Last week I met with a group of intimate apparel professionals to discuss the improvements needed in the industry. Andrew Sia, Publisher of Intimate Apparel Journal, headed the discussion along with his wife Mimi. As a founder of Ace Style group, a vertically-integrated women’s intimates manufacturing business covering garments, fabrics, trims, printing, retailing, wholesale, and franchising, Andrew’s established background and experience has allowed him to recognize the disconnect between all levels of the industry and in-turn create a solution. From recent graduate students, to buyers, to factory workers, it obvious that a common thread and understanding of standard practices is absent. In other words, there is no standard go-to resource that one could be educated on the technical, marketing, manufacturing and design techniques. This creates a problem in our industry.
Everyone at the meeting unanimously agreed that the Intimate Apparel Journal (IAJ) is the vehicle that will solve this issue. IAJ will ultimately create a common dialogue within the industry and in turn connect the American, European and Asian markets. At the luncheon Julia Poteat, assistant professor at Parsons The New School for Design, spoke of the possible use for IAJ in her student’s curriculum. As a new instructor at FIT teaching at the Center for Professional Studies in June, Andrew Sia believes the journal is a great resource for all students studying in the industry. I spoke of how IAJ would greatly help buyers and store owners understand why samples can not be produced over night or why certain fabrics can not be used for specific purposes. Not everyone in the industry understands these simple concepts, which is why a dialogue must be started.
Every article in the journal may not always speak directly to a specific area, but it will serve as a learning tool for students, and an industry resource for professionals to keep up with trends and reports. I look forward to seeing the success of the journal along with world-wide discussion it will create in the industry
Tag Archive for: lingerie
Ellen Lewis wrote up her final thoughts about the Salon De Lingerie show in Paris last week on her blog, Lingerie Briefs! See what’s trending in Fall 2014 on her post:
Paris Wrap ~ Salon De Lingerie Fall 2014
“It was nice to see some of our North American resources doing brisk business: PJ Salvage, Hanky Panky, Cosabella, Affinitas, Eberjey , Rago, Va Bien and the Kenan Group to name a few. Their booths were extremely busy proving that perseverance in the International market works if given time read more
Roslyn joined the Underfashion Club in 1969, when it was an organization for women only and the membership was less than 30. She received a lifetime achievement Femmy in 1997. Past officer, board member, co-chair of the program committee, and an active participant of the SAIG committee. Born on the Lower East side, as were both of her parents; growing up and studying design at a Brooklyn high school (tough Brooklyn girl). Her birthday is October 31, 1924, our Halloween witch.
Roslyn graduated in 1941, and worked at Vogue magazine until 1946, when she answered an ad in WWD and came into the industry as a designer of Lady Duff Trousseau Lingerie. Started her own contract studio in April of 1954 (60th anniversary coming up). Started the studio as Roslyn Harte Lingerie Originals, limiting to 3 non-competitive clients at one time. read more
News is in from the trade show in Paris last weekend, Salon International de la lingerie! Ellen Lewis covered her experience at the event in 3 posts on her blog, Lingerie Briefs.
Check it out for the latest in the intimate apparel industry!
Post 1: Live From Paris ~ Retail read more
The Underfashion Club discussed Boutique & Specialty Stores on October 15, 2013 at The Cutting Room, NYC. Karen Thompson of Lace Silhouettes Lingerie, Dan Alden & April Burch of Great Barrington Bra & Girl, and Dan Koch of Town Shop stepped up to the stage to tell us about their practice in the intimate apparel industry. Listen to learn about retaining and capturing today’s customers!
Moderators:
Joe Smith, Sales Director, WACOAL AMERICA INC.
Laurence Teinturier, Co-Founder, CURVEXPO INC. read more
The 2014 FEMMY AWARDS, presented by The Underfashion Club, Inc., the intimate apparel industry charitable organization dedicated to education, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 4, 2014 and will take place at Cipriani 42nd Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue in New York City.
The Femmy Awards honor those individuals and companies that have significantly contributed to the Intimate Apparel Industry and its growth. The Gala is recognized as one of the premier events in the Intimate Apparel Industry, and is the fundraising vehicle that enables the Underfashion Club to support its extensive Scholarship, Awards, Internship and Grants (SAIG) programs. These efforts bring to life the Underfashion Club’s credo of “Education today for a better industry tomorrow.” read more
Join us for a discussion on Boutique & Specialty stores at The Cutting Room on Tuesday, October 15th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm!
To reserve your spot, please reply to
Underfashionclub@frontiernet.net
Or call 845-758-6405
Beautiful Fall like weather had a hand in the great turn out for UFC Speed Networking event held at the XVI Rooftop Lounge. New comers to the Intimate Apparel industry had the opportunity to spend five minutes with an industry expert to ask questions, exchange ideas, and make important contacts. There were conversations about what companies needed intimate designers, entrepreneurs seeking new customers to buy their innovative products, and start ups teams looking for insights on how to break through and get that first order. And that was only the first 15 minutes of the speed networking conversations!
See the photos on our Facebook album! read more