A real life of a designer. | the Fashion Spot

A real life of a designer.

clay

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Some of you may know me from a while back. I discovered TFS around 2003 I think and I was a reg for a good year then sort of fell off the planet. During that time much has happened and I want to share some of it with you.

I got a job designing denim for a new missy/moderate division of a bigger junior denim company based in L.A. and I was supposed to move there. Wel the honeymoon was over quickly once I discovered how manic the owner was. So I refused to go to L.A., well not really refused just really pushed to stay in N.Y. Subsequently the owner really pushed for me to move to L.A. and my life was hell here. It was really f-cked and we parted ways in Sept 05. By the way I exceeded the sales projection for the line by 3mill in only 7 monthes:innocent: , so I did my job well. The rest was BullSh-t.

I get another job soon after for a new high end RTW line. It was a bumpy start, but we managed to put together a small, but interesting cool line. Mostley tailored sportswear, but really cool and sleek. Influences were Helmet lang, Jill Sander, and a touch of Antonio Berardi in there for cuts and details. Buyers loved it. Stores were interested and had just started placing orders ( Razooks, Fenwicks, Engle shoppes, Stagmans, and Browns ). WWD was going to do a piece on us along with a few other new labels. Stylists
were loving it.We made it into INTERMEZZO trade show. But we were not perfect. We had tons of sampling problems, but product still looked good and most looked great. What happens? The guys run out of money. They owe me money, and I have to walk. That was April of this year. They got more money and are going forward with a new designer. Good luck to them. They still owe me money. Trying to keep things on good terms though.

So the custom suit thing is still going and went back to retail for the time being. I am also planning a small menswear capsule for Fall 2007. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Also consulting for a RTW line on denim or aleast I think. The head designer has not returned my calls while the owner is traveling:blink: .I'll see what happens when he returns. :innocent:

I just got access to another computer so I will be around more even though I never really left, I just did not get here often enough.

Best Regards to All at TFS:flower:
 
moved to d&c...
welcome back clay...
looking forward to hearing more from you now tha tyou are back in action...

:flower:
 
we really need more people like you clay, and more stories like these, to let people know that fashion is not all glamour.
If you dont really love it with a genuine love (the hard work that goes into it) you cannot do this work

keep up the good work brother.

Zamb
 
clay...nice to hear what you've been upto...glad to hear you've been busy, sorry to hear that things have been difficult....

thanks for the update

:flower:
 
Ok guys since we last met..... Well I have a few detail photos of a couple of jackets I did for the designer line last year.... Ive been hesitant to show them but what the hell. Here is a band collar jacket and the back of a a single breast suit.
 

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Ok well here are more from the lookbook. I must say I had no control over anything the way you see it. I like some but not all the photos, and so is life... These are from my team and I (I headed the team).
First set from www.Maopr.com
 

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Last but not least I totally flaked on the small capsule for 2007. Ok will try again for 2008 spring and fall. Spring for PR only ( 10 looks). Gotta keep going!
I was totally inspired by my man Zamb and others I know doing their thing! Also I have a friend Patricia Ayers that is plugging away in her studio , while in school, trying to get her pieces out there. She is an artist and really gets into the process and message behind her clothes. She has really inspired me also. Thanks Trish! Hopefully I can post some of her work in a few days.
 
we really need more people like you clay, and more stories like these, to let people know that fashion is not all glamour.
If you dont really love it with a genuine love (the hard work that goes into it) you cannot do this work

keep up the good work brother.

Zamb

People say the same thing about doctors and such. You never hear them say that about fashion. I wish more people would see it that way though.

Good luck Clay! I hope things work out your next time around. :flower: :flower: :flower:
 
I like the tailored jacket too :blush:.. I think the photos are too dark to see the clothes well, but they seem to have interesting details. It looks like there is a bit of subtle drapery, folding in the blouses and jackets

Hope you tell us more about this Patricia Ayers too
You said she is an artist ??? Not specifically designer?
 
oh clay- so glad you finally showed some stuff...


very nice work dear...
great tailoring!


:heart:
 

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