Comments (0) The blog is back up! It had gone done at some point during the hurricane…
UPDATE
FIT cancelled ALL classes through Sunday, November 4th, 2012. Some offices at FIT are open with limited staff until 4pm today and tomorrow (Friday).
More info here: http://www.fitnyc.edu/2752.asp
This past summer I had the great pleasure of being a judge for the Chase Manhattan and Living Social “Mission Small Business” contest. During that one week, I (and other judges each) reviewed about 600 business plan concepts. (About 70,000 responded.) There were 12 winners each receiving $250K.
First, almost all the plans fell into the middle range meaning they were good solid plans but didn’t stand out in some special way. There were a few that were just plain confusing so much so that in some cases the name of the business was never mentioned, or I was left guessing what exactly the business was/did.
The ones that stood out, however, made sure that they answered all the questions asked in the entry information. One of the key points that separated the winners was their passion which came across into the written word. Another was their story…storytelling is very important because it draws the reader into your world and let’s them experience it. Also important, and part of their stories, was how they overcame or were overcoming obstacles and their strength and tenacity to keep going no matter what. One of the requirements was how the business contributed to the betterment of their community…and by that I mean not just writing a check to the local charity but actually having a positive impact on their local community. This included job creation, another very important factor. Each of the 12 winners had all of these elements.
A word of caution…no funder wants to hear that your use of proceeds will go to retiring debt. Unfortunately, no one cares about your past…they are funding your future.
When you’re asked or tasked with submitting a business plan, make sure to include all these aspects – they will help you stand out from the pack.
For details of the plan, names of the winners, and interviews with two final judges, one of whom was a sponsor, please visit the links below.
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=389700003
Sandra Holtzman teaches CEO 035: Licensing.
She is the author of Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing.
Cliff Hoppus
When it comes to U.S. influence on men’s dressing throughout the world, Preppy is number one. If you are in men’s image, styling, design or merchandising, take advantage of this action-packed day featuring prep, preppy, Ivy League, and American classics. Find out what these terms mean, what the look is, who wears it, makes it and sells it. Join in a conversation with menswear authorities on the many shades of prep from “genuine” to “authentic”, “old school”, evolved, high, urban and Euro. Participate in a Q and A during a working lunch followed by a tour of FIT’s current exhibit, “Ivy Style”. Program culminates with actual store visits to the best NYC purveyors of preppy goods, such as J. Press, Paul Stuart, and the new Brooks Brothers concept store. Box lunch and tour bus included.
G Bruce Boyer
photo by Rose Callahan
Seminar leader: Cliff Hoppus, celebrity stylist with G. Bruce Boyer, menswear journalist and consultant Ivy Style exhibition.
Saturday, November 3rd from 9:30am-5:00pm
RESCHEDULED: Saturday, December 1st from 9:30am-5:00pm
Register now for this ONE TIME ONLY Master Class in Prep (class SXN 520) at http://fitnyc.edu/noncreditregister.
FIT Goes Preppy Pinterest Contest
Create a Pinterest board that epitomizes “The Preppy Lifestyle”. One lucky pinner will attend class SXN 520 (50 Shades of Prep: Lifestyle, Designers, and Retailers Talk and Tour) for free! One lucky winner will be enrolled in SXN 520 at no cost. Winner will be responsible for any travel and related expenses. Winner shall contact FIT within 2 days of notification of award; no course substitutions are permitted. Winner must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
How to enter:
1. Follow FIT’s Hot Topics on Pinterest, http://pinterest.com/hottopics/.
2. Create a board and title it “Preppy Look = Preppy Life“.
3. Fill the board with 25 or more pins that epitomize “The Preppy Lifestyle”, be creative. You must include at least two pins from the FIT website (fitnyc.edu) the rest can be from Pinterest or other websites. View our board as an example: http://pinterest.com/hottopics/preppy-look-preppy-life/
4. Submit your board by commenting your URL link to this Preppy Class & Contest blog post by October 28, 2012.
The chosen board will be announced by October 31, 2012! Class is Saturday, November 3rd from 9:30am-5:00pm.
Happy pinning!
LEFT: Our very own Joan Volpe and friend in their preppy looks, circa 1966.
RIGHT: Joan and Charles Volpe in their current preppy garb for the FIT Museum’s opening of “Ivy Style” photo by Owen Hoffman.
Last week I discussed the Design Entrepreneurs NYC program just completed at FIT. This week I want to pass on feedback from two participants: one of the designers selected for a prize and one of the designers who showcased her products at the event. Like all our participants, they put blood, sweat, and many sleepless nights of their lives into this program.
First up is Katerina Lankova, Founder and Designer at Stee-letas. She showcased her products at the DENYC closing event and told us: “Through the DENYC I have been able to explore the business of fashion beyond my comfort zone and formulate a clear picture about bringing the product– STEE-LETAS®– to the marketplace. Seeing other designer’s work, and hearing the unique stories behind their creative process, was both inspiring, motivating and humbling. Ultimately, the most important benefit of the program was the sense of shared endeavor, the priceless connections, and the lasting friendships that resulted from it. I am grateful for the opportunity that DENYC represents; I am already integrating the skills, insights and training that I obtained into my design aesthetic and my business practice.”
Katerina Lankova
www.stee-letas.com
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Jessica Wade, Founder and Designer at Jes Wade, and one of the three winners of the presentations to the panelists, has this to say about her experience: “The opportunity to think about the past and present of Jes Wade during the intensive DENYC program was a gift. Finishing the course with a presentation that was supported by esteemed fashion industry heavy weights was confirming and an even bigger gift. It was a NYCEDC program that focused on every aspect of the fashion design business with a rigorous “mini MBA” boot camp style. The professors and mentors from FIT and the industry were both challenging and supportive and the entire experience a huge asset in confirming the future of my business. I highly recommend this intensive program to all highly motivated design entrepreneurs.”
Jessica wrote her business plan with the help of the DENYC program. The prize is in two parts – one is time with consultant Ari Bloom who Jessica will work with to develop innovative relationships. The second, time with Charles Klein, will help her to negotiate new relationships (in addition to the attorney she already has a relationship with).
Jessica Wade
www.jeswade.com
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Best of luck to the two featured designers above and to all the great designers who participated in the DENYC program!!!
If you are interested in participating in the 2013 class of Design Entrepreneurs NYC, please note that the application process will launch in early 2013. For updates, please visit http://designentrepreneursnyc.com/.
For those of you interested in participating in the business of design, NYC Fashion Fellows is now taking applications. NYC Fashion Fellows
Sandra Holtzman teaches CEO 035: Licensing.
She is the author of Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing.
Written by Chelsea Candelario, FIT Hot Topics Summer Intern.
While browsing through WGSN.com, I came across three collections of Fashion Forecast. I was completely drawn by the detailed clothing that matched the similarity of objects and themes. New Digital Aesthetic, Next Nature, and Neo-Geo all present a different side of something completely out of the ordinary and new for Spring/Summer ’14.
One of the collections I looked into was New Digital Aesthetic. They were inspired by the online culture of design. The digital ideas are put upon the construction and colors of the designs. Four themes that struck out with N.D.A are Preppy Pixel, Digital Fantasy, Cyber Strange, and Chemical Cartoon.
Preppy Pixel present designs that look like it could have been created on a computer. It brings on a ‘nerd quality’ giving colors that are simple such as black, white, blue, and grey. Most of the attire consists of suits and layered women wear.
However, as I go through the slides, the theme shifts. It becomes more colorful. Blue, green, and red come together like I never seen before. The colors are either coming together or staying independent. The frequent show of blocks and pixel-like shapes still make their comeback to present the modern world of technology quality.
As I looked through Digital Fantasy, I stepped into a world unlike my own. The designs are out of this world. It starts off with bright neon colors and move to serene pastel colors. Fabrics such as wool and sheer become used for a two-piece assemble, over the knee dresses and complicated shirts. Characteristics of technology inspire the intricate details of these garments to bring out a unique feel of living in the digital 21st century.
Cyber Strange lives up to its name. Sleeveless suits and open up heels have presented themselves on the slides. At first, I was confused and wondering why would anyone want to wear that? Then I sat back, a smile on my face, and think ‘This is Fashion after all’. This theme breaks all the rules of understanding where and how it was made. It’s the art portrait you enjoy, but can’t quite understand.
Chemical Cartoon is the last theme to N.D.A. It’s like stepping on a bridge between imagination and reality. So many bright colors splattered on to fabrics. You can literally spot one of these garments from a mile away. All sorts of colors and prints put together to give in a fun child-like quality. The three-piece suit filled with bright summery colors followed by stripes endlessly parading the garment or the patches of colors mixed in with floral prints that remind me you of the picnic day in June.
As if the colors were going to stop, it gets even more bold and electrifying with different shades of pink and purple covering the clothes. Also introducing light pastel colors such as periwinkle, baby blue, green, and yellow. Sticking to the theme of Cartoons, a charming picture of Kermit is plastered on one of the sweaters.
Looking through the slides it gave me the urge to grab a sketchbook and sketch a design, something I haven’t done since I left high school.
View classes and register online or download the catalog PDF.
Written by Chelsea Candelario, FIT Hot Topics Summer Intern.
If I can get my hands on a bunch of colorful blazers, I will have a closet just for them. The fact that these pastel-colored blazers are the trend of Spring/Summer ’13 makes me happy. I’m ready to ignore the grey blazer sadly hanging from my closet now.
The solid, light color blazers give a touch of feminine quality. It’s simple to slide on a blazer anytime of the day. The Topshop peach blazer makes me desperately look in my wallet for some sort of prize money.
Sadly, it’s to the wishful shopping cart.
Although every blazer shares a similar square-shoulder, ability to cuff, and waist-length quality, they each hold something unique about them. The shape of the neckline, length of the sleeves, color, and much more sets them apart from one another.
I love the fact that you can wear it with anything. From a dress to jeans, blazers look great in anything you put on. I also love that it’s an anytime accessory. You can wear it when you’re heading off to class, off to a work interview, or even a small get together with friends.
For something that started out as something that only men wore, it has turned out as a style fit for everyone.
Written by Chelsea Candelario, FIT Hot Topics Summer Intern.
I look down on my freshly painted light green nails and feel I played it safe. Although the color is out of the ordinary, all I keep thinking is how it would look with a little bit of art. I had my share of stripes and letters, but now nail art has transformed to the next level. It has become sort of like a fashion trend and being surrounded by fashion for the last four years I should know.
Nail art has been around for centuries (try 5000 BC!) and yet it becomes brand new every time. First, you start out with the simple elegant colors in the 60’s and you slowly make your way to the long fake nails of the 70’s. Jumping forward to the 90’s, you give the rebel side of you a chance while you put on your shade of black. But now well into the 21st century, everything comes together giving you the choice to slap a coat of paint on your nails or brighten up your wardrobe with some stick-ons, something that became popular in 2007.
There is not a moment where I don’t see something different on someone’s nails. Nail art has become a part of how we present ourselves to the world. DIY Nail Art has become a well known hobby now. With all the social networks at our fingertips it’s simple to explore what’s out there and see what others are putting on their nails.
How are we feeling today? Are we feeling edgy? Then let’s put on some shatter nail polish. Are we feeling classy and youthful? Then let’s put on some nude coloring. There is a whole collection of options to put on your nails to make it your own. Something women were doing for centuries while the world was moving at a fast pace.
Artists have gone beyond just putting on a coat of nail polish and began designing constructed gear. Dzine, known for his Latino design culture, began creating the most amazing art through 24-karat-gold nails. I’m pretty sure if I try on any of his art, this blog post would be a challenge to type.
Nail art has become far more than complimenting your outfit. It’s become a part of our culture.
Here are a few photos from this years Certificate Ceremony.
To view the rest, visit our Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/FITHotTopics
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