Post Show Review pt. 1

Well, it has been a while since I updated this blog. I had hoped to write more often but as we can all expect, I just went crazy making this collection.  I know most of you have been waiting patiently to hear how the show went. I can honestly say, that it went well I do not know “how” well only time can tell. On my end of things I arrived with enough time to prepare, set up and do fittings so I was confidant on that end. When it was my time to go on, I was surprisingly calm and I was not nervous at all! I think freelancing as a fashion show producer really helped a lot

So far the collection has gotten positive reviews but I must say that I was being really hard on myself.  I always strive to do better and push myself to the limits so at the end of the day I was still thinking of things to do as opposed to just celebrating a magnificent feat.

I really feel like this is a new start for my company and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get this collection and future collections in the hands of buyers so that you can one day buy it in the stores.

It will still take some time but for now just sit back and enjoy the press coverage.

List of interviews and press prior to the show:

Agent 2 Magazine

Fashion Steals

Vogue Before Food Blog

Noblivity

Catoosa News

La Geneve North Events Blog

Press coverage post show:

Lady M Presents

Preliminary Sketches

I have completed the first set of sketches! Things have been really stressful lately but I have managed to sketch 6 out of 10 designs.

Now you should be aware that I will not have enough time to render and finish all 10 and post them online.  I have finished 2  rendered images complete with fabric swatches. Please see below…

Now these designs are NOT final as I tend to change things once they are on the mannequin. Actually they are pretty basic and I have not included the trim or notions either because I have yet to get all of my supplies.  I do hope this will give you all an idea of the direction I am taking with this collection.  The images themselves have been modified to fit the scanner so some things were cut off in the process. Also the fabric swatches are actually shinny but you cannot see that from the scanner. The blue is denim and the striped is taffeta.

Once the pieces are in production then I will elaborate on the techniques and such. Should be pretty exciting as I tend to experiment a lot during that phase

Enjoy!

Interview with Veronica of Blooms in the Night

I am very fortunate to have worked with this fine, up-and-coming designer for several years now.  Veronica, who works professionally as “Blooms in the Night,” has worked backstage at dozens of my shows.  She can do it all and is always on point.  I have watched her grow in both experience and skill. Her debut collection was featured at the Dames and Dandies fashion show at the Steampunk World’s Fair,  hosted by Berít New York.  It seemed fitting then to not only showcase her many talents here but to also note that she will be interning with me during the month of August to help with my S/S 2011 collection.

To help you get to know this talented woman and good friend a bit more, I conducted this small interview:

1.      How long have you been sewing?

~I’ve been sewing since at least the fourth grade. Little things here and there like bags and doll clothes, but I’ve been creating art and designing since I can remember. Looking back on it now I don’t see how I couldn’t be involved in the fashion world!

2.      What is your favorite part of the design process?

~ Moving to fabric is probably my favorite part. Yes the finished product is nice and wonderful and you get gratification when something has been completed. However making the actual piece is the most fun for me. Watching the pieces come together. Ultimately making mistakes, learning from them and redoing things to be so much better is fascinating. It’s the most wonderful feeling when I’m working on a piece. : )

3.      Did you go to school for design or do you have any plans to go to a design school in the future?

~ The only real formal training I’ve received was when I was at Ramapo College of NJ working in the costume shop. I took all the classes that I could that were costume related. I learned a lot about design, at least from a costume stand point, there. I learned how to use a sewing machine in high school, but other than that everything has been pretty much self-taught.

In college I earned my BA in visual arts with a concentration in sculpture, mostly doing metal work. This has been a big advantage design wise, as I feel that fashion and clothing is just another form of sculpture.

I would like to go back to school for some classes in design to learn more about fashion history and some sewing techniques that I might not be able to figure out on my own. Right now though I’m working on diving in head first and seeing how well my fins work.

Photo Credit: Anna Fischer

Model: Laura Rose

4.      Who is your favorite designer and why?

~ My favorite designer would have to be the late great Alexander McQueen. His creativity and his dark edge was so inspiring to the little art kid obsessed with clothes. It wasn’t simply fashion on those models, it was art. That’s probably what is most important to me. Fashion is art, and you can absolutely say that with all of his designs.

5.      Are your designs currently for sale, if so do you have an online store?

~Not as of yet. I’m hoping to display pieces at a few fashion shows I have coming up at Dorian’s Parlor and the Brooklyn Indie Market Steampunk III events. However, keep peeking at my etsy shop as I’m working on some smaller accessories that will be made available for sale soon. Also, commissions are always accepted. : )

For more info check out:

Etsy

Facebook Fan Page

Some Inspiration

I found some links that really helped keep me on track while developing my theme.

The first one is the hit TV cartoon “The Jetsons.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qcMjG1KL2Q&feature=related

It is the perfect representation of  retro-futurism , well at lest in my mind anyway I grew up watching it as a child and it is always nice to go back to something you once loved to watch.

I also found this site to be a lot of help as well:

http://www.ricsartshop.com/page/BPS/CTGY/sfp

Ideally I would like to find some good comics from the 1930′s-1950′s (preferably Planet Stories but anything will do).  Anyone know of a good place to buy them at reasonable prices? Ebay perhaps or I was thinking about stopping by http://www.stmarkscomics.com/

I would need to get a few by next week because I want to start sketching my final designs by then.

Any suggestions would be most welcome!

-Brit

New Interview!

New interview for Berít New York  is up on the La Geneve North events blog:  http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned for more interviews and features in the coming months…

Mini Press Release

LGN Events posted a mini press release announcing Berít New York’s participation in their seasonal A La Mode International Catwalk show.  For more  information please go to: http://lgn-events.blogspot.com/2010/05/fashion-label-berit-new-york-to.html

Ready to work

Me standing inside the tents at Bryant Park during Fashion Week Fall 09

Welcome to my new blog, this will be my main source for posting all things related to my new S/S 2011 collection to be debuted in London during Fashion Week.  I want to take you behind the scenes of what I do here at Berít NY. The next few months will be filled with lots of random postings everything from sketches to sewing and even movies and media related to my theme for the collection.

What is the theme you may ask? Well in case you do not know the theme,  is titled “retro-futurism.” It is a pretty simplified term but I am not good with naming things and I figured this would be the clearest description. The whole idea of retro-futurism has been around for decades but it’s time I put my stamp on it and show everyone what I can do.  It has also been a pretty popular undergroundphenomena recently so now is the time that I hurry things up and get my work out there before the trend gets to over done.

In all honesty I have experimented with futuristic clothing design for as long as I can remember.  I would say a good 8-9 years at this point.  Granted half of those years were taken up with classes at FIT, getting married and starting Berít NY but now I feel like I can really buckle down and create a “real” collection.  My main goal  with Berít NY has always been to focus on historical fashion design and that still rings true today but now I am adding some spice to the mix.  I like to think of it in terms of baking (probably since baking is a hobby of mine and I tend to think of things that way) you take a little bit of the past, mix it with elements of the future to create the present.

That is how we live our lives anyway so why not relate it in terms of design?

I am excited to create this collection and share it with all of you!  I have never had this big of an audience watching what I do so it may take me a while to come out of my shell…

I do hope you enjoy the process and I urge you to work hard, be inspired and live your dreams!

Cheers!

—
Brit
Owner/designer
Berít New York
www.beritnewyork.com