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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Heather Koonse raising funds for Garment Manufactory
Sew Local
Posted by Lacey Young on Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Heather Koonse is a designer, seamstress, and pattern drafter with a dream. The current owner and creator of clothing alteration shop The Rose Knot, Koonse possesses a deeper passion — to help local designers develop, create, and produce well-made clothing. Koonse’s business plan is to turn The Rose Knot into a resource center for independent local designers, renaming it the Charleston Garment Manufactory.
From design consultations and pattern drafting to sample garment construction and sewing classes, the center will provide an array of means to educate future seamstresses and designers. Collaborating with the existing foundation of local designers, the Charleston Garment Manufactory hopes to provide the infrastructure Charleston needs to support a growing fashion scene.
Koonse is enlisting fellow Charlestonians passionate about design to help finance the effort. Donations will go toward new industrial machines, tools, and seamstresses, and all contributors will enjoy perks of their generosity. Together, with the community’s help, Koonse hopes to transform Charleston into a unified hub of creativity, fashion, and style. Her goal is an ambitious $15,000, so let's hope she gets some donations soon.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Hampden Clothing hosts NAHM trunk show
Meet the Designers
Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Hampden Clothing is hosting a two-day event with NAHM designers Nary Manivong and Ally Hilfiger (yes, that Hilfiger). The designers recently debuted their third collection at New York Fashion Week, and Hampden will hold a day-long trunk show featuring their SS12 collection on Fri. Feb. 24. Prior to that, they're holding an invitation-only dinner at the store to welcome the designers.
Manivong and Hilfiger have always had a very specific inspiration for their womenswear: the shirtdress. Over three seasons they've managed to give a fresh, feminine spin to the classic silhouette, and their most recent collection includes separates as well as dresses.
The designers will be in attendance at Friday's trunk show, which is open to the public. Shoppers will have the opportunity to meet them and even be styled by them as they mingle in the store. Call (843) 724-6373 for more details.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Charleston Museum looks at the history of style in the Holy City
Charleston Couture
Posted by Alex Keith on Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 11:00 AM
While the women of Charleston may be happy that hoopskirts, bustles, and petticoats are a thing of the past (imagine wearing those in August), the Charleston Museum is bringing back classic haute couture with their original exhibition, Charleston Couture.
“These are all pieces with a Lowcountry connection,” says Charleston Museum event coordinator Rachel Chessler. Running from March 10- Nov. 4, the exhibit features more than 50 garments, from pleated silk gowns of the 1770s to velvet dresses worn by notable Charlestonian ladies in the 1930s.
Accessible only to a privileged few, many of the evening gowns to be displayed were purchased by members of the Charleston aristocracy while abroad, or custom-made by skilled local dress-makers. Historically significant to the city, the exhibit also “provides a great historical perspective to all of the fantastic designs coming out of Charleston Fashion Week,” Chessler says.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Artisan Tees settles into Spring Street
Tee Time
Posted by Erica Jackson Curran on Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 4:00 AM
Andy Natusch was just another starving artist trying to make a living as a painter when he got the idea to try another approach to making money late last year. In an effort to make his work more accessible, affordable, and even wearable, he opened Artisan Tees at 47 Spring Street in December. “I just started doing T-shirts because I knew with this economy I had a better chance of selling them,” he says. “People will buy a T-shirt because it’s something they can use. It’s not like artwork, where it’s a luxury item.”
He typically releases a new design every two weeks, inspired by everything from nature to politics. One shirt, “Hipster Tiger,” is a print of a tiger wearing nerd glasses. Another, “99%,” makes more of a political statement. Most shirts cost $18.
High art it’s not, but Natusch stands behind his decision. “Things are changing and people don’t have extra money to spend on things they don’t need, whereas T-shirts, you wear it, it has a use,” he says.
In addition to the shirts, Artisan Tees sells jewelry and exhibits art by local up-and-coming artists, with an art opening happening every month. He also plans to team up with nearby companies to host a Final Friday event every month. Find out more about Artisan Tees at artisantees.com.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Charleston Fashion Week announces 2012 schedule
New Faces and Old Favorites
Posted by Alex Keith on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 4:50 PM
With two months to go until the red carpet gets rolled out once again, Charleston Fashion Week has announced this year’s celebrity judges and designers, featuring a mix of new faces and old favorites. The five-night celebration will take place March 20-24 with over 45 runway shows, a Spring Bridal show, an Emerging Designer Competition, and the Rock the Runway Model Competition.
This year’s judging panel sees the return of Elle magazine’s Anne Slowey and Fern Mallis, founder of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City. Celebrity Charlestonians Molly O’Connell of America’s Next Top Model fame and Vanessa Lachey, former TRL host and Miss Teen USA, also join the ranks.
The event places more of a focus on emerging designers than ever before, with shows from five up-and-comers Tuesday through Thursday nights. You'll have to wait for them though — the first portion of each night is still devoted to local and chain stores. And yes, unfortunately Tommy Bahama is back this year.
Things kick off Tuesday night with shows from newcomer Poe Studios and the preppy patterns of Palm Avenue, followed by returning featured designer Emily Bargeron (CFW ’09) of Mamie Ruth Designs. Wednesday’s show features Tommy Bahama and edgy, new kid on the block JLINSNIDER, one of last year’s emerging designers. Also a former emerging designer, Michael Wiernicki (CFW ’11) returns as a featured designer this year with Mystery School, his new line of ready-to-wear clothes. Moving on to Thursday, the sister stores of Copper Penny and Copper Penny Shooz are paired with V2V for a night of boutique fashions. The schedule hints at a special guest Thursday night.
As the celebration heads into the weekend, Friday starts with a show from Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant followed by the Rock the Runway Model Competition as the models take over the catwalk. Emerging designer and CFDA scholarship winner Chris Benz finishes the night. The designer’s clothes are regularly found on the racks of King Street’s Hampden Clothing, which sadly will not be participating in this year’s Fashion Week.
Saturday morning, the Spring Bridal show features White, Modern Trousseau, LulaKate, and Maddison Row and Bella Bridesmaid. Returning judge and Project Runway alum Mychael Knight (CFW ’09) joins local designer Rachel Gordon as the night’s two featured designers. The climax of the week, Sunday features a face-off from the four emerging designer finalists followed by shows from featured designers Charlotte Hess, last year’s EDC winner, and bridal designer Faith Thornburg.
With a daily pop-up shop, entertainment, shopping, specialty cocktails, and pre-parties and DJs in the Style Lounge, this year’s Fashion Week promises five nights of talent under the tents at Marion Square. Find more information and buy tickets at charlestonfashionweek.com.
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