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.