Thursday, September 29, 2011

Your Target Store May Be Out of Missoni But You Can Find It Here

Missoni wool/mohair knits at Elliott Berman Textiles, 225 W. 35th Street, NYC

Don't fret that you missed out on the Missoni merch at Target, because you can make your own Missoni garments! Hurry over to Elliott Berman Textiles NOW while they still have Missoni fabric in stock and tell 'em Shop the Garment District sent you. Better yet, call first to check availability (212-764-0180). Just don't wait because this stuff is yummy and is going almost as fast as Missoni did at Target. I grabbed two yards to sew up a cardigan for moi, moi, moi.

Even if Missoni is not your thing, do head over to EBT because they have so many new fabrics in from Europe: beautiful brocades, jacquards, wools, silks, knits from the finest fabric houses. The only downside is that they have so much fabric in-house I am afraid Mathew and Eugenia may get trapped in a fabric avalanche. Let's all encourage them to look for more space, shall we?

This Missoni knit comes in several different colorways and is so soft.

This Missoni fabric is a little heavier and would make a great sweater-coat or jacket.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Nanette Lepore's Hidden Gems in the Garment District

Nanette Lepore
Check out designer and ardent Garment District supporter Nanette Lepore's new Tumblr blog, where she shares glimpses of her work and personal life, plus her takes on "hidden gems in the Garment Center."

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Homegrown in the Garment District: My Leather Tote


I normally keep my personal sewing adventures off this site, because it's really about the stores and the services here in the Garment District, but I couldn't resist sharing my first attempt at sewing a leather tote. Introducing my "NYC Garment District Magazine Tote." It's soft, pliable, and just the right size for carrying home all the international fashion magazines I pick up at Around the World Magazines on W. 37th Street. I deliberately kept it very simple so I could throw it in my office file drawer without it clinking and clanging from a lot of hardware.


This bag was completely homegrown here in the Garment District. The black lambskin and British tan leather trim came from Leather, Suede, Skins on W. 35th. The paisley silk lining is Milly and came from Elliott Berman Textiles on W. 35th. This was so much fun to make I think I see more leather totes in my future….

Interested in breaking into the handbag business? Check out Handbag Designer 101, founded by local success story Emily Blumenthal.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Follow STGD on Facebook and Twitter

Happy Friday! Just a quick note to suggest you follow STGD on Facebook and Twitter if you aren't already. Sometimes I have little bits of info to impart that aren't worthy of an entire post here, but are perfect for a quick communication via Facebook and Twitter. For example, did you know that…
  • Leather, Suede, Skins on W. 35th will cut leather or suede fringe to your specifications, and affordably so?
  • according to this week's cover profile in New York magazine, It Girl (and Williamsburg resident) Zooey Deschanel likes to sew her own clothes? Wonder where she shops for fabric….
Scroll down on the right column for Facebook and Twitter info. Have a great weekend!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Hop a Designer Bike to Support Emerging Fashion Talent

Betsey Johnson and the bike she designed for Tour de Fashion
 
Ooh, I love this idea! If only it would stop raining here in NYC…

"During New York City’s Fashion Week 2011, one of the hottest designer accessories won’t be a handbag or stiletto. Instead, fashionistas will have the opportunity to borrow one of the 30 bicycles designed by fashion royalty including Diane von Furstenberg, Isaac Mizrahi, Betsey Johnson, Prabal Gurung, Elie Tahari and others. Tour de Fashion was created by the Fashion Center Business Improvement District (BID) in an effort to highlight New York City’s legendary Fashion District as the birthplace and epicenter of American fashion."…Tour de Fashion’s bicycles will be auctioned at the end of the event to benefit the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Fashion Incubator." —from the Tour de Fashion website

Some of the bikes will be available to borrow right here in the Garment District area at Broadway and 40th Street; complete details are available at Tour de Fashion. Maybe I can get my hands on this Lela Rose bicycle:

A Lela Rose bike, complete with rear doggie basket