Let the professionals demystify concepts and words like “financial strategies” and “cut tickets” as they walk you through the process of creation. They address topics like sustainability with ease; not as its own separate “trendy green”, but rather as the norm of operating business.

Afingo has focused the Get It Made process into four categories: Idea, Business, Product, Production. From there they’ve further broken those concepts down into five or six categories each. This tool is invaluable because it allows fresh designers access to knowledge that might otherwise take years to learn and research. It’s a true fashion education in the form of a website – each topic, a different course.

It’s been exactly one month since the Afingo Fashion Forum in NYC, where major players in the industry like Cynthia Rowley, Adam Lippes, the designers of Duckie Brown, SVP of Groupon Darren Schwartz, Summer Rayne Oaks of Source4style and many more spoke with one another to an audience of future fashion pioneers. Different panelists took to the stage all day to discuss Sustainability and Philanthropy, Innovations in Fashion, being ready to Launch Your Line, Social Media and Publicity, and Iconic Wisdom. Now, wisdom like that is available to all, conveniently online.

Afingo.com will help you realize your dreams of being a clothing manufacturer – it’s up to you to be the designer.

April 1st industry legends and innovators will be at Fashion Forum held at NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Panel members include: Cynthia Rowley, Julie Gilhart, Fern Mallis, and Adam Lippes. This is a must attend event for any designer who is looking to come up in the industry. Fashion Indie has two complimentary tickets to the event which you can win. Entry details after the jump.

To enter all you have to do is email Mac@FashionIndie.com with what you think makes your collection unique. Contest ends March 24th so get those entries in ASAP!

Good Luck!

You can also buy tickets to the event here.

Christian Louboutin, Blake Lively

We heart Adam, so it’s no surprise that we heart the Spring/Summer 2011 collection.

Entire gallery on Style.com

WIN THE ULTIMATE STYLING SESSION WITH ADAM LIPPES & FASHIONINDIE

We’re giving one lucky member of ENVY the ultimate summer wardrobe. Win a private styling session with Adam Lippes, designer behind ADAM, and Daniel Saynt, Editor of FashionIndie.com at Adam’s NYC Headquarters. To Enter To Win Join TheyEnvy.Us. For More Chances to Win Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter.

BONUS: Get 15% off All Your Purchases at ShopAdam.com. Use discount code “FASHIONINDIE” at checkout to get your discount.

LINK LOVE:Adam Lippes Resort 2011

Adam Lippes is not only one of Oprah’s most coveted, winning one of the queen of media’s “Real World Style Awards”, he is also one of the youngest designers to have held the position of Global Creative Director for Oscar de la Renta. The 38-year-old designer has accomplished so much since his departure from Cornell including being inducted into the CFDA, collaborating with global brand Mango, and building ADAM into a line carried by over  250 store in 10 countries around the world. We sat down with the designer to chat about life, future plans, and and the possibility of an upcoming reality show.

What were your inspirations for the Fall 2010 collection?

I walked into a friends apartment here in NYC for dinner and she had this painting, it was all black, and it was a parachutist floating through the sky and it’s by an artist called Isca Greenfield Sanders. And she does these amazing plays with color and texture and movement. And these huge pictures. And this was black on black, but it had so much translucency to it and so much feeling to it and so much depth, and then again texture. And it inspired me so I looked her up. And that was the starting off point. The collection maybe become a little aviator from that, but just a little I think, it was more about volume and  movement and texture and color.

Isca Greenfield-Sanders

If you had to choose one look from the collection that you would consider your favorite, which would it be?

The Red Cable Knit Dress and Skirt

Collaborations are playing a major part in how designers build and redefine their aesthetic. If you have to pick one designer to  collaborate with who would it be?

Dries Van Noten. For what I want to do I think I could learn the most from him, so I wouldn’t mind even interning in his studio!

You’ve already worked on a capsule collection with Spanish brand Mango. What are your next projects?

We are working on a ton of projects. We are looking to open up more stores right now. We are expanding internationally. We are going to be announcing a new line we’re doing with a retailer, can’t say anything about. I just shot a pilot for a TV show, we’ll see what happens with that, but focusing, focusing, focusing on the clothes.

You’re clothing collection has been greatly received. When can we expect more accessories?

We are doing bags for the stores, our own stores, shoes is really a big undertaking. A lot of young designers are doing everything at once and we are really focusing more and more on who we are, and what we are and what our customer is and I feel that every season we’re getting more refined on the clothing.

Best moment from your career so far?

In my fashion career the best moment I’ve had is when Oprah called me, in the office, and subsequently when I was on her show.

What is your typical day like?

We start work around ten, which is nice, about 70% of my day is spent on design and the rest is split with press and problems.

Any advice for up & coming designers?

Start small is really important. Focus on one thing and do it well and then start adding around it. I think it’s hard for young designers now cause they see a lot of really young designers just explode and they do everything at once. And those are very specific cases, and a lot of those people come from very wealthy families that can finance. Fashion is very expensive. Go to school, get experience on the job and be distinctive, have a voice.

For more on Adam Lippes, or to shop his amazing collection, visit ShopAdam.com

Daniel Saynt has given away his seats during fashion week to be auctioned off on CharityBuzz.com, donations will go directly to benefit Haiti. Designers include Marc Jacobs, Donna Karen, Adam Lippes, Nicole Miller and more…

Bid on tickets for:

Ports 1961

Nicole Miller

ADAM

DKNY

Marc by Marc Jacobs

I’m super excited that Adam Lippes, Marc Jacobs, Nicole Miller and Ports 1961 have decided to become involved with our Haitian Relief efforts. All this week we’ve been contacting designers, asking for contributions and the fashion community has not failed to once again show itself as and industry with heart. Thank you so much to all those who have been calling and reporting on my efforts. Giving up a seat at fashion week is nothing compared to the efforts being made by millions of individuals to make some change in an area that is suffering so greatly.

Thank you to all the designers who are allowing me to offer this small contribution to a country that requires our attention and support.

I will keep all of you updated on who else donates to this cause. Here is a list of designers involved and press that this story has already generated. Be sure to visit these sites and comment to encourage follow up stories.

PARTICIPATING DESIGNERS

Adam Lippes, Designer for ADAM

Marc Jacobs, Designer for Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Tia Cibani, Designer for Ports 1961

Nicole Miller, Designer for Nicole Miller

WHO’S TALKING ABOUT THIS

Ferohhhsh.com, Fashion Editor Daniel Saynt Donates His NY Fashion Week Seats to Haitian Relief

Racked.com, Buy Fashion Week Tickets Help Heal Haiti

Fashionista.com,  Fashion Helps Haiti

SavvySpot.com, Designers Donating Fashion Week Tickets to Haiti!

My.BuzzCritic.com, Fashion Helps Haiti

Buzzfeed.com, Daniel Saynt Donates His NY Fashion Week to Haitian Relief

Marie Clair Italy, La Moda Per Haiti

Curbed.com, Fashion for Haiti

Ferohhhsh.com, UPDATE: Marc Jacobs, Adam Lippes First Designers To Join in Daniel Saynt’s Haitian Relief Efforts

Alecca Rox, FashionIndie.com for Haitian Relief

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you are a designer or plan to attend New York Fashion Week, why not donate a seat to Haitian Relief? Contact Daniel Saynt, saynt@fashionindie.com or 646-715-4551 for more information on how you can donate.

I have been itching to write this post since Saturday night, and all you lovely folks who follow my seemingly boring ass on Twitter would know. Not only was I happy to finally be back to my home (which I haven’t seen in quite some time), but I was able to bring an amazing fashion event with me! Runway 2.0 was Saturday night at the Burchfield Penney Art Center on the Buffao State College campus. The event was a great fundraiser for the blossuming fashion program that BSC has been developing over the past few years. Erin Habes (a professor at the school and buyer for Krudmart) was kind enough to ask little old me to judge the event, and I am glad I was around to do so!

The show featured designs from past alumni, current students, and local Buffalo designers as well. I was lucky enough to see some wonderful pieces from designers like Melitza Rodriguez, Tanisha Harris, David Brinson, Barbara Poletowski, Fausto Abreu, Meaghan Rea, Tetsuma Ueda, Crystal Robbins, Ti Zhou, Chelsea Bennett, Julia Oakes, Angela Brown, Tiffany Landon, New Era Caps, Girls In Skirts, Aella, Kezia Pearson, Kate Palame, Morgen Love, Mara Hoffman, and Mr. Buffalo Fashion himself Adam Lippes. It’s not hard to see that this was not a small little show. I have to give all the participants and designers a huge congrats, everything looked great. I was also lucky enough to work with my good friend and photographer Max Collins on getting some awesome backstage shots of all the models hanging out and getting ready as well. All for all you indies reading this I can assure you that there are some designers featured in this post that you will hearing a lot more about, an not just from me!

Gallery: RUNWAY RUNDOW: Runway 2.0 (runway shots)

Gallery: RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Runway 2.0 (backstage)

Thanks to Stephen Soroka and Max Collins for the images!

It’s a little bit of hometown love from me again, but I must give credit where credit is due! Buffalo, NY is having a runway show, and damn it it’s going to be a good one! Runway 2.0 is a show that benefits Buffalo State Colleges blossoming fashion program, as well as up and coming local designers. The event has two separate shows, a student show and a late show which features some already established Buffalo designers. This years late show is featuring none other that ADAM LIPPES! That’s right the Bryant Park Tent veteran is going to be showing at Runway 2.0. When it comes to the student show, I am both honored and proud to be one of the invited judges for the show, alongside Mindy Shine from Adam Lippes, Joan Fedyszyn a local fashion guru and Danae Dade of IS-MENTAL (one of my personal favorite blogs). Check out the flyer above, as well as the Runway 2.0 website for more information. If there ever was a time to come to Buffalo, NY now would be the time! Thanks again to Erin aka Mama Dirty for the chance to be a part of this event, I’m looking forward to it! But the real question is, What am I going to wear?!?!

LINKAGE: Adam Lippes Bites a Mango

A fellow Buffalo boy like myself, Adam Lippes is gearing up to launch is HE (Homini Emerito) collection for MANGO. The collection will premier on Sunday, March 1, and will feature two separate collections, one for men and one for women. I’m admittedly excited, not only is the collection going to be great, but he’s from Buffalo and we Buffalonians stick together!

Image courtesy of: Men’s Rag

Simplicity. Eye-popping color. Fluid movement. These were the goals and the achievements of Adam Lippes on his Spring 2009 collection inspired by the Museum of Modern Art’s color-chart exhibit. Despite a few misplaced straps, ties and buckles, Lippes simple, flowing elegance earned him effortless success.

Thanks STYLE!