Smashing Darling Blog

Check out the lovely Bob Bland dishing with Derek Loves Shopping. In this video they talk about how this interview came to be. We think this is an important part of the story to share. It is good to hear how independent designers are getting their press. They talk about how Bob is very much into product development. She is developing some pretty cool fabrics. Emerging designers don’t usually think in terms of product development. They stick closer to the design development. It is great to learn there are smaller companies out there willing to develop fabrics or other products along with a smaller design houses for their lines. Last she ends with a great sum up of what she does… Bob you get an A+ for being able to sum up your brand in 2 words… Streetwear Atelier.

You can find Bob at Brooklyn Royalty and she is also one of our fabulous darling designers here with Smashing Darling click here to see her boutique.

We think this is a great opportunity to be featured and to support a good cause.

During the month of September 2009 SheFinds will run a promotion with Count Me In to raise money for the organization and help boutique designers get the word out about their designs.

During that time we will feature women’s accessories, apparel, and beauty items from independent designers who have created an original piece that incorporates either the motto “Believe In You”, the Count Me In logo, and/or the official Count Me In colors into the design.  The designer will need to pledge to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of that piece to Count Me In.
Please TELL other independent designers about this promotion too!

Click here for the Lowdown.

Count Me In Mission:
At Count Me In, we believe in YOU! Our mission is to promote economic independence and the growth of women owned businesses. Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of resources, business education and community support for women entrepreneurs seeking to grow micro businesses to million dollar enterprises.

We have recently been looking around the website tidying up a bit. You know making sure items are listed in proper categories and what not. We came across this Katie Burley hat photographed on a women but listed in the men’s category. We were on the fence as to whether to email Katie or not to make sure the listing was deliberate. This is why, we think it would look amazing on Will.i.am. Below is a picture of Will.i.am and below that that a picture of Katie’s hat. If anyone out there knows Will.i.am, please pass the link on. It might make this milliner’s day to know Will.i.am is wearing one of her hats!

Just sayin’… but you be the judge. You can purchase this hat and others like it in the Katie Burley Couture Millinery boutique through Smashing Darling.

Aren’t you curious about how independent designers are getting press? Here designer Nancy Wells shares with us her experience of how she landed in a photo shoot for Plaztik Mag. To see the photos and read the interview click “Unemployed Heartbreakers.”

Trish: How did you get this press? Was it a connection to someone or did someone stumble upon your work somewhere and seek you out?

I think the more we share all of this info the better. We all benefit from hearing each others stories.

Nancy: This opportunity came through a friend of mine.  My friend Agatha is the PR Director of Betsey Johnson. She is friends with Mimi, who is the editor of Plaztik Mag.  Agatha forwarded me an email she had received from Mimi, which was a contest to find an “Unemployed Heartbreaker” to be featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine. The email asked for several photos/headshots as well as the story behind how I lost my job.  I was also asked to explain what I’ve been doing since my layoff and what my future goals are.

I was emailed by Mimi herself about a week later congratulating me and asking me to meet for a photo shoot.  The article is written by me as well, it is actually taken directly from my original email to the editor. The magazine plans to feature a new girl each issue as their “Unemployed Heartbreaker” and promote that girl’s interests and goals for the future. I think that was one of the best parts of the feature….that they were not just interested in what you were doing before or that you’re jobless….but what you WANT to be doing.  For example, I think the girl in the next issue decided after she got laid off that she really wants to be a singer and record an album.

I’m not sure when the next issue of the magazine appears online. The issue I’m featured in is Issue #12.

I agree with you…..I am always so interested to know how people get press and publicity for their clothing lines. It’s very inspiring to the rest of us!

take care and talk to you soon! =)
- nancy

- Read last weeks press story: Chelsea Erhart Shares, No Rules, Fashion Editorial

Anna originally shared this with us and all her fans on facebook. We wanted to congratulate her and share another great independent fashion story with all of our community. Anna sells some of her pieces on Smashing Darling.

The program is part of the Mayor’s Fashion Initiative and it provides 6 emerging Chicago-based designers with an office space including computers and software; a workshop room with sample production space and a resource section; a showroom; a core curriculum of workshops and seminars; and mentoring from industry professionals to launch their careers in fashion.

We wanted to share with the community the fashion spread that indie fashion designer Chelsea Erhart shared with us. We think is so great to see indies getting great press.

See the whole editorial here.

So when Chelsea contacted us to share this photo shoot, we thought why not ask her a bit about how it all came to be.

Trish: How did you get this press? Was it a connection to someone or did someone stumble upon your work somewhere and seek you out?

Chelsea: These are great questions Trish, this spread has a pretty good story behind it!

Last summer I volunteered to work with the Portland Police Activity League as they were offering a fashion design camp. Rebecca Goldshmit was interning with UltraPDX.com, a blog about Portland culture, decided to do a photo shoot with the girls enrolled in the camp and to promote the camp. As I was volunteering to teach the girls, it only made sense to put some of my work into the shoot. You can see the spread here (http://www.ultrapdx.com/zero/2008/06/22/fine-day/).

A few months later, Rebecca decided to do another shoot with Minh Tran and contacted me to use my clothes again. Its pretty funny, they took these photos 10 months ago, and I didn’t see them until they were posted on the Ultra page last week!

Minh Tran and I have worked on a few projects together, he shot the spring collection that is up on Smashing right now. His website is http://www.minhternet.com/ and he is a fantastic person!

Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks Trish!
Chelsea

We love being able to post videos of our designers. We think video is a great way for designers to build their personal brands by letting people get a glimps into their lives, studios, philosophy, inspiration and what it is like to do a fashion show.

Friday, April 17, 2009
7:00pm - 10:00pm
The Crocodile
1450 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL

You are also invited to see a collection by Anna Hovet inspired by artwork addressing of domestic violence. With the intention to raise community awareness of domestic violence, Anna designed this collection as art on the body rather than commercial garments.

Anna has extended this collection into ready-to-wear with her “Speak Out Hoodies”, which will be available for purchase at the show. A portion of the proceeds from them go to the Chicago Foundation for Women or any other domestic violence advocacy program of the buyers choice.

There will also be information on how to donate to the Chicago Foundation for Women and how to sign up for their annual 5K Race For A Safe State. Proceeds from Race for a Safe State will go to support Chicago Foundation for Women’s mission to provide women and girls with the opportunity to live in safe, just and healthy communities. For more information on Chicago Foundation for Women, visit www.cfw.org.

We thought today would be a good day to share some links with you to other blogs that have blogged about many of the designers here at Smashing Darling. It is always so good to read what others have to say. Click on the links we are posting here today, these are fun blogs that you may want to add to your morning hot beverage routine.

Kingdom of Style a blog from the UK wrote, Weird and Wonderful Tulle, a post about Papusza Couture.

Broke & Beautiful has a category of posts she calls Eye Candy & indie Genius, this week she wrote about Gina Michelle. Previous weeks have included Laura Dawson, Black Heart Bunny, M641, and Erika Hendrix. We know her on twitter as @MissElle, look her up and say hi.

Get Palmed, written by Sara from Helsinki Finland, beautifully describes Zsega’s colection.

Pr Couture recently wrote, Show Me The Pretty: Fashion PR with Madras 641. It is a good read and full of great PR tips for indie fashion designers. You can also find @pr_couture on twitter.

Clothes Coach, Kristen Ezell wrote Kaytee Papusza @ Williamsburg Fashion Weekend. We met Kristen at Digital Moda and then again later in the week at Kaytee’s fashion show.

Darling designer Stacie May will be showing this year at the Downtown Escondido Fashion Show. So if you are in the area of Escondido, CA, you will want to stop by. She is a part of the whole week of fashion events the Downtown Escondido Business Assc. has planned. The show is Thurs. April, 9th & tickets are $22 in advance and can be purchased here. If you can’t make the show Stacie’s beautiful clothing is always available in her online boutique. Some items you might see at the show:

Scarf tie top

Flounced Pencil Skirt

Lauren May dress

We wish we could be all places at all times! We would love to be there to see her beautiful creations come down the runway. Maybe if there is video we can get her to upload it to her boutique so we can all see it. If you are going and would like to guest post about it please contact us!