Lipstick Prophets FASHION PRODUCTION HOUSE

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In Category: ‘AB 360’

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June 8, 2018 This business is BONKERS

1620945194 ce7d1b98cc 224x300 This business is BONKERS

For new designers the allure of the glamours, the champagne, the creativity etc. that seemingly will be in store for you is quickly dashed by the realities of development and production. Fabric misbehaves. Minimum yardage isn’t met. The sweep doesn’t fit on the cuttable width.. should we add a seam? Why is this fabric roll different than that fabric roll. UGH.
My best advice to all new designers is to act like a seasoned one… meaning… roll with the punches. Yes, they sting but there are limitations to your visions. It’s called reality. Fabrics fight with each other. Bias ripples. Bias stretches, Zippers are too heavy for fabric choice.  Don’t fight with science. And you are NOT going to reinvent the wheel (no matter how brilliant you are, darling).
One of my favorite stories is when I had a young intern who a very green new designer client hired to production manage. The intern came to me with his brilliant idea… “we are going to print the pattern pieces directly on the fabric so we don’t have to pay for a marker”. (they had a custom printed fabric) NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! fabric moves and the pattern pieces will be un sewable. PLUS you will never be able to ply out the fabric for production. “No” he insisted.. “this is brilliant”. What happened? The fabric was totally unusable. The pattern pieces were skewed and we couldn’t sew them together. Two green people not believing the advice of experts.
The lesson- if you hire an expert trust that they know what they are doing. You can’t compete with a combined 99 years of experience from a team who day in and day out trouble shoots problems. Also, if you make luxury items sew them with a team who are experts. Don’t put your 70 dollar a yard fabric in a factory that sews contemporary. You will be sorry. And so will your budget.

Posted In: AB 360.

May 25, 2014 China vs USA

NHE 16684 300 China vs USA

Why is China the place to go for American designers for contracting their manufacturing?  Several factors. 1st is the average Minimum wage for per worker is $1.19 per hour.  Here in L.A. minimum wage is 9.00 per hr (starting July 1).   To break it down the cost of something.. lets say a dress that takes a worker 8 hrs to make.. labor costs: CHINA $9.52 and USA $72.00.  PLUS in L.A. there are laws , payroll tax, workers compensation insurance, EDD, etc. which add up to 40% above the minimum wage for the business to pay out.  This is reason #1- another factor is machinery.  In China it is quite normal for a factory to have “fully automated” machines- a much rarer occurrence here.  Basically you feed the fabric into one end, and it cuts and sews it up without labor.  So, a person with no skill or talent can run the machine.  Because it is time-consuming and difficult to set the machine up for each size and pattern this why minimums are so high in China.
When a new client reaches out to us here at Lipstick Prophets and the phrase “we want to move our production back to the USA from China”  it feels like such a victory for the USA but then immediately I start to feel the panic of knowing they will be paying 800% more to produce here- are they willing to take this hit?
Fashion is art but it is also a business, higher profit margins = bigger success.  And the good ‘ol USA consumer is just that.. a consume – er.  Buying more and more for cheaper and cheaper without thinking of the impact on what that does here at home. Just consuming.  Yes made in America is more expensive… BUT, you if you live here… please consider buying from HERE.  Help the economy. Have some pride.  And let’s thank the manufacturers (Designers) who choose to spend the extra money from THEIR profits to create their garments here in the USA.

 

Posted In: AB 360.

January 12, 2013 WHEN YOU ROCK AND ROLL WITH ME… THERE’S NOONE ELSE I’D RATHER BE

You can’t mention fashion and rock and roll in the same sentence without David Bowie’s presence chilling your core.  And, no better time than this week when David dropped on us his new song and video for “WHERE ARE WE NOW” Take note. THIS is how you do it. And by “it” I mean everything.

x

Ali

Posted In: AB 360.

November 19, 2012 I wanna be an Antonio Girl

I can’t believe NY fashion week was almost 2 MONTHS ago, and what a treat it was for me to accompany Roxanne Lowit and Susan Baraz to the opening of “Antonio’s World”.  The Suzanne Geiss gallery was transformed into a an Antonio Lopez land of fashion illustrations and Polaroids just scratching the surface of his prolific body of work. His influence is still strong and his talent has yet to be rivaled.

You can’t help but notice the strong hold he still has on fashion today as models such as Lara Stone are bleached/dyed and posed to look just like an Antonio girl!

Don’t forget to notice the letter from Karl Lagerfeld!

x

AliIMG 20120906 00490 1024x768 I wanna be an Antonio GirlIMG 20120906 00494 1024x768 I wanna be an Antonio Girl

 

IMG 20120906 00497 1024x768 I wanna be an Antonio Girl

IMG 20120906 00496 1024x768 I wanna be an Antonio Girl

 

Posted In: AB 360.

September 5, 2012 Another NYFW has me bloggin’ again

Well, it’s surely no shock to anyone who reads the LP blog ( hi Mom) that I preeeeetttyyyy much only blog during NYFW.  How lame.

 

But, that being said, another fashion week is upon us and I am in flight bored out of my skull ready to (as many of the bored do) tackle social media.

So, follow me  on twitter @alibibarone if you want to see backstage photos and 1st looks from my favorite designers. Also prepare for my dry commentary regarding the rude, affected, and ridiculous.

Posted In: AB 360.

March 18, 2012 Georgina Chapman… MVP

I am just going to go ahead and say it… Georgina Chapman (designer of Marchesa and wife of Harvey Weinstein) is officially my girl crush!  I assisted Roxanne Lowit on a photo story chronicling her moves before and day of the 2012 Oscars.  I watched as she elegantly fit Stacy Keibler in her Marchesa gown.  She was gracious and gorgeous. Well spoken and polite.  On day 2 I steamed her Amaze-balls dress and helped her pick which clutch to wear for the carpet. She captivates the room so quietly.  So this is my gushing love letter to my new hero.  Do you see what I see?

x

Ali

georgie chap Georgina Chapman... MVP

Georgina Chapman Georgina Chapman... MVP

Georgina Chapman1 Georgina Chapman... MVP

Posted In: AB 360.

March 7, 2012 L.A.M.B

We arrived so early to the L.A.M.B presentation we actually spent more time hanging out BEFORE the start than for the actual main event!!  It was that 1960′s feel we all know so well.  Models wore a bump (nearly a bee-hive) and posed before a collage of Twiggy and Edie clad images reminiscent of Worhol’s hayday. SNORE.  Don’t get me wrong… I LOVE those images. The inspiration is unarguable ,but, this was SO phoned in. Gwen didn’t even show up.  The 3rd model came out before the music even started.  VERY unprofessional. We left before the 6th look.

IMG 20120211 00246 L.A.M.B

But dont Roxanne and I look CUTE!!

 

Screen shot 2012 03 04 at 11.45.30 AM L.A.M.B

Posted In: AB 360.
Tags: ali barone, L.A.M.B, L.A.M.B F12 presentation, lipstick prophets, nyfw

March 6, 2012 My new obsession.. Giulietta

Before I left LA to NYC someone asked me “What shows are you most looking forward to seeing at NYFW?” my response was visceral it flowed from me almost without thought… “The one I don’t know about yet. The new designer I have never heard of who surprises me with some wow.”

Giulietta delivered! Sofia Sizzi only debuted this collection 1 year ago, and already I will name her the one to watch.

The collection inspired by the Visconti film The Leopard, staring our FAVORITE handsome and strapping 1960′s crush Alain Delon, is feminine with a genius color palate of browns, corals, grays, and breezy light blues.

Backstage the designer told me “this collection is special” – I agree, Sofia.

My shitty blackberry photos do not do it justice.. please go to style.com to really enjoy.

 

IMG 20120212 00249 1024x768 My new obsession.. Giulietta

IMG 20120212 00250 1024x768 My new obsession.. Giulietta

IMG 20120212 00256 1024x768 My new obsession.. Giulietta

 

 

xx

Ali

 

Posted In: AB 360.
Tags: ali barone, Giulietta, Giulietta F12, lipstick prophets, nyfw

March 5, 2012 Alexander Wang was the HOT TIX.

Fashion’s darling Alexander Wang’s F12 collection said “shut up” without uttering a word.

 

 

IMG 20120211 00240 1024x768 Alexander Wang was the HOT TIX.

 

Many of the girls wore mesh turtle necks pulled up over their mouths…. LOVE!!!!

And for his big wow moment he brought back the super models of yesteryear Shalom Harlow and of today Mrs Tom Brady (pictured below).

 

IMG 20120211 00241 1024x768 Alexander Wang was the HOT TIX.

 

xx

Ali

 

Posted In: AB 360.
Tags: Alexander Wang, ali barone, F12 Alexander Wang, lipstick prophets, nyfw

March 4, 2012 VPL .. client we LOVE

As you know VPL has been our client for coming up on a year now, and, one of my favorites because of the fashion forward way designer Victoria Bartlett incorporates shapes with drapes (yes, thank you, I just made that up) Constructed yet flowing.

 

Here is a look I snapped at the NYFW F12 show

x

Ali

IMG 20120211 00229 VPL .. client we LOVE

Posted In: AB 360.
Tags: ali barone, lipstick prophets, nyfw, VPL, VPL F12

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