Goddesses

It's been a while since I've written but much has been going on:

1. I just got back from chaperoning a fashion camp trip to the Mary McFadden exhibit "Goddesses" at the National Museum for Women in the Arts. Mary McFadden is often called a "Design Archeologist" as all of her haute couture garments are inspired by ancient cultures. It was amazing to see her completely unique garments that clearly paid homage to Greece, Africa, France, China, India and more. It was also cool to see her patented Marii fabric (patented because it takes 6 steps and several continents to create), intricate beading, hand painting, and choice of colors/fabrics. Well worth the $10, and kiddies are free.

2. BiriBelle clothing will be featured during the first "Be YOU" music event presented by Lilsoso and Smirnoff. Tonight's event is entitled "Soul Overdose" feat. N'digo Rose and DJ Jahsonic (you might know him from Marvin mondays) w/special guest Yahzarah. Starts at 8pm at
TABAQ , 1336 U Street, $10/$8 w/Be YOU jump drive http://besojul.eventbrite.com

3. Upcoming Events: I'll be participating in the Street Glam Outdoor Fashion Expo and Show on August 15th in Downtown Silver Spring. I'll also be participating in a fashion show benefiting metro teen aids that has lined up some pretty big DC designers and boutiques on September 26th. More on that to come...

4. Follow Up: I ended up having a meeting with the production manager of Singa, Inc, which I mentioned in a previous post. While they are not a fashion incubator, Singa has indeed opened a small garment production facility in NE with very low minimums and affordable pricing. This is strictly a cut & sew operation, but they do have the ability to do some pattern grading. They can sew from samples or your own pattern. This is a well needed addition in DC, and their market is independent designers (like me!) Singa will also offer entrepreneurship and sewing classes for adults in the fall.

5. I participated in a photo shoot with DC photographer Patrick Ryan on Saturday to capture my fall line. I'm excited to see all the pics but here's a sneak peak:








Goddesses indeed!

New Photos

I've finally gotten photos back from a warehouse shoot I did with photographer Chris Carr. I did the styling and makeup and provided a few Biribelle pieces. Collaborations are a great way to build my portfolio for design school. What do you think?

Garment Production Facility and Fashion Incubator in DC?

I just got back from a fabulous week in New York which included the 38th International African Arts Festival, the opening of the Afropunk festival at BAM, Summerstage in Central Park with Asa, Les Nubians, and Oumou Sangare, and shopping the garment district for fabric for the fall line I'm showing on August 15th (more on that to come). As I'm always looking for good seamstresses, more money, or a missed connection, I am frequently on craigslist. I stumbled across an advertisement for a company "setting up a small garment manufacturing faciltiy in DC".

Further research led me to a Singa Inc, which is right down the street from my house no less. Apparently, run through the Department of Employment Services, "The focus of SiNGA’s unique set of courses in product creation, market development and retail management provides portable skills that enhance customer service, salesmanship, and professional training for the participants as a basis for a career in retail, and creating young fashion entrepreneurs that launch creative designs into the marketplace."

Upon a phone call and a little deductive reasoning, I've learned that they have just purchased some industrial sewing machines and are hiring seamstresses (for august) who will work in the garment production facility and eventually in their FASHION INCUBATOR! Questions about if and how this project is connected to GWFCC's fashion incubator initiative as well as why you have to go through the DOES to benefit from Signa's services as they are now were returned with vague answers, but I was told to call back when someone more knowledgeble was available to speak with me. I will get to the bottom of this...as this is very exciting news!