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."

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.

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!

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

Found: Big Selection of Wool Knits at Mood

An entire aisle is devoted to wool knits at Mood.

Mood Fabrics in the Garment District has really increased the amount of knits it now sells in the NYC store. Previously I went on and on about all the cotton jersey knits there; now I'm enthralled with all the wool knits available. Mood has carried wool knits as long as I've been shopping there (religiously for the last three years), but their inventory has really increased lately. There's doubleknits, jerseys of all weights and colors, sweater knits, cashmere, and silk blends. If you're thinking about making a cardigan or wrap for fall, pay a visit to the top floor of Mood while the pickings are so fabulous. Tell 'em Shop the Garment District sent you!

Wool sweater knits in stripes and interesting weaves...

Wool doubleknits in fashion's hottest colors...

Missoni? So new these bolts haven't even been tagged yet.

Botani Expands, Adds Leather Department

Botani Trimmings is wooing the handbag design market with a sophisticated new leather department.

[Apologies for going so long between posts. I've been on vacation in the antithesis of New York City—rural northern Maine.]

Botani Trimmings, known for its luxury trims and buttons, has expanded and added an extensive leather department to woo the handbag design market. The Garment District store is now an entire block wide, with entrances on W. 36th and W. 37th Streets. According to Botani's website, handbag sample making and production are available without minimums.

This new leather department is an attractive addition to the Garment District. If you're thinking about handbag design or sewing with leather, I'd add Botani to your list of must-visit suppliers.

Speaking of leather, I've been thinking about sewing with leather this fall and so am trying to make it around to the places that sell leather in the Garment District. I've been to Leather, Suede & Skins on W. 35th and to Mood's small leather nook, and I plan to visit Leather Impact on W. 38th soon. A complete write-up to follow here.

Readers, have you ever sewn leather before? Any tips you'd care to share here?

You can get leather overload at Botani—there's so much to see.

Reptile looks are hot for fall.

Watching Project Runway with Mood Fabric's Sauma Family

Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

The New York Times recently ran an online feature about the Sauma family, owners of Mood Fabrics in New York's Garment District. Read the entire article here.

"What began as a family store has become an empire with a wholesale division, a home décor wing and a Web site started last year to supply internationally. The expansion is partly helped by the show, which does not pay to film in the store in exchange for mentioning Mood on air. (Yes, designers do pay for the goods they carry out.)" —The New York Times