So, you think you want to work in the fashion industry.....

I get to have lots of interaction with young (and sometimes not so young) folks who want to get into the fashion industry.  My work with the Denver Design Incuabator (www.denverdesignincubator.com) and Emily Griffith Technical College (www.emilygriffith.edu) in the Fashion Design program provide me lots of opportunity to work with people just starting out in this industry.  It's always fun to work with people with fresh ideas, lots of ambition, their excitement of a new adventure.  I've been in this business more than 20 years now and frankly, it's easy to get jaded.  Working with these up and coming designers, patternmakers, creatives helps me to stay refreshed and allows me to give of what I have learned over the past couple decades.

Want some tips?

Work Hard!  You may be talented, but unless you put that talent to hard work, it isn't enough.  This is a tough business.  Be prepared to work 12 hour days (often).

Work Smart!  Don't think you have to re-invent the wheel necessarily, but do know why things work the way they do in the fashion industry and be prepared to make waves - but always be smart about WHY you are going to do something outside the norm.  (Rules are made to be broken in this business - you just better know why you are breaking them.)

Be a Student - ALWAYS!  There is way to much in this business for anyone to know everything.  Always be learning and improving your skills.

Let it roll off your back!  This is a tough business (I said that already, didn't I?)  It's hard for creative people to hear their work criticized.  It's also critical!  This is how you will grow as a designer.

Some good articles:
http://www.buffalonews.com/business/buffalo-state-students-hear-tips-on-finding-a-job-in-fashion-industry-20131120

http://www.topuniversities.com/blog/careers-fashion-industry-how-get-started

Just remember - this is a fun business, but it is a business - which means people vying for real money, growing corporations, etc.  It's not just about the clothes - it's about the bottom line.  Be prepared to outwork everyone else, pay attention to detail, pay attention to the quality of your work, pay attention to the bottom line ($$$).  (Oh yea, and have fun!)

Cheers,
Holli

It's a work day at the Denver Design Incubator

Tuesday - one of my favorite days of the week.  I get to volunteer and staff DDI on Tuesdays.  I just adore being around all the up and coming designers in Denver.  Such creativity, such energy, such talent!  I always leave Tuesdays in good spirits.

If you haven't heard about the Denver Design Incubator - you should check it out!  www.DenverDesignIncubator.com 

The Denver Design Incubator (DDI) is dedicated to providing resources, education and professional development to the local fashion community that will enhance and support a thriving, profitable and sustainable fashion industry.
The best part of DDI is our collaborative community — this is a space where we share knowledge, lend a hand, and give feedback. Some are just starting out; others are established movers-and-shakers — and that’s what makes our community unique.

Pantone's Spring 2014 Fashion Report

January is here, cold but bright - are you ready to start thinking about spring fashions?

We work on a very future schedule in the fashion industry.  I actually wrote "2015" on a check this week!

Spring 2014 is looking forward for most of the public, but it's a look backwards for us.  Pantone puts out a great consumer report to reflect the most important colors of the season, and shows how some of the major designers are using them in their collections.  Want to take a look?

Pantone Spring 2014 Fashion Report

LamanBlu spring items will be up for sale on our website soon.  You can already pre-order some of our Hang Ten Gold collection, including sportswear and swimwear.  www.LamanBlu.com

Happy Spring, Happy Shopping! (oh, BTW - gift to you - use coupon code HTGS14 when you check out to get 35% off between now and the end of February)

Life at 9,000 Feet - Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  I am so glad it is finally 2014 - the past year and a half have been tough for me personally.  With my mother's very unexpected passing in the fall of 2013, nothing has seemed right to me for a long time.  I don't really think I miss her any less, but I guess I've sort of made an intellectual decision to purposefully move forward.  I sort of feel like I've been living in a reactionary state, and I'm just done with that.

I think it helps that it's finally snowing!  The past two years haven't brought much snow to our life at 9,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains.  I sort of feel like if it's not going to snow - what's the point of living here?  Even with the cold, the snow brings a freshness and a real sense of newness to our new year.

So, in the spirit of Happy New Year, and life at 9,000 feet - here's a new year's wish for you - may your view be unobstructed, your life filled with love, and may you and your family have a healthy and happy 2014!

Merry Christmas?

I'm going to have to get on my soap box about this.....

My kids can no longer celebrate Christmas at school.  It's ok for them to talk about Santa, or have a Holiday Party, or acknowledge Kwanzaa or Hanukkah, but it's not ok to talk about Christmas or the birth of Christ.

Does anyone else have an issue with this!!!???

I certainly do not want to be offensive about my religion.  And I want people who celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or some other holiday to be able to be recognized and talk about their belief.  I'm not even saying that it's bad to call the parties Holiday Party rather than something else in the spirit of being inclusive.  But when my 2nd grader is told that "We don't talk about Christmas or Jesus - we might offend someone." Things have gone WAY TOO FAR!

Since when are we so "politically correct" that we can't mention the name Jesus.  After all, he is the reason for Christmas.  When you take Christ out of Christmas - you just have Mas.  Are you offended because someone says Merry Christmas to you?  I wouldn't be offended if someone wished my Happy Ramadan.  I would just with them Happy Ramadan back, believing that they were being cheerful in the spirit of their religion.

Well my friends, at the risk of being offensive.....

Pantone 2014 Color of the Year

The announcement is in......and the winner is....ORCHID!

Love it, love it!  We love purple of all colors (and so do our little girl customers).  Our 2014 Spring season is long past (for us, at least.  It will start shipping to stores in January).  Want to see what we did with the color orchid?

Yummy!

Coal Creek Canyon Flood - Life at 9,000 Feet

It's been a really crazy couple of months.  The flood was so unexpected, except by the wise folks who lived through the last one in the 60's.  We live at 9,000 feet - why should we be worried about a flood?  The "robo call" came in the middle of the night - "Flash Flood, move to higher grounds"  We're on top - where do we go?  A slightly panicked middle of the night survey revealed rain like I haven't seen since living in Texas, several places that required large buckets from our leaking roof (our little log cabin isn't really made for heavy rain - snow, yes - rain, no).  Water was streaming down the driveway and the road to the horse paddock like rivers, but everything else seemed to be ok.

Morning light brought an intense watching of the news, checking on neighbors, more rain and the realization that we were trapped on the top of our mountain - the road in and out of the canyon was impassable.  As more news poured in, we weren't the only folks trapped - and some were in much worse shape than we were.  As the news focus turned to Estes Park, Boulder and Lyons, our hearts ached for them and wondered what was going on in Coal Creek - we were no longer in the news reports, but we were still trapped - the gas station washed away, no gas so no heat or hot water.  I never thought we would rely so heavily on FaceBook, our community page was the only good way to get news and information - what roads were caving in - routes (constantly changing) to get in or out of the canyon.

We live in a really great community.  So many people were trapped, many had to be rescued.  The commute to town went from 20 minutes to an hour and a half.  Making a supply run?  Let everyone know so they can bring back necessities.  Whispering Pines Church became a free and open pantry supply to anyone in need.  Someone with a backhoe diverted the stream so it no longer went through Mike's liquor store so he could re-open - you just had to wade through the stream (which is now running down the highway) and climb over the sandbags to get in.  No gas, so folks brought back gas cans full from town so we could get empty tanks filled up again.  Everyone drug out their camping gear for hot meals, and those with propane shared their still hot water for showers while many folks just embraced the briskness of a very cold one.

It's been 2 months now.  They just got the road reopened.  I made my first drive down yesterday.  It struck me that with access to town and my office again, my life is largely returning to normal at 9,000 feet.  Not so for my dear friends and neighbors living down the canyon at lower elevations.  Houses that once had a modest bridge or culvert to cross to get from the highway to their homes now have a giant chasm standing in their way.  My dear friend John's garage is undermined.  Other's homes are undermined.  It doesn't look like the canyon I've driven through for the past 10 years anymore.  I have to admit to shedding a few tears.  But mountain folks are tough and resilient.  They will persevere, and we will help them.

My thoughts and prayers are with you my friends and neighbors.  I'd ask that you add them to your prayers as well.  If the spirit moves you - you can do more through volunteering or financial support via Canyon Cares www.canyoncares.org 

Photos from the flood:  https://www.google.com/search?q=coal+creek+canyon+flood+pictures&espv=210&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=w5GDUtn2HdLOyAH62YHwCQ&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=1241&bih=584