Mary Jane will provide a group of 15 designers a comprehensive review of their collections to ensure they are ready to take the next step in bringing their product to market. This session is first in a series of seminars by Mary Jane called 2Market that will continue in April and May.

Topics will include:
Design integrity
Design consistency
Consistency in branding/image
Production capabilities/infrastructure

7-9pm
Fee for this session is $15, $10 for MNfashion members.
To register for this session, contact info@mnfashion.org

About Mary Jane Larson:
Mary Jane Larson began selling at the age of 16, as a roundabout way to surround herself with great design. Her first job, was in an independent women‘s clothing store. She honed her natural talent for eyeing exquisite design and a passion for sharing it with other people. Working with customers soon revealed she also had a love for selling.

Early in her career Mary Jane would come to understand the simple act of listening to and giving her customers what they wanted and needed . This would be the foundation for future success. Following in her father’s footsteps, she earned her customers trust and loyalty. She built a reputation for honesty and integrity What started as business relationships soon turned into friendships.

After many years on the retail floor in various design driven environments, Mary Jane entered the wholesale sales trade. Her first foray was in the floral and gift industry. Two years later she moved to the medical field. Missing the beauty of design, she found an opportunity in 2000 to return to the creative consumer products she loves. Over the next nine years, Mary Jane built her business to achieve over $6,000,000.00 in annual sales.

Her positive attitude and relationship based philosophy has lead her to advise other manufacturers representatives, designers and business owners to improve their profit margins. Mary Jane’s knowledge of the operational infrastructure needed for a strong sales division has proved invaluable to those who work with her.

Mary Jane’s combination of enthusiasm, down-to-earth attitude and business savvy help guide her customer’s toward achieving success. Her greatest joy comes from seeing those she has helped,
achieve their dreams.

We are looking for volunteers with skill and expertise in the following areas:

-Grading/Sizing
-Pattern making
-Production Manager
-Sewing (general, hand & finishing, cut & sew knits, overlock machine)
-Pricing goods
-Machine knitting
-Web site development
-General administration

Please contact Morgen Larson at volunteer@mnfashion.org if you are interested. Interviews will take place January 23rd.

Join us for networking, small bites and libations to celebrate our new location at the Grainbelt Studios.

MNfashion also welcomes fabric and trim sales representative Jay Arbetman of Chicago to our new headquarters for our first in a series of industry networking events.

Jay represents an impressive amount of fabric and trim suppliers listed if you follow the link below, many of which have small minimums. He also carries handbag components.

For more details:
http://mnfashion.org/270/

Individual 30-minute appointments for Saturday, December 5th between 10am and 6pm can be made by contacting info@mnfashion.org.

We will be offering our first membership opportunities as well. For more info, click here.

Support Local Designers and MNfashion this Holiday Season!

MNfashion is proud to open the doors of our Second Annual MNfashion Holiday Boutique. With over 30 Minnesota designers and artisans, there is something for everyone this holiday.

Dates of operation are November 9th to December 31st.

Boutique Hours and Location
Monday – Saturday
10am – 7pm
Sunday
12 – 5pm (Thanksgiving through Christmas only)

Location:
Gaviidae Common – 651 Nicollet Mall, First Floor
Minneapolis, MN

Featured Designers:
{AO3} DESIGNS
Adrienne Grahn Designs
Allyson Jean Design
Angie’s Hats
Anna Balego Jewelry & Accessories
ArielSimone
attagirl by kedrin
C. Francis Designs
Calpurnia Peach
Candied Yams Jewelry
Carrier Pigeon
Colette Paperie
CounterCouture
Designs by K Cayetano
EC Design
FOAT Design
George Moskal
giraffe art + utility
Heddy Freddy
hootootoo
Kat Dalager
Liebling Designs
Maybe You Should Die
Pea’s & Bean’s
Post Accessories
Rebecca Yaker
Rectangle Designs
Ruby3
Ruthie Henderson
Super Karin
Too Many Suitors
2 Fab Fristers
Urban Rainment (formerly Danilyn’s)
Whoa Mamma!

Special Thanks to:
The Pohlad Family Foundation
Brookfield Properties
MNfashion Board
MNfashion Retail Committee
Miyagi Salon
Digital Crush Photography
Pinstrype
Pictura Graphics
Kim Bowman and Aurora Whittet
The Fashion and Retail Management students at Art Institutes International
l’etoile
All of the designers in the 2009 Holiday Boutique
The growing Twin Cities independent fashion industry
All of you who support what we do!

Winter Floral: Holiday Wear & Gifts – Shortbread & Tea with Rectangle Designs!

Time: 11am-2:30pm

Rectangle Designs is the work of Minneapolis-based designer Sarah Nassif. With a degree in botany and training in fine art, Sarah has united the two in her original motifs: a modern take on leaves, prairie flora, and trees developed from her photographs taken throughout the Midwest and on her travels. Rectangle Designs is also sold at Design Collective, Birch Clothing, i like you and Mother Earth Gardens.

“CounterCouture: The Before Shot”

Time: 5pm

CounterCouture’s name is derived from the ’60s and ’70s countercultures and represents progressive thinking in fashion. The company takes donated bridesmaid dresses and partners with local fashion designers to transform them into upcycled couture cocktail dresses. The designers have creative freedom with the garments but have to follow the brand image created for CounterCouture. Ideally, the dresses will then be sold in clothing boutiques around the metro, as well as on Etsy.com, with a portion of the profit to a nonprofit organization.

CounterCouture provides designers with the garment, fabric and other needed supplies, public relations, marketing and advertising, sales, and the nonprofit donation.

Friday, December 4, 2009

“A Holiday Affair” hosted by Anna Balego & Ariel Simone

Time: 5pm

From the time she was a little girl designing for her dolls; Anna has been drawn to and inspired by the sparkle of crystals and the creamy warmth of pearls. Through her love of European travel (London, Paris, Rome, and Milan); Anna has refined her sense of style, creating a collection that marries classic design with contemporary flavor. Anna Balego jewelry is hand crafted from highest quality Swarovski crystals and pearls, designed to be worn for any occasion by beautiful women of all ages.

 ArielSimone is headed by fashion designer Adrienne Yancy, from Plymouth. This exciting new business venture is fashion forward and includes an array of designs for women including swimwear, cocktail dresses, gowns, separates, and one-of-a-kind garments leaving no hanger bare in a true fashionista’s closet.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

“Make Your Own Cocoa Bar” – Attagirl winter knits by Kedrin

 Time: 2-5pm

I create handmade crocheted accessories. I have been designing for the past two years and have loved every minute of it. What started out as a way to make inexpensive gifts for Christmas has now turned into something that allows me to be creative and cut back on a “real job.” I use super soft acrylic yarn and vintage buttons in my products and can do any item completely custom made! I do mostly women’s items but also do some baby, children’s and men’s items. attagirl is also sold at CorAzoN and etsy.

Custom orders available!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Allyson Jean Design Holiday Trunk Show

Time: 5pm

My name is Allyson Jean and I am a local MN designer that specializes in turning heirloom wedding dresses into a new and treasured handbags or accessories that your loved ones will cherish on their wedding day.  After all, every wedding dress deserves a second chance.  I hope to see you at my trunk show on Thursday Dec. 10^th; let’s get ready for your big day!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Pea’s and Bean’s Holiday Bazaar

Time: 5-7pm

 Andrea and Sarah met while both working in Design at Target. We both felt that our love for design and accessories was not completely fulfilled, so we decided to start “Pea’s & Bean’s” (a kitschy take on both of our last names.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Liebling Designs Holiday Jewelry Trunk Show

Time: 5pm

Since she can remember, Jessica has been surrounded by creativity and innovation and grew up nurtured by a circle of creative women. Her mother loved making beautiful, original objects d’art with her own two hands. Her German grandmother is highly talented at knitting, crochet and sewing. Her aunt is a DIY interior decorator. Her own personal love for jewelry making and design sprang from this shared passion for handcrafting. That passion collided with a desire to perfectly accessorize her own outfits, from the formal to the funky. Not finding anything on the market that pleased her, she turned to creating her own original pieces.

Liebling Designs is also sold at Design Collective, I LIke You and the Gallery at Frame-Ups.

Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2010 runway designers include: (in alphabetical order)
Carmichael Claith
Danielle Everine
Elena Mercurio
Emma Berg
Frances Zerr
George Moskal
Kelson
Kevin Kramp
PFT Couture
Raul Osorio

Bands playing at this year’s show include: (in alphabetical order)
Blue Sky Blackout
Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps
Mayda
Red Pens
Ruby Isle

Voltage 2010 accessory designers and band designers have not been chosen yet. Accessory and band designer applications are due on Friday, November 20, 2009.

Download an application here:
Band Designer
Accessory Designer

WHAT IS NEW WITH VOLTAGE THIS YEAR?
Behind the scenes, Voltage: Fashion Amplified is a design incubator, working with promising designers with innovative and exciting clothing lines looking to take their business to the next level. Each year, Voltage works to address current needs in the fashion design community.

This year, MNfashion is in phase one of development of a Sewing Cooperative that will be a future manufacturing resource and source of education and employment for the design community.

*Designers selected for Voltage 2010 will work with our development team individually to create a small volunteer-based production team based on their defined needs.
*Accessories designer application will be available in October 2009. Voltage Runway designers will work with the Voltage Styling Team to select an accessory designer to work with.
*In late January 2009, MNfashion is producing an invite-only event for regional buyers and press to preview and to place orders for Spring. (Both runway and accessory designers are involved)
*Voltage: Fashion Amplified will be in April 2010 to coincide with the release of each designer’s Spring 2010 line at Spring MNfashion Week. Collections will be available at the event.
*There will be 10 runway designers, 10-12 accessory designers and 5 band designers chosen for
Voltage 2010.
*Bands will be announced in October. If you are not selected for the runway, you can re-apply to be a band stylist/designer. Band designers will not be required to produce a line for Spring MNfashion Week, although it is an option.

Download the application here
If you have any questions, write to info(at)voltagefashionamplified(dot)com

We had a very successful holiday boutique in 2008.  For the 2009 season, we will be going back to Gaviidae Common but with twice the amount of space to fill due to fabulous sales last year.

Some highlights from last year-

*We had over 20 designers contribute merchandise, including jewelry and other accessories, mens’, women’s, and children’s apparel, gift items, and home goods-a wide selection across various price points. Each item was locally designed and produced.

*We paid out over $7000 to our designers and artists.  Many of our best selling items were under $50 (just as a gauge), but that is not to say that we had some really special pieces sell from $100-300.

*We gained new exposure for designers, artists, and the MNfashion organization with our boutique space downtown-servicing the downtown workers, people attending various events throughout the holidays, and, surprisingly, many out of town travelers. The consensus from our guests was unanimous- “WOW, it is amazing to see such talent in the Twin Cities. We are happy to support the local economy in this way.”, etc.

Download designer application