Eff the RECESSion...Yoko D Closing

Hasn't this RECESSion gone on long enough? I was shocked to get this in my email today:

"Sayonara and Au Revoir, Yoko Devereaux

Menswear brand Yoko Devereaux is ceasing operations after the announcement that parent company (Wing Son Garments / WS & Company) has been forced – from internal financial issues – to withdraw funding.

Andy Salzer, founder, and creative director, delivered a brand that reflected the evolving culture in which the brand lived.

On the day that Andy Salzer learned that Yoko Devereaux would be closing its doors, he realized that he had two images hanging – the only ones - in the store – "One of Farah Fawcett (the framed bikini poster) and one of Michael Jackson (a giant detail of him off the cover of 'Thriller'). I received the call about funding at the same time that the news broke that they had passed away. It felt like a sign of closure."

Yoko Devereaux launched in 2000 as a t-shirt brand and slowly evolved into a full menswear brand known and coveted by downtown creatives.

Over the last ten years, Yoko Devereaux has sold in its flagship Williamsburg store, and globally in more than 30 countries.

More recently, the brand launched an exclusive diffusion line "Yoko D" available exclusively at Urban Outfitters.

** Yoko Devereaux begins its liquidation sale ONLINE [www.yokod.com] on Monday 29th June 2009.

** The IN-STORE liquidation sale – a 2 day farewell to the brand - will take place between Tuesday 30th June and Thursday 2nd July. Prices start at $5 for t-shirts, $20 for wovens and cardigans, and $40 for all outerwear. The hours will be extended for this 2 day period (8am to 9pm).

The sale will continue Monday 6th July to Friday 10th July from 12 noon to 7pm.

Come and help us say goodbye to Yoko Devereaux."

Store Location:

Yoko Devereaux
338 Broadway
Williamsburg / Brooklyn

www.yokod.com

I am terrified for the future of more young fashion houses like Yoko D.  When will it end?  

Until then, :( :( :(

Chay$

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Roberto Cavalli Credit Card???

Found at: http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com

 “The snake print has always been a good-luck charm for me. I hope people will buy things to make them happy for a few hours.”  

-Roberto Cavalli

And then be depressed because they can't afford to eat...but hey you look good girl!

Until then, No more credit cards para mi!

Chay$

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Recession Finds: Boots Under $30

It's a recession and a lot of us can't afford to spend to stay on trend. Thus, I have decided to bring to you: Recession Finds, a way to follow fashion and trends on a budget. Today I have for your consideration: Boots under $30.

Pedro Garcia & Fendi boots found at: Net-a-Porter.com

I found those two cute little numbers while on jury duty today in downtown Brooklyn (I know, yikes!).  I was expecting well...cheap & ugly fashion.  I did see a lot of that LOL, but I was pleasantly suprised at how affordable and on trend these two boots were. Next time you are by a Rainbow or Payless don't be ashamed to pop in...you never know what fashionable goodies you might find. Plus didn't President-elect Obama say we need to watch our spending?

Until then, pay-less!

Chay$

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Retail Store Closings

A friend sent me an email outlining retail stores and companies that are closing this year. Here's my abbreviated list of the most noteable and drastic closures:

• Gap Inc. closing 85 stores the closures - all planned for fiscal 2008 - will be weighted toward the Gap brand.

• Foot Locker to close 140 stores

• KB Toys posted a list of 356 stores that it is closing around the United  States

• Sharper Image: The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and announced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing.

• Sprint Nextel - dropping the ax on 4,000 employees and 125 retail locations

• CompUSA (CLOSED)

• Ann Taylor closing 117 stores nationwide 
  

It's really important that EVERYONE votes November 4th.  I don't know how much to stress that. ALL have a responsibility to ourselves and each other to make an educated decision about who should lead this country.  Please please please pay attention to each candidates economic plans and if you don't understand...ask someone.  And remember: no matter what candidate gets elected, change does not happen overnight.

Until then, exercise your right!

Chay$

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The Fate of the US Fashion Industry

Photo credit: Catriona Garforth http://www.sooc.co.uk/catriona/ catriona%20prints.htm

Sorry I haven't posted in almost a week I'm in the 'burbs of MD and just now got to a mac compatible with my external hard drive LOL.  Anyway, I just wanted to discuss how I had an awesome time working backstage at official fashion week shows and then pick up a Women's Wear Daily and see this headline, "Can Seventh Avenue be Saved?"  I am so heartbroken because a lot of the fabric and trim mom and pop shops are being susceptible to gentrification like every other area in much of NYC.    Production offices are being forced to cut down the size of their offices because rents are too high.  To a young upcoming designer such as myself this is threatening my livelihood.  New designers can't afford to outsource and fly to China and India just to get a sample made or buy bulk fabric.  I am scared for our future, manufacturing needs to come back to the US, we need jobs.    NY and LA are two of the last places in this country that small scale apparel manufacturing still occurs.  Just to give you an example of what's happening here are some stats from WWD:

-Last year there were 17,613 manufacturing jobs in the garment district

-In 2006 there were 18,158 manufacturing jobs in the garment district

-At its peak in 1950 there were 369,000 manufacturing jobs in the garment district

- Half of the garment district's 10 million square feet is zoned for apparel companies, 1 million is currently being used.

The decline is apparent and continuing.  Everyone involved in the fashion industry needs to get involved to save their jobs.  From my point of view there are a few really good ways to do that.

1. VOTE (we need to put pressure on our candidates to tell us what they are going to do to create jobs and stop outsourcing)

2. Learn a trade, sewing, knitting, pattern-making etc and perfect it! You will be in demand.

3. Get involved: http://www.SavetheGarmentCenter.com

Until next time, keep sewing!

Chay$

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