月別アーカイブ: 2015年8月

North Yorkshire brand Charlotte Lucy’s designs are inspired by the moors. Heather Dixon talks to founder Charlotte Hazell.

As Charlotte Hazell works into the small hours in the bedroom-turned-workshop at her home in Norton, meticulously sewing her latest one-off designs, her thoughts often turn to family. “I come from a family of people involved in textiles in one form or another,” she says. “My grandfather worked in a tailor’s shop in Leeds as a pattern cutter and my gran was a seamstress. My mum and her mum were also good sewers and I remember as a child watching them make curtains and repair clothes. As we were growing up my sister Beth and I were always making things.”

That creative seam has now blossomed into a thriving home-based business for Charlotte, who recently launched her Capsule Collection 2015 at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Her award-winning trademark is understated style with an individual twist. Her creations are one-off, hand-tailored pieces, inspired by the colours of the Yorkshire countryside, which will, she says, survive fickle popular trends and work for almost any occasion.

Charlotte, 28, the daughter of former jockey Richard Barker, aka “Dickie Mint”, established her own clothing label, Charlotte Lucy, in 2010. It followed top grade results in textiles at GCSE level and a four-year fashion design course at York College, when she won the M&S Dress Design Competition and, on graduation, the Merchant Taylors Award 2008 for her collection fortuitously called Beginner’s Luck.

“I loved every aspect of the course, from fashion history to technical details,” she says. “I like taking a garment from conception to completion, challenging myself to make things work.”

Charlotte was “too much of a home bird” to consider moving away, so she took a variety of day jobs, including waitressing, delivery driving and debt collecting, so she could fund her true passion and develop the ideas which would lead to the launch of her own design label.

picture: knee length wedding dresses“I try things out on the sewing machine to understand how they will work best. There’s a lot of trial and error,” says Charlotte, who spends every spare weekend and evening cutting patterns and hand-making her elegant garments. “I started out making bespoke occasionwear but now I make ready-to-wear garments aimed at clients who want something timeless and classic.”

Based on a work ethic reminiscent of The Elves and the Shoemaker, whereby she would sell one item to fund the next two, Charlotte gradually made enough to launch her first collection for spring/summer 2012.

“I wanted to test the water,” she says. “It was a big learning curve because I realised I couldn’t create enough, or earn enough, to do it seasonally, so I decided to launch one collection a year focusing on a few key pieces. These are not led by trends. I would like to think that they will still be relevant in 10 or 20 years from now.’

Charlotte is slowly but surely building up a loyal following of customers who value her commitment to quality and individuality.

“The brand has one aim,” she says. “To produce beautiful clothes which are the building blocks of any girl’s wardrobe. It is not a mass manufactured label – I create staple pieces and use luxurious fabrics such as silk crepe, soft cottons, linens and rich wool, alongside clean details. I realise it could take a long time to become properly established, but I’m prepared to let it evolve at its own pace,” adds Charlotte. “I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder.”

This year’s collection includes coats, skirts, a silk T-shirt and a handful of dresses, priced at between £100 and £500. Charlotte refers to them as investment pieces which transcend the seasons, each item taking at least a week to turn round.

She runs her design business alongside part-time work with the Nine to Eleven interiors shop in Malton, but life is likely to become even busier for Charlotte from October when she and her husband Wayne, a joiner, are expecting their first baby.

“I have big ambitions in the long term but my family and family life keep me grounded,” she says. “I have to be realistic and take it one step at a time.’

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Justin Theroux is enjoying admiring his wedding band.

The 44-year-old actor tied the knot with Jennifer Aniston at the beginning of this month, in a secret ceremony at their Los Angeles home.

picture: long bridesmaid dresses ukAfter an almost three-year engagement the couple have remained fairly quiet about their new marital status, but Justin couldn’t help gushing about how his ring makes him feel.

“It does feel different,” he smiled to People when asked how he’s finding being Jennifer’s husband. “I’m very happy. It’s nice to be able to look down and see a new piece of jewellery on my finger.”

The loved-up pair honeymooned in Bora Bora and when Justin returned to work on his TV series The Leftovers in Austin, he was greeted with a “big cheer” from the cast and crew.

Series two of the hit programme is set to air later this year, with the handsome star stepping back into the shoes of troubled cop Kevin Garvey.

Fans will see a change of scenery coming up, as the story shifts to a small town in Texas.

“[It's where] something miraculous occurred,” Justin teased. “It’s a town that’s literally bordered by a fence. For my character and his insta-family, it’s a fresh start. But it boxes them in – in a weird and wonderful way.”

Joining him are his original co-stars including Liv Tyler, Amy Brenneman and Christopher Eccleston, with Justin describing their dynamic on set as family-like.

“When the work has to be done, the work has to be done, but if you don’t keep it a little light at times, everyone’s going to be miserable,” he added. “It’s not a space you want to live in when a camera isn’t rolling.”

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A wedding is a special day for both bride and groom, as they become one unit. The suggestions here can help any wedding run smoothly. Planning the right way will give you decades of great memories

One of the most vital things that you will have to do is to stick to your budget when you are getting married. You will have a lot of temptation to spend a great deal of money , but will have to understand your financial restrictions to avoid getting into a hole.

Understand that all who are supporting you and helping with your wedding are doing it out of love, as you should show them respect and appreciate what they are doing for you. Do not become a “bridezilla”, as this can alienate a lot of people and put a damper on the days leading up to your wedding.

When planning for your wedding, the time of day could greatly affect your cost. If you are having an evening wedding, you will have to serve dinner which costs more than serving your guests lunch. If you serve alcohol, more people will drink heavily in the evening than they would at lunch time.

picture: summer wedding dress

When thinking about wedding jewelry, consider borrowing your jewelry instead of buying it. Your friends and family may have great jewelry pieces that they will be willing to let you use free of charge. If you use someones jewelry instead of buying new, the jewelry will also hold sentimental value.

On the day of the wedding, make sure that you show your parents and the parents of your future husband or wife a lot of attention. This is their big day too, as they are finally getting to see the child they love so much get married after many years of waiting.

If you are having an outdoor wedding, check your wind speeds for that day. A windy day can ruin an outdoor wedding if not planned for. If it is going to be windy, avoid hairstyles that will be greatly affected by wind. You should also keep in mind that some tents are not designed to handle very windy conditions.

One of the things that you can do to show the support that you have for your church is to get your priest to do your wedding. This will make things feel personal on the day of your nuptial, especially if you are a devout Catholic and have a strong bond with the leader of your church.

Get properly fitted underwear for your wedding. A comfortable and supportive bra will not only ease the pressure on your back and shoulders, but also adjust your shape to give you a flattering look. Find a good lingerie store in your area who will fit you and order you the correct undergarments.

Sometimes a good wedding tip is to keep it simple! The more detailed and extravagant the more expensive. Sure it is the best moment of your life, but perhaps that money could be better spent on a house, or even the most amazing vacation ever which we colloquially call a honeymoon.

Between your ceremony and your reception there can be a long down-time for your guests. If they can’t be seated at their tables right away, choose a venue that has a bar or lounge available for them to hang out in while they wait for the guests of honor to arrive.

By using the suggestions here, your wedding will be an event to remember that everyone enjoys. This special day is worth a little extra time to make sure everything is perfect. The groom and bride deserve to have their dream wedding.

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The mysterious death of a 29-year-old lady, Kemi Arobieke, who reportedly died while on a visit to a former Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Bode Olugbore, is certainly raising serious dust as the family of the deceased are up in arms, demanding that the man tell them how she died.

Reports have it that the lady who was an event planner in Lagos, was deep in the midst of planning for her wedding in November but lost her life while visiting her man friend on Saturday, August 8, after she left Lagos to Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Thursday to spend the weekend with Olugbore.

Her family however got a call on Sunday, August 9, that Arobieke had died in an accident but by the time they got to Osogbo, they realised that she was actually electrocuted in her lover boy’s apartment and her corpse had been deposited in a mortuary.

But the family are crying foul, believing that their sister must have been murdered because there were tell-tale signs that could lend credence to that assertion.

picture: chiffon bridesmaid dresses ukA relative of deceased, however said the family would not take the explanation that she was electrocuted as being bandied by the police, believing that she must have been murdered.

The family source also said that the late Kemi had known Olugbore for about four years, but the family initially did not know about their relationship.

“My sister travelled to Osogbo and she was supposed to return to Lagos on Saturday, but we got a call from the police that she was involved in an accident and it was very serious.

When we got to Osogbo, the police prevented us from seeing her, but told us that she had been electrocuted by an electric fan, but it is unbelievable.

We were made to understand that she was electrocuted in the apartment by a standing fan. That is very hard for me to understand. The police showed us the fan, and it seemed to be working fine.

It was not burnt. The socket was not burnt. So, it is suspicious that she was electrocuted. The current in a fan is not enough to kill except one has direct contact with a live wire. The marks on her body suggested something contrary.

Right now, everyone is waiting for answers from the autopsy. We know that the man has been arrested by the police.”

Another family member took to social media to post this:

“I write this with a heavy heart the demise of my immediate younger sister, Kemi Arobieke who was murdered. On Thursday 6th of August, my sister left for Osogbo to see Bode Olugbore, the State Special Adviser to Governor Aregbesola, without telling anyone only for us to get a call on the 8th, Saturday, that she had died in an accident in Osogbo.

The police asked us to come immediately that it was tragic. We got to Osogbo in the night but was told to wait for the DPO the next morning. We got the shocker on Sunday that my beloved sister was electrocuted. We went to the mortuary where we discovered that she was not electrocuted but murdered.

Autopsy and Postmortem was to be carried out at LAUTECH. My fear is that the result has been tampered with in their favor. Bode Olugbore who is married with 3 kids, has not told us the family what really happened to our sister, who was planning her wedding in November.”

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A new survey has uncovered the amount Britons pay to see friends and family tie the knot, with men being hit particularly hard in the wallet

Photo Source: wedding dresses uk　　Crashing a wedding is the cheap way to enjoy an expensive passtime Photo: The Wedding Crashers

46 CommentsA new study has confirmed what many of us have known for a long time: that weddings leaves a sizeable hole in the wallet of each and every guest.

The total average cost associated with attending a wedding – including expenditure on a wedding gift, personal grooming, and even preparing the car – was calculated at just under £170. According to the survey, the average male wedding guest shells out £166.36, while women pay six pounds more.

Men appear to be particularly susceptible to the social competition of weddings, with one in four admitting that they feel under pressure to appear more successful and happy than they actually are.

The survey of 1,000 adults, conducted by the Post Office gift card One4all, found that 32pc of men admitted to spending three hours or more preparing for a wedding, and that they increasingly view the ceremonies and receptions as places to show off their achievements – or even attract new romantic partners.

• What to wear to a wedding: the ‘I dos’ and don’t s

Almost half of the men said they felt inadequate when compared with other guests, and therefore compensated by spending the same amount as women on grooming, clothes and gifts for the occasion.

The grooming treatments are perhaps the most extravagant expenditures, with men matching female beauty costs by indulging in spray tans, professional shaves and even waxing treatments before somebody else’s big day. These bids to impress other guests even extend past personal appearance, with one in two men confessing that they have their car thoroughly washed before a wedding. 7 per cent even said they have hired a car because they were embarrassed about the vehicle they owned.

Whilst women spend an average of £40 on a wedding gift, men ten to splash out considerably more, spending approximately £56 on the happy couple. It is suggested that this may stem from man’s innate fear of appearing ‘stingy’ or ‘tight’, especially when surrounded by old friends or family.

　　Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) Photo: Gramercy Pictures

Aoife Davey, Group Marketing Manager at One4all, said: “The research has uncovered some interesting findings, especially surrounding men and the time, money and effort they’re investing when it comes to being a wedding guest.

“In particular, the fact that 42pc of men see weddings as an opportunity to meet new people compared to 34pc of women is fascinating. It would appear that men are becoming more gregarious, and willing to put themselves out there socially. As with high school or college reunions, there’s always a sense of competition at weddings when it comes to sharing achievements or success stories.”

Ms Davey’s observation that men see weddings “as an opportunity to meet new people” is supported by the statistics. Seemingly inspired by the amorous atmosphere, weddings have become a playground for eligible British bachelors.

One in five men said they attended these events with the express intention of meeting a new partner, while one in four confessed to having kissed or slept with someone they’d met at a wedding.

• Is this the worst wedding dance ever caught on video?

However, men do not simply use these occasions as hunting grounds for hookups, as one in every ten men has gone on to marry someone they met during the course of another couple’s big day.

“It’s understandable that men may feel inadequate or feel the need to appear more successful in front of family and friends, hence the lengths they are going to when it comes down to their appearance and generosity.

“All of this combined makes for a totally modern male wedding guest”.

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Researchers at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore are searching for our region’s history in fashion relics of the past.

For decades, vests, coats, dresses, shoes, and other wearable items sat in boxes lined with tissue paper. The acidic packing materials do no favors to the costume collection.

It doesn’t help that the collection’s current storage space, the historic Enoch Pratt House on West Monument Street, isn’t climate controlled. Over the years, some of the costumes began to split.

Chief Curator Alexandra Deutsch says it will take three to five years to clean, document, and rehouse the entire collection — between 10,000 and 12,000 single pieces — in a new storage facility, designed just for textiles.

picture: vintage inspired wedding dressesDiscovering what’s already in the collection

This summer, the conservation team began to transfer costumes over to the new storage area, which is outfitted with large tables for measuring, examining and cleaning the clothing. MDHS is raising funds to keep the conservation project going.

“We’re just right now going through a process of discovery,” Deutsch says.

“There is a lot left to go,” Registrar Allison Tolman says. “This is the first time that we’ve attempted doing this, so it’s kind of putting our toe in the water, and we’ve been lucky to have interns who were very productive and really intelligent.”

With measuring tape, pen, paper, and a very gentle vacuum in gloved hands, a team of interns does much of the discovering. On Aug. 12, each of the three young women will deliver a public presentation on their findings at MDHS.

They’ve spent the last three months digging through degraded boxes, cataloguing more than 300 objects.

They uncovered wool swimming costumes, military uniforms, fancy dresses, and even underwear. Intern Emily Bach plans to talk about some of the quirky undergarments they’ve found, such as an 1850’s maternity corset.

These days, most moms-to-be wouldn’t think of cinching their baby bump. Bach says this practice often resulted — sometimes intentionally — in miscarriage.

“The main purpose was to actually hide the pregnancy and allow a woman to still have the financial freedom of working or not having to go into bedrest, so it helped give them a few extra weeks or months,” she says.

Other fashion choices came with unhealthy consequences. Intern Lidia Plaza will lecture about the explosion of color that accompanied the development of synthetic dyes. She thinks a few garments in the collection got their bright, emerald hue from “arsenic green.”

“It was one of the first color-fast dyes, which made it very popular in the 19th century,” she says. “A lot of people wore it, and it was also used in wall paper and in toys and candy, and as well as in clothes. Unfortunately, as the name suggests, it contained arsenic.”

Plaza will also talk about a popular shade of purple that caused the “mauve measles.”

“A lot of women developed rashes by wearing these clothes too close to their skin, but they remained popular,” she says. “People loved these colors!”

Lots of history in old objects

Intern Anna-Maria Hand says that throughout this process, she and the other interns didn’t know what they’d pull out of the next box. Her favorite discovery was a beautiful blue gown that came from a prominent Maryland family, the Ridgelys.

“I remember Lidia and I kind of were ‘saving it’ because we saw the quality of fabric when we opened the box,” she says.

It wasn’t just high-quality; it was pristine. For a dress from the 1860′s, that was unusual. Deutsch says the “Ridgeley dress” is a great example of finding clues in clothing.

“It literally looked almost unworn, and then you realize, well because of her husband’s death, this electric blue gown, she stopped wearing because she was in mourning and she didn’t remarry, so you begin to get at a history you might not otherwise find,” she says.

“We were able to date it, so it was really nice to be able to state the provenance of that particular garment,” Hand, a Maryland native, says.

Tolman says it’s interesting to see how much history can be found in the folds of a single object.

“When you look at a dress and you can see hems moved, brought in, brought out, then you can see that this person grew or this person had a younger sister who got to wear the same dress,” she says, “and you can see how things were altered, not only for size, but also because some things go out of style or they need to change the silhouette, but they love the fabric.”

Deutsch says she looks forward to rotating out the outfits on display, showcasing her team’s hard work and the society’s costume holdings, which she says date back to at least 1740. There are women’s, men’s and children’s costumes, including a girl’s dress featuring a handmade lining crafted from numerous pieces of fabric.

There’s also a well-known, whimsical dress by French designer Hubert de Givenchy.

“We have one of the gowns that was worn by the Duchess of Windsor, this ivory, organza gown by Givenchy that has been embroidered with a silk thread, with monkeys that are [in] a band,” Deutsch says. One monkey plays a flute, while another bangs on a hand-stitched drum in this 1950s wearable tribute to 18th century porcelain monkey bands.

Deutsch says Wallis Simpson wore the unique dress once, before giving it to a relative who immediately gifted it to MDHS.

This is the stuff of fashion, and Maryland, history. Deutsch says in the 1980’s, when the museum’s retired housekeeper Enoliah Williams organized, packed and stored the collection in Pratt House, it seemed like a good decision.

“When the costume was originally housed there, the Pratt House was where a lot of our collection was housed,” she says. “But also, the standards of how collections were stored were very different, and the understanding about what objects really need for their own longevity, which is a regulated climate with the proper amounts of humidity, that wasn’t really understood to the extent it is now.”

She says a consistent climate, and keeping the collection in acid-free boxes, will help prevent further damage.

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Fashion, cocktails, entertainment, gifts, discounts, and an exclusive handbag trunk show Wednesday, August 12 kicks off the three ENAZ women’s clothing boutiques’ annual fund raising activities on behalf of the North Shore Auxiliary of Jewish Child & Family Services. The annual fall fashion preview night will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at ENAZ For Life, 309 Happ Rd. (next to the Happ Inn), Northfield.

The exclusive fall fashion preview night enables guests to use key cards they purchase in the store that night for $75 (cash or check) to buy merchandise, including jewelry, at a discount of 20 percent. It’s an exclusive time to buy the cards as they won’t be sold until the next night at the other ENAZ locations – ENAZ, 444 Central, Highland Park; or ENAZ On The Park, 111 W. Church Street, Libertyville – as well as ENAZ For Life for use from Saturday, August 15 through Sunday, August 23 when the campaign ends.

Money from key card sales goes directly to the North Shore Auxiliary of Jewish Child & Family Services.

A highlight of the fall fashion preview night is the J. Markell Designs exotic skin handbag trunk show featuring an appearance by luxury handbag designer Julie Neff from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

ENAZ has been an annual participant to the Key Card event for over 20 years and continuously has the top selling amount of cards. Through multiple events each year, the North Shore Auxiliary of Jewish Child & Family Services dedicated volunteer members take pride in funding programs that improve the lives of challenged young people and their families.

Satisfying the fashion needs for 22 years of the casual, polished, put together, on-the-go woman, and those who want to be just that, sisters Melinda Kaplan, Samantha Shapiro, and Lena Blitstein, and their mother and retail store founder, Susan Lurie, offer at the three boutiques the newest, most notable clothing lines, vibrant looks, local artisan jewelry, handbags, accessories, and custom day spa that matter to their clients.

“As women and sisters, devoted to our families, socially active, on-the-go from early morning to night, we are our own demographic,” said Blitstein, who often attends Fashion Week events in New York City to keep up with the latest styles. “Our clients like what we like so it makes it easier for us to deliver what they need.”

picture: bridesmaid dress shops london“We’re more than just a store,” said Kaplan. “We listen carefully to the personal and professional fashion needs of our clients and make sure they go home confident in their selection. We truly care about how they look and feel in their different environments.”

Clients from as far away as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles come to ENAZ (the acronym for Energy, Nature, Attitude, and Zest For Life), ENAZ for Life, and ENAZ On The Park for the wide variety of offerings…from vibrant t-shirts, denim, chunky knitwear, and dressy pieces to custom jewelry to the more than 25 scented oils for blending into silky lotions and bath gels.

“When you walk into our stores you see carefully chosen pieces on clean and organized racks and mannequins with the season’s hottest looks,” said Shapiro, who serves as buyer and merchandiser while Blitstein is buyer and head of marketing. Kaplan is director of operations.

Its clothing lines feature Michael Stars, Sanctuary, J Brand, Genetic Jeans, Central Park West, and its own ENAZ 4 Life label. Its jewelry offerings include local designers such as Rita Ratskoff Designs, Dana Rebecca Designs, Shoshanna Lee, Avaasi, Allison Fiutak, Graziela Gems, and many more.

The custom Spa Bar offers up lotions, bath gels, and perfume oils to treat the body and spirit as well as specialty baskets for special occasions and holidays.

ENAZ, ENAZ for Life. And ENAZ On The Park host many special trunk shows featuring a variety of clothing and jewelry designers. Its dedication to customer service even extends to its free signature gift wrapping.

The ENAZ concept was created and developed by Susan Lurie in 1993. ENAZ is located in Highland Park at 444 Central Avenue in the village’s fashionable downtown shopping district, ENAZ For Life in Northfield at 309 Happ Rd. (next to the Happ Inn); and ENAZ On The Park at 111 W. Church Street facing Cook Park’s often festival-like community gathering place in Libertyville’s hot downtown area.

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With the increasing demand for information available right at our fingertips, there is a parallel demand for technology and websites dedicated to couple’s weddings. Wedding websites are the norm in modern day nuptials, but what do they offer?

Wedding websites, as with most things, offer many pros and cons. The biggest con is that it does take time gathering the information and creating the site. On that same note however, the information provided by the site is beneficial to all parties involved in the Big Day. Let’s break down a few more of the pros:

1) A multitude of information is offered to guests, especially those coming from out of town.

picture: peach bridesmaid dressesWith your wedding website, you have the ability to provide dates, times, location information and even hotel accommodations for out of town guests. When inviting friends and family from outside the city, you want to make sure they have all of the details and will have a smooth and fun trip. Maps, step-by-step directions and contact info can also be helpful and shared with guests through your website.

2) Couples can share fun features about the wedding, as well as pictures.

On the website, the couple has the ability to share their proposal story or how they met, along with bridal party details and other aspects of the Big Day. Guests can get to know the couple, see their engagement photos and feel an overall connection before the ceremony.

3) Need-to-know registry information.

Your wedding website is a great place to put all the facts and figures, especially those involving wedding presents and gift ideas. The couple can put up all of the stores where they are registered, as well as links to their specific registries to make it even more accessible for their guests.

When it comes to building the perfect website, it is important to not go overboard, but to include all the necessities. It’s also a great way for the couple to display their styles and personalities through design and customization. Some of the wedding websites we like are The Knot and WeddingWire.com, which both come with added planning tools. We also like WeddingWindow.com and Wix.com. Wedding Window does require you to update to premium (with a fee) if you do find a template or theme you like. Wix.com gives couples the opportunity to design their site completely from scratch, customized specifically for them and is user-friendly.

Wedding websites are not a necessity when it comes to planning your nuptials, but it can be a fun bonus to design with your fiancé and gives all the wedding details to your friends and family at the click of a button.

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If you want to be an actor, move to Los Angeles; if you want to form a start-up, move to San Francisco; if you want to be a fashion designer, move to New York; and if you want to be a songwriter, move to Nashville. Or, at least, that was true once upon a time.

While the music industry continues to be the strongest economy in Nashville, the city is also proving itself to be a nurturing environment for young fashion brands looking to make a name for themselves outside of the crowded scenes in New York and Los Angeles. Imogene + Willie might have the most name recognition, but over 150 small-scale brands call Nashville their home. And now, thanks to Van Tucker, a former banker with a history of helping creative brands build business infrastructures, the fashion community has formed a trade organization with the hopes of incubating brands and preparing them for the global stage.

In April 2013, Tucker got together a small group of people from the fashion community to discuss putting a system in place to support the industry. “Nobody had just grabbed the reins, so to speak, to really develop the thoughts around an infrastructure — what it would look like or what it would do or how we would go about it,” she said. Tucker recruited a student from the Vanderbilt’s graduate business program to get some hard numbers on the city’s designers.

“We took that information back to the community and presented it and said what do you think? What do you want to do with this?” said Tucker. “They overwhelmingly wanted to explore the possibility of forming a council or some kind of governing body.” A group of about 150 people split into committees to evaluate different sectors and, flash forward to April 2015, the Nashville Fashion Alliance (NFA) was born. It’s mission is to “build this infrastructure and nurture this ecosystem so that our brands can survive and thrive,” said Tucker, by focusing on advocacy, education, sourcing and production.

Tucker took cues from the most successful fashion trade organization in the U.S. — New York’s CFDA. Its president and CEO Steven Kolb visited Nashville in June and advised Tucker to “stay focused on the business infrastructure,” she said. Kolb added that the NFA should focus on supporting brands, designers and manufacturers in order to prepare them for a global stage. “That was the most amazing compliment of all,” said Tucker. “He felt that we could truly do this in a way that could help emerging brands and start-ups incubate themselves to be ready for bigger cities, like New York, L.A., London, Milan or Paris.”

picture: champagne bridesmaid dresses ukAfter raising $103,321 on Kickstarter in May to get started — which Tucker says was also a way to raise awareness about the organization — the NFA has one important program already underway. In partnership with the Catholic Charities organization, a sewing training academy will open in August to teach underserved populations how to produce apparel in order to serve local manufacturing facilities. “When [a designer can] get in a car and drive across town to an apparel factory, that can make all the difference in your time to market, and it can make all the difference in the quality of your finished garment,” said Tucker. “It’s a really critical piece of the creative process. It’s not just that we’re going to [design something] and pass it off to some nameless, faceless person.”

Jobs with “living wages” are waiting for the trainees at apparel manufacturing facilities or with independent designers, many of whom employ sewers in house. One company eager to hire is Omega Apparel, a production facility in Smithville that has spent the last 20 years as the largest manufacturer of military dress uniforms in the country. In 2013, after shrinking military budgets forced President Dean Wegner to downsize the company from a peak of 212 employees to only 128, he approached Tucker. A retired army ranger and businessman, he had only bought the company in 2012 and was hoping to work with Nashville’s fashion designers as a way to diversify his client base.

But Omega was not set up to produce less than 5,000 pieces of an item per week, and no designer is producing anything near those numbers in Nashville. So Wegner reevaluated how his company operated and thanks to insight from an employee named Becky Rhine — who used to work in Disney’s costume division making small batches of Cinderella dresses and Goofy costumes — he invested in machinery and equipment and transformed production lines into production pods. Now he has almost 60 customers and a full service design team and is set to open a 10,000-square-foot facility in Nashville this fall. He plans to hire 1,000 sewers in the next five years and his new location will make it even easier for him to work with Nashville brands.

“I believe in five to 10 years that fashion and apparel will be synonymous with Nashville,” he said. “I could not afford to invest all the training we would need for that number of people over the next five years but now that we have a partner in Catholic Charities, that has a certified sewing training academy, we can do that,” he said. Wegner hopes the program will scale to other cities in Tennessee, which has 75 apparel factories, and across the country where trained labor is lacking.

In addition to investing in skilled laborers and domestic manufacturing, the NFA’s other biggest priority for young brands is business mentorship. “The NFA is going to be really instrumental in helping people do something as simple as write a business plan,” said Libby Callaway, a creative consultant and board member of the NFA who was part of the small group Tucker assembled in 2013. [Full disclosure: I travelled to Nashville on a press trip paid for by the city in July, and Callaway coordinated visits with designers and Tucker while I was there.] “These designers have good ideas and they’ve figured out to build the product, but they haven’t figured out how to support the process or promote the end product,” she said. Libby hopes the NFA will encourage the city to invest in the fashion industry as it has the music industry — with mentorship, time and resources.

That’s not to say Nashville’s fashion designers aren’t already reaping the benefits of the city’s unique environment. Brands such as Elizabeth Suzann, a million-dollar business that sells only direct to consumers online, can stand out in a smaller market and find a strong identity online — all without getting caught in the season-focused, overcrowded schedule of a city like New York.

“Nashville is a very accessible, collaborative city,” said Tucker. “Part of our value system is always going to be playing a huge value on the creative class, I think that’s just embedded in our DNA. It’s part of our history, its part of our present and it will definitely be a part of our future. Fashion is the next step.”

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