Pop! Culture

For some strange reason I have really been drawn to only one of the "contest" shows on reality television. Sean, who is able to update anyone as to the current status of every contestant on American Idol, does not share my extreme enthusiasm in America's Best Dance Crew. True, both of these shows involve Randy Jackson, but they are different in nature. The clothing of a few American Idol contestants cannot compare with all the theatrical gear of the teams competing for the ABDC title. Groups of dancers choosing to either match completely, or coordinate is far more enticing to me as a viewer. In all of its seasons I have yet to actually cast a vote. My fascination is truly about body, movement, and clothing. So here I am watching the beginning of season 3, and I am excited to see what everyone will be wearing.

Hiatus

There are always moments that seem to last forever. In the specific case of our new web concept, the process has been slow but steady. I am hopeful that 2009 will bring many new opportunities to us as a line, and to the US economy as a whole. While waiting for the web redesign to be finished I am taking on the task of talking to the boutiques in the Chicago land area. I would love for DEPT728 to be in a few hand-picked places so that shoppers can "happen" upon us, and discover what we have to offer. It's a necessary part of the process, and even though I feel like this line of clothing is "my baby" in some ways, I feel like it's about time to let my child go and play with the other kids.

In Process

Last weekend we went to the Indie Designer Market in Chicago. This second time around we really had a great response from customers coupled with a lot of sales. I am so proud of the fact that anonymous people will own my garments, and love them. Hopefully I will run across someone I don't know wearing my dress (all the pieces we sold were women's clothing). The favorites this weekend were the tie dress, the women's swimsuit, and the criss-cross halter top. Also, I cannot wait until the website launches at the end of August...27 days to go!

Being a Square

Men at the beach fall into 3 different categories: Guys who work out, guys who are naturally thin, and those who should be wearing a t-shirt. For some reason I have seen the swimsuit of choice for most men be distinctly against the type of body they have. For example, there have been quite a few times that a man who needs to get to a gym show up at the beach in a Speedo, and the guy with the 6-pack is lounging in a pair of long board shorts. While everyone should feel comfortable at the beach I don't think that a big man in a small Speedo is good for the other spectators who will be subjected to the view. On the other hand, though, the muscular guys really should look into more revealing swim wear. The board shorts are fine, but square cut swimsuits are far more exciting. Someone who works that hard on his body should really show more off. It used to be that small bathing suits on men meant that they only belonged to certain parts of society, but I think that it's about time for the square cut to make it into mainstream society. Women have already passed the point where backless and super short dresses are considered acceptable attire so men should be given a little slack as well. Besides, us girls will be much more tempted to go sightseeing at the beach.

Bigger. Better. Brighter.

When we first started the clothing line we were full of hope, and not so full of cash. Sean has an incredible background in business along with his degree in intellectual property law. He is able to be my business partner, as well as our company's lawyer. Because of this we were able to get started with very little money. My background in fashion design, and my strength in the technical areas (pattern drafting and sewing) kept us from having to hire sewers and pattern makers in our start up stages. At this point, almost 2 years since we started, we finally have come to a point that we can start giving other professionals some of the tasks. The first one: Our website. While it is good that I learned some HTML and CSS online, and attempted to put a website together that was functional, it was certainly not a fantastic site. Our clothes are great, and I want the website to showcase them. My good friend (and quite amazing) Nejat is taking over the website, and we are going to be able to launch, along with a full shopping cart, at the end of August. By next week I will have mock ups of the pages, and I can barely wait! If you would like to see what Nejat has done, his portfolio is available at www.cloudovertree.com.
xoxo,
Ruth

Niche

Just because something is available to buy does not mean that it is in style. Most of the time people justify buying inappropriate clothing with the fact that someone is selling it. Each person has a unique shape. Because not everyone looks the same, not everyone can wear all of the trendy looks. I, for one, cannot do the very billowy tops with shorts. Being curvy means that I can look like I am wearing a tent very quickly. Petite girls, however, will look lovely in that sort of look. It is trendy, but it is not a look for me. Conversely, the 1940's pinup style bathing suits look amazing on me, and the tiny girls will not get the same effect. So when you are shopping, be selective. Choosing the most flattering of the trendy looks for your shape is the best way to go. Just because it's on a rack doesn't mean it is meant for you. Happy summer shopping!

xoxo,

Ruth

Taking it to the Streets

This weekend we will be participating in the Randolph street market in Chicago's west loop area. I am excited to have the ability to sell my clothes directly to the customer. Face to face contact with the people wearing the clothing is a great way to get inspired to make new pieces. It also helps me see the garments on different bodies so I can further refine the fit of each piece. While there is no way to fit every single person in one set of clothing I will try to get the majority. Also, nothing is a warmer, fuzzier feeling that seeing someone so excited to wear something you created yourself. For that alone I am going to have fun this weekend. Come see us by checking out www.indiedesignermarket.com for information.