More than just a button...

When Oscar De La Renta needed some custom buttons to match Meghan Markle's mom's dress for the wedding, who did they call?

When the Broadway hit "Hamilton" needed bold buttons for their costumes, who did they call?

When a designer needs a button MADE, by a person who knows how to execute their idea, who do they call?

...

...

Lou Lou Buttons!

Not your everyday button store.  There is a lot of knowledge in this shop - about button making, button history, garment district and industry information, AND NYC real estate knowledge.  Why?!!!?!!!?  Go there yourself, speak to the owner (who is usually about), and you'll learn why.  It will be one of the most interesting conversations you'll have all day.  Trust me.

That is all I can say.

So long, 40th Street...

This story can be told with a sad, wistful look at the past of a booming NY district, or it can be told with an optimistic look into the future.  In this post, I will take the optimistic view...

The last retail fabric store of 40th Street is moving

On a quick trip to the garment district on Saturday, I learned that the LAST retail fabric store on that street (between 7th and 8th Aves) is moving. Whoa.  Thrown by this news, I moaned about it being the end of an era... blah, blah, blah...

Yes.  I am talking about NY Elegant Fabrics.  That massive store on 40th Street with all of the delicious fabric eye candy in the windows.  Oh no!!!!

But wait... not CLOSING... MOVING. New location to be announced very soon!

We can't deny that this is a sad moment for this iconic block in the district.  This street once featured such district heavyweights as Rosen and Chadick, Lace Star (which is now Fabrics & Fabrics), and Sposabella... sigh....

But where are they now?  

Oh wait... They have all MOVED!

And life has gone on.  And it will continue to.  We've gotta be grownups about this. What is important, is that we know where to find theses stores now.  Then, GO to those places, SHOP, and SUPPORT these businesses to help them continue well into the future.

Deal?

And, by the way, here's a link I must share.  It helped me to see that this is nothing new... it is just a continuation of a long, inevitable change of the industry and the businesses the district can support in a brick and mortar environment.  We can still shop online when possible and appropriate, and explore new locations, even mounting elevators when necessary!

The next Speakeasy?

Next one:

September 21, 2018

This garment district fabric and notions shopping tour will lead you to places you'll love, likely have not heard of, and didn't know existed. 10AM - 3PM with lunch! 

Regarding cancellations:

 If you have paid and wish to cancel 7 days or more before tour date - 100% refund

 If you don't come on the scheduled date or cancel within 24 hours or less - you will forfeit your refund, but can switch reservation to a future tour date.

 If I cancel a tour for any reasons not related to newsworthy acts of God or other unforeseen major emergencies, you are entitled to your choice of a full refund, or a future tour.

Note: you do not need to have a Paypal account to pay using Paypal. This tour is $160. Wanna come?  Click below.

Peaceful warrior jacket

You know how I always say fabric has no expiration date?  Well, thanks, to Kashi in particular .... and here's proof... FIVE YEARS LATER.  The beige for the jacket lining was some leftover from lining my cradle bag, years ago.  My zipper was purchased in a Botani zipper craze (resulting the jacket I posted about some time ago, if you follow that link)...  And that pink fabric - I know it was a remnant once, which tends to be a rare choice for me.... but from where???? I remember it rolled, and such a gentle shade, with a warm fuzzy glow about it... 

So... I just made a jacket for myself that is MEANT to be strewn about.  It requires no particular care,  and looks fine rumpled and simply thrown on. Comfortable as any jacket could be, it has five main features:

• A back slit
• An "absent" collar
• A flat bow
• a collapsible/removable hood
• Elbow crescent sleeve dart

May it stay with me forever. Or... just long enough for me to tire of it.

Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination

Went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, curious to see the "Heavenly Bodies" exhibit.

I went in, arms crossed, ready to hate what I thought would be the museum equivalent of "clickbait" for the masses... and I thought I proved myself right, when I saw a dangling display of Gaultier and Versace clad forms in the Byzantine and Medieval halls of my teenage wanderings... (I take this stuff seriously, for sure)... but as you go deeper, it gets deeper. And better. And more meaningful. And you have to read, not just look, to get it.

The exhibit is not all in one place - it is in THREE.  The first is on the ground floor of the museum, near the entrance, the second is in the costume institute downstairs, and the third....?  Well it is in the CLOISTERS... meaning you have to LEAVE THE MUSEUM and go uptown to another arm of the Met to see the last of it.  It can be done, but it is a commitment I really wasn't prepared to do, timewise... so part three, which I hear is the best part, will have to wait for another day this week. Annoyed by this, and preserving my folded arms position, I entered the first section.

Seriously?

I mean... seriously?

Can't really see these up close and personal.  Versace, Gaultier.... are we doing this?

But wait... go a bit deeper, read a bit of the text, and it starts to make you think a bit... feel a bit... understand a bit better.  This exhibit needs to be seen, experienced, and read to make the impact it was carefully curated to make.  And I appreciate it.

And then, as if the exhibit were to clear its throat, you see the REAL STUFF.  The wildly ornate, beautifully, obsessively and carefully created works of wonder that are liturgical garments, worship tools, and accessories.  For the Vatican, for church leaders... and you can see the connection.  Better yet, you can feel it.  And no, it isn't trivial or "clickbait".  It was entirely worth 

doing.

Beautiful embroidery

Oh, no pictures?  I'm sorry!  Really!

As for part III, at the Cloisters, I will visit that part, too, but I have to schedule that trek for a different day.

CONFLICTED

I have LOTS to say, but Blogger isn't really where I'm being heard these days. There are some stories I would like to tell in a longer format, for sure, but it is tough to promote what I feel is the "NEW" garment district, without scaring some people away.

Basically, it is not really easily shoppable by the tourist or casual shopper anymore.  Now, you pretty much need an action plan, and a real understanding of what materials and tools you can work with. The offerings use more industry lingo than ever before, so now you'll need a lexicon or a patient ear to guide you through. Stores are moving on, moving up, moving out, inventory is changing... but their social media presence is BOOMING!  Why?  Instagram, Facebook, and websites can be a great and relatively low cost way to show people what you've got... that is, if they're listening/looking.

What does this change for me?  Well, my map offerings remain, with updates on new locations and changes... but I think I have to create map "paths" for creatives to follow, to achieve the best outcomes. Buying fabric online is an entirely new challenge, which, when successful, if wonderful!  But when it isn't...  Well, you know.

Recent feedback from people who have long followed my blog tell me that they are looking for more of the district news, events, New York tidbits and enthusiasm I consistently shared on this blog over the years.

I can do that. But here's the deal:

If you enjoy the blog, let me know by sending me an email or commenting on the post, so I have inspiration to keep going.  Interact, please. Deal? 

Look for new map offerings shortly! By 4/30/18, for sure.

Smooches!

Apprenticeships, mentors... what a delight to see opportunities for young people to explore the backstage crafts industry!

Just a quick note to say...

There is a program, run by the Roundabout Theater Company, that invites high school seniors to study, FOR FREE, while being paid a STIPEND, the crafts of the backstage artists.

Link here

Oh, yeah... and when the kids are done with the program, they help them get JOBS!