Work It!

This past Saturday, yours truly was front and center as the inaugural Queens Fashion Week came to an end. It was a long day as Ashanti and I had to select & fit additional models to wear our pieces. Luckily, all the ladies were quite lovely which made for a very pleasant day. And there really was a sense of community backstage from the hair stylists to the make up artists to the dressers, volunteers, and other designers who were showing. No need for behind the scenes drama - it was all about love and purpose. When my hat man, OH, arrived with the last chapeau it was almost time for the show to begin. And his hats really were like the cherry on top of a delicious ice cream sundae. I cannot express how pleased I was to be a part of the event. It had been more than 5 years since I had shown a collection on the runway. And I say, "It's about time!" We were even able to make a few business connections which could potentially add up to more for the company's future. So you know it's all good. But there is no rest for the weary as I continue to plan the shoot for March 6 and make sure that the dresses are completed in time. After all, it all happens in less than two weeks. So excuse me while I work it!

Peace & Fashion!

Keep It Moving

At the end of last week, my business partners and I decided to terminate Marla's contract. Although it seemed like she was initially committed to the cause of getting the line on store racks, she lost steam after our disappointing Market Week turnout. Ashanti and I tried several times over the past three weeks to contact Marla so that we could strategize our next move, but our phone calls went unreturned and our emails were unanswered. We are looking into other options as far as a sales professional is concerned and are hopeful. But our success is only guaranteed by a strong team who believes in the goals of Sorta Kinda Enterprises. In the meantime, this Tuesday past, I took a handful of dresses with me and visited 3 different Manhattan boutiques that we are interested in selling to. And the idea of the old school door-to-door salesman is dead. May he rest in peace. Because each one of the style emporiums that I looked into will only consider our goods through email correspondence. I spoke to my friend Chris this afternoon about this phenomenon and both of us thought it rather ironic. Because clothing is very tactile, most of us like to see the way a garment moves, how it feels, its weight. But modern technology has eliminated an integral part of choosing one design over another. And then, what if the buyer dislikes the way my photos are styled or my choice of models. Will that influence their decision? It's all quite precarious. But I've been emailing the images to every appropriate venue possible. All I need is a breakthrough.

Peace & Fashion!