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Aritzia

This week for study tour we went to Aritiza at Hudson Yards. I have not visited this particular Aritiza before so it was very fun to see the design. Each location is designed to be unique using local influences, natural materials, and sometimes custom pieces. We had a presentation from Laura who has really risen through the ranks at Aritiza. While their pieces are pricey, they are meant to be affordable luxury meant for everyday wear. This is definitely evident in their selection which offers a good selection of classic pieces as well as trendy pieces. One of their prominent displays is for their Super World Superpuff line. Since the brand is based out of Canada, they definitely know the outerwear market and making well while also keeping it trendy. Another piece that is very popular right now is their vegan leather pant. Something they’ve done recently is introduced a mens line of puffer coats since they realized there was a market looking for that and they wanted to be able to give consumers what they wanted. Something Aritiza could work on would practicing more sustainable practices. They are still contributing to the fast fashion industry and don’t have much information about their practices online.

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Kohl’s

This week for study tour, we had a presentation from Amanda Locke, a Junior’s designer for Kohl’s. Amanda has been the dresses and skirts designer for the past five years, but has been working her way up through the company for the past eleven. She shared a lot of useful insight on the design process at Kohl’s since they are such a big corporation. One part of the design process she shared was how they have a wide range of denim would turn out. They do this by looking at margin error to see the darkest and lightest possible variations of a particular wash will turn out since it’s not possible for every product to turn out the same. Something that Kohl’s has been making more of an effort is to be more trend-forward and pushing the boundaries and pushing their merchants’ level of comfortability. Something Kohl’s does is put out different types of product depending on the location. For fashion conscious cities like LA, Miami, and Texas, they will put out more “fashion forward” silhouettes since the customer base is a lot different than for instance, a small midwestern town. Overall, it was really interesting to hear more about the design process from someone currently working in the industry.

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Open Choice Study Tour

Last Sunday, I went to see Wicked on Broadway. This was my first time seeing a Broadway show here in New York, I’ve seen a handful of musicals when they’ve toured but I’ve always really wanted to see a show in New York to get the real experience. I’ve been listening to the Wicked soundtrack for as long as I can remember, but have never had the chance to see it, so I didn’t know anything about the story. It was really clever how everything came together and was connected to The Wizard of Oz. The costumes were amazing as well, and I got the chance to see the original Elphaba dress which was on display. The Gershwin was also very amazing, I loved the map of Oz on the walls. The music was amazing and even though I was far away from the stage, I was still able to see everything very well.

Some other things I did this past week were going to the Macy’s Day Parade where I got to see my high school marching band perform. They were supposed to come last year but it got postponed because of Covid. Since marching band was a big part of my high school, it was fun to see the kids partake in such a once in a lifetime experience.

I also explored the Bryant Park Winter Village and enjoyed seeing all of the unique booths and stands.

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New York Embroidery Studio

This week for study tour we visited the New York Embroidery Studio. This is the only one of it’s kind that offers embroidery, pleating, embellishing, and other kinds of surface design. They can make custom one of a kind pieces or mass produce units, and really are a one stop shop located in the heart of the Garment District. When New York shut down because of Covid, so did NYES, but they started producing PPE, which is sustainably made here in NYC. It’s really cool all of the different machines for different purposes to alter fabric. One of the machines I found really cool was able to digitally change the color of each thread as it embroidered the fabric, where as it used to have to have one spool of thread for each color. It’s amazing all the technological advancements that have been made at this factory and how it’s been able to stand the test of time. Another really nice aspect about the studio was how friendly all the workers were. You could see into one person’s office who had a treadmill desk which just goes to show how the company cares about make sure it’s a fun and accommodating workplace.

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Ross

This week for Study Tour, we had a visit from Samantha Mitchnick, a college recruiter, from Ross Stores, Inc. I was a little familiar with the brand before today, my city back in Ohio got its first Ross Dress For Less a few years ago, and I love always shopping for bargains. The company has two branches, Ross Dress For Less and dd’s Discounts. The consumer base of Ross Dress For Less is primarily females who care about brands, but still want to get a good deal but have a more disposable income while dd’s Discounts consumer base have a more moderate budget but still want to dress trendy. The goal of Ross Stores, Inc. is to have 3,000 locations, and currently have 1,629 Ross Dress For Less’ and 266 dd’s Discounts located all over the United States. One aspect that sets Ross Stores, Inc. apart from their competitors, like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods is the fun of Ross is that it’s like a “treasure hunt.” The stores are very no-frills, no mannequins, displays, etc. so the consumers only see the product and then when they find something they really like, it feels very rewarding. An aspect of the Ross Stores, Inc. brand that I really enjoy is their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. They have initiative set in place to observe particular holidays and celebrations, networks for specific historically marginalized communities, and aim to hire people of color, veterans, and mostly women-identifying individuals. They also donate to various organizations such as the NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Boys & Girls Club, and First Book Club, just to name a few. Their buying offices are located in NYC, LA, and Boston. While I do not see myself at this company since their roles do not offer the creative outlet I am seeking, learning all of this information makes me want to support their brand even more!

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Diane von Furstenberg

This week for Study Tour we went to the flagship Diane von Furstenberg store in the Meatpacking District. The store also houses offices above the retail space and it’s the only one of it’s kind so it really is the face of the brand. DVF has kept the iconic wrap dress in stock all of these years and is still it’s best selling style which is offered in a variety of silhouettes and prints. What has allowed it to stay iconic is that it fits on everyone’s body and is a timeless piece. One of the things that really brings in customers to their store is the DVF x Ashely Longshore Gallery. Displayed all around the gallery are paintings done of past and present notable women since the brands identity has a huge emphasis on female empowerment. There is not too much information about efforts they are making to be more sustainable, however because their pieces are made to last and are timeless silhouettes, these allows it to be a more sustainable option.

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Nordstrom Guest Speaker

This week for study tour, we had a guest speaker from Nordstrom Rack, Jamie Seiden. She just started a new role as a digital merchandiser there, but has been working there since 2015 when she began as a Merchandising Assistant. She studied at FIT as a Fashion Merchandising Management major and interned in various roles within editorial, marketing, and e-commerce merchandising. Even though she is not working in a design position, I still thought this speaker had a lot of really great insight on what it’s like working in the industry, especially at a big brand. One good point she brought up was how her job, while it is remote, has been challenging but also nice in many ways. She enjoys working at home and finds she is able to meet many more people virtually than she would have previously. One of the downsides of working remotely is the different time zones that people are working in when they have to collaborate together. Some helpful insight she gave to the design majors was to really put a lot of thought into the copy details because you want everything to translate very easily to the consumers. Also making sure that your ideas are communicated well to photographers, marketing, etc. to make sure that your desired look is achieved. Some helpful tips she talked about while working in the industry is that email etiquette is really big, especially when communicating with higher ups. Group projects also never go away after school, being able to work on a team is essential to being a part of the fashion industry. She recommended Indeed and LinkedIn for searching for jobs as well as some marketable skills are organization, teamwork, and having internship experience, all skills that I have acquired through my time at Kent State!

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Fox Unlimited

This week for study tour, we went to Fox Unlimited which is a showroom which specializes in manufacturing leather and fur goods. They have been in business for over forty years and one of the last remaining businesses of its kind here in the Garment District. Opened by two brothers, Jack and Martin Levenson, they have seen all sorts of changes within the fashion industry and adapted to stay relevant. With the expansion of their home furnishing line, their own Ready to Wear Label, Tasha Tarno, and projects with all sorts of celebrities like Cardi B and widely regarded brands, Fox Unlimited is a force to be reckoned with. We had a really good discussion with everyone in our class about the use of real fur or leather vs faux fur or leather. As a vegan and also sustainability minor, this is a topic I have lots of strong opinions on so I’m glad that we were able to share our thoughts this week.

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The Harry Potter Store

This week we visited the Harry Potter Store in the Flatiron District. As a huge  fan of everything Harry Potter since as long as I can remember, this store is absolutely amazing. Having also been the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Florida, this two experience are vastly different, but what I like about this location is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of NYC, there’s this place full of wonder and magic for anyone, from mega fans to casual fans or people who have never seen or read Harry Potter, to be able to appreciate. This store experience is the only one of it’s kind and the largest place to sell this many products and merchandise under one roof. Hopefully before the semester is over, I can go back and partake in the VR experiences they have to offer! From offering a Butterbeer bar, over 50 wands to choose from, Honeyduke’s sweets and treats, and exclusive merchandise, this store really has it all!

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Fifth Avenue Woman Inc.

This week we visited Fifth Avenue Woman Inc., a fine jewelry manufacturer which sells to various brands for wholesale. The Vice President, Sophia So is very knowledgeable about all the different precious stones that they use and also many of the pieces have significant cultural history behind them which is very interesting. Different stones have different characteristics, from good luck, to good fortune. One of the pieces Sophia talked a lot about was this round stone pendant necklace where you speak your wishes into the center and they will come true. At the end of our tour we got to shop around and I bought a pearl choker and one of the wish necklaces as well as some earrings for my mom for Christmas.

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Prada Tour

This week for Study Tour, we visited the Prada store on 5th Ave. As a long time fan of this brand, I was very excited to have an up close look at the products. Garibaldi, the director of this location, gave us a private tour and was very knowledgable and helpful. To maintain a level of exclusivity, you can only visit if you have an appointment which ensures that everyone who comes in is a serious customer. I really enjoy the utilitarian aesthetic of Prada, which is something that inspires me in my design work. Prada is working towards a more sustainable future by offering Re-Nylon which is created using plastic from the ocean which is turned into fabric. This is not only great for the planet, but there is virtually no difference from typical Nylon and Prada aims to eventually have everything made with 100% Re-Nylon which is super admirable. Some trends I spotted at Prada and other luxury stores were chunky footwear, from boots to loafers, they all feature lug soles. Another trend I’ve seen is UGG-style boots in traditional suede and fur silhouettes and more functional waterproof puffer styles as well. One of my favorite items had to be the Prada dog carrier as I am a sucker for anything cute you can get for your pets.

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M & S Schmalberg

This week we went to M & S Schmalberg, a family owned company that has been around for 4 generations that produces artificial fabric flowers. For over 100 years they have been making hand made flowers here in the Garment District. They use molds, some of which have been around since the start of their company, to cut out the petals. They make petals out of all sorts of fabric, ranging from silks to leathers, or when working with fashion houses, they will be given specific fabrics to use.

M & S Schmalberg started in 1916 by Morris and Sam Schmalberg. Back then there were many fabric flower businesses but over the years, these companies went overseas or out of business. Today, M & S Schmalberg is the last of its kind in the United States. They mostly produce custom flower projects for couture designers, milliners, and costumers. There work has been seen in movies, like Crazy Rich Asians, and on red carpet looks. Most recently on Emily Emily Ratajkowski and Lili Reinhart at the Met Gala.

On our tour of the business, we were able to see them cut out the fabric petals and also assemble them which was very neat. Adam, the Vice President, showed that they can make traditional designs like carnations but also more unique and crazy flowers. This was a super cool place to visit and definitely a good place to purchase a super unique gift for someone in your life who really appreciates flowers.

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Garment District Scavenger Hunt

After being in New York for about a month, it’s crazy how fast I have been able to adjust to this new environment. I don’t have to Google Maps as often, I can recognize street names if I’m super lost, and have figured out the subway pretty well I’d say! That being said, this scavenger hunt was revisiting a lot of places I have already gone to on my own but it was still really fun being able to find the places with my classmates and talk and get lost together.

The first stop on our scavenger hunt was the New York Public Library. I absolutely love this building, the architecture, and this history behind it. I grew up reading the book Library Lion when I was a kid, so finally being able to visit in person was very full circle. A few weeks ago I visited as well and was just in awe of all of the attention to detail inside.

The next stop was Bryant Park which is a very quaint outside area that offers ice skating in the winter or movies during the summer. Across the street is a Whole Foods which I have been doing a lot of grocery shopping at as it is a very convenient distance to my apartment!

The next place we visited was the giant button and needle sculpture in the Garment District. Buttons normally have four holes but this sculpture has five which stands for “fashion!”

The next stop was the Fashion Walk of Fame which unfortunately no longer exists, you can see our disappointment in our faces when we discovered this. There used to be plaques up and down Fashion Avenue but were removed because they were a safety hazard.

The next place was Mood Designer Fabrics which is featured on the show Project Runway and has a vast array of fabrics on 3 levels and covering more than 40,000 square feet! You can get free swatches of anything besides leather and fur here.

The next stop was All In One Suppliers, Inc. which sells mannequins, dress forms, clothing racks, among various other supplies for retail or showroom spaces.

The next destination was Macy’s which is the largest department store in the United States, which I did not know! It covers over 2.5 million square feet which is super insane and is a big part of the movie, Miracle on 34th Street!

Across the street from Macy’s is Herald Square which has tables and chairs for eating, sometimes music, and other entertainment. It definitely has a less chaotic energy than Times Square which is very close by.

Another store in Herald Square is H&M, which is Swedish, which I did not know. They have a huge variety of clothing which is priced very low for people on a budget. The letters “H” and “M” stand for Hennes and Mauritz.

Next up was M&J Trimming. This has a huge selection of trims and sewing notions and I actually visited here last week for an errand for my internship!

Next we took the Subway downtown to Union Square to visit City Papery which offers all sorts of stationary and paper. Great for crafting!

Next was MUJI, which offers no brand quality goods for really affordable prices. I love the very clean and minimalist aesthetic and will definitely come back to check it out more!

Our last stop was the Fashion Institute of Technology! The current show is Ravishing: The Rose in Fashion which examines the history of the rose motif throughout fashion. It was closed the day we visited but I want to come back to check it out sometime!

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Mood Designer Fabrics, located in the Garment District of New York City, is THE place to get all things fabric. They have played a huge role in the fashion industry for the past two decades and are probably most widely recognized for those outside of the fashion community because they are featured on the show Project Runway! The location at 225 W 37th Street is their Flagship location and boasts over 40,000 square feet of space spread across 3 floors as well as having a Mood Home store for interior decorating! This was my first time visiting Mood and having only ever been in Joann’s or Hobby Lobby back in Ohio, this was certainly a big difference.

Having such a wide variety of fabrics to choose from for projects or being able to get swatches for assignments is so convenient! Also the people working there, really know their fabrics, and are very helpful! Something that I really love about Mood is that they buy fabrics from designers such as Oscar de la Rent and Ralph Lauren just to name a few. While what’s on the shelf is all that’s available, having access to more fabrics than I could ever name just blocks away from school really is a dream come true! I look forward to utilizing this resource throughout the semester! You could spend a whole day in Mood and probably not be able to get all of the fabrics!