Shop Til You Dance!

For all you fashion culture fanatics out there, we at MBF Trend Consulting have been out and about to give you the rundown on all our favorite super chic happenings from parties to celebrity appearances, performances, and most importantly fun!

To kick off fashion week on Thursday, September 8th, the third annual Fashion’s Night Out was celebrated internationally as stores in 18 countries extended their hours to promote the retail industry and give shoppers an experience with a little extra pizzazz. From modern day disco dance parties to carnival inspired extravaganzas, a particular light, cheerful mood took over New York City. Even the weather was on our side as the dark, gloomy clouds held out just in time for the global fashion event to take over the city.

photo via: Racked NY

BG Best in Show
From catwalk to the dogwalk, Bergdorf Goodman reminded us that canine’s love fashion too! Their 2nd annual dog fashion show featured fashion designers and their pups including Joseph Altuazarra, Cushine et Ochs, Lela Rose, and the highlight of the night, Badgley Mischka’s two daschunds dressed in wedding gowns! Other fabulous highlights from Bergdorf’s include guest appearances galore by Jason Wu, Narciso Rodriguez, Thakoon, and Oscar de la Renta as well as a musical performance by Audrianna Cole. To check out more of the super cute doggie looks check out Bergdorf Goodman's blog!

video via: YouTube

Alexander Wang’s Talent Show
Not only is Alexander Wang an expert fashion designer, but now he can include to his accomplishments, a clever talent scout. His FNO festivities of choice included a daring talent show live from his store where he, and a panel of Glee’s Lea Michele and Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Hamish Bowles picked the winner. Contestants were chosen by sending him a 30-90 second video showcasing their best moves, with prizes that included fall bags and T products. America does have talent and apparently style too! Let’s also not forget to mention the $5,000 shopping spree giveaway that was rewarded from visiting his website during the month of September! Oh la la!

video via: YouTube

Macy’s Herald Square

Macy’s was the shopping destination for affordable fashion, live music, and a variety of celebrities and musicians alike. The fashion energy was in the air as guest appearances from the likes of editor Anna Dello Russo, model Karolina Kurkova, designers Rachel Roy and Tommy Hilfiger hit Macy’s red carpet. Bobbi Brown and her makeup team gave tutorials and talked with beauty enthusiasts while performances by Joss Stone and Samantha Ronson electrified the crowd!

photo via: Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony at the Ace Hotel
If FNO isn’t a total circus as it is, Opening Ceremony created one. Proclaimed El Mercado De Carnaval and inspired by the liveliness of Argentina, the fiesta featured everything from carnival games to tango performances and even a chat on Argentinean wine with Vogue’s Food Editor, Jeffrey Steingarten. However, this fashion funhouse was not like the rest with stands sponsored by fashion’s hottest, like Rodarte cotton candy, an Opening Ceremony x Muppets water pistol challenge, an Alexander Wang ski ball game among endless goodies by Pamela Love and Band of Outsiders, to name a few. Also who could forget, a special guest appearance by Miss Piggy herself!

photo via: Tiffany

Disco Night at Tiffany
From jewelry mecca to disco dance party, Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue Flagship took a turn in time to not only celebrate in FNO festivities but also take the opportunity to introduce the new Tiffany Era collection. As we see fashion forward trendsetters shifting to a 70’s inspired mindset, Tiffany takes the lead in the jewelry sector to bring forth bold, geometric pieces, which were sported by live models in the windows. As the rest of the store transformed into this 70’s styled disco ball, the spirit of FNO lived on with a Pop Art photo booth, special appearances by Tiffany designers, fashion presentations influenced by nonetheless 70’s style ethics, and a super swank musical performance by Gossip Girl fashionista, Leighton Meester.

Despite all the madness, we managed to photograph some of the fashion obsessed out and about in SoHo dressed in their best and ready to celebrate the spirit of fashion week. Here are some looks that grabbed our eye!

Marciano: Zara jacket and slacks, American Apparel shirt, vintage hat

Ashley: Vintage Escada blouse, H&M jeans, no label jacket, Chanel bag, Jeffrey Campbell boots

Kerri: Betsey Johnson dress

Dominic: Betsey Johnson top and vest

Adtresa: All vintage

While we had so much fun this year, word on the street is this may be the last Fashion's Night Out celebration. Has what started with the primary purpose to promote spending turned into one big out of control party? We guess we'll just have to wait until final word from FNO's creator herself, Anna Wintour. Let us know what you think, where you went, and what fabulous goodies you bought!

Falling For Fall

Autumn in New York is one of the best time of year to witness the true beauty this City has to offer. With cooler temperatures and festive activities it’s the perfect time to experience a different side of New York City.

Today we offer you a fun-filled guide about what to look forward to in the upcoming weeks, as we transition from Summer into the crisp calm spirit of Fall!

photo via Time Out New York

Leaves Changing
What is Fall without watching the leaves change -- from a lively pigment of green to vibrant shades of crimson, amber, and marigold? The best part about Autumn (as our close cousins refer to it) in the City is the many places you can experience the varying hues of the season -- without ever leaving any of the five boroughs! Take a stroll through Central Park’s open meadow just below Belvedere Castle -- or to Prospect Park Lake to see plentiful rich maples in the midst of transition. Other great spots that really immerse you in nature are Fort Greene Park’s Tree Trail home to over 40 different species of plant life and Inwood Hill Park’s hiking trails. Also, with the Botanical Garden’s online foliage tracker you can detect from home when the leaves will hit their peak in autumnal hues before even planning your visit.

photo via New York Music Theatre Festival

New York Music Theatre Festival
For $20 the NYMT festival offers over thirty musicals, dance productions, concerts and special events in New York City's theatre district. From hip-hop to rock to dramas and comedies, don't miss out on this exciting annual three-week event that highlights new talents, artists, and productions to everyone's liking!

photo via Bard Graduate Center

Hats: An Anthology by Steven Jones
With more than 250 hats on display ranging from 12th century Egyptian to contemporary design, this exhibit showcases everything from motorcycle helmets to top hats, plastic tiaras, and of course hats worn by celebrities. Curated by British milliner Steven Jones, the hat collection seeks to educate and influence by showing the process of inspiration and creation as well as featuring contemporary NY milliners. Be sure to check out some of our favorite picks which include Estee Lauder’s turban, Babe Ruth’s baseball cap, and Elsa Schiaparelli’s shoe hat! As they say ... if the shoe fits, wear it!

photo via Jane's Carousel

Jane's Carousel
Looking for something affordable and lighthearted to do? Made in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company Jane’s Carousel has been completely restored and opened to the public at Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO. For $2 you can ride a carousel that features 48 charming carved horses, 2 chariots while enjoying a fabulous view of the Brooklyn waterfront! With much of the original elements remaining it’s like taking a short, scenic ride into history.

photo via FIT Museum

Daphne Guinness Exhibition, FIT
Calling on all fashionistas! This week a special exhibition about one of the most profound style icons -- Daphne Guinness. This exhibit conveys her extreme personal style and couture collecting obsession of clothes and accessories -- from the likes of Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Nina Ricci to name a few. As Valentino once said ... "life is a stage for Daphne". You don't want to miss the show!

photo via The New York Times

Fine-Tuning: A Fall Beauty Wish List
Autumn is the perfect time -- right smack in between a fun-filled Summer and the up-and-coming holiday craze -- to take some time for you  self and rejuvenate. It's also a fabulous time to test out the newest and hottest beauty products hitting the market. Our Fall picks? To name a few M.E. Skinlab's new cleanser -- sold exclusively online; Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick and an absolute must ... Tribeca's Tenoverten Salon. This new nail haven has an entire wall displaying nail hues ranging from mossy greens to your staple pink and red shades and offers a large variety of rare and upscale polish brands like Chanel, NARS, RGB as well as our own personal favorite -- Uslu Airlines. Check it out, let us know which shades are your personal favorites for this Fall!

The World Gets Greener...

As one of our core beliefs here at MBF Trend Consulting, environmental responsibility is a trend that we firmly believe in, and one that we expect to last and continue to see as an influential factor in all industries. From what we wear, what we eat, to how we get from one place to another, we have seen many new eco-friendly alternatives and are excited to see the green movement become a global, holistic effort.

Today, we highlight some of the most recent and influential ideas that are shaping today's culture. While in no particular order, here are some of our favorites!

video via: YouTube

Givmo.com
Most of us know what it feels like to clean out the closet each year and find piles of clothes, house gadgets, and other little knick-knacks we no longer want or need. Occasionally, we will take the time to drop it off at the nearest Salvation Army, but more times than not, we usually throw these things out or tuck it away somewhere deep down our closets, not wanting to deal with it.

The founders behind Givmo realized this frustration and unnecessary waste, and decided to actually do something about it. Like an online Goodwill with extra perks, Givmo allows people to upload photos of things that they want to give away, and people from all over the country can see your listings in an organized online shopping space. When someone decides that they want your item, he/she agrees to pay the shipping cost for you to mail it to them. For your convenience, Givmo will provide the shipping label and your item can be dropped off or picked up by your local UPS courier. And what's even better, Givmo will donate $1 to charity for every item donated on their site. Considering both eco and social responsibility, Givmo is an easy and creative new way to give away (or find) free stuff.

photo via: Springwise

Ze O Ze
Five pairs in one, Israeli industrial designer Daniela Bekerman's "ze o ze" shoe (translated as 'this or that' in Hebrew) transforms into five uniquely different styles. Using modular attachments, the plain flat shoe transforms to a brogue-inspired lace-up, a Mary Jane kitten-heel, or a casual strappy sandal. Fit to adjust a wide range of multiple occasions, the smartly designed shoe uses less material, produces less waste, and is a great buy for those with a tight budget. With the varying styles all at the price of one, this shoe definitely gives you your money's worth.

photo via: PackWebAsia

Proctor & Gamble

Last May, Proctor & Gamble announced the launch of their Supplier Environmental Sustainability Scorecard and rating process. As their next step to environmental sustainability, the scorecard was designed as a holistic effort to encourage P&G's suppliers and partners to track down their total environmental footprint and work collaboratively in becoming more environmentally sustainable. Earlier this month, P&G announced that it is extending their scorecard to another 200 of it's current 400 top suppliers with goals to improve it's corporate environmental performance.  As P&G works with a wide range of industries all across the globe, including packaging, logistics, manufacturing, chemicals, and financial services, this sustainability scorecard program will make huge, lasting impacts in many areas. 

photo via: NY Times

Hess Surfboards

The story behind the San Francisco surfboard company Hess Surfboards is truly as inspiring as the owner himself, Danny Hess. A former building contractor, Hess is a keen surfer who loved surfing but hated the fact that most surfboards are made of non-recyclable materials and must constantly be replaced. Combining his passion for surfing and his life philosophy of being thoughtful about your resources, Hess quit his job and devoted himself full-time to creating environmentally friendly and long-lasting surfboards made from reclaimed and sustainably harvested wood, recycled cork, and nontoxic and recyclable foam. Handcrafted at his California studio, each board is made with the utmost respect and love. Check out his blog to see his latest products!

photo via: AHA Life

S'well Bottle

Style meets function with S'well's stainless steel water bottle. Made with the highest quality stainless steel, the bottle is designed to keep cold beverages cold and hot beverage hot - for hours. Because the bottle is insulated, there is also never wet condensation on the outside. Perfectly sized to fit into car and stroller cup holders, S'well bottles are ideal for people who are always on-the-go. It's also easy to clean and toxin-free, making it a convenient, chic, and eco-friendly alternative to plastic bottles. In addition, S'well donates 10% of net sales to WaterAid, an NGO that provides access to safe drinking water in the world's poorest areas. Coming in 4 different colors, S'well bottles make a perfect gift for friends or loved ones. Buy yours here!

photo via: Telegraph

Esprit RCA Limited Edition

A brand with 40 years of heritage, Esprit makes a comeback by teaming up with the Royal College of Art to create 'Esprit RCA Limited Edition'. In a two year design collaboration, Esprit and RCA created a capsule collection, incorporating sustainable fashion design, and selected three students from the competition for their winning designs. Reworked by the company's in-house design team, the collection includes 15 pieces and will be on sale in selected Esprit shops at the end of September. From large-scale, chunky knits, palazzo pants, and dip-dyed draped jersey tops, the collection is young, fresh, and right on trend.

photo via: Replenish

Replenish

Looking for a non-toxic yet effective household cleaner may sometimes be difficult to find. However, with Replenish's Ultra Concentrated Multi-Surface Cleanser, you not only get a safe (even drinkable) cleaner, the bottle is also long-lasting and reusable, with a patented concentrate mixing and delivery system. 

Each bottle is designed to last up to 3 years with enough concentrate pod at the bottom of the bottle to make 4 bottles worth of cleaner. Simply add your own water, mix, and Replenish will automatically add just the right amount of concentrate to make your cleaning spray. With this innovative design, Replenish has set a goal of eliminating 1 billion bottles from landfills and 1 billion pounds of chemicals out of the environment. 

photo via: Ecouterre

McDonald's 100% Closed-Loop Recycled Uniforms

McDonald's may not be one of the first companies we think of when it comes to sustainability, but when we heard about their new eco-friendly uniforms, we were all pleasantly surprised. Worn Again, a resource efficiency business that upcycles corporate textile waste into new products, is partnering with British designers Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway to create a closed-loop system, taking old uniforms and reprocessing them into raw materials for new ones with zero waste. Working with Alexandra, a leading uniform manufacturer, this collaborative project is a young, innovative way to think about sustainability in a broader aspect. The uniforms are expected to be revealed just in time for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It is planned that employees of the Olympic Park restaurants will be the first to wear the new uniforms. After the games, the outfits will make their debut all across the 1,200 restaurants in the UK. And hopefully, it doesn't end there as we'd love to see this change make their way across the Atlantic. 

photo via: Inhabitat

Brooklyn Grange

Who would have thought that the world's largest rooftop farm is located right here in the bustling city of NYC? Brooklyn Grange is a 40,000 square foot elevated organic garden located on top of a six-story warehouse built by Bromley Caldari Architects. Grown by urban farmers, the rooftop cultivates 40 various fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, fennel, kale, beets, carrots, and a variety of herbs. While it's first farm is located in Long Island City Queens, their goal is to put more farms on roofs throughout New York and beyond, growing more food and improving the overall quality of life in the city. The Brooklyn Grange hopes to reconnect it's city dwellers to its farms and farmers by improving the local's access to good, healthy food. If you live in the city, click here to learn how you can get involved.

September MBF Favorite Picks

photo via: NY Times

For this month's MBF's Favorite Picks, we head South to one of the world's most exciting countries: Brazil. With emerging markets in finance, fashion, real estate, and culture, this South American country is making headlines with natives returning back to their homeland, as well as various industry insiders from all over the world. While most parts of the world are facing financial downslides, Brazil's unemployment is at historic lows as the country is now one of the biggest buyers of United States Treasury securities, taking a sharp turn from where the country was heading only 30 years ago. This week, let's take a look at some of the latest news highlighting what makes this country such a hot destination.

photo via: NY Times

1. Comedy Central Goes to Brazil
While the American-based television network Comedy Central has already established itself as a global network with channels in countries such as Britain, Poland, Israel, and New Zealand, this year, the network finally makes its debut in Brazil. With 200 million people, this is a giant stepping stone for the network as it is not only their largest overseas market, but also their first venture in Latin America.

However, this comes as no surprise as comedy is booming in Brazil due to a new generation of comedians and a growing number of entertained fans. The Brazilian comedian Rafinha Bastos is leading the way for his home country as he was also recently named the most influential person in the Twitter universe. Mixing currently existing popular American TV shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show With John Stewart, the network also plans to hire native writers and editors to cater to the Brazilian culture. Furthermore, since the economy is booming, the market for cable TV is rising, making it the perfect time to launch the channel.

photo via: W Magazine

2. "USAnatomy" by Steven Klein
Photographer and W contributor Steven Klein's new exhibition "USAnatomy" kicked off earlier this month for Brazilian society. Curated by Chico Lowndes at the Brazilian Museum of Sculpture in Sao Paulo, the attendees were invited to witness 30 rarely seen Polaroids, including the legendary July 2005 issue of W, featuring the celebrity couple, Brad and Angelina. The show will run till August 28 as part of the annual IGUATEMI photo series.

photo via: Coach

3. Retailers Expand Into Brazil
With a growing number of middle-class, retailers are all geared toward capturing the attention of the growing Brazilian market. Carrefour claims that Brazil is an important motor for their growth as the country became the retailer's second largest market in terms of sales during the first quarter of this year.

In addition, the NY-based handbag and accessory brand Coach took a smart move and extended its retail stores into Brazil. Expected to launch it's first stores in São Paulo within the next twelve months, Coach has been eyeing the country for the last year before finally signing a deal with Aste Group, enabling it to expand into freestanding stores in local shopping centers. As the economy is rapidly developing, Coach hopes to catch the attention of the "growing aspirational consumer" and believes that their brand will strongly resonate with the Brazilian market. The trend-based fast fashion retailer Topshop/Topman will also enter Brazil in February or March, as one of their several new global ventures.

photo via: Vandalog

4. Beco do Batman
In order to find the best graffiti of São Paulo, locals recommend you take a walk down the colorful walls of Beco do Batman "Batman's Alley" located in Rua Goncalo Alfonso. Originally just a typical narrow alleyway, artists have brought new life to these streets and turned them into an open-air gallery. While there are some that have remained for long periods, there are always new illustrations popping up each week, making it an evolving art space.

photo via: WWD

5. Myla Launches Swimwear in Brazil
When it comes to swimwear, Brazilians are the expert. Therefore, it's no surprise that British lingerie label Myla is revamping it's swimwear line in collaboration with Brazilian designer Amir Slama, the cofounder of the swim label Rosa Cha. Launching it's Cruise 2012 collection in November, the 60-piece collection includes a wide assortment, from both sleek and simple to elaborate and glamorous. Staying true to Myla's design sense, the styles are all about making women feel confident in their own bodies, designed with supporting structure to sculpt the body. All designs will be manufactured in Brazil, where Slama oversees the process.

photo via: The Rio Times

6. The "Bus Rapid System"

Since the bus is the most common form of transportation in the bustling cities of Brazil, local commuters were thrilled earlier this month on the inauguration of the "Bus Rapid System," taking full effect in Leblon and Ipanema beginning August 20th. With this new system, buses can ride faster and more efficiently, cutting traffic time and reducing congestion. Of the 55 lines that are currently operating in Ipanema, fifty are planned to be included in the BRS system, with five lines no longer operating. As the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games are slowly approaching, Rio de Janeiro is quickly on it's way in upgrading it's infrastructure.

photo via: TechEBlog

7. The Laranjeiras Residence
Real estate has skyrocketed in Brazil and this house in Rio de Janeiro is a true gem. Called the Laranjeiras Residence, the home features an open box design, meaning that "it was built around the natural surroundings." Using it's landscape to enhance the layout, the concept of the design gives the feeling of freedom within the space. Using large windows, wide openings, high ceilings, and large open rooms, this is an extravagant seasonal vacation house.

Last Days of Summer.....

As we approach the end of summer, we leave you with streetstyle photos from some of the most fashion-forward cities in Europe. Photographed by Linzi in collaboration with MBF, these trendsetters showcase their seriously cool summer style on the streets of Amsterdam, Budapest, Berlin, and Reykjavik!

Susan, Fashion Designer, Amsterdam

Maison Scotch top, vintage jacket, Fred de la Bretoniere bag, Sacha shoes, G-Star jeans

Loraine, Student, Amsterdam

American Apparel jacket, Denim Co. top, H&M pants, Asics shoes, bag handmade by a friend

Luus, Amsterdam

Zara skirt, vintage shoes, Brown Paper Bag purse

Julian, Fashion Buyer for Liganova GMBH, Berlin

Nina, Fashion Blogger: Nina Im Wonderland, Berlin

Vintage shoes and dress, French Connection hat

On the streets of Reykjavik

Anna, Budapest

H&M sweater, Hunter boots, vintage jeans, Mango top, Louis Vuitton bag, Urban Outfitters headphones

Yamit, Sales Associate at Seacret, Budapest

Dgani knit shawl 

August MBF Picks Special Edition: Berlin Fashion Week "Round Up" 2nd Edition

It was a pleasure to join all of our colleagues at Berlin's Fashion week and in particular to be in Berlin as a "visitor". Everywhere we were "welcomed" with great service -- always rendered with a smile. Berlin is finally coming into it's own and it's a delight! It is recognized as a fashion metropolis and it is continuously adding to its cadre of well-attended trade shows. As always, our visit was too short with way too much to see and too little time. Here are our favorite picks from our five-day Berlin whirlwind visit!


FASHION

Von Schwanenfluegelpupke

Eleonore von Schwanenflügel and Stephanie Pupke are two fashion designers who met in 2005 at the Potsdam based Label Wunderkind by Wolfgang Joop. Since then, the two have combined their knowledge and expertise in accessories and ready to wear garments for their own collection. Their vision began in 2009 when they both decided to extend their experiences as freelance designers based in Berlin and Paris. The two have always been driven by the potency
of oppositions in their work: Beets and beans printed onto finest silk foulards create a translation of a self-evident and common context through a bourgeois and elegant expression of form to a recent view on products. The designers contemporary conception allows a connection of disciplines through cooperations with artists, stylists and partners. It retains mainly the idea of a custom fashion label – VONSCHWANENFLÜGELPUPKE.

video via: YouTube

Frida Weyer
First time showcasing a variety of ready to wear pieces, Frida Weyer presented her Spring/Summer 2012 collection aptly named "City Fever" at the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week location at Brandenburg Gate. Recognized for her ethereal and feminine silk dresses, the models looked like they were almost floating on the catwalk. We especially loved the prints that were especially made by the designer for this collection.

Haikure
Valuing transparency, respect of the environment, and sustainability, Haikure is a new ecosustainable brand born under CS Jeans, a leading manufacture of jeans since 1981. Using the QRCode technology, each pair of jeans can be tracked down: from the certified organic cotton to the laboratory where it was processed and up to the producers of each trim and those who are in charge of the different treatments. Partnering with Made-By, the European non-profit organization supports Haikure's environmental and social standards and in validating the transparency of the entire production process. Their latest FW season includes denim bottoms and a variety of shirts, blouses, undershirts, and jackets in organic cotton, cashmere, and merino wool.

HANNA felting
Using local raw natural fabrics, HANNA felting is a true believer of the Slow Fashion Movement. The designer Hanna Petursdottir works closely with local artisans in eastern Iceland who hand work wool that is locally sourced from free-grazing sheep in the mountains and fjords of Iceland. The artisans combine the wool with cotton and knits to create truly unique and natural fabrics. Each piece in her collection reveals the exciting process of the design, making clothes that are both wearable and innovative.

Andreas Murkudis
We heard through the grapevine that Andreas Murkudis is moving his shops from the commercially popular Mitte to the quieter part of Potsdamer Strasse. Situated in a huge loft-like space, we were delighted to find a perfectly curated selection of design objects, fashion, interior design, beauty products, and books.

Interviewing the man behind it all, Andreas Murkudis, our Creative Director and Founder, Manuela Fassbender, gets a one-on-one interview to share with our readers:

Andreas: The idea is to sell products you cannot easily find anywhere, but products that excite people and make one really feel the intensive labour of work that went in making them. Of course we have collections like Celine and Balenciaga, but we also have a lot of products which are handcrafted and are produced in small editions which you hardly can find anywhere, like our hand knitted kids cardigans from Hohgant made in small villages of Switzerland by older women who make these after hours, after they milked their cows. They do it out of passion. Or, a friend of ours, Christoph Keller, who is doing “Schnaps” called Staehlemuehle. He bought a house at the Bodensee with the right to distill and creates amazing “Schnaps” and tells you where the berries he’s using are coming from using beautiful bottles. You can feel again that there is somebody with passion creating something with quality. 

The idea is also to be in the courtyard again in this new location as we were in the old location at Muenzstrasse. We want to have the time to explain and tell the story about each product. One cannot just say: “Here is a vase by Nymphenburg and it costs $3000.” It is no justification to just say it’s cool. One needs to explain to our costumers who is Nymphenburg and how it is produced. I want to infect our clients with what I have in me. This is the idea. And it actually works since 80% of our clientele are our loyal shoppers who come to our location and love to listen to each story. Part of this is, of course, that our co-workers have the knowledge having been at the production sites of Nymphenburg and seeing the production process of many of our products. It is the constant search for special products. It is important for us to go with these brands, not only into the width of it's variety, but also into the depth of the products. For example, I initiated a project with artist Olaf Nicolai who then did a 1.5 year long collaboration with Nymphenburg. This is an example that what we do is more than just about selling a product. 

Manuela: Yes –you want to tell a story. The product has a soul. We are talking about the “new client” – they ask questions, they want to know where things are produced, and they want to hear the story behind it.

Andreas: Exactly. What is also important is that one can write down on a small piece of paper all the names of the coworkers who work in these small companies. Ludwig Reiter has more or less 30 people. It is fun to know who they are or to meet them once in awhile. That connects us and we can do special projects with them or a special collection. This is also true with the Dries van Noten project, which was their first time doing such a project with a store. They created 5 identical dresses in 5 different sizes for us. Then Dries pulled the most beautiful fabrics from their inventory from 2005 to 2011. Every roll had to be measured, swatches had to be created. And we have sold already 3-5 dresses and the people are happy. Dries also said the dress should not be more expensive than any other dress out of his collection even so the time and effort is very individual. It is not being made in Italy, but in Belgium hand made. The customer has a one of a kind dress. Once there is no more fabric, we just leave the empty roll. This project will continue till September 2011. I feel very honored that Dries is doing this. Although I’ve only worked with Dries for 2.5 years, he’s offered that to me. 

Manuela: It is a bit like building a community, right?

Andreas: Yes, we have a great relationship. I also say it is important that I like the people I work with. At one point I decide to work with certain brands and stick with them, even if the turnover/sales at times is going down. I do not think it is just about the turnover. I love to work with companies who are innovative and show quality work. It is cross-pollination for all sides. We recently worked intensively with e15, collaborating with Stefan Diez and my brother, Kostas Murkudis. Stefan Diez designed the chair and my brother created a new color concept.


Manuela: Thank you for this opportunity to talk with you.

Sakina Paris
Since 1998, fashion designer Sakina M'sa has been moderating "Cultural Mediation" workshops in disenfranchised neighborhoods on the theme of clothing and identity. Through these workshops, she employs and trains women and men in difficult situations to inspire them and give them hope for a future. More recently, the designer was part of an exhibition in January at the Museum of Art and Design of New York.


BEAUTY

photo via: Uslu Airlines

Uslu Airlines
Mentioned several times in our previous posts, Uslu Airlines is always up to something interesting! Launching their sixth DJ-nail polish "DUS" (Düsseldorf) by Loco Dice, this new polish is a pale lilac, named with the airport code DUS for Düsseldorf, hometown of the curating DJ Loco Dice. As the nail polish is inspired by a DJ, make sure you check out their free downloadable "Uslu Airlines Nail Mix" by Loco Dice.

DINING

Pret a Diner
This year, Pret a Diner had a fabulous location right along the Spree River in Berlin. With an open bar and an outdoor lounge area and restaurant, it was the perfect spot for the hot summer nights. Between the cocktails, food, and a great company of friends in an amazing view, Pret a Diner was a great place to end the evenings!


Lastly, congratulations to everyone at Bread and Butter for their 10 year anniversary! The show was fabulous!

                          

video via: Vimeo

And that's a wrap for today. If you were in Berlin for all it's festivities, we'd love to hear from you too. Tell us your favorite picks, as we always love to hear from our readers. Until next time everyone!

Kavita Parmar and The IOU Project

photo via: IOU Project

One of the highlights at this Summer's Berlin Fashion Week was the pleasure of meeting Kavita Parmar, Creative Director and Co-founder of the IOU Project. We'd already heard about the IOU Project back in New York; so as you can imagine, we were more than thrilled at the opportunity of a one-on-one interview. What stood out is how passionate Kavita is about her work -- it was so inspiring that we wanted to share this with you! Interviewed by Manuela Fassbender, Creative Director and Founding Partner of MBF Trend Consulting, we share our special interview with Kavita Parmar and how she got started with IOU. Enjoy!

Manuela Fassbender: How and when did you start the IOU Project? What was your motivation?

Kavita Parmar: This Project grew out of my frustration as a designer with the current fashion system that I felt did not nurture "BIG Design" - not just making things pretty but truly designing the eco system around their production and make it sustainable, nor did it protect excellent craftsmanship or artisanship. It had turned into a race to make things faster and cheaper, not better. So about one and a half years ago we decided to do a small experiment in our flagship store in Madrid creating a collection which was made keeping in mind the needs of the artisans, myself, and at the same time creating a unique product that would give the client something really well crafted just for them.

photo (above): Kavita Parmar

Manuela Fassbender: What is your background and how did it lead you to this project?

Kavita Parmar: Like I mention above, I am a clothing designer and have two brands that I design and produce for the past 10 years, Raasta and Suzie Wong. Working on those collections through the traditional fashion cycle, I realized that it was a race to make things quicker with shorter shelf lives and hence, with bigger margins which was a frustrating exercise personally. I have worked extensively with artisans for both the Raasta and Suzie Wong collections and I had lived first hand the difficulties that artisans in Europe and India were facing trying to compete with cheaper mechanised production. Yes, we were making things cheaper but, we were also loosing age old techniques and making them without doubt of lesser quality. This experience and wanting to do something about it lead to the birth of the IOU Project.

Manuela Fassbender: What brought you to Berlin and to the Bread and Butter Show?

Kavita Parmar: We were invited by the organizers of Bread and Butter Berlin to put up a POP UP SHOP Experience here at the Tempelhof airport. They are very supportive of the new emerging ideas and loved the philosophy behind the project and have supported us whole heartedly.

Manuela Fassbender: Do you see a change in the consumer who is shopping with a more conscious approach? Who are your customers?

Kavita Parmar: You and I -- normal people from all walks of life. I definitely believe that there is a shift in the consumption pattern. We have become very aware of the scarcity of resources and the loss of authenticity due to mass production and consumption. The rise of vintage shopping is a clear example of this trend. People are looking to express themselves, their individuality, and their point of view on the world. Look at the number of new blogs created each day. The exciting part is that now we have the technology to be able to do that.

photo via: IOU Project

Manuela Fassbender: The IOU project has been referred to as a ‘movement’, with a business model that fosters true transparency and authenticity. Do you think other commercial companies will follow suit?

Kavita Parmar: I certainly hope so. We are a for profit organization and I like to think of us as a proof of concept. I believe we have all been doing our accounting wrong and it is time to clean up the books and take into account the real costs: loss of skills and job options, harm to the environment by consuming and producing without regard, lack of decent working conditions for many factory workers around the globe...I think these are big costs that we are ignoring and we cannot do so any more. If we were to really account for all this we would realize that what we think as cheap in fact comes at a very high cost.
Transparency is fundamental to put forth these ideas. We do believe that we need to know and be aware of how we affect other people and the environment by our actions and what we can do to make things better for us and others. We need to start taking personal responsibility.

Manuela Fassbender: Currently IOU is successful with women, men’s, and unisex apparel; will the initiative expand into other markets such as children’s wear, home goods, or accessories?

Kavita Parmar: We already have a shoe line making its debut this month and of course we are working on more accessories and home goods for Thanksgiving.

photo via: IOU Project

Manuela Fassbender: How can consumers and advocates of the IOU Project stay engaged? Tell us more about your e-commerce initiatives and “virtual trunk shows”.

Kavita Parmar: We are very active in our relationships with our clients on line. We want engage in a real dialogue with them and have had a tremendous feedback from them in this short time that we have been live since mid May. In less than 2 months we have over 1 million citations on Google and over 260,000 blog posts mentioning the IOU Project. It is evident that we have touched a nerve.
Our clients are our brand ambassadors . We have gone a step further and created the Trunk Show Host platform on line to further engage and share with them. Anyone who is interested in the project can have their own unique Trunk show on our website with no monetary cost to them. All they need is a Facebook and a paypal account. They get to dig through our inventory virtually and select their very own IOU products. Since all IOU Pieces are unique, they have a completely unique Trunk Show which they can very easily share with their friends and followers on Facebook , Twitter, blogs or other social media. Any sale on these pieces generates a 20% revenue for them the first week, 15% the second week and 12.5% the third week. They can go back to the inventory and restock and exchange their selection at anytime. So they can make money by talking about and promoting what they believe in.

photo via: Facebook

Manuela Fassbender: What are your short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals? How do you see the project expanding and how do you want to grow? Have you considered collaborating with other companies, sponsors, and celebrities?

Kavita Parmar: We at present are working with 243 weavers out of the entire 20,000 weaving community so our short term/ immediate goal is to work with as many more as possible. In the mid term we feel that IOU is an experiment in creating what we call a "prosperity chain", that allows goods to be bought and sold in a way that benefits everyone involved and not just a few. We plan to grow the platform and invite other brands with similar values to increase the products we offer to our Trunk Show Hosts and in the long term hopefully, our online social platform, created for like minded people, will encourage a more sustainable form of commerce and develop symbiotic businesses.


Without doubt we believe we will be growing organically, we already have a lot of other brands with similar view approaching us to collaborate, varying from shoe companies, chocolate manufacturers, beauty products, magazines, and celebrities. This is very exciting as there are many various opportunities and people are willing to think out of the box to promote an idea that we all believe in.

Manuela Fassbender: What are some challenges the project faces and how do you plan to overcome them?

Kavita Parmar: We are definitely short staffed right now. The interest in the project has been amazing and we are all passionate about what we do and working long hours. We are already increasing our team and inviting new people on board, people who are as passionate as we are and are not afraid of following their hearts and making new rules.



If you are interested in learning more about Kavita Parmar and the IOU Project, please click here to visit their website.