Graham & Spencer
Jenny Graham and Toni Spencer, designers and creators of Velvet – long known for its t-shirts and dresses – introduced a new luxury collection launched in Fall 2006. The focus of the line is on new shapes and the contrast of texture. The collection is created to be “contemporary and luxurious, yet young and hip at the same time.” Already featured repeatedly in Vogue, Elle, InStyle and Women’s Wear Daily, the line is as popular with buyers and customers as it is with editors. Graham & Spencer can be found in boutiques across the world, and in the United States’ top stores such as Barneys, HenriBendel and Ron Herman to name a few.
Mint Jodi Arnold
Mint jodi arnold debuted in 1999 after being conceived over a cup of tea in Paris. The line has an edginess, yet maintains a wearable and accessible element. The collection combines the construction and elegant finishing techniques inherent to vintage couture garments.
In 2000 Jodi received the prestigious Innovators Award from the Cotton Council of America. Her inspiration “is not from concrete places, eras or art. It is just a feeling that comes from my surroundings and the desire to continually evolve the collection.”
Vena Cava
Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai are originally from Southern California. They attended Parsons School of Design in New York City, and in 2003, three weeks after graduation, they began the first Vena Cava collection on their living room floor. The pair currently work out of their studio in Brooklyn.
In just a few years the pair have received critical acclaim and won many design awards, and they hang in many of the country’s most prestigious boutiques, among them Barneys, Dernier Cri, Opening Ceremony, Ron Herman, Satine and many more. They have been featured repeatedly in Vogue, Lucky, Marie Claire and other top fashion magazines.
Jerome Dreyfuss
Parisienne designer Jerome Dreyfuss has created the soft “to live in” bags we crave. Having designed for Paris powerhouses such as John Galliano, Givenchy and Herve Leger, Jerome ultimately struck out on his own to create something he believes all women want: handbags.
Jerome’s simple and beautifully crafted bags use supple skins that are tanned in vegetable dyes. He is committed to limiting his impact on the environment and natural resources.
Secrets of Charm
Inspired by their grandmother whose style and grace reminded them of the 1954 book “Secrets of Charm,” sisters Estee and Sharon Elkayam launched their clothing line in 2004. The sisters’ collection represents a blend of vintage, feminine pieces with a modern sensibility. The line is getting high marks from editors, buyers and customers, and hangs in cult favorite shops including Steven Alan,New York and Milk, Los Angeles.
SUNNER
Australian by birth, Susan Denner Lee followed her passion for fashion into the industry in Manhattan, where she worked in a variety of capacities for designers including Helmut Lang, Jill Stuart and Donna Karan before launching her own line, SUNNER.
The SUNNER collection is both fashion forward and highly wearable, mixing the best elements of vintage nuance, downtown edge and the freedom of surf culture. Susan’s vision emphasizes clothing that is easy to wear but exhibits attention to detail, creating a look that is effortless yet chic. Each piece combines simplicity with distinctive refinements, making the line attractive to a broad audience.
Deere Colhoun
Los Angeles based designer Lindsey Colhoun was always searching for the perfect handbag. One that didn’t compromise on high style, was light weight enough to carry around all day and large enough to hold everything from day to night. Lindsey launched Deere Colhoun in the Spring of 2007 to offer classic designs with a hint of vintage and a modern edge. The collection is created using the finest craftsmanship with sumptuous lamb leather lined in rich linens. Named the next “it” bag by Nylon.com, the Sienna bag is a favorite of celebrities such as Rachel Bilson and has been featured in Lucky, InStyle and Daily Candy among other top fashion mags.
S.SUNG
Samantha Sung, a native of South Korea, began her studies as a Fine Arts major at Seoul University. She then moved to the United States where she received a design degree from the Parsons School of Design. Her career quickly skyrocketed as she became a Senior Designer for Ralph Lauren and then as Design Director at Cerutti and later at Tocca. Sung then launched her own line which debuted in the Spring of 2007.
S.SUNG is characterized by her trademark original prints. Inspired by time spent at her home in Bali she worked with local artisans researching Indonesian ikat fabrics and batik chop dying processes. The forty prints and hundred color ways she developed are cut into classically shaped skirts, tunics and dresses.
S.SUNG has been featured repeatedly in Vogue and can be found in top stores such as Henri Bendel.
49 SQ.MI. (Forty-Nine Square Miles)
49 Square Miles utilizes Italian leathers in rich, saturated color, paired with exposed stitching and minimal hardware. Such details lend to a distinct organic and artisanal feel, a direct relfection of the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s people and its culture.
Launched in Fall 2007, 49 SQ.MI. has already received abundant press in places such as Lucky Magazine, Daily Candy and Women’s Wear Daily.
Ulla Johnson
Since the line's inception, Ulla Johnson (a native New Yorker) has concentrated on three areas of great design: quality, fit and simplicity, qualities now synonymous with the Ulla Johnson label. Launching with a small selection of boutiques such as Steven Alan, the brand soon received interest from Barneys New York and representation throughout the US, Europe and Asia quickly followed.
Now entering her fifteenth season, Ulla's reputation for clean, understated femininity has charmed the toughest fashion critics. Ulla's designs have been featured in Elle, Bazaar, Vogue. Lucky, Nylon, WWD and many others.
EDUN
EDUN is a socially conscious clothing company launched in Spring 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono with New York clothing designer Rogan Gregory.
The company's mission is to help increase trade and create sustainable employment for developing areas of the world with an emphasis on Africa, providing a business model that others can replicate and follow.
Mike & Chris
The classic hoodie is a staple in just about anyone's closet. However, husband and wife design team, Mike Gonzalez and Christine Park-Gonzalez saw the potential for a more downtown, progressive take on the standard hooded sweatshirt for their MIKE&CHRIS hoodie line. "We knew that the standard hoodie could be more fashion forward with the right detailing without sacrificing wear ability or comfort".
The design duo has managed to meld chic and street, resulting in a line that is both laid back yet put together. The hoodies are made with super soft fleece in antiqued colors; detailed with oversized buttons, antique brass eyelets, and unconventional styling.
Expanding on the hoodie concept the designers also created leather hoodies made from soft lightweight lambskin lined with classic cotton men's shirtings that are hand treated resulting in a distressed texture on the skins.
Whether paired with denim, slacks, or skirts, the collection exudes a street sensibility with a sort of laid-back chic. Carried at such stores as Ron Herman, Barneys New York and Henri Bendel, Mike & Chris has been worn by Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore, Mary J Blige, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie and many more.
Loomstate
Loomstate is designed for people who want responsible clothes and are committed to treading lightly on the environment; Loomstate is part of a cultural movement towards a sustainable future. Through the use of the best quality 100% organic cotton, grown free of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, they make beautiful clothes and support organic farming - an industry vital to the welfare of the planet. Loomstate's fabric is woven with raw organic cotton yarn, paying homage to processes used before the advent of industrial farming. They embrace the beauty of the flaws this process yields because it reflects the character of the natural cycle.
Manon von Gerkan
Manon's jewelry collection is rooted in a fascination for organic objects and a sensitivity for the human form. The elements of earth, wind, fire and water have inspired her Nature and Classic collections.
In addition to her success as a jewelry designer, Manon is a successful model. She has appeared on the covers of Elle, Self and Shape magazines, and she is widely recognized for her appearance in ad campaigns for Pantene, L'oreal, Victoria's Secret and Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue.
Inspired by her personal objects collected during her world travels, Manon began working with metals. She first created jewelry pieces for herself, but they soon caught the attention of stylist and friends. Her jewelry is now regularly featured in Lucky, Vogue, InStyle and Elle and her pieces have been worn by Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson, Beyonce, Eve, Kate Moss and many more.
Giles & Brother by Philip Crangi
Giles & Brother is a jewelry line featuring the favorite motifs and icons of Philip Crangi, its designer. Conceived as a more affordable option to Philip's other collections, Giles & Brother is a charm-based line with finishes in sterling silver, vermeil (18k plating over sterling silver) and blackened sterling silver. Philip Crangi graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design where he studied design and gold-smithing. Greco-Roman artifacts, medieval armor, Baroque iron work and Victoriana are some of the influences in Philip's jewelry. Philip's work can be seen regularly in Vogue, Elle, Bazaar and InStyle. His range of collections can be found in renowned stores worldwide, including Barneys, Colette and Harvey Nichols.
Arianne Jeannot
Arianne Jeannot established her line of accessories in NYC in 1999, and now produces all of her collection by hand in Marin, California. Arianne's extensive experience in the fashion industry has enabled her to create a line of contemporary accessories and handmade jewelry that is unique and modern while always just a little ahead of the trends. Because she makes all of the pieces by hand, she is able to change the assortment as quickly as fashion dictates and has become widely recognized for her signature layered necklaces in mixed 18k vermeil and pure sterling silver. Arianne's jewelry can be seen on celebrities such as Fergie of the Black Eyed
Peas, Cindy Crawford, Halle Berry, Eva Longoria, Minnie Driver and Kate Hudson. The collection has been featured in magazines such as Elle, Vogue, InStyle and Lucky.
Hayden-Harnett
Hayden-Harnett is a line of leather and fabric handbags and accessories. Based in Brooklyn, partners Toni Hacker and Ben Harnett have created a line that features ultra-soft garment washed leathers in super-stylish and totally practical shapes and sizes. Hayden-Harnett's details are impeccable, from the well placed studs and hardware to the adjustable straps and clip-on tassles and chains.
ANANAS
Ananas organic designs are fresh yet elegant, incorporating vibrant colors with clean, simple lines. Ananas is the design team of Jennifer Baum Lagdameo and Miwako Washio. While living in the Philipines, Jennifer was inspired by the indigenous materials and textile techniques. She teamed up with designer friend Miwako, and together they began making bags and accessories. They utilize natural materials from the Phillippines such
as coconut shell, mother-of-pearl shell and polished native woods.
