PET FASHION WEEK...NEXT STOP, SUPERZOO

Pet Fashion week(end) was an interesting experience for Lacy and me. Held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on 18th Street in Chelsea, the first thing you see to the left of the entrance are manikins of 5 different breeds of dogs, groomed in wild "fur"styles, one dyed hot pink, others puffed out to there, for a grooming competition. No best in show award for the FIT designs chosen to be exhibited this year (last year a competition was held for FIT students, to create a garment utilizing Swarovski crystals) Across from that exhibit, was the display of the FIT student designs chosen to travel with PFW globally, Sorbet Valentine lead the way. It was placed on one of those black "pleather" dog manikins that was a bit small for the garment but showed it okay. Though my name and description of the sweater was displayed and a half inch black & white image of my logo, I was disappointed that my brand identity was excluded which would have been a big plus getting the name out there. Turns out the purpose of the display was to focus more on the FIT School for Professional Studies program. So Lacy walked around in a tee shirt I made for her with the Lollypups logo and a shot of the Sorbet Valentine display was used in a Daily News article on Monday.

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/galleries/pet_fashion_week/pet_fashion_week.html

There were lots of cute dogs, and TOO MANY strollers (but I've always objected to strollers in indoor public places whether they contain pups or babies -- that's just me) and Lacy and I were interviewed for a documentary (can't give you details because the director ran out of business cards) which will be about why people love their dogs.

I also spoke with a number of the vendors who proved to be very gracious and helpful in giving me advice on manufacturing and suppliers -- one being Carmina O'Connor of Oscar Newman, (a family run business in Peru) who's product I've always admired. Another really sweet and exuberant vendor was Tara Brown of Poochie Kingdom, a Canada based dog coat manufacturer. The coats were exquisite and lavish and Tara turned me onto the idea of maybe producing my sweaters in Canada. Don't know about that but it's certainly worth looking into. So I learned a lot, which was one of the prime reasons I wanted to attend PFW. SuperZoo in Las Vegas is next, and there will be seminars to attend as well as more vendors to speak with. I'll also be meeting with a rep in LA who works with China, to discuss manufacturing possibilities. Today is designated 'DESIGN ONLY' day. Word of mouth is spreading and I need more product so I'm shutting down my computer and phone to avoid being sucked into the information vortex, and won't show my face until I have at least 5 new sketches (and the one garment I put aside, completed). Dinner, wine and jazz this evening will be most welcomed.

Such a dweeb!!!

There are some things I just cannot do........a website is one of them. The plan was to get something up and running then worry about what it looks like later when I can afford to pay someone, and so that's what I did. Now that Lollypups Petwear is starting to get noticed, I try to update my 'pseudo' website (in between meetings, trade shows, designing, communicating with China, coming up with new concepts and preparing for Pet Fashion Week 2009) which ends up being less time than should be allotted, I end up getting disgusted and only update with text on the news page. My first venture into talking with a knowledgeable web designer, Jeff Cahn, back in March (who I was happy with , btw) was so expensive that I moved onto plan B (getting something up and running myself) but then, product development took over and web planning went back a notch. Then logo design, sample corrections, re-merchandising the collection, then personal stuff........each notch backward made it harder and harder to get back on the website track. I'm looking at SVA student and grad portfolios to maybe find someone who would do it on the cheap, then hope Jeff is available to take it over when I can afford him. So ...........
what I have now is http://www.lollypupspetwear.com/ . Any suggestions or advice (read 'free') would be more than appreciated and will result in less grey hairs and anxiety attacks for this old gal. Go ahead.........make my day ;)

Why I do what I do.........

Attended the Directions trend show yesterday and happily pulled out of my month long creative funk just being surrounded by beautiful sweater swatches, print patterns and colors. Learned a lot by just observing and talking to people face to face especially after being holed up in the studio for so long. It was so refreshing and made me realize that I need my city fix at least once a week in order to keep the creative juices flowing and not get bogged down with ONLY the financial and business prep work as has been the case lately. I've been so concerned with creating the perfect business plan, figuring out the resources and how to get things done, that I've forgotten the reason why I'm doing this in the first place. To design beautiful pet wear!

Spoke to a young woman at the print show who happened to have her lovely pup Lola with her and she gave me lots of feedback as to what she (as my target customer) is having a hard time finding that's truly "fashionable" meaning, within the current fashion trends. I'm remembering my initial concept for Lollypups was exactly that.....fashion conscious sweaters for fashion conscious pet owners. Something they would wear themselves. I feel like I've lost focus since the last print show (also, losing my mother-in-law, and Erika's wedding were so all consuming)

then, Lacy being so sick! Point being, life goes on even when shit happens........so I'm happy to say, I'M BAAAAAACCCCKKKKK! (and Lacy is too).

Got a message from FIT that the Sorbet Valentine sweater was chosen to be showcased at New York Pet Fashion Week (August 22 - 23rd) at the Metropolitan Pavilion in a special display and then to travel globally with Pet Fashion Week for one year. Nice little boost to the old, battered ego, I must say. This was the sweater that was worn on the "catwalk" at the FIT Pet Fashion show back in April. Strictly a promotional item, I'm sad to say, since it's way too expensive to produce (all those tiny stitches and silk and mohair yarns!) ::sigh::

So, in closing today's report, I must say much progress was made in the time span of only one afternoon. All is good!