Lingerie, love, fitting, starting a fashion line- ask it!
Recent Responses
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We actually don't have in-house production, we use contractors/factories in the nyc garment center to manufacture our finished goods. Samples I pattern, fit, and make myself in house but the rest is really dependent on others. The only time I take a sample in to our factories is usually if it requires a special machine that I don't have. We have different contractors who specialize in different materials and types of garments which is really important. Not everyone is GOOD at everything, so we split production based on what their speciality is.
Keeping sales/orders in line is really a tricky tightrope, my suggestion is build a relationship with a factory/smaller sewing contractor discuss pricing at different qty's if they will do lower qty's you'll usually pay more. Having a factory that will work with you is really important to the first couple seasons as you get your legs under you.
In the end having a contractor still does not change the fact that you are a manufacturer and ultimately responsible for the finished goods. -
Before I interned I had around 10 internships under my belt with a lot of them being something more along the lines of assistant positions. Then I worked at a start up sweater company designing, technical design, and some sales. I was miserable, that was definitely when I realized I no longer enjoyed designing anything but intimates! I got a lot of experience there though because in addition to my other duties I worked as the fit model and realized a. how patient models are and how it feels to be a human mannequin b. how the smallest details in the fit like 1/2" off a sleeve, hem, or neckline can change something from frumpy to fabulous.
After that I worked at a division of a major israeli based global corp where I worked on licenses for major brands of intimates, and some new, some established but being relaunched. I got a lot of experience on the design/production side there. At one point I was the ONLY designer and I managed print design/recoloring for a couple of labels, oversaw all design development and worked closely with our one production person to make sure designs were being carried through properly in production. It prepared me a little bit for doing it all on my own. I say a little bit because no matter how much you do at a big company when you have a small business you do EVERYTHING.
Making the decision to quit I actually left up to fate, I was in the 3rd round of interviews at another major company and I made myself a promise that if I was meant to get the job I would, and that if I didn't it was a sign I should take a leap of faith and quit. Needless to say I was the runner up fo the position, left my job, worked at a hotel for 9 months to help during the development stage and when I couldn't handle doing that and running the collection at the same time any longer I quit that to focus on BTS.
There are many paths you can take to having a business but I think there is a feeling when it is the right time and you have to seize it before you're too afraid to try - I know I'm glad I did! -
Aw I wish I could but these are not images taken for pleasure they are for a professional shoot for my business and we only release ones we choose for lookbooks etc. :)
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haha no pienso que estoy famosa :) gracias info at btslingerie dot com will reach me
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Well I only get to see Susan on set, but after working with her 3 times I do think there is a chemistry that builds as you become more familiar with any model. I like to send her links to blog posts and other things to keep her posted on the brand so we keep in touch ;)
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I love female vocalists like ingrid michaelson, florence and the machine, feist, imogen heap... I could go on ;) These are what I listen to while working because they put me in a good place, but for having a good time or out at a club I enjoy gaga, rihanna, katy perry, black eyed peas.
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Haha well I really love working with susan, we've worked with her 3 times in the last year and she's great! I do also really love one of the models we used a year ago, Jaime, she is very active and not afraid to do different poses. Also I really love Nadine who is part Korean and part French, I love her because she has this unplaceable beauty and also a real sensuality. All the girls we've worked with are great though, these three do stand out in my mind.
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:) gracias que preguntaste, nos hacemos un photoshoot con Susan hace dos semanas pasada, entonces estamos esperando por dos o tres semanas mas que revalar los porque estabamos en un programa de television y cuando la ropa que hacemos por esto esta revalado vamos a pusar los photos y la ropa por vender en nuestro website. Entonces esperate mas o menos tres semanas! Tambien tenemos tres videos diferentes de susan que hacemos ahora!
lociento si mi espanol escribido no es tan bueno, hace muchas anos que ha escribido! xo -
I really love old Victorian houses with lots of rooms... I remember when I was younger living in Seattle we looked at a house in Queen Anne that overlooked the city and had 12 rooms, we didn't get it because it was a fixer upper but I think that is my dream house as an adult - one I could restore to all its glory with a really beautiful architecture. Inside I'd like to style it contemporary americana with clean lines that contrast against the richness of victorian details and with reclaimed vintage pieces a la the kind rescued on American Pickers.
Although I think I would prefer to live in one with kids because empty houses give me the heebie jeebies! I blame apt living in nyc ;) -
si, y yo escribo tambien ;) habla cada vez que poder, como cuando estoy en mi fabrica las mujeres que trabajan alli hablan espanol mas facil entonces trato de hablar mas por ellas y por la practica.
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french! I know english, farsi, spanish, and am now rusty in italian but I really regret not learning french!
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that's a big question, there really is no one step because its like those chinese acrobats who balance plates on reeds it is the beginning of a bunch of spinning plates in the air!
I think the biggest first step or landmark is writing a business plans- this is big because it means lots of research and time taken to look into:
competitors
price point
operations like manufacturing/sales/warehouses etc
creating a name and checking its web presence, trademark searches, etc
and then the laying out of a path to getting all of those things in a row to bring your line to market
Now I'd worked for a lot of big companies and specifically start up divisions that made me privy to the inner workings of creating and organizing a brand. I know for a fact that many other designers do not start a line like I did. You could start as simply as making a bigcartel or etsy page and making and selling a couple of pieces at a time and growing organically, it really all depends on your familiarity with and connections in the industry as to how you will go about starting your line.
xo
Layla -
oh, well getting the ultimate gift is difficult, I would of course love lingerie, and there are certain pieces by other designers that I would have in my dream wardrobe- one is the lascivious ana bodysuit and the carine gilson silk chiffon/lace robe I mentioned here: http://www.prettylittleunderthings.com/2010/12/guest-blogger-wishlist-layla-lobattis.html
If I could give the ultimate gift, depends on who but if I could give anyone a gift right now it would be my boyfriend and a car, since he sold his to help us pay for our startup! It's not easy to have a car in the city and he sold it also because it was such a pain but I still think that would be the ultimate gift I could give at the moment. -
oh that's a tough one, I know a lot of beautiful models and people in general so I don't know if I could pick just one! I'd have to say though that my perception of beauty is really not just focused on the outside though, but the inside as well. I have a hard time looking at someone and seeing their beauty if I feel that their insides don't match up.
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Modal is a fiber that comes from beechwood trees, so it's a natural based fiber but it is manmade since it has to be processed in order to make the yarns that make up the fabric.
It has a lot of the great attributes like breathability and absorbency that cotton has.(great for summer weather thus why there is so much in our spring/summer line) The reason I chose modal is that it has the softest buttery feeling and hangs from the body in a really luxurious way. And since you mentioned content I'll let you know the other great thing about these specific modal blends is their high spandex content which means the fabric won't loose its shape (a pet peeve I've always had with loungewear)
*TEASER* we're adding some other great fabrics for Fall 2010, and already looking at some soft & cozy new fabrics for Spring 2011! -
I'm a train kinda gal right now, but if I had a car that I'd want one that does not pollute!
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The week after Valentine's! I came home from a trip to our factory in gross snowy slush to find Josh at home baking yummy beet cupcakes with orange cream cheese frosting and a big vase of roses! what a sweety!
*Oh, lucky Josh, the whole world would've known how long's it been since you gave me flowers ;) -
Weeelll now I will be wearing mostly my own! But I love Jcrew's shoes, accessories, sweaters etc and I've found an amazingly adorable brand called emersonmade that I've fallen in love with that creates handcut fabric flowers & accessories.
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Finding what you love, doing it everyday, and helping others around you find their strengths, loves, and sharing that journey. I think the simplest answers hold the most truth.
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OH! I like this one... that's tough but probably Alyssa Milano, since she hasn't really had her face on many brands as far as I know, and she is just gorgeous AND approachable.
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Layla L'obatti’s Bio
NYC
I'm designer/founder of Between the Sheets, a lifestyle brand with the most comfortable and sophisticated lounge and sleepwear and pretty intimates made in nyc. www.btslingerie.com
