LamanBlu Reports on the Top Trends for Fall/Holiday 2011

Cozy log cabins and forests of aspen convey the key feeling for the season. The forests quickly become enchanted for children, tinged in medieval lore with lush materials and deep saturated colors. Wrap them in the luxury of sustainable fabrics – from beautifully draping bamboo to organic cottons to delightful faux furs – all trimmed in cotton lace and soft velvet ribbons.

Pantone’s theme for the season is “Wonder” and focuses on artistic drama, sustainability and life balance. Pink continues as a whimsical, fun, spirited and romantic color which blends into a dramatic and bold red by holiday. Whites continue for winter bringing a peaceful innocence. Blues are prevalent as they promote feelings which are trustworthy, calming, dependable, eternal, hopeful.

LamanBlu’s color palette for the season reflects these trends and others – encompassing warm yet bright and yummy colors of boysenberry, blackberry, marshmallow, granny smith apple and chocolate – accented with porcelain, mallard, chateau rose and pewter.

Trend Bible talks of the Polar Explorer fueling the adventure of imagination. Warm handle and felted fabrics reference a new aesthetic for kids’ products. What better way to stay warm in a snowy climate than in wool hats and fingerless gloves and over the knee socks? Find them in solids, slubs and stripes in furry fibers from wool to alpaca to cashmere.

Holiday brings a mood of fantasy inspired by a glamorous haute couture style focused on luxurious and sophisticated fabrics. Soft bamboo contrasted by crisp sparkle organza. Custom printed bamboo fleece in iridescent mica printed snowflakes. Embroidered lace and natural pearl beading bring luxury to any setting.

Spin Expo talks of the Passages of Time: “It is a time to move away from playing it safe with the classic and plain. Now is a time to take a stand for being special, unique and therefore creating the desire to own.” It is a time to play, to escape, to explore, to shine!

In terms of print trends, Mudpie is reporting concealed lace print designs and digital photo prints still reign. Simple color contrasts remain important as well as the continuing leopard trend. Hand painted and hand printed stripes and snowflakes are dramatic and artistic and play to the do-it-yourself aesthetic.

In terms of jewelry – natural beauty of semi precious stones reign. Trendcapsule reports the importance of smoky quartz, colorful agate, garnet, amethyst, jade and misshapen natural pearls.

Kids Contemporary Key Item Trend Report - SS 2011

MPDClick released their Kids' Contemporary Trend Report for Spring / Summer 2011 - straight from the major runway shows.  We thought we would share it with you......

Key Items -
Children's: S/S 2011, white dresses play with frothy textures and volume. Appliqued bow tops and traditional macs mix things up. . . Prints are vibrant and loud with kitsch lightweight knits and tie-dyed effects.

  

Applique Tops

Key words: Far left: Yellow satin bows; swing T; bright palette. Second left: Fluid fabrics; loose fit t-shirt; feminine tones; varying pink satin bows. Centre: Oversized applique bow; salmon pink & rose; floral corsage detail. Second right: Mix & match aesthetic; expressive illustration; monochrome palette; floral corsage detail. Far right: Small satin bows and flowers; subtle sheen; tie dye.

White Dresses

Key words: Far left: Ethereal tulle layers; jersey top; modern lace; tiered. Second left: Decorative floral corsage; coordinating print ruffle. Centre: Feather-light bamboo knit; flutter sleeves; soft volume. Second right: Soft jersey; lettuce hemming; whitened tones; floral screen print. Far right: Vintage slip inspired shape; subverted handkerchief hem; cotton; tie-up straps.

Tie Dye

Key words: Far left: tie-dyed jersey; contrasting hues; floral applique trim; ombre overdye. Second left: Button front jacket; tie-dye effect; frosted pink; violet; subtle sheen. Centre: Solid top; bright hues; tie dye trim; ruffle maxi skirt; contrast color. Second left: Shirr front top; bow applique trim; contrast ombre dye; tie-dyed effect. Far right: Purple tie-dye spiral; psychedelic; 70's inspiration; white jersey.










 

Join us for The Little Black Dress Affair!

US Trendy Interview

About LamanBlu:
Cute fashionable kidswear by Holli Gibson! Each piece, bold in color and design, are perfect for children! Dresses, tops, pants, and backpacks- there's something for every free-spirited kid out there!

What is your inspiration for the season?

My inspiration for Fall 2010 began with "Reflection". I spent a lot of time reflecting on what some of the important messages in our world are that we should be paying attention to. As I reflected on our world, I firmly believe that God has given us such a wonderful place to live that we should be caretakers of it and live our lives as eco-friendly as possible. Many of the pieces in the fall collection are in an eco-friendly bamboo knit. I also spent time reflecting on our past. The cotton waffle knits in the collection are a result of that reflection and are vintage inspired with beautiful silhouettes and velvet and lace trim. The other major area of reflection is our world as a whole. A trip to India inspired the fact that we are one world and the cotton print peacock pieces are a result of that. India offers such a deep culture that affects us no matter where we live on the planet. I was also drawn to light inspired colors, as seen reflected in water or ice. The resulting color palette, which works across all the pieces in the collection is Prussian Blu, Lotus, Hyacinth, Sky Blu and Ombre Purple.


Education/Experience:
I graduated in 1990 from college with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design. I worked in Dallas as a designer in women's dresses and sportswear for about 15 years. After taking a time to start a family (and relocating to the Rocky Mountains) I went back to work in the industry, this time with my focus on children.

What drove you to choose fashion design and specifically starting your own design?
I've always been interested in fashion - my mother was a very fashionable lady - I always loved dressing fashionably and always wanted to put my own twist on things. I was drawn to starting my own fashion business because I saw an emerging niche of eco-friendly designer clothing for children, which I wanted to fill. Children are so much fun to work with, they embody not taking anything too seriously. They are unencumbered and free spirited... A perfect descriptive of the spirit of fashion.


What has prepared you to enter the world as a fashion designer?
Beyond my educational experience, I spent a number of years working in the industry for both small startup companies and large established manufacturers. I've done both domestic and international production and sourcing and have worked with many types of stores from small boutiques to large retailers including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Victoria's Secret. My father was a business entrepreneur as well, though not in the fashion industry. Growing up in an entrepreneurial environment is definitely a catalyst in my desire to launch my own business.


What has been your biggest struggle breaking into the world as an independent fashion designer? There are so many struggles in breaking into this business from supply chain to the challenges of doing small scale production to sales channels. I've been fortunate to have known about some of the hurdles from the get go and so have been at least somewhat prepared to tackle them. I'm also very lucky to have a great support team to help me tackle these challenges and overcome them.


Describe your style:
My personal style is very eclectic. I have a lot of different moods, so my closet represents that. I go from very casual - jeans and a t shirt to very modern - sequin dress and ruffle jacket with over the knee patent leather boots.


Your 3 wardrobe staples:
Well, I live in the mountains of Colorado so I guess my 3 staples would be jeans, snow boots and a fleece jacket. Doesn't sound very fashionable does it? Of course, we have snow on the ground from October through May so practicality rules for 8 months of the year. I am known to wear my snow boots with everything and carry my dress shoes around with me to change into at the last moment!


Favorite fashion decade:
That's a tough question! Can I list 3? The 80's has to be one of my favorite fashion decades because that's when I came into my own in terms of style, so it holds fond memories for me. Then I remember discovering the 60's - which is another favorite fashion decade. Such individualism! My other favorite fashion decade is the 40's - beautifully cut garments which were very body conscious but not revealing - very sexy while being totally elegant!


What are you most excited to wear this season?
I think I'm most excited to wear capes this season. A great way to layer in some warmth and you can dress them up or down. I've added a few to my wardrobe - a couple of cashmere ones in black and red and a fabulous faux fur one for drama.


One thing you couldn’t live without:
My family!


Favorite Celebrity Fashion Icon:
I think Gwen Stefani has to be my favorite. She's really a beautiful girl and I love her eclectic style - she can go from classic beauty to rock and roll to absolute glamour - and does it all well.


Perfect night on the town outfit:
My perfect night on the town is a night out with my husband, so the outfit would be a flirty dress that he likes and some sassy high heel shoes!

What are other activities you enjoy doing besides designing (art, music, etc)?
I'm very into the outdoors. We live in the mountains so we spend a lot of time horseback riding and hiking and snow skiing. I'm also a water baby so we head to the beach as often as possible to scuba dive, snorkel and sail.


What do you wish people understood about being in the fashion industry?
The fashion industry is a creative industry, but it's also a business. Fashion (as a business) is not about art. It's about delivering an exciting, high quality product which is saleable.


What is some advice that you would give to aspiring independent designers?
Be prepared to work harder than you think possible to succeed. This is a tough business, so prepare yourself. Listen to all the criticism you will get, decide what you can learn from and keep that....discard the rest. Stay positive, and stay true to yourself. You need to find a way to stay centered. Being too confident or not confident enough are both killers!


What is favorite Part about being a Fashion Designer?
It's the creative outlet really. My favorite part of being a children's fashion designer is working with the little girls. We did a large fashion show recently and there were a couple of things that really stood out to me and reinforced how much I love what I do. Afterwards, all the little girls ran up and hugged me and wanted their pictures taken with me - it was so much fun. Then one of the mom's called me later and told me how special it all made her daughter feel. It was the best feeling in the world!

“Cupcakes and Couture” First Fundraiser for Denver Design Incubator

(Denver, CO) -- DVLP Clothing will host Cupcakes and Couture as a kick-off fundraiser and fashion event for the newly established Denver Design Incubator (DDI). DDI will be an in-residence program for new emerging apparel and accessory designers to develop successful lines of clothing, reach profitable markets, and launch as established apparel and accessory manufacturers.

Cupcakes and Couture will feature Colorado fashion designers showing couture garments in a Parisian style fashion show paired with delicious cupcake bakeries. The after-hours gathering will be held Friday, December 10th at the Jet Hotel, 1812 Wazee in LoDo from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The ticket price of $20.00 includes cocktail, cupcakes and entertainment with 100% of the proceeds going to the incubator. A silent auction of fashion items will also be held to raise funds.
Denver Design Incubator is a non-profit organization modeled after successful design incubators in Toronto, Chicago, and New York. The recently formed Board of Directors includes designers of Colorado apparel manufacturers, fashion lawyers and finance experts, design educators, and retail specialists. Cupcakes and Couture is the first of many events and workshops to be held in Denver leading up to the first designers-in-residence June, 2011 with the goal of “Moving Fashion Forward” in Colorado.

To purchase tickets contact Kathy Bacon, Kathy.dfs@comcast.net or Rustin Coburn, rustin@developclothing.com. Tickets will also be available at the event.

LamanBlu Launches Distribution into European Markets

LamanBlu is hopping across the pond to launch its eco-friendly brand into the United Kingdom.

Along with continuing to grow its presence in the United States, LamanBlu is expanding its brand of high end children’s wear into the UK. Key boutique retailers will be viewing the collection in private appointments this month with shipping to begin early next year.

The Spring/Summer 2011 Collection, “A New Floral Still Life” will be introduced into Europe starting with the London market. This collection is inspired by flowers plucked from their natural surroundings and positioned in a new way to bring the flowers of an English garden into a child’s wardrobe. This collection is designed to be lived in, laughed in and played in. Its clean silhouettes and extensive floral detailing are flattering, fun and girly.

Combining classically beautiful silhouettes with custom prints and extensive detailing, all in designer quality eco-friendly fabrics is what LamanBlu is best known for. It’s a pretty, girly collection created for parents and children to celebrate childhood. LamanBlu believes that children should be dressed beautifully, because to them, every day is an occasion.

The collection is available in bamboo or cotton is sizes from 6 months to 6 years. Bamboo is an eco-friendly, sustainable crop that grows wild without the aid of fertilizers or pesticides. Bamboo fabric is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic, making it ideal for children’s wear. LamanBlu’s bamboo is a designer weight fabric with enough lycra to give it great performance for both wear and washability. The cotton option provides a sharper price point. Cotton growers have greatly improved the environmentally friendly status of cotton over the past few decades, reducing the need for pesticides by 50% and producing substantially higher yields on the same acreage. Additionally, LamanBlu’s custom prints are produced using the latest water based ink and printing technologies which are not only vibrant in color, but also environmentally friendly. As always, the LamanBlu line is machine washable and dryable, and ironing is optional.

You can preview photographs from the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection on their website, at http://www.lamanblu.com/ or view the runway show at LamanBlu TV

To schedule an appointment to see the collection, contact LamanBlu at:

Contact:
\LamanBlu
info@lamanblu.com
720-837-1452

WDA - FGI "Fashion Passion" Charity Fashion Show

Fashion Group International of Denver (FGI of Denver) hosted Fashion Passion which consisted of a Runway Show, Boutique, and Luncheon this past November 2nd. This event was created to benefit the Women’s Development Association’s (WDA) education and training program in the ghettoes of Lahore, Pakistan.

“WDA is a non-governmental 501c3 organization based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The mission of WDA is to help educate, train and support women and children in third world nations through literacy, basic mathematics and health education, vocational training and economic development opportunities. WDA began working in Pakistan in 2000 and has educated over 3,000 women and children to date. This program is on-going and produces marked improvement in approximately 400 women and 150 children per year.”

The runway featured apparel, accessories and jewelry for the Holidays from LamanBlu and 14 other Colorado talented Designers. The apparel featured was also placed in the boutique for anyone to purchase along with Pakistani dresses and accessories and a portion of the sales went to WDA’s mission.

WDA Promise: One Woman, One Year, On Hundred Dollars, which is the amount needed to sponsor one person for a year.


Image Source: Simply-Good-Photography

2011 Fashion Trend Report

One of my favorite things about the design process is trend reporting.  With 2010 drawing near to the close (can you believe it!?) we've had a lot of conversations lately with journalists and others about trends for the upcoming year.  Spring 2011 is starting to draw to a close for us here in the studio and Fall 2011 is getting the finishing touches, so it seemed fitting to share a preview of next year with you....I think it's going to be a great one!

Open publication - Free publishing

Finding a Better Tomorrow - With DVLP and The Denver Rescue Mission

CREATE. INSPIRE. EVOLVE.

One of my dear friends, Rustin Coburn, is heading up this great effort for the benefit of the Denver Rescue Mission (which is another organization doing such wonderful work here in Denver).  Please support their efforts to help the homeless!

Finding A Better Tomorrow

DVLP and BC Surf and Sport team up to help keep the homeless of Denver warm If you live, work, or spend any time in downtown Denver you have driven through the cross streets of Lawrence, Park Ave, and Broadway where the triangle of Eddie Maestas Park sits. Many people will tell you that this is where homelessness in Denver begins….and hopefully will end. Five years ago, Major Hickenlooper started the “Road Home” campaign, with the goal of providing every homeless person in Denver a home, health care and a job. With a tough economy, we are not quite here yet.

However, it is encouraging to see local businesses coming together to help give back. This November local clothing brand DVLP, with the help of BC Surf and Sport (which currently has five Colorado retail locations) will be having a clothing run for the homeless people of Denver Colorado. The two local companies are asking that people drop off a bag of clothing at any of the Boulder or Denver BC Surf and Sport locations. They can also drop them off directly at the DVLP Headquarters in downtown Denver. In exchange for donating a bag of clothing, you will receive a special limited edition shirt designed by DVLP Co-founder Rustin Coburn, and 15% off your next purchase from BC Surf and Sport (only applicable for clothing or shoes purchased at the time of drop-off. The 15% is also not combinable with other discounts).

So get out there, and don’t be shy. The clothing will be dropped off at the Denver Rescue Mission
on November 22nd. Between their four locations Denver Rescue can house 1,000 people per night,
and last year they served 770,000 meals. They have specifically requested that the most needed
items are new socks and under garments, but your used pants, hats, shirts, and jackets are also
welcome.

DVLP Clothing is also giving people the opportunity to participate in this meaningful cause even if they do not have the time or extra clothes. The company will be selling the limited edition t-shirt online at  http://www.dvlpclothing.com/, and $5.00 of each shirt purchased will go directly to the Denver

Rescue Mission and helping to get the homeless of Denver off the streets. Go online, to their EXCLUSIVLE SOLD section, and the shirt is titled “A Better Tomorrow”.

CREATE. INSPIRE. EVOLVE.

DETAILS:

Drop of Deadline:
November 20th. 2010

Locations:

DVLP Clothing
360 Walnut st.
Denver, CO. 80205
Phone:: 303.296.3336

BC Surf (Littleton)
303-972-1300
8501 W. BOWLES AVENUE
LITTLETON, CO 80123

BC Surf (Boulder)
303-440-6030
1600 28TH STREET
BOULDER, CO 80301

BC Surf (Broomfield)
720-887-2444
1 WEST FLATIRONS CIRCLE #408
BROOMFIELD, CO 80021

BC Surf (Park Meadows)
303-768-8908
8678 PARK MEADOWS CENTER DR
LONETREE, CO 80124

To Participate Further:
($5.00 of each shirt goes to Denver Rescue Mission)
http://www.dvlpclothing.com/
EXCLUSIVELY SOLD section
Look for the “A Better Tomorrow” t-shirt

Extras:
Denver Rescue Mission has requested new socks and underwear.
Old/used Jackets, hats, shirts, and pants are also welcome

Introducing BelaBlu, a new moderate price offering from LamanBlu

BelaBlu is the newest collection from the LamanBlu™ company. It is a fun collection of everyday basics offered at a moderate price point.

Spring 2011 brings more than just flowers for the LamanBlu™ company, it brings a new offering in BelaBlu. The new lower priced label from LamanBlu™ brings a moderate offering to the LamanBlu™ family. BelaBlu has the same fit and quality as the LamanBlu collection, but is simpler with fewer embellishments and scaled back detailing from their signature line. BelaBlu brings fun and bright mix and match prints in a soft matte jersey capsule collection of dresses and separates.

“We’re excited to bring BelaBlu to our customers,” says Holli Gibson, designer for LamanBlu. “Our goal with this capsule collection is to offer our styling at a more accessible price point so that we really can dress a child for most anything they need in a day – from a playdate at the park to a day out with mom to a special event.”

BelaBlu is offered in infant, toddler and child sizes from 6 months to child size 7. Dresses are $17 and $19 wholesale. Tops are $14 and $15 wholesale and Bottoms are $12 and $13 wholesale. The bright prints are merchandised to mix and match for an eye-catching presentation on the sales floor and include many photographic florals for this Spring/Summer 2011 season, an important trend first presented in the LamanBlu collection. They include photographic rose prints in both lime green and bright pink, a carnation tie dye print in blue as well as a blue/green circle dot, a photo realistic butterfly print and a Pucci inspired electric floral in multiple colors anchored by tangerine. As always from LamanBlu, everything in the collection is machine wash and dry for easy care.

LamanBlu to Participate in “Fashion Passion”, a Benefit for the Women and Children of Pakistan

This November 2nd charity event at Pinehurst Country Club is produced by FGI of Denver and the Women’s Development Association (WDA).


Fashion Group International of Denver (FGI of Denver) is honored to announce Fashion Passion, a Luncheon, Runway Show and Boutique on November 2, 2010, to benefit the Women’s Development Association’s (WDA) education and training program in the ghettoes of Lahore, Pakistan. The magnitude of the impact of educating one indigent woman in her country is best said by Josna Azim of the WDA project in Pakistan, "to educate a man is to educate a person, but to educate a woman is to educate a family, and, ultimately, a nation." WDA’s Aroona Shahrukh, from Lahore, Pakistan, will be our guest speaker and Colorado’s favorite, Molly Hughes, is the Honorary Chair.

Join FGI, WDA, LamanBlu and other local designers in eradicating illiteracy among the poorest of poor and support the WDA Promise: One Woman, One Year, On Hundred Dollars, which is the amount needed to sponsor one person for a year.

Holiday apparel, accessories and jewelry from 15 Colorado designers will be featured on the runway and available for guests shopping pleasure in the Boutique before and after the luncheon. Runway models will be showcasing stunning Holiday Designs created specifically for this event. Pakistani dresses and accessories will be displayed for viewing enjoyment and purchase. Show your Fashion Passion and get a head start on your holiday shopping. A portion of your shopping spree will be given to WDA’s mission!

“We are honored to be participating in this event,” says Holli Gibson, designer for LamanBlu. “We have a passion for supporting women and children everywhere and FGI and WDA are planning such a special day for everyone involved.”

This charity event is open to the public and will begin at 11:00 AM at the beautiful Pinehurst Country Club. Tickets include the Luncheon, Runway Show and Fashion Boutique. Prices are $40 per person, or $75 for VIP Runway Seating. Advanced registration is required through www.BlackTie-Colorado.com , keyword:fgiwda. A portion of the ticket is tax-deductible. In addition, donation envelopes will be available at the tables to support the WDA Promise. Can’t attend but want to contribute? Blacktie-Colorado.com has a link just for you! Thank you from the grateful women and children of Lahore.

WDA is a non-governmental 501c3 organization based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The mission of WDA is to help educate, train and support women and children in third world nations through literacy, basic mathematics and health education, vocational training and economic development opportunities. WDA began working in Pakistan in 2000 and has educated over 3,000 women and children to date. This program is on-going and produces marked improvement in approximately 400 women and 150 children per year.

FGI of Denver, winner of the coveted Special Event Award for RISING STAR2009 FASHION BY DESIGN Runway Gala, in which LamanBlu won the Rising Star Award,  is the premiere authority on Fashion in Colorado. The FGI members who will be featured on the Runway are:

Holli Gibson / LamanBlu, Brooks, Ltd,  Maggie Burns,  Eulanda Sanders,  Andrea Li, Carol Engel-Enright, Melissa May,  Natalee Moldenhauer, Samantha Larkins, Gino Velardi, Rustin Coburn / DVLP,  Susan Ware, Stephanie Ohnmacht, Lisa Ramfjord Elstun and Wendy Weil.

Additional members on display in the boutique are Enuma Duhu and Gabriela Martinez.

Wow - What a great day for fashion, building connections and helping others!

For any of you industry folks who missed the FACE event at the Denver Art Museum yesterday, you missed a lot!  Carol Engel-Enright was responsible for putting on the most wonderful event for Fashion Group of Denver.  The audience consisted of fashion students, professionals and those inspired to be designers with no formal training.  The day consisted of expert panel discussions on various aspects of the fashion business from samples to production to marketing.  There was also a keynote speech by Lady Soule, who designs the Frock line of dresses for Tracy Reese and a talk on social media by Sean Carasso from Falling Whistles.  The day ended with a juried fashion show by both local students and professionals.

The judging for the show took place last Wednesday, and I was honored to be a judge.  The submissions from both the students and professionals were great and Cynthia Petrus produced an amazing show with all the garments inspired by "FACE" and in the color story of red, black and white.

I can't say enough good things about Lady Soule, who brought some of her Fall 2010 Frock collection to present to the crowd and held a live interview led by Suzanne Brown of The Denver Post.  Lady talked about her inspiration, her design process and her work with Tracy Reese as well as answered questions from the audience.  She was a delight and stayed long after the event to talk with guests.  I was fortunate enough to be one of those who got to spend time with her after the event and am happy to now call her a friend.

Another inspiring talk was by Sean Carasso from Falling Whistles.  You have to check out the story - http://www.fallingwhistles.com/splash/index.php  Sean has to be one of the nicest guys and most inspiring speakers I've heard.  His cause is compelling and heartwrenching - but uplifiting as well, because you can so easily get involved and particiapte for change, for the children of Congo. 

Perhaps the most unique thing about the day was both seasoned veterans and novices in the industry coming together, to learn from each other, to help each other, to connect with each other.  This is a truly unique setting in the fashion industry - it's a great story of community - of coming together to better the industry as a whole - to raise up a new generation of fashion experts - to build the business of fashion in Colorado.  If the first FACE event was any indication of what's to come in this town - we'll be one to watch for sure!

FACE to expand fashion industry in Colorado

FACE to expand fashion industry in Colorado

Fashion Group International’s FACE (Fashion and Creative Enterprises) Business Symposium provides Colorado designers, entrepreneurs, product developers, and artists in apparel, accessories and creative products an opportunity to connect and grow businesses locally.

(DENVER, Co.)- For one-day fashion, design and style will be combined to showcase creative talent and business opportunity throughout Colorado. In the world of fashion, there are numerous designers and aspiring artists that need a kick-start to get recognition for their designs. As part of the Denver based Fashion Group International, FACE (Fashion And Creative Enterprises) Business Symposium connects Colorado businesses and local talent. Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with over 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home.

FACE provides a format for creative businesses to share resources, ideas, and networks to expand entrepreneurial opportunities in Colorado. Fashion Group International of Denver presents this premier event to offer valuable and innovative business insight into emerging trends in product development, merchandising, and marketing. Panels of fashion industry experts from Colorado will discuss sample development, materials and supplies, local manufacturing, marketing, media, and retail.

The keynote speaker for FACE is Lady Soule, head designer of Frock by Tracy Reese from New York City. Lady studied fashion design at Colorado State University and Fashion Institute of Technology. She has designed for Tracy Reese for the last 8 years and has been instrumental in helping the business grow to a $13 million leading fashion company.

Speaking on the power of social media and networking is Sean Carasso, founder of Falling Whistles. Sean was a grassroots organizer against violence in his youth. He then traveled the world as a personal assistant experiencing the life of luxury. Determined to connect luxury with helping others, Sean traveled to South Africa with TOMS Shoes. While in the Congo, he wrote Falling Whistles and developed a marketing campaign recently featured at the PROJECT Trade Show in Las Vegas.

A juried design competition will provide an exciting finale to the day with a professional runway show. The “Create It with Altitude” design competition will feature designs inspired by red, black and white colors and FACE. This competition is open for day or street wear, evening or special event, jewelry or clothing accessories, or creative product in professional and student categories.

FACE will be held on October 9, 2010 at the Denver Art Museum from 10A.M. to 4P.M. Register for this event

at www.blacktie-colorado.com, event code: FGIface. Costs for the event, including lunch and finale runway fashion show, is $60 for guests, $40 for F.G.I. members, and $30 for students. Fashion Group International of Denver hopes to expand fashion and creative enterprises and grow business locally in Colorado.

For Event or Design Competition Information Contact:

Carol Enright, FACE Chair, 303-517-2583, carol.engel-enright@colostate.edu

LamanBlu Releases the Runway Video for its Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

Finding inspiration in a world of flowers… LamanBlu releases its Spring/Summer 2011 Runway Show Video, inspired by the joy of summer and the flowers of spring.

Graphic 3D floral prints and bright colors are the trademark look for the SS2011 collection which consisted of twirly spring dresses and smart separates.

Exhibiting a fun and elegant collection, Gibson’s attention to details caught the eye of the audience, which included buyers, parents and other high profile guests.

Holli Gibson first created the LamanBlu label in 2008. Her original premise was to create eco-friendly classically beautiful clothing for little girls. She has stayed true to the vision creating beautiful, wearable dresses and sportswear inspired by nature and leading trends in both the children’s and women’s industry.

Gibson feels that children should be dressed beautifully, no matter what their activity and that dressing beautifully shouldn’t hamper their play and exploration of their world. Such is the reason a significant part of the collection is in lycra infused knits. “Because every little girl is really a princess inside,” says Gibson, “and princesses climb trees and run fast and hang upside down on the jungle gym!”

A versatile designer, Gibson likes to experiment with color and is her flair for it never more evident than in this collection. She incorporates a coordinated range of custom prints and color combinations and plays with pretty, girly silhouettes. Dresses all have great twirl quality. Layering dresses, skirts, twirly skorts and hip length tops with leggings and flowy capris allow for plenty of playability and occasion options.

LamanBlu continues its offering of designer quality bamboo knits and has added a new designer weight cotton/lycra knit to its collection as a sharper price point option. Sizes are 6mos – 6x. As always, the LamanBlu collection is easy care for the busy family, with the entire line being machine wash and dry, and ironing is optional. Gibson’s extensive merchandising experience is evident in the collection as buyers have options of selecting the color stories to fit their customer base, from vibrant punchy contrasting colors to more delicate classic color stories all anchored in the color of the season, a bright white.

To view the video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUc3MpOEa7c
To schedule an appointment to view the collection, contact LamanBlu at 720-837-1452 or info@lamanblu.com

Tom Ford Disses Fashion World's Cult of Immediacy - Fashion and Design News and Trends - WWD.com

Tom Ford Disses Fashion World's Cult of Immediacy - Fashion and Design News and Trends - WWD.com

I happen to love Tom Ford - very chic, very beautiful clothing - no matter what category he's designing in. I also love that he can be a little schizophrenic - he goes from women's clothing - to film - to men's clothing - back to women's (not to mention other creative stops in between). And I also find it funny (though not surprising) that this is the "story of the week" - the fact that he so highly controlled his recent launch and everyone is in a twitter about it. I applaud him for his boldness and presenting things the way he wants. He's in a position in his life where he doesn't have to bow down to the "standard" approach of the fashion elite and kudos to him for it. He's having fun with it - and isn't that what fashion should be at its core anyways - fun?

LamanBlu in the News

Wow, what a busy month we've had! And we've been all over the news.....Fashion Fest garnered no fewer than five writeups in varying local publications (we have links to them on our website, www.LamanBlu.com/Press.htm ). Thanks to the Denver Examiner, Your Hub, the Arvada Examiner, Fibre2Fashion and The Villager for their coverage of the event and our show!

We also were in both Earnshaw's Hudson's Childrenswear Review Magazines, the two most respected magazines in the industry. (You can also find links to those on our site.)

Already just 10 days into September, we've been blogged about in "She Got Style" and "Tiny Green Mom" with more coming from "She Knows" and "Lady & the Blog"! (Check back with our site, we will have links posted to those soon.)

Whew! We're genuinely thrilled with all the buzz and very excited about things to come.

We're also working on updating our facebook page - become a fan and tell us what kinds of information you'd like to see! (www.facebook.com/pages/LamanBlu-eco-conscious-designer-clothing-for-children/14765076577 )



Oh, and on another note - did you watch the next to last episode of top chef? - Padma's violetto and chartreuse tie dye dress is a killer match for a mom/daughter look with our violetto and chartreuse tie dye little girls dress! Gotta Have It!

LamanBlu Spring 2011 Runway Show

What Should be in your Closet for Fall?

I guess it's that time of year. The kids are finally heading back to school and everyone wants to know what are the must have items for their wardrobe. We do a lot of trend forecasting (and trend watching) here at the studio. It's a holdover from my days working with many of the major retailers. We released our Fall/Holiday 2010 Trend report about 9 months ago to our retail customers. As we've watched the trends develop on the major runways of the world, we've been gratified that we got it right - picked the right trends to pursue and add our own LamanBlu twist to. Since we've been getting so many requests lately from various consumer magazines and blogs to contribute our trend reports, we've decided to do just that and republish our original trend report for the season. Enjoy! Holli

Fall 2011 Trend Report #2

Trend 2. Cloud Atlas
The end of summer is signalled with a change in weather. Autumn showers, migrating birds, umbrellas, raindrops and clouds all work as print icons in this playful graphic trend.

The First Video Clip from Fashion Fest!

Fall 2011 Trend Report #1

Trend 1. Correspondant
Travel and the art of correspondance inspire this trend as we see a return to creative activities and hand-rendered imagery. Stamps, scribbles, doodles, collage and travel jourals bring the joy of a traditional craft to a digitally literate generation.

Earnshaws Style Incubator Showcase

LamanBlu Offers its Fall/Holiday and Cruise/Resort Collections Direct to the Public in Conjunction with Fashion Fest

We're doing something we've never done before! We're selling direct to the public. We normally only sell to retail boutiques, and we will return to that very soon. But we are celebrating Fashion Fest 2010, the biggest fashion event in Denver, and we will be accepting direct orders at that event. So we wanted to open it up beyond that event and offer it to all our other fans out there as well!

We will be accepting orders on current stock merchandise, as well as made to order from our current production line for one week only. Orders will be accepted from Friday, July 30th through Friday, August 6th. Stock merchandise will ship within 2 weeks, made to order will ship in approximately 6 weeks. Flip through the catalogs below, select what you want at the special Fashion Fest price and email us at info@lamanblu.com. Ordering sizes are 2T-6x. If you have any questions about the garments or how to order, just email or call at 720-837-1452. We will invoice you via PayPal and when payment is received, we will put your order into work.

{Sorry time to order has expired and we've removed the catalogs - if you're seeking merchandise, contact us and we will direct you to your nearest LamanBlu retailer}

Thanks for a great Fashion Fest rehearsal!

We had our final fittings and rehearsal for Fashion Fest 2010 on Monday evening. All of our beautiful models got to try on their outfits for the show and we practiced our walking, twirling and just a touch of actual choreography.

It was a toasty day and the girls were so patient trying on some fall/holiday items in the heat for the show. We even have a new model who followed our tweet to the rehearsal and we are so excited to have her participate!

Our thanks goes out to our models, their parents and the Fashion Fest organizers for all of their help and hard work. We're looking forward to a great show!

This event is free to the public, or you can purchase VIP tickets and will be Saturday, July 31st from 4:00 to 9:00 in Olde Town Arvada. LamanBlu's Fashion Show will be at 7:00pm. For more information - http://denver.metromix.com/events/fair_festival/fashion-fest-2010-arvada/1900213/content

Fashion Fest 2010 is Almost Here!

As we're getting the final touches on our show for Fashion Fest (coming up in a week and a half), we wanted to share some of the photos from our model casting call.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51075247@N08/

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1486039321129&ref=mf

We're putting together an exciting show - we're going to share our Fall/Holiday 2010 collection, which is arriving in stores now. We're also going to give a sneak peak of our Spring/Summer 2011 collection - which retailers are buying now and consumers will see in stores come next spring.

Fashion Fest is the buzz of the town, with the local newspapers talking us up as well as 303 Magazine and Westword. Stay tuned for more, or contact us for information on how to attend. info@lamanblu.com

Spring 2011 Preview Showings

AND WE'RE OFF!

It's been a fast a furious couple of weeks on the road previewing our Spring/Summer 2011 Collection with retailers and we're so excited we just had to share it with you.

Let's face it, spring and summer are all about picnics, gardens, afternoons by the lake (or river or seaside) and all about fun! It's the spirit of what we're bringing in our collection to honor the season and it's certainly generating a buzz.

Early out of the gate favorites are our sumer dresses in colors ranging from Bright White to Gossamer Pink to Violetto to Bright Chartreuse. Our custom florals ranging from roses to orchids to crayon stripes are being fabulously received and are renewing our determination to have our own atelier garden next year - we are just arguing about how much should be devoted to flowers and how much to veggies!

Our new infant sets are creating a buzz paired with toddler and/or little girl outfits for sister looks in a variety of styles.

Our bamboo knits, always a best seller - BTW - did you know that bamboo absorbs water 3 to 4 times better than cotton, making it cooler in the summer? It is also naturally antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic. What more could you want in a summer cloth? Our bamboo knits continue to be the core hit of the season, but we've also introduced extremely high quality cotton/lycra knits to provide sharper price points. Cotton has gotten a bad rap over the years as not being very environmentally friendly. However in recent years, cotton growers have reduced their use of pesticides by 50% and cut back on irrigated water by 45%, all while producing substantially higher yields on the same acreage. We've locked down a supply you will find very attractive (not just in price point but also in hand). And it's proving to be a good choice for all the research and testing time we've spent to develop the supply!

The Jasmine pant has also created a stir paired with all types of tanks as well as modest hip length swing t's.

The photo shoots are complete and we're working on the lookbook now. We will share it when it's complete but we were so excited by both the collection and the prelim responses from the road that we couldn't wait!

LamanBlu Reveals Spring/Summer 2011 Trends

LamanBlu reveals its Spring/Summer 2011 trend presentation to the public. LamanBlu melds the grace and beauty of both women’s and children’s trend forecasting in its spring/summer 2011 line, which for this season, is all about a floral still life.

Golden, Colorado – July 7, 2010 - Pantone expresses the importance of family fun and outdoor play for the upcoming summer. This is directly reflected in to the anticipated trends for LamanBlu. Fun wear for children that is practical enough to wear to the park or enjoy a day in the sun, yet stylish enough to wear for an evening out. Enjoying life and its small pleasures are what summer is all about and none of this is lost in the vision of LamanBlu’s spring/summer collection.

Bright saturated colors, floral motifs, balance and symmetry are all prevalent themes for the upcoming spring/summer season and LamanBlu has created beautiful inspirations for the spring/summer 2011 line with these elements in mind. Handcrafted orchid prints, blazing violet and vibrant pink solids as well as artfully produced ombre tye dyes mark the beginning of the spring/summer ensembles for young girls.

As always from LamanBlu, the line will present bold and classic designs with the complex detailing put into every piece. Small roses and delicate ribbon will adorn the garments to emphasize the beauty created by Mother Nature and as a compliment to the innocence of childhood. Custom floral prints and oversized botanical flower screen prints enhance the feel of the season.

To see the Trend Book, visit www.LamanBlu.com/Press.htm and scroll down to the “Publications” section.

What a Great Casting Call!

We had such a great time yesterday at the LamanBlu casting call for Fashion Fest 2010. dNote proved to be such a great place to hold our event and the Baby Boogie started toward the end of our model tryouts so many of the kids stayed and played instruments and danced on the stage! (dNote also serves some of the best pizza I've had in a long time!)

Downtown Toys & Games graciously provided coloring and other activities for the kids so there was plenty to do during the entire event.

I'd like to thank our models and their parents most of all. All of the girls were so beautiful and we had so much fun trying on clothes and learning how to walk on stage (and of course, doing lots and lots of twirling). Some of the girls had previous modeling experience, for some, this was their first time doing anything like this. The pros took the newbies under their wing and showed them what to do. And since we had so many ages, the older girls spent time helping the little ones and making sure they were safe up on the stage. It was very heartwarming to see kids helping kids.

We even had a few local stars of the stage turn out - here's a clip from one of these talented girls:

Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Fashion Fest!

Fashion Fest 2010 Casting Call

We're having a Kids Casting Call for Fashion Fest 2010 this upcoming weekend, June 27th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm at DNote in Olde Town Arvada, CO. We are inviting little girls ages 2-7 (sizes 2T-6x) to come for fun! We will be trying on clothing for the upcoming Fashion Fest Runway show and practicing our runway walking.

DNote is located at 7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada, CO 80010 (http://www.dnote.us/). We will be having our casting call during their "Baby Boogie" where kids come to enjoy music, both by listening to it, playing with it and danceing to it (and modeling to it in this case). Come make some new friends and see old ones.

The fashion show will be during Fashion Fest 2010, July 31st, 2010. It is a family event with shopping, food and entertainment during the afternoon, culminating in a Runway Fashion Show in the evening. The day starts 4:00pm on the square in Olde Town Arvada.

Downtown Toys and Games (www.downtowntoysandgames.com) is sponsoring our casting call and there will be giveaways as part of the event!

Come and bring your friends for a fun filled day of music, toys and of course, fashion!

LamanBlu Launches Cruise/Resort – Just in time for a Beach Vacation!

LamanBlu has just released its first collection for the cruise/resort season. The collection is entitled “Beachcomber” and is an inspired find for a beach holiday to wash away the winter blues.

“Seaside family holidays provide inspiration for this nautical story, as old, over-exposed photographs remind us of happier care-free times. Recycled nautical elements add authenticity…Natural fabrics with slubby irregularities such as linen and linen blends are important and add a lived-in feel.” (Trend Bible Kids)

Varying colors of blue and white, along with a custom watercolor seahorse print form the basis of LamanBlu’s first Cruise/Resort collection. “I love family holidays at the shore and am always inspired by the sense of wonder they promote, my kids and my own. The beach and the ocean are full of awe-inspiring wonder.” Says Holli Gibson, designer for LamanBlu.

White and pink sand, Caribbean waters so blue they make your soul ache to explore beneath them. And the eternal hunt for seahorses, those elusive gentle creatures hidden in the reef that hold you spellbound. What better beachwear than washed linen in Dutch and sun faded colors. “We’re using inspired finds from the beach, including natural shell buttons and rope trim.”, says Gibson. The colors are translucent and a reminder of being castaway on a desert island. Fabrics are crinkled and cool to the touch. The garments have a feeling of linear aesthetics to strike the right balance. Details and finishings are perfect reminders of a demure and prim gentility. Harking back to Victorian vintage, with haute couture precision and radiant elegance. Nothing is left to chance, nothing is vague, everything is pretty, harmonious and graceful. A revival of the finest which is enchanting and precious.

Why linen for kids? The finest 100% linen is one of the purest cloths there is. It is light and comfortable, and has a coolness and absorbency that make it ideal for sunny days. It is an ideal fabric for children's sensitive skins and especially good for those with skin conditions, such as allergies and eczema, because it has a natural pH balance. Linen is very environmentally friendly. It comes from flax and every part of the plant is used. The finest fibers are used to make linen fabrics and the by-products are used to make everything from oil to cattle feed to bank notes and fiber board. Waste is minimal and any chemicals used are always fully treated before disposal. And as always, fabrics in the LamanBlu line are machine washable and dryable, and ironing is optional, including linen.

LamanBlu Spring/Summer 2011 Preview

Spring / Summer 2011 Preview

We thought you'd like to see some preview shots from the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection. Don't the girls look fresh and lovely?! They're proving out our mantra - for a child, every day is an occasion.

Spring 2011 Sneak Peek

We did our first photo shoot yesterday for Spring/Summer 2011. We found a beautiful park and the girls ran an played and had a tea party and chased butterflies and blew bubbles. They were wonderful and we all had such a good time!

Flowers and flowing hair ruled the day. Little girls all have such natural beauty and they sure showed it off. Beautifully dressed and playing, running, with a giant game of ring-around-the-rosie thrown in. Shoes and hair barettes were graciously provided by Bear Feet, based in Texas.

FGI Denver Captures Major Award at International New York Conference - LamanBlu is the Rising Star

SHINING STAR IN THE FASHION UNIVERSE

Susanne Taylor, FGI District 4 Director and winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Scottie Taylor Iverson, FGI of Denver Regional Director and chair of RISING STAR; Nathalia Fairbault, FGI of Denver program chair and NY conference attendee; Jan Top, FGI of Denver program chair and NY conference attendee; Carol Engel-Enright, business development chair, Career Day chair and NY conference attendee with Margaret Hayes, president of Fashion Group International, NY headquarters

Fashion Group International of Denver won the coveted Special Event Award for RISING STAR 2009, Fashion By Design Runway Gala at the recent international conference in New York. The awards banquet was held at the famed Cosmopolitan Club and was a particularly sweet culmination for the Denver contingent after the first full day of meetings and presentations held at Conde Naste. This was a wonderful surprise to be shared with a large, talented and passionate committee,” said Iverson. “ I am so proud of the individuals I chose. We all poured our hearts into RISING STAR and it showed! Since the judges weren’t at the event, the package compiled for competition had to be comprehensive as though they had attended.

My background in marketing and winning some national advertising awards helped with the daunting task. It’s all about relationships and we were told that one of the factors that put us on top was the number of sponsors and partners we garnered for the fundraiser for which we are so grateful. Denver is often overlooked in the world of fashion. We have proven that we have lifestyle and style.”

About RISING STAR: Signature event of Fashion Group International of Denver held every other year to salute new and emerging designers throughout Colorado in order to raise funds for fashion scholarships and educational outreach programs,

Venue: The exquisite showroom at Mercedes-Benz of Westminster with a 55’ runway in the west wing

Components: Kickoff party with 150 attendees and a wait list; red carpet entry, Starlight Lounge with live entertainment and special cuisine for sponsors, VIPs, category winners and media; silent auction; Academy Awards -style presentation of trophies on stage for category winners whose designs would be on the runway and sponsor gifts; fashion show with professional models, awarding of The Rising Star of the Year to Holli Gibson, LamanBlu, children’s clothing

Re-branding: naming the event, logo for the event, consistent use of images including an illustration of the last Rising Star’s evening gown (Gino Velardi – designer) by artist Jim Howard and three models in a Mercedes-Benz of Westminster convertible reaching for the stars

Innovations (all about stars): Save The Date cards attached to “star” shaped chocolate brownie lollipops, special fashion show at Outlets of Colorado Shopping Extravaganza highlighting fashions from category winners; professionally designed invitations, ads, souvenir program and collateral materials; awarding the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award to “Star Legend” David Jacobs, founder of Spyder Active Sports based in Boulder and including Spyder fashions on the runway; signature drink – “sparkling star” created by Occasions By Sandy; proclamations from two mayors; Saks Fifth Avenue display window on the valet circle at Cherry Creek Shopping Center; Star Spangled Banner sung by Nancy Fitzgerald to open the show; multi media presentation throughout created by Tommy Collier; progressive food stations and runway seating rather than tables; stage a presentation of a $2,500 scholarship to CSU by Kenneth King Foundation

Judging: Project Runway meets Academy Awards - Two layers of competition patterned after the New York format with a distinguished panel completing the final judging. Top three companies (BornFit, DVLP Clothing and LamanBlu) on stage for announcing of the winner for 2009. The 11 category winners were selected by criteria to evaluate their portfolios of current and past designs in addition to publicity and industry experience. Before a panel of distinguished judges, those winners continued with interviews and samples of product. Samples were assessed with regard to fashion trends, cohesive collections, construction and marketability. Further assessments were scored as to marketing strategies, distribution channels and business viability. Some companies already enjoy international distribution. Judges were charged with finding the designer who would have a nationally recognized brand within five years.

Of Interest: One of the most well known designers chosen as New York’s Rising Star in recent years is Tory Burch.

Category Winners: Women’s Sportswear -Julie Hill and Lisa Welch of BornFit, Women’s Dress – Stephanie Ohnmacht of Smooch, Art Wearables – Susan Kiely of Women With A Cause, Custom Design – Maureen deHaan of Denver Couture, Active Wear/ Outdoor Wear – Phoebe Stapleton of Sierra Designs, Urban/Street Wear – Rustin Coburn and Noah Price of DVLP Clothing, Children’s Wear – Holli Gibson of LamanBlu, Accessories- Eulanda Saunders of Yo-San Studio, Jewelry – Andrea Li of Andrea Li Designs, Retail – Mona Lucero of Mona Lucero and Interior Design – Jeanne Connolly of Vintage Renewal

Committee (All Star Cast): Jan Top, Debra Pain, Peggy Ziglin, Gino Velardi, Cynthia Petrus, Carol Engel-Enright Lisa Elstun, Nathalia Faribault, Evelyn Stephens, Jim Howard, Susan Ware, Stephen Replin, Vicky Nolan, Lenora Chavez, Lauren Vitalie, Cindy Mackin, Patty Spivack, Melissa Oster, Lisa Wax, Donna Kelly, Keri Christiansen, Janet Wagner and Jo Frank

Sponsors: Platinum Star – Mercedes-Benz of Westminster

Gold Star – Outlets of Colorado

Partners: Occasions By Sandy, Newberry Bothers Greenhouse & Florist, Saks Fifth Avenue, Moet & Chandon, Applejack Wine & Spirits, Beverage Distributors Pinnacle Division, The Villager Newspaper, Donna Kelly Beauty, Posh Salon, Balistreri Winery, Breckenridge Brewery, Starbucks, oogave, Chocolate Discoveries, Tommy Collier, Live Entertainment by David Christie

Caterer/Sponsor/ Partner: Occasions By Sandy

Graphic Designer: Stu Wyatt Productions

Printers: MIDO, Print Pointe

Support by: Blacktie-Colorado.com, The Denver Post-Suzanne Brown, The Villager Newspaper, Denver a la Mode, Mile High Sports Radio – Live with Lisa, Denver Magazine, Denver Woman Magazine, 9News- Colorado & Company, 303 Magazine, Denver Daily News, KKHI Radio, FGI Student Chapter at CSU

“The Fashion Group International of Denver’s Rising Star Awards bi-annual fashion gala is a phenomenal arena in which to compete for our city’s emerging design talent! It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase their businesses, share their vision and to contribute to the creative essence of Denver and Colorado. It was my sincere pleasure to be part of the steering committee for RISING STAR 2009.” --Cynthia Petrus

Saks Fifth Avenue, PR/Fashion Director; RISING STAR Show Producer; former Regional Director FGI Denver and FGI Cleveland

Fashion Group International is a global nonprofit organization with 5,000 members sharing worldwide expertise – professionals who move the fashion industries…apparel, accessories, beauty and the home. The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help the members become more effective in their professional lives. Districts include: Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Kansas City, North Florida, St. Louis, South Florida (includes Miami), Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Columbia, Toronto, London, Paris, Mexico City, Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul and of course – New York. Denver is in District 4 Southwest that also includes Arizona, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

Read Our Latest Interview

I was excited to be contacted by Madison Buyer for an interview, and they've posted it on their website. We've reprinted it here, but check out the Madison Buyer website - it' s a great new source for buyers and designers to connect! http://www.madisonbuyer.com/

Madison Buyer (MB): What inspired you to jump into fashion?
Holli Gibson (HG): I've been interested in fashion as long as I can remember. My mother was a very fashionable lady - I still have one of her Balenciaga suits from the 40's that truly amazing! I graduated from college with a bachelor of science in apparel design and I have been working as a designer in the industry since then, in 1990.

MB: What makes LamanBlu different than other collections?

HG: LamanBlu is classically beautiful designer clothing with a modern edge. It is styled for the parent and child who want something uniquely beautiful, fashionable and comfortable. The LamanBlu customer embraces the American lifestyle of easy-to-care, easy-to-wear clothing while having the European sensibility for the finer things in life and attention to detail. Only the highest quality of fabrics are chosen for the line, with the Eco-impact those choices have. The LamanBlu collection gives customers the ability to pick and choose the pieces that will enhance their own unique look. Sizing runs 2T-6x and select styles are also available in mother/daughter looks.

LamanBlu is domestically produced and has no minimums to buy. The line is designed to give enven small boutiques the opportunity to customize the collection for their store, there are many choices in terms of colors and trims, and prints and the way to combine them in the garments - this is a unique opportunity for the small specialty store buyer to become involved in custom merchandising the line for their customers.

MB: As a designer, what are your most difficult challenges?

HG: As a designer, editing is my most difficult challenge. There are so many great ideas and so many inspirations, so many directions to go in. I've been fortunate and had the opporutnity to work with many very experienced buyers and merchandisers over the years so I have learned how to edit and merchandise a line properly, but that's always my biggest challenge.

MB: Who is your primary target audience?

HG: My primary target audience is the specialty boutique store - both in the US and abroad.

MB: What's in store for LamanBlu customers in the near future?
HG: We've just hired a sales rep firm in Canada, so we will be available internationally, we're also starting to see some interest in Australia. We're introducing our first venture into the cruise/resort season and that collection will be available to retailers very soon. And starting with the Spring 2011 collection, we are introducing infant sizing.