Regional Directors Conference 2009 “And the Good News Is…” Monir Zandghoreishi, Seattle RD with Susan Alveshere, Seattle Treasurer and RD Elect “We want to thank our membership! Enjoy the report.” We Will Survive. 3 Education and Fashion Group International: The message of the conference was support and FGI is dedicated to educating knowledge, aspirations into the unknown, flexibility, and its members on what is happening in today’s market embracing what might be different so that we can move forward. 5 Fashion Group International Annual Awards and Dinner: This is a message of encouragement and happiness… Fashion legend Stan Herman was the honored speaker of looking forward to the future and embracing the evening New things FGI Seattle 2009 page 1 Fashion Group International at Gracie Mansion in New York City Margaret Hayes stood conserve, maintain, and enhance Gracie Mansion, one of the oldest surviving wood visibly surprised as she was structures in Manhattan and a member of awarded with the honor the Historic House Trust. “May seventh has of being presented with After at tour of the home and estate, the been declared the certificate of Fashion Group International Regional Fashion Group Directors were given Proclamation. a treat of listening to International Day in our speaker of the It was an amazing event evening the renowned New York City.” being invited to the Gracie Mansion on our first official evening with Fashion Group International’s yearly Regional interior Directors Convention held in New decorator of Gracie Mansion and owner of York City. Drake Design Associates, Jamie Drake. Mr. Drake engaged the audience with Originally owned by a prosperous skill. You can find more on Mr. Drake and New York merchant named Archibald his vast portfolio in interior decorating at: Gracie, Gracie Mansion was built as a http://www.drakedesignassociates.com/. country house overlooking the bend in the East River, five miles north of what was The evening was topped off when the staff then the city of New York. Now encircled of Mayor Bloomberg came forward to by Manhattan, Gracie Mansion still holds award Margaret Hayes with the honor of many beauties and has become the Gracie New York City officially proclaiming that Mansion Conservancy, which was May seventh would be Fashion Group established in 1981. The Gracie Mansion International Day in New York City. It Conservancy is a private not-for-profit was wonderful to see Margaret truly corporation, which is intended to surprised by this award and honor. Fashion Group International FGI Seattle 2009 page 2 Seattle 2009, by S. Alveshere We kicked off the first day It starts with of conferences with a wonderful breakfast sponsored by Conde Nast at the Conde Nast eduction building in Times Square in New York City. We were prepared for speakers all day, but what we were not prepared Above left – a few of the speakers of for was the support that Fashion Group International showed to our industry as they the conference at Conde Nast recognized that many of us were out of work and looking for new things on our horizon. Below – Left to Right: Gwen Morrison is the CEO of The Americas and Australia, The Store. Gwen led retail 1. Rising Stars panel: strategies and initiatives for Target, The North Face, Ford and Coca-Cola to name a few. Gwen wanted to give the audience an overall sense of where the consumer is going and Cathy Gins- Fragrance/Beauty, Carlos Campos-Men’s Apparel, what they are looking for. Her message was simply about how the consumer is going for the Ariane Zurcher-Fine Jewelry, discounted prices, cutting costs, and looking for value in a different way than before. The Christian Cota-Womens’ Apparel consumer wants high quality, but at a very low price. She described ideas on how to 2. Monir with Ariane Zurcher incorporate recycling and re-using ideas in product and how to pull happiness into your line to give the consumer a feeling of joy in our economic times to increase sales. For more 3. Givaudan fragrance expert information please contact: [email protected] Emily Koltnow is the Principal and Foudner of Koltnow and Company which was founded in 1991 and author of Congratulations! You’ve been Fired!. Emily has 23 years experience in the apparel industry, which includes design, merchandising, and management. Koltnow gave a very timely message on how to update and make your resume applicable to finding a new job in our current status in our industry. This was a very wonderful highlight about how you can make yourself stand out when there are so many applicants to very few jobs in our industry at the moment. Fashion Group International named Emily Koltnow 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year. For more information please go to: www.koltnow.com. Along the same lines we were very blessed to have Financial Counselor, Ann B. Diamond come and speak to the group about how to start over during financial crisis. Ann B. Diamond is the author of several books, No More Fear of Finance, the Let’s Get Real Financial Journal, and Putting it Together. Ms. Diamond has been published in the New York Times, New York Newsday, USA (continued) FGI Seattle 2009 page 3 Today and many more. The audience was We had a lovely time listening to their gifted with the book, No More Fear of stories of their education and background, Finance, from the author. You can find start up businesses, inspiration, and where out more information at: they feel that they are headed. www.anndiamond.com Allure Magazine presented information Also speaking at Conde Nast was Adriana regarding their statistics and readership. Shapira, Managing Director and Sr. Givaudan’s sent a fragrance specialist to Analyst, Retail Sector at Goldman Sachs. walk us through the process of trend Ms. Shapira gave statistics on where the analysis in the fragrance market. This year market has gone and spoke on if the end is and into 2010 Guvaudan is going toward in sight. Contact me for more information: three different directions: [email protected] 1. Esperanza: Spirituality, a pause, (Left: Carlos Campos with Susan Alveshere, taking a breath, or deep comfort. Below RD Arizona, and RD Sydney Australia) (Woody scent) 2. Post Human: Technology (powder/plastic cent – they called it the plastic doll scent) 3. Outrageous: Inspiration, relevant to today, usually a more classis scent such as rose. (Deep woody Rose scent) Pat Tunske, of Pat Tunske, Inc. was our Trend Report Analysis for spring of 2010. Pat’s report included color combinations On Saturday at Fashion Group and styles that her company predicts to be International headquarters in New York The educational experience the trends for spring summer of 2010. that Fashion Group the Regional Directors were dazzled with International puts forth is to New York Fashion Group International’s This included: ensure that our region Rising Stars! succeeds by giving us tools Glass House: Pale colors This panel discussion included each of to share with others upon La Vie en Rose: Bright fuchsias, pinks, (New York) FGI winners of the Rising our return and purples Star competition that is a yearly event in New York City. Key Largo: Bright watery blues, greens, and turquoises. This years Rising Stars were: Must haves: Christian Cota, Women’s Apparel Stripes in red, white, and navy. Naturals, Carlos Campos, Men’s Apparel yellow cast neutral tones with tangerine Cathy Gins, Beauty/Fragrance and coral with melon, Teals and Sea Blues, Very Berry, and the Pales. Ariane Zurcher, Fine Jewelry FGI Seattle 2009 page 4 In those four decades he has Upon entering the loungewear collection for won 3 Coty awards as the Cosmopolitan Club Kellwood, and at this moment designer of Mr. Mort, a is celebrating his 10th year as we were anticipating phenomenon of ready to wear one of QVC's major designers the man known to be in the 60's and early 70's. As by expanding the brand into the first major a legend in accessories and a home breakthrough for the fashion collection and furthering his animal humanity reach with a line of books with industry… concerns in fashion, Random House. His uniform the mayor of New accounts run from FedEx to York gave him the Stan McDonalds as well as New Central Park Zoo as a York's own JetBlue Airways. Herman showcase for his faux fur collection. He has Stan Herman has Stan Herman’s humility and revived the use of kindness was evident in all of been designing for chenille in his over four decades. his actions. It was a pleasure to His career has hear the man speak who is so spanned the legendary for his innovation complete design spectrum from and spirit. ready to wear and intimate *Biography information on apparel, to uniforms for Stan Herman is from the CFDA America's most prestigious web site at www.cfda.com corporations. A political activist in a community of designers, he has dedicated the last ten years to the emergence of American Our own District Director, designers in the new global Pam Iannotta received the game of fashion. Presidents Award for her work ethics and excellence Stan Herman oversaw the emergence of the tents in for all her service to FGI (Upper Left – The Cosmopolitan Club Bryant Park as well as playing a foyer, S. Alveshere with S. Burns, and the major role in fashion's most RD from WA DC Middle- Margaret Hayes presenting award to Pam Iannotta Lower successful fund raiser for Right- Stan Herman and S. Alveshere) AIDS; 7th on Sale. FGI Seattle 2009 page 5 Shopping and crafted details found in both the industrial and organic are Networking - It is a cornerstones of all Ports 1961 collections.