows and instead, reinvest it back into the quality of the clothing and the brand.
This brings up another point: the need for brands to be more careful than ever with their social media strategies. It's no longer just about seeing the clothes on the runway but posting them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube instantly. However, there's a fine line between posting relevant content and putting anything and everything out there. Designers are going to have to learn to find a balance between reaching a larger, global audience and controlling who sees what, where and when, if they want to maximize profits, create publicity, and deter knock-offs of their collections.
With all this talk of exclusivity, another way of standing out from the over-saturated fashion calendar and create a unique story in the process is by producing shows offsite. Here are some exciting side venues that stand out from the masses of shows and give you a hint of what the future may hold for the catwalk.
Meet Ruth Runberg, the former Buying Director of Brown's, who now with the help of Freelance Stylist, Alison Brokaw has launched an appointment-only fashion event that is not only collaborative but cost-effective as well. Deemed The White Space because many emerging designers are merely looking for "an empty white box" during Fashion Week, Runberg has handpicked five designers who will show their collections at the West Chelsea studio of Justine and Jeff Koons. Rather than charging the designers, both Runberg and Brokaw will receive a small percentage of any sales made from the presentation and the designers themselves have agreed to donate to the Koons Family Institute which works alongside the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
Probably our favorite menswear label, Ernest Alexander, really won us over this season at Bespoken. As you enter through a back freight elevator up to the 17th floor, the space combined an industrial warehouse setting with a casual, well-defined man. This time, American Designer Ernest Sabine has gone abroad with a collection reflective of his time in Venice. The clothes were modern, with preppy details and accented solid tailored pieces with light florals, pinstripes, and ditzy prints. His signature briefcases and carry-alls added a bit of a edge to his classically, cool style in camo and charcoal wax finishes.
Located at Canoe Studios overlooking the Hudson River, Pedro del Hierro showcased a static presentation full of an intimate circle of guests industry-wide. With a quality and price similar to Miu Miu, this was the first time Pedro del Hierro showed in New York. Carmen March, the creative director talks about the multitalented artist, Mariano Fortuny as one of the visionary creative forces that changed the course of modern concept of Fashion. Mirroring his laid-back oriental aesthetic, the collection featured light and free moving pieces like crepe tunic dresses and flowing overcoats in a palette of soft grays, creamy ivories, pastels and a pop of coral. Just as Fortuny did in his work over the course of his artistic life,March wants his influence to be evident throughout the collections.
MADE Fashion Week emerged in 2009 as a solution to support the next generation of young designers breaking into the industry and have teamed up with both American Express and Macy's to help spread word of this new talent. Founders Mazdack Rassi, Jenné Lombardo, and Keith Baptista have helped put Milk Studios on the calendar as a Fashion Week hot spot and launched the platform milkmade.com, an editorial outlet featuring innovative content, video streaming, and real-time images along with a Tumblr and online store.
The real question is will we even miss it if Fashion Week goes completely digital? We are becoming so accustomed to instant access and viewing things via a computer screen that how important is the real thing anymore? However, in order for us to move in this direction, the industry will have to find a way to reach the right people, preserve everything it stands for and still remain cutting edge and innovative in the process.
photo via NY Times
So how relevant are the shows anymore as they lose their exclusivity? Just think of flying and how it's become an everyday norm. In order to stand out you need to rent a private plane to prove you're privileged. With 350 shows this year and tents filled up with spectators that have no direct connection to the industry looking to get a glimpse of fashion's finest or use the event as a publicity stunt, how do we preserve the sacred nature of Fashion Week and keep it about the catwalk, not the guest list?
At a recent fashion council meeting, the Queen of the wrap dress, DVF, mentioned that in a few years all the shows may be showing digitally. With everything moving into cyberspace and no real way to predict the future anymore, this tactic may be the only way to bring exclusivity back by limiting access to clientele, editors, and buyers actually interested in purchasing and promoting the brand. Just think of the amount of money designers can save from producing shows and instead, reinvest it back into the quality of the clothing and the brand.
photo via WWD
This brings up another point: the need for brands to be more careful than ever with their social media strategies. It's no longer just about seeing the clothes on the runway but posting them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube instantly. However, there's a fine line between posting relevant content and putting anything and everything out there. Designers are going to have to learn to find a balance between reaching a larger, global audience and controlling who sees what, where and when, if they want to maximize profits, create publicity, and deter knock-offs of their collections.
With all this talk of exclusivity, another way of standing out from the over-saturated fashion calendar and create a unique story in the process is by producing shows offsite. Here are some exciting side venues that stand out from the masses of shows and give you a hint of what the future may hold for the catwalk.
photo via The Business of Fashion
Meet Ruth Runberg, the former Buying Director of Brown's, who now with the help of Freelance Stylist, Alison Brokaw has launched an appointment-only fashion event that is not only collaborative but cost-effective as well. Deemed The White Space because many emerging designers are merely looking for "an empty white box" during Fashion Week, Runberg has handpicked five designers who will show their collections at the West Chelsea studio of Justine and Jeff Koons. Rather than charging the designers, both Runberg and Brokaw will receive a small percentage of any sales made from the presentation and the designers themselves have agreed to donate to the Koons Family Institute which works alongside the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.
photo via newsle.com
Probably our favorite menswear label, Ernest Alexander, really won us over this season at Bespoken. As you enter through a back freight elevator up to the 17th floor, the space combined an industrial warehouse setting with a casual, well-defined man. This time, American Designer Ernest Sabine has gone abroad with a collection reflective of his time in Venice. The clothes were modern, with preppy details and accented solid tailored pieces with light florals, pinstripes, and ditzy prints. His signature briefcases and carry-alls added a bit of a edge to his classically, cool style in camo and charcoal wax finishes.
photo via Juan Luis Real
Located at Canoe Studios overlooking the Hudson River, Pedro del Hierro showcased a static presentation full of an intimate circle of guests industry-wide. With a quality and price similar to Miu Miu, this was the first time Pedro del Hierro showed in New York. Carmen March, the creative director talks about the multitalented artist, Mariano Fortuny as one of the visionary creative forces that changed the course of modern concept of Fashion. Mirroring his laid-back oriental aesthetic, the collection featured light and free moving pieces like crepe tunic dresses and flowing overcoats in a palette of soft grays, creamy ivories, pastels and a pop of coral. Just as Fortuny did in his work over the course of his artistic life,March wants his influence to be evident throughout the collections.
video via milkmade.com
photo via MBF Trend Consulting
The real question is will we even miss it if Fashion Week goes completely digital? We are becoming so accustomed to instant access and viewing things via a computer screen that how important is the real thing anymore? However, in order for us to move in this direction, the industry will have to find a way to reach the right people, preserve everything it stands for and still remain cutting edge and innovative in the process.
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