Job and West Coast 2012 textile show schedule posted

Just posted: A list of the major textile shows on the West Coast for 2012.

To attend, you'll need a business license. And you'll need to be ready to buy wholesale. For more on how to get ready for a textile show, sign up for our next How to Start an Apparel Business class.

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Job opening: Cintas is looking production sewer with industrial sewing machine experience. Interested? Send a note to info@portlandsewing.com

Where to buy fabric & labor: Sourcing 101 class

at Portland Sewing, 2111 NE 43rd, Portland Oregon -- in the heart of the Hollywood District

• Saturday, Nov 19, 2-5 pm, $48
• with Rachel Ancliffe, product developer for Nike,
  Where will you get your fabric, trims and labor? Overseas or in the United States? Class will answer your questions about how to both, the possibilities, the process and the pros and cons. Other topics include: Duty, Quota, Agents and Agency Fees, Customs, NAFTA/CAFTA/WTO and going to textile markets.
• Register at:
• http://www.portlandsewing.com/apparel-business-classes/where-to-buy-fabriclabo-sourcing-101-for-the-apparel-industry/
• 
  

Full house greets Project Runway's Becky Ross

Becky Ross wants to design for real women. That's her proclamation from her Sunday, Nov 6, "Brunch with Becky" at Portland Sewing.

Real women are America's average women: 5'4", sizes 14-16. "They are the forgotten majority," she said. "We have plenty of clothes for the young and slender but any for the rest of us is hard to find and, frankly, boring." Ross is on the hunt for backers who will hire her or help finance her vision for her clothing line.

Her pronouncement was met with cheers from the audience. They peppered her with questions for two hours:

What was her favorite challenge? The avant garde challenge with the middle school art students. "I got many comments on the dress with the boxes, but I liked it."

What was her worst challenge? The team challenge with Anya and Josh Mc. "I tried to be a team player but it backfired." She hated the garment that purportedly came from her but she hadn't, in fact, designed.

Who was her favorite person on the show? Tim Gunn. "He's a real sweetheart."

Was she prepared for Project Runway? She was excited and ready to win. "But no one can be prepared for the hours and constant series of challenges." She slept for a week after she returned from the contest.

Would she do it again? "It's made me a much stronger designer. I have a much clearer vision of who I am and what I want to do."

And one of those things will be to teach a special class at Portland Sewing. Look for an announcement soon!

Chicago Harper fashion show now posted

Thatcher wears Chicago Harper Knit Pique Jacket with Twist Neck T-shirt and Arch Shorts. Nicole wears StudioSKB Menjou Knit Top and Adolph Pants.

Weren’t able to attend Portland Fashion Week? No problem!

You can now see the Spring 2012 lines designed by Sharon Blair and Joshua Buck by hitting this YouTube link: StudioSKB/Chicago Harper

Not all the garments were shown at Portland Fashion Week. We were limited to 8 looks. For more, visit our StudioSKB product pages.

Enjoy!

We're #2!

Despite strong reviews from audience members and judges, Chicago Harper lost Portland Fashion Week’s emerging designer competition to Grishley, a Pendleton-backed women’s wear line.

Judges liked the strong design, construction and fit, but as one observer noted, most of the voting audience members were women and “they are going to vote for what they understand and can wear.”

Chicago Harper also showed Spring 2012 garments, in line with what other nationwide fashion shows would offer. Grishley’s garments were wool, more appropriate to the rainy and cold Fall weather on the day of show or “what the audience could wear today.”

But, as designer Joshua Buck said, “We’re proud to have honorable mention. Menswear is a difficult market to enter and it shows we won attention.

“What’s more important is how well we do at Portland Fashion Week Market on Sunday.” At the market, buyers can take a look at the runway and new, more ready-to-wear samples. Chicago Harper will take orders for Spring 2012 delivery.

Or as I like to say, Chris Daughtry didn’t win American Idol and look how well he did.

For a wrap-up of the emerging designer show, here’s a link to Marjorie Skinner’s article for Mercury on Design.

Photo: Michael wears the epaulet tank top and arch pants in blue plaid. photo by Rhys.

Chicago Harper sneak preview makes the news

Enjoy a sneak preview of StudioSKB's Chicago Harper line from the photo shoot courtesy of Marjorie Skinner at Portland Mercury

And here's one of the shots from the photo session. More to come at:

-- Content 2011, Oct 1, Portland's Ace Hotel

-- Portland Fashion Week/Catapult, Oct 5, Vigor Shipyards on Swan Island

Kim Dawson to teach apparel marketing class

Portland Sewing just chose Kim Dawson to teach strategic marketing planning.

During the class, apparel designers write a marketing plan -- a key part of a business plan.
 "it's critical to figure out who you are, what you have to offer and where you can place your product to make the most profit," Dawson says.

During the class, she takes students through the 4 "Ps" of marketing, helps them prepare a strong product line that stays viable and relevant over time.


The class takes place Saturdays, October 1-November 5, 10 am-1 pm ($189).
 Dawson began her advertising career with Chiat/Day, creators of the "1984" ad for the Apple MacIntosh computer. She's been an advertising manager/director in the U.S. and Europe and sales director for an Internet start-up.


She now owns Flaunt Business Consulting to advise entrepreneurs.


She's taught marketing and business classes at Portland Community College.