Stylist Spotlight- Couture Provocateur

Couture Provocateur is a styling house run by the fabulous designer and stylist Xaymara Rodriguez!! I have known this wonderful woman for some years now and I'm happy to see her branch out and get more into styling because every designer doesn't have that gift!! She has worked with television stars, up and comers in the music industry, and MTV Tres!! Xaymara's time is totally now!! Her website is coming soon but check out her work on Instagram @couture_provocateur or email her at info@coutureprovocateur.com 

The Price of Fashion

Hi Happy New Year!! It's my 1st post of the New Year and I'm excited.. I'm REALLY trying to get into this blogging thing for you all.. SO todays post is about the cost of custom pieces and how much $$ time it takes to make a piece. So many people come to me wanting a piece but they don't want to pay the right price for it. It gets on my nerves because of the following: 

 #1. I was some big name designer you'd pay no problem.

#2. So many designers lower their rates for a sale that people don't understand its true value; and lastly but not least. 

#3. Garments and product that is massed produced will 99.999999% of the time be less expensive because you are paying a bulk rate by the quantity that was ordered using fabric and what not that has been already paid for and put aside for this purpose etc. etc. 

For New Years Eve I made this fab sequin skirt and I want to share with you how much I would probably charge if I sold it to private clients outside of a collection price. Take note at the Price of Fashion....

This maxi skirt was inspired by a tutorial put up by Mimi G (www.MimiGStyle.com) So I started by making the pattern which after taking a few easy measurements took me about 20 mins to make. For pattern making I charge $30.00 p/hr (If less than a hour is used you are billed for one whole hour). 

Next I had to buy the fabric; The heavy sequin is $25 per yard. The skirt was lined and the lining fabric was $4 per yard. To find the amount of yardage needed I had to do the following math: length of the skirt in inches x 2 (front & back) / by the height of the roll of fabric (36'') = I came up with 3 yards of fabric needed. In total I spent $87.00 on fabric. I paid $1.00 for a yard of elastic. The total on fabric and supplies is $88.00 

I spent about 3.5 hours cutting fabric and sewing. I charge $20 an hour for cutting and sewing. That totals $70.00

So with no inflation this maxi sequin skirt would cost $188.00 if requested by a private client. Sequin is no easy fabric to work with nor is  it inexpensive so this is why for a custom sequin skirt it would be almost $200.00 

A lot of people might not say it's worth it but why is it not? It's custom made for you, made by a skilled hand with sourced fabric by your request. If my name was Galliano people wouldn't blink at spending $200.00 on a full length sequin skirt. I don't understand why so many people wont do the same for small business' and emerging fashion houses... 

What say you Fashion Lovers?

Fashionably Yours,

ImaniLia 

Late Edition: Wednesdays Fashion Tips and Tricks to Get You through the Week!!

Every Fashionista has Fashion Tips and Tricks in her back pocket that get her through those emergency moments so check put the list below of 10 fashion Tips and Tricks that will get you out of a bind!! 

Look for different Fashion Tips and Tricks every Wednesday!!! 

1. Use white wine to remove red wine stains.

2. Remove odors from vintage or thrift clothing by spritzing them with a mixture of one part vodka, two parts water.

     

3. “Remove white deodorant marks from a garment by gently rubbing the protective foam used on hangers against the fabric.” — Jonathan Simkhai, designer

4. Fake designer bags are a huge don’t, fake diamond studs are a huge do. Faux stones are hard to spot to the untrained eye.

5. “Never put a garment on immediately after ironing, as this can actually cause new wrinkles to form. Instead, let it sit for five minutes to set the press.” — Althea Harper, Designer and Rowenta Brand Ambassador

(I think I'm the only 20 something that still irons but still.. LOL)

6. Snap clip-on earrings onto flats for an instant evening shoe, or onto shirt collars for DIY embellishments.

7. Pour a dash of vodka into vase water to extend the life of your flowers.

8. Spray tights with sticky (read: cheap) hairspray to avoid holes and runs.

9. Blot, don’t rub, when you spill something on your clothes. Wiping or rubbing will actually further ingrain the stain into the weave.

10. “Use hairspray to remove a lipstick stain.” – Kaelen Haworth, designer, KAELEN

I hope these tips help you out and remember to look out every Wednesday for new tips and tricks!!!

Fashionably Yours, 

ImaniLia

All It Takes...

Last night I spent time updating blogs, checking my various email accounts, prepping for my upcoming photo shoot next weekend, going over budgets, paying bills etc.. and I got to thinking of what all this (owning, operating, & managing your own brand) takes & you know what......It's A LOT its no wonder as a One Woman Show I can't always get it all done but i'm going to keep trying until as they say the wheels fall off.

As an independent emerging designer with no trust fund or rich family members by my side this is a list of all I'm juggling daily. I used to have an assistant & a publicist but having that outside help costs money I could no longer afford so now it's all me. Here's a list of what I try to maintain daily... 

• 2 Twitter Accounts (1 personal, 1 business) 
• A Facebook Fan page 
• A personal Facebook page 
• A tumblr blog 
• This blog 
• A monthly newsletter 
• Birthday Incentives for Previous Clients 
• An Instagram Account
• Keep my website Updated 
• A Linked In Account 
• A Pinterest Account 
• Finding shows worth doing
• Finding interview opportunities & speaking engagements 
• Maintaining client work 
• Setting up promotional shoots, videos etc 
• Building new collections 
• Working with various Stylists 
• Maintaining an online Store & trying to get buyers 

This is a conservative list i'm sure i'm missing something(s) BUT I'm doing all this while working 40+ hours a week as a shoe designer. Attempting & failing miserably at being outgoing & social both personally & professionally, finding time & money in there somewhere to sleep, eat, meditate (HA I wish!), spend time with family blah blah bah.... 

Now don't get me wrong I'm not complaining this is just A LOT to maintain alone. Am I wrong? But I have passion & determination so I'll get it all done. I honestly can't afford much of a personal life because these things aren't free. Anyone who has a small business knows you put out a lot before you see any return & I'm ok with that. 

Everytime I reach a personal goal within ImaniLia Fashions it's all worth it. Like this rebranding process that is coming together. I will find an investor by 2014 or sooner!! (You have to speak these things into existence)

So thank you all for your continued support and listening ears. Your patience and understanding. Your kind words and warm hearts. Day by day all i'm trying to do is grow and serve you better.

ImaniLia :D

African American Designers Show up and Show Out at NYFW! A bit of a rant..

I was cleaning my inbox and I cam across this fantastic article. I am so proud of these designers mentioned in the attached article but I have some feelings about how we as a people are progressing in the industry. Read my rant below and click on the link at the end to get the info on some great designers that are right under your nose and they happen to be African American.

Do you agree with me? Did you enjoy the article?

This is how I felt after reading about these great people... Are we our own downfall? I sure do think so!

This is great that more African American designers are making themselves known at Fashion Week. The crazy thing is I know more than a couple of people on this list and it makes me think why not me??? I'm trying to patiently build, grow, and wait for my time to show the world how great I am.. 

I think the real problem in the African American design community is that no one wants to help each other.. When other designers ask me for advice I openly give it with out hesitation to the best of my ability. The advice doesn't always go both ways tho... I know I have asked other designers that are 1 or 2 steps ahead of me and the response is always.. "Girl i'm just grinding", "keep hustling" ummm thats not helping me... 

You want to see more African American Designers out there well then we need to help each other.. Stop walking past people like you have never met them, Never did a low budget show with them, never went to school with them, never had a conversation with them etc!!!

*End Rant!

Congrats to the people on this list!! And all the other designers I know that are doing their thing African American or not.

Click the link to see where this all stemmed from... It will all make sense.. I promise
African American Designers Shine Bright At Fashion Week

ImaniLia Designs in DeFuze Magazine Issue 7 !!!

Check Out a Spread of my pieces in Issue #7 of the UK’s deFUZE magazine (http://www.defuzemag.co.uk/ ). I’m really proud of this accomplishment in my career. Click the source link and you can see more of what’s in this issue and what’s coming from this amazing publication.

As a designer getting this type of press is what we love. Especially internationally!!!

Photographer Htet T San

Model Andrea Yurko @ Direct Model Management

MUA/Hair Graylon Everett

Stylist Jenx’D International

Clothes Provided By ImaniLia Fashions www.ImaniLia.com

Art Director Htet T San

Fashionably Yours, 

ImaniLia 

Intern's view Working my 1st Photo Shoot

Hello everyone!
I have just started my year in no better way than interning for a very talented young designer by the name of ImaniLia. Determined to make it to my first assignment with Imani, the city traffic wasn't stopping me, and so I made it, besdies going down one ways and wrong turns. Imani gave me a very positive vibe when I first met her a couple of days before the shoot, so I set my mind on focus and went to the shoot ready to grind. lol. Ok, guys and dolls, this is how it went down in my own words...
It is 10:35am, and I have just arrived at the studio where Imani is having the shoot done for her 2010 collection. At the moment, the first model is getting her hair and make-up done and so far I've been introduced to the crew that are part of the magic and help make it all happen, on the set are...

ImaniLia: Fashion & accessory designer/ stylist
D.J scoop: Imani's brother/ co-owner of ImaniLia designs
Hairstylist: Corenza
Hair assistant: Silk Jones
Model #1: Laura
Model #2: Shantel
Male model: Stefan
Make-up artist: Rasheeda Maxine
Photographer: Sharon Schuster
Photographer assistant: Erica
Videographer: Nnamdi
Designer Intern: Giselle Cruz (myself)
All of these creative, young and artistic individuals were doing their thing and I was honored to just be able to speak with them of their work and observe everything. It felt like art in it's finest, because every single person that was there was artistic. I wasn't nervous, I was ready, a bit quiet but I came in with the "expect the unexpected" mind frame so nothing surprises me. I have been taught that interning and assisting is very hectic and you should be willing to do almost anything....I said almost! lol. Overall experience was amazing, I loved working with all of these amazing people, Imani especially, I learned alot from just my first time being their and just the whole vibe of the place and everyone was very welcoming, so it made me feel a sense of comfort and I just felt like I was exactly where I should be. I felt in my zone.
Thank you guys for reading, hope you enjoyed my experience as much as I did. I will keep it comin, so look out for me "the intern" Giselle, as I will be posting my errands and run-arounds in the city, with Imani, or wherever I am and a sneak-peak of her latest designs. You will soon be able to view her exciting new collection here at www.ImaniLia.com

ImaniLia 2010 Shoot / Models

So this past Monday I FINALLY shot my 2010 collection. I had everything set. Great photographer, hair, make up, the models I wanted that set the vision I was thinking in my head. It was great! I was both super excited and nervous.

Of course in fashion all cannot be that smooth though. Call time was 9am. I made sure all involved knew this. From 5:30am I woke up to phone calls of people saying they were going to be late. 1st it was my male model. Then my stylist is sick and says she can't come. Then I get an email from one of my models & now she's going to be late too!? WTF I was beyond pissed to say the least. I have a full set of people Including video and 1 model instead of 3! I was just trying to seem ok even though I wasn't. I mean there was nothing I could do about it. So I get on set ready to work. Breakfast for the crew in hand. As I'm waiting for everyone I get another email at 9:15am from the same model saying that she now can not make it. I panicked because I made sure everyone was informed and now this model is dropping on me after all ready being late! So after intinal anger I call every model I know and have the whole set do the same. I was looking for a certain type of girl tho. I started off with a vision when I 1st picked these girls. I needed a 5'8 dark skin African American Girl w/ a long weave that could be curled. My make-up artist called a model that we both knew and I had previously worked with. She honestly wasn't the complete look but at this point I was like who cares get another model on set! So she was called. Next thing you know the make-up artist comes to me & says & I quote "she said she's NOT coming because I should have picked her 1st and she wouldn't have pulled out on me, nor does she want to leave her bed!" to say I was shocked was an understatement. This was MY shoot for MY collection. I hired people to make me look good and sell MY vision. Honey this shoot isn't about you! Its about ME (ImaniLia)! Now don't get me wrong I appreciate all the people I work with & them helping me out but this is business; had I been hired by a model to style or provide clothing things would have been different.

Fashion is a cut throat business and there is no time at all for people to get in their feelings. If u weren't the 1st pick o well your wanted now so don't limit yourself over pettyness. It really made me look at that model in a new light that I'm not sure is the best.

Essentially we got another model sight unseen she took forever to get to set and then was so beyond bad on camera that we wrapped her after 2 looks and completed the shoot with one male model & 1 female model. At the end of day it was a fun shoot and we got amazing pics that will be on the web site very soon.

This was my 1st collection shoot in about a year but I had a good time. I still came out on top despite the stresses of the day including the model drama. I must say though yes models are needed by designers but stop taking things so personal! Everything isn't about you and there is always another opportunity. So take things as they come. Humble is always received better.

Love you all and thanks for sticking with me.

Fashionably Yours,

ImaniLia