TIME AND AGAIN. . .

-I´m back here for a short moment.

Erik Mortensen for Balmain

There is a time for everything. Time is running short and other important priorities has taking over at the moment.

It doesn´t mean I have given up blogging though. But right now I am working on a new more focused blog else where.

- Sharing is caring -

LA MACHINE MODE

There is a new tendency emerging I think. . .

 Photo: Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

- A reaction to fast fashion.

Yesterday I heard that Jean-Paul Gaultier is closing his Prêt-à-Porter line, to focus on Haute couture instead. He apparently is tired of the fast pace of fashion. Creative ideas doesn´t come easy - to really create takes time.

Dries van Noten is another example - that holds on to produce only 2 collections a year, but never the less is very popular. If you want to learn about his inspirations, you can still make it, visiting Les Arts Décoratifs.

When I was in Montreal, I read about a young designer, Jeremy Laing, who launched his label in 2005. He said: - "I want people to collect my pieces. I don’t make disposable fashion. It should last".
But after experiences in fast fashion, he was so frustrated and decided to take a time-out to rethink his role in the fashion world.

The fast fashion industry can be very demanding and stressful, when you have to design and produce 6-8 collections a year.
The Industry says that it is the consumers who demands fast and cheap fashion - but personally I think they created that need to profit from it.

I wish that consumers would be more conscious when they shop for fashion. But the Industry and media also have a big responsibility. Maybe they should rethink, why they are in the fashion business.

Personally I think that quality, enduring values and sustainability will play a major role in the future. It is not enough just to profit from it. It has to make sense too.

You can read more about the subject in Huffington Post and Forbes.

I wrote another post about this issue a few years back. Read more about things like that under  thoughts.
I´m curious to known what you readers think? -if you have any opinion on the subject.

ONLINE FASHION SHOPS

I’ve done some reflection about online stores, after my experiences with ETSY and Amino.

On Etsy, there are really big price differences on the products, depending on where in the world they are produced. There is no doubt, that it is difficult for us here in the West to compete with the price of goods produced in the East.

Of course the cost of living plays a role; they do not have the same hourly wage as we have here. 

Another competition parameter is of course the quality, which also depends on the hourly wage. For me to see, the quality is not same at all. But the price of their goods must of course fit into their home markets.

Obviously, of course, there is not much to loose us, if we buy goods from the East and it does not meet our  expectations. I would, however, hesitate to order a dress made in the East if you want to be sure of the quality and fit.

However, the signal value is not to be mistaken if they want customers from the West. They can also sell their items too cheap. Because in the west we expect the price to be related to the quality. Low prices we connect with poor quality. If you’re out to save money, that is of course to your advantage. 

Of course, that also applies the other way around. Our significantly higher prices may seem unattainable for the most part.

In some way you can be so and so international on the internet. But, when far from all places can trade together, due to the different economies, what is the point?

Since our products are more expensive, I think we have to compete on the quality of design, crafts, materials and service, not the least, if want to make an impression. 

 

Do you have any experiences, dealing with the above mentioned or similar places? Share your thoughts!

 Pictures from my Jubilee Exhibition 2010, Photos: Daniel Clément

ORIGINAL OR COPYCAT ?

-An issue, I have been thinking about for a while. . . here are a few thoughts.

Montreal 2011, Photo: John Frantsen

-It started out with some comments on my blog.

Obviously some people/companies is commenting as a strategy. They just leave standard comments to leave a link back to their own Online-shop. . . 
They seem to forget, if someone Googles them, a link to my blog with their comments shows up. Of course, if I don´t want to be associated with them, I delete their comments.

I also find it very problematic with copyrights of pictures these days. There is so many pictures out there and I try to credit whenever it´s possible. But with Google and Pinterest for example, it just looks like people take whatever they need. And some blogs even put their own signature on the pictures they find. I think it is so easy to copy - maybe too easy!

Maybe it comes as a surprise, but copying are also a discipline in the fashion world. Because to produce and sell clothes from the rack like some of the major players today, there is no time for original designs.

As of yesterday, I was sorry to hear that "Fashion is My Muse"-blogger just announced she lost her passion for blogging, because of Copyright problems. That is sad.

I wish people would have that much self respect, to respect Copyrights and show credit where credit is due - whenever possible.

Are YOU an original or a copycat ? -And what are your thoughts about this subject ? - If you have any. . .

In spite of all this, I´m happy to see new followers and wish you all happy holidays and a Wonderful Christmas. For more post like this, look into my labels.

PRICELESS EXPERIENCE

-What is experience worth and how to value it ? Have you ever had difficulty pricing your own work ?

Paloma Picasso by David Downton 1999

Learn from this story about Picasso :

-There was a woman strolling along the streets of Paris, when she spotted Picasso sketching near a sidewalk cafe.

"Not so thrilled that she could not be slightly presumptuous, the woman asked Picasso if he might sketch her, and charge accordingly. Picasso obliged. In just minutes, there she was: an original Picasso."

"And what do I owe you?" she asked. "Five thousand francs," he answered.

"But it only took you three minutes," she politely reminded him. "No," Picasso said, "It took me all my life."

Experience is very underestimated these days. But I think it is a matter of confidence and how much you value yourself. Because when all comes to all, experience is priceless.

DREAM WEDDINGS

Photo: Getty Images

Two fabulous weddings took place this weekend and was of course covered extensively by the media.

The Rock´n roll wedding of supermodel Kate Moss and Jamie Hince of The Kills in the Cotswolds in England friday.
Kate Moss looked very pretty wearing a wedding gown of her long time friend, John Galliano. Respect!
The sheer elegant beaded gown looked very contemporary, even though  inspired by the 1920-30 flapper-style and suited her perfectly.

The second wedding was The Royal wedding of long time bachelor Prince  Albert of Monaco, who finally was getting married to his fiancée of five years, South-African swimmer, Charlene Wittstock.

Even though the rumors about a third illegitimate child on his side almost made the bride cancel the wedding last week. Apparently other rumors was saying, she tried to escape and made it to the airport, but was stopped and held back. Of course officials denies everything. But just think about all the money that are involved, the prestige, the sponsors etc. Even if it´s not true, it´s a good story. 

For the civil wedding friday Charlene Wittstock wore a light blue Chanel dress with a jacket, by Karl Lagerfeld, who is a long time friend of the Grimaldi-family.

In my opinion not to compare with the stylish wedding ensemble Grace Kelly wore at her and Prince  Ranier´s civil wedding in 1956 though.
A suit designed by Helen Rose, who also did her famous wedding-gown. See my previous post on Grace Kelly here.

But Charlene Wittstock really looked stunning in the Wedding-gown from Armani Privée, at the  Ceremony yesterday.
It was a very contemporary, simple, but heavily beaded column gown with draped shoulders and a long, trailing fishtail skirt and an extensive train attached.

Photos from Associated Press

The designers strategic nursing of their future clients payed off once again. I´m sure the gowns were gifts, because the publicity Chanel and Armani gets, makes it all worth while. For more facts on the wedding, check here.

A NICE REMINDER

Holstee began as a dream. Mike, Dave and Fabian had to create a life-style for themselves - a lifestyle which reflected their vision: -to create a better planet through beautiful design. It is reflected in their nice and inspiring manifesto, that is shown here.  

THE CUSTOMER-RELATION

If you like me are working with all aspects of fashion, right from the idea/design and pattern-making to the execution of the final product, it is very important to be aware of what kind of customer you are targeting.

My customers are primarily very style- and quality-conscious women, that knows what they want and don´t compromise on quality and fit.

On the other hand, it is also important that the customer knows who they are dealing with and what they will get when they approach me. That is why I am writing this !

My passion is to realize your dreams and fantasies for the big moments in life. By creating something unique, I am putting my mark on and contributing to making your day one to remember.

The foundation for all my creations is my design-philosophy, that I have developed through time. My ongoing creativity via inspiration, that I have got through all kinds of impressions and experiences.

The mark of my creations are conscious design, a perfect fit and good quality, that I find of equal importance, all together to enhance your style and personality.

In reality, creating is a way of communicating and expressing yourself. I am doing what I am, because I can´t help it. Of course I hope that you are able to appreciate and like it.

When all comes to all, it is really a matter of taste, to be conscious about yourself and your surroundings.

If you can relate, you probably found the right guy. I am looking forward to meet you and help you out.

THE MONEY ISSUE

-In extension of my post of the 22/9, you often hear the expression that, time is money. 

How do you rate your work? What is your work actually worth? That is some of the hardest things to determine.
Of course, it depends on what the customer imagines, what kind of dress, the cut, the details and what fabric they want. Last but not least, how much they are willing to spend.

On the official website of the Tailor's Guild you can get an indicate of an hourly salery in their agreement here.

Like I have described in previous post, it takes quite some time to create a unique dress made by measure. By experience I've learned to give an estimate, when the clients ask for the price.

The customer then knows what they have to adhere to and what they can expect. -And I know what I am dealing with and can better organize the work within this framework.

But of course, if money is no object, I really can take care and use all the time needed.
On the other side, one does not always have to make every penny count. When I spend time on customers, I see it more like an investment in the long term, which hopefully comes back again somehow.

Sometimes it even comes back from a completely unexpected side. Maybe that is what you call Karma.