Following up on a wonderful event with Jolie Etoile Poirier at Cafe Campagne we are proud to bring you the second in our series of Emerald City Fashion Week Designer Dinners.  For the month of July we are featuring the very talented Bri Seeley from Olympia.  Bri creates one of a kind pieces for her clients on a commission basis and will be showcasing her newest collection at ECFW.

Guests will enjoy an evening with Bri to learn more about her designs, her inspiration and Bri herself.  Join us on July 8, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at BIN on the Lake at the Woodmark Hotel for good food, good wine and great fashion!

Your ticket price also includes an entree of your choice from the menu below and one glass of paired wine.  Dauber Art Photography will be on hand to document the evening.

Starter:

Bibb Lettuce
Pink Peppercorns, Grilled Fennel,
Champagne Vinaigrette

Entrees:

Salmon *
Red Potatoes, Baby Carrots & Zucchini,
Patty Pan Squash, Lemon Beurre Blanc

Or

Pork Tenderloin *
Crispy Spätzle, Apple Cream,
Golden Raisin & Cilantro Salad

Dessert:

New York Style Cheesecake
Raspberry Coulis

Special thanks to MTM Luxury Properties and GreenRubino for helping make this event possible.

Starting Your Own Boutique

Author: John Garvey

Starting a new business can be fun and exciting, but can also be overwhelming at times. Use these step by step instructions to keep everything organized in your plan. If you follow some simple guidelines, do your research and take advice from experienced business owners, you can start up your own boutique and avoid many of the pitfalls that others fall into.

If you’ve decided to start a boutique, you probably already have the style in mind. Research your competitors to figure out what need you can fill and what makes you unique. Use these points to advertise, design around and order your merchandise. Make your uniqueness known to your customers so that you can maintain your competitive edge. Research prices, lighting, sound levels, unique pieces and other details to make sure that your boutique stands out like a rare jewel in the marketplace.

Most boutiques need a loan around $100,000 to get started. If you are taking out a loan from the bank, your business plan will have to be very precise and convincing to get the money that you need. Don’t skimp on this step. You need to meet with a consultant to make sure your business plan is rock solid before you ever step foot in the bank. If you don’t get the money that you need, consider starting an online boutique to raise the money to open your store. Raise awareness of your products using social networks. You can sell your items on auction sites as well as on your own site. Be creative in raising the money that you need!

Take care of the nitty gritty. Before you can have fun merchandising, setting up displays and decorating, you have to make sure that you have all of the necessary permits to conduct business. Set up your business as a limited liability company, a corporation, a partnership or a sole proprietorship. If you are the only owner, then a limited liability company can be the most flexible option for you. Essentially, you are liable for the value of the business and are not personally responsible for huge claims. In a sole proprietorship, you are accepting personal responsibility for the business. If you form a corporation, then you have investors and management who are all responsible for the business losses or gains.

Get your bookkeeping in order. There are a number of programs for boutiques to keep track of inventory, sales, payroll and taxes. Choose one that works for you and helps you to easily keep up with your finances. If you are starting a consignment boutique, use software that keeps track of who owns what article of clothing, dates, sale prices, amounts agreed upon and more.

Decorate with your own personal style in mind. Use interesting garment racks, window displays and art to set yourself apart from your competitors. Have fun, be diligent, make smart choices and you will be on your way to running a successful boutique.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/starting-your-own-boutique-1141779.html

About the Author

About the Author: John Garvey is on the staff of Only Garment Racks, a leading online source of garment racks including clothing racks Find a high quality garment rack or clothing rack at http://www.onlygarmentracks.com.

We would like to thank Ari Shapiro and Dauber Art Photography for such beautiful images of our Designer Dinner with Jolie Etoile Poirier at Cafe Campagne. Thank you to everyone who attended. Congratulations to Robert for winning the custom garment from Poirier and Elaine Hamilton our May Seattle’s Top Fashionista contest winner. Elaine we hope you enjoy exploring some great local restaurants with your Flavor of Seattle card.

Designing Clothing – The Chance to Touch the World!

Author: Jay Arrington

If you have a creative mind, then you may discover that you also have the ability and interest needed to design clothes. Those who design fashions are able to use their natural talents and interests to create something entirely new to share with the world. The opportunity to design clothes is also an opportunity to share your point of view and your unique perspective. Many people think that they can’t use their natural enthusiasm to design clothes simply because they don’t have a lot of artistic skill when it comes to drawing. After all, everyone knows that the first step when you want to design fashions is to create a sketch of the design, right?

In many ways that’s true, but there are products like Digital Fashion Pro that allow the would-be fashion designer to create realistic “sketches” of their ideas without ever picking up a pencil and paper. Instead, the software helps you translate your design idea from a thought into an actual picture on the computer screen. Use the included tools to try different fabrics, to add graphics, and to include accessories to your design concepts. Of course, there are other ways to design fashions that set trends and share your artistic vision. If you choose to use software to help you design clothes, make sure that the product also allows you to create accessories. After all, what woman’s outfit is complete without a handbag, belt, and a great pair of shoes? Whether you want to start simple and design T-shirts, or you plan to start your own clothing line complete with fashion accessories, products like Digital Fashion Pro can be instrumental in taking you to that professional level.

You can find Digital Fashion Pro and so many other helpful resources at www.Startingaclothingline.com. Getting advice from those who have already been successful is a great way to gather the information that you need in order to get your own clothing line started, and the site offers some amazing products and suggestions that help you do just that. Are you great at coming up with clever ideas that you can use to design T-shirts? If so, use the site to find resources for getting them produced. Do you have the best ideas for the next look in evening wear? The site will help you learn how to get them manufactured as well as how to get them sold.

There are so many reasons that the fashion industry is one of the most exciting places to work. In addition to sharing your creative ideas with the world, you also have the opportunity to work with some of the most interesting people out there. The chance to design clothes is unlike any other career. With clothing design, one has a chance to touch the world and that probably is the best benefit of all.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/designing-clothing-the-chance-to-touch-the-world-2586541.html

About the Author

Jay Arrington is Co-owner of Harper Arrington Media Group, the parent company of www.StartingaClothingLine.com, and www.DigitalFashionPro.com. He along with his business partner Michael J. Harper has authored several books on fashion designing and on how to start a clothing line, with The Official Step by Step Guide to Starting a Clothing Line being one of their titles. They have also introduced the world to Digital Fashion Pro a fantastic fashion designing software, that allows the user to create lifelike fashion design sketches! In addition, the two are also the proud owners of Harper-Arrington Publishing www.HApub.com home of The Little Entrepreneur book series for kids and young adults, www.thelittleE.com. As entrepreneurs and educators it is very important to Jay and Michael that they provide fellow future and present business owners with the very best information possible!

By: Gino

Building your own Clothing Line could be the break you have been waiting for when it comes to your career. It takes great ideas and great designs to get recognized. But even if you have all of these qualities, you’re also going to have to work hard on building your clothing line brand.

Branding is important because it is what makes customers recognize your business above others. It’s about making your mark, and ensuring that customers trust your products as well as recommend them to others they know. In the case of a clothing line you want to make sure that your brand spells originality in the minds of customers or stores who would be willing to stock it.

Your name is, arguably, the most important aspect of your brand. This is how your clothing line is going to be represented for years to come. For this reason it’s a good idea to brainstorm a number of ideas before settling on a name. Do some research into your competition, but ultimately try to come up with a name that’s unique to your own clothing line.

Once you have a name then you can build logos and designs that match your brand. You can also begin to think about the best ways of marketing your clothing line, incorporating your unique logo as well as the business philosophies that you stand for. Some careful thinking about this in the beginning could pay off in years to come, so it’s important to take your time and wait for what feels right when you Start a Clothing Line.

About the Author

Check out Fuel for Design for a complete guide to Starting a Clothing Line.

(ArticlesBase SC #828936)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Building A Brand for Your Clothing Line

Emerald City Fashion Week is proud to announce our latest sponsor!  Smashing Divas Makeup Artistry Studio as our Official Cosmetics Sponsor.  We are very excited to be working with Smashing Divas again after a very successful event at the Bellevue Art Museum.  Smashing Divas uses Motives Cosmetics, the official cosmetics of Miami Fashion Week 2009.

Motives Cosmetics by Loren Ridinger
Featured on Bravo Tv’s Project Runway and the Fashion Show, this high-performing haute-couture line of cosmetics is the hottest line sweeping the nation.

Celebrities wearing Motives: Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Brooke Hogan, Eva Longoria Parker.

Won elle.com beauty award. Raved on sickathanaverage.com blog and Beautygirlmusings.com blog (published by Marie Claire editor).

This high performing line withstands photoshoots & all-day every woman makeup. It’s the quality of Chanel at the price of MAC. Affordable, empowering, and gorgeous for every woman; young & old.

To learn more about Smashing Divas see their profile on our Sponsor Page!

Emerald City Fashion Week is not simply a fashion show.  ECFW’s goal is to rebuild an industry that already has an existing base of talented designers and boutiques.  Much like as a garden needs to be cultivated, nurtured and gently coaxed to full potential; fashion in Seattle needs the opportunity to flourish in a highly creative environment.

The Puget Sound has one of the most literate, educated and entrepreneurial populous’ in the country.  Combine that with the incredibly creative arts community, and the recipe for success is assured.

Purchase one of our VIP Experience packages below before June 15th with the discount code PRESALE and save 30%!

Diamond VIP Experience Package

Two guests will each receive personalized ECFW event credentials
 
Credentials provide each quest with the following benefits:
•    Invitation to Kick-Off party at the beginning of the week
•    Accommodations at Hotel Max during the event
•    Limousine transportation to and from events
•    Networking opportunities with sponsors and designers
•    Red Carpet entrance at all runway shows
•    Private entrance at after parties
•    Gold level VIP Gift Bag for each guest
•    Access to catered VIP lounge at shows
•    Private Bar for VIPs only with premium stock
•    Access to VIP area at after parties
•    Reserved seating in VIP area at after parties
•    Reserved seating at shows
•    Photo in front of Step-Repeat Banner
•    Exclusive VIP incentives to be announced

Exclusive Access Experience Package
 
Two guests will each receive personalized ECFW event credentials
 
Credentials provide each quest with the following benefits:
•    Invitation to Kick-Off party at the beginning of the week
•    Networking opportunities with sponsors and designers
•    Front of line privileges at all runway shows
•    Front of line privileges at after parties
•    Silver level VIP Gift Bag for each guest
•    Access to catered VIP lounge at shows
•    Access to VIP area at after parties
•    Reserved seating at shows
•    Photo in front of Step-Repeat Banner

Seattle Magazine’s Seamless in Seattle Readers’ Choice winner for 2010, Jolie Etoile Poirier, will be our featured designer at our first Emerald City Fashion Week Designer Dinner event.  You will have the opportunity to meet with Jolie too learn more about her, her line and her inspiration while enjoying a great meal.

In addition Jolie has generously offered to auction off a custom item valued up to $2,500 to show her support of Emerald City Fashion Week at the dinner.  Join us on June 2, 2010 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cafe Campagne for good food, good wine and great fashion!

Your ticket to the event includes the menu below with your choice of entree, and one glass of paired wine.  Dauber Art Photography will be on hand to document the evening.

Salade Verte

Mixed greens in sherry vinaigrette

Entrees

CONFIT DE CUISSE DE CANARD

Crispy duck leg confit served with thyme skillet potatoes

STEAK FRITES

Pan-roasted hanger steak with

sautéed greens, Roquefort butter and pommes frites

Poisson du jour

Pan-roasted with Yakima asparagus in caper butter

Dessert

Terrine Au Chocolat

Chocolate hazelnut terrine with

orange syrup and toasted hazelnuts

Space is limited so RSVP today: http://ecfwddpoirier.eventbrite.com

Thank you to our partner sponsors Flavor of Seattle, Cafe Campagne and Dauber Art Photography!

Emerald City Fashion Week is pleased to announce Jazmin Whitley’s participation as a featured designer.  Jazmin Whitley, designer of the Li Cari clothing label, is excited to be part of ECFW and to help support local talent. Jazmin Whitley launched her clothing label “Li Cari” during Los Angeles Fashion Week in 2006 at the age of 17 and depended on sales from local boutiques to help her grow her company. Now 21, Jazmin Whitley is a world renowned designer who is giving back by helping and supporting local designers and local boutiques. Featured in W Magazine, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, as well as on the cover of Santa Monica Sun and California Apparel News, Jazmin Whitley is the star of “House of Jazmin,” a documentary about the life of a young fashion designer.

“We all need to help each other grow to keep our country strong,” says Ms. Whitley. “Designers and fashion houses need to produce their products in America and source American fabrics and Americans need to shop American-made products. This will help our economy, and help create jobs now and in the future.”

For information on Jazmin Whitley and the Li Cari label, visit www.shoplicari.com or contact info@shoplicari.com. For press and media inquires, contact Susan Costa at  scosta@worldcoastmanagement.com

What You Win!

One lucky winner will be selected at random each month through August.  Each winner will receive FREE admission to one of our exclusive Designer Dinners.  You will get to meet one of the talented designers showing at Emerald City Fashion Week this fall, and network with other Fashionistas, a $100 value.

The Rules:

1. You must be a Puget Sound resident or be in the Puget Sound area when the winner is announced each month
2. You must be following us on Twitter or our Fan Page on Facebook (both would be nice, but will not improve your chances)
3. Write us a one paragraph description of why you are the Emerald City’s top Fashionista in the comment field with your Twitter ID, and Tweet this post with the hashtag #ECFWDDC
4. Every tweet with the hashtag #ECFWDDC linking to this post is one entry, so the more you tweet the better your chances to win.
5. ECFW staff, volunteers, sponsors and family members are not eligible for entry. No purchase necessary.

In addition you will also receive a Flavor of Seattle dinning club membership card, a $35 value, that is worth $1,000 in savings at locally owned restaurants.  Visit their site for more details.