Edited by The Fashion Web
Edited by The Fashion Web
Edited by The Fashion Web
Edited by The Fashion Web
Today at 3PM I’ll be speaking at Web Fashion Fest at Fashion Camp NYC. The camp was founded by Fran Della Badia, the Senior Vice President of Coach and was created as a way for girls in grades 8-12 to discover opportunities in the fashion world.
It’s a live broadcast, so you can head to FashionCampNYC.com and sign up to check me out.
Edited by The Fashion Web
Tonight, the President will have dinner on Sullivan Street. Anna Wintour is hosting a fund-raising evening for Obama, who’s in town to tape an episode of The View. Guests include Calvin Klein and Donna Karan, and tickets cost about $30,000 a head. WWD
Edited by The Fashion Web
Expect to see a whole lot more of the Trump name — and not just in real estate news.
Ivanka Trump, businesswoman and first daughter of developer Donald Trump, has already taken on more than her executive role in her father’s company, bowing a namesake, high-end jewelry collection and writing a best-selling book offering young women tips for getting ahead. Now she’s taking on shoes.
Teaming up with Marc Fisher Footwear, the 28-year-old is debuting a complete collection of moderately priced footwear for spring ’11, which includes a mix of stilettos, flip-flops, sneakers and ballet flats. The line, Trump said, showcases her affinity for sophisticated and elegant looks and weaves in contemporary and modern twists.
“There’s a great opportunity to position stylish, yet refined, shoes,” she said of the collection, which debuts at FFANY next week. “What you tend to see are totally unwearable, over-the-top styles, or looks that are comfortable to the point of forgoing any appealing aesthetic. I’m going for the middle.”
Though price points are still being worked out, Marc Fisher Footwear President Susan Itzkowitz said the 75-to-100-style line is tentatively priced between $80 and $140 and is being targeted to department stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in its first season.
“There’s a real niche for a line like this,” said Itzkowitz. “Every part of the collection will be very reflective of Ivanka, and it gives us an opportunity to have a beautifully executed line for that classy, contemporary woman. It gives us a whole new dimension to our business.”
While Trump also has partnered with handbag licensee Mondani on a collection for spring ’11 and spun out her jewelry line to wholesale, the Wharton School of Business grad said she’s content — for now — to focus on these ventures.
“I don’t take these partnerships lightly. It’s about creating a sustainable, long-term business,” she said.
FN: Why did you decide to delve into footwear?
IT: In the moderate market, you don’t see the same level of refinement in terms of the shape of a shoe that you do at higher price points, and there’s no reason for that. At lower price points, people seem to love the razzle-dazzle glitter, and that’s just not what I respond to. It’s overly trendy, flashy, a lot of hardware and just too much going on. There isn’t a lot of product in the mid-price range for women who want to wear an elegant pair of shoes to work but also look cool and glamorous at night. So there’s a great opportunity to position stylish, yet refined, shoes.
FN: We’re coming out of a pretty rough economic time. Was that a consideration as you ventured into a new category?
IT: There are always concerns when you’re launching a new business. But at the end of the day, all you can do is best position a product to fill a niche. Our price points are accessible, the product will be superior to anything out there, and I have a great partner. That’s a recipe for success, and we wouldn’t have gotten into the arrangement if we had questions about our ability to be successful.
FN: How did the partnership with Marc Fisher Footwear come about?
IT: The company is very well known, so it didn’t require a tremendous amount of validation, but a lot of friends in the business have talked to me about how Marc Fisher would be an extremely strong partner. Brand extensions are a combination of timing, market niche and finding the right partner. I met Susan, and within two weeks, we pretty much had a signed deal. It was just the right fit at the right time. Of course, it’s an added convenience that we are both in the same building. I’ve been joking that a requirement of working with me would be taking space at Trump Towers and paying $150 a square foot in rent.
FN: Between real estate, jewelry and now footwear, you’re a busy lady. How hands-on are you with the development of the shoe collection?
IT: I’m always ripping pages out of magazines and forwarding them to Marc with a note saying, “This is a beautiful style,” or “I love this fabric — let’s try to figure out a way to incorporate something like this.” I’m very involved and have a concrete concept of what I like and what I don’t. I do take this form of self-expression extremely seriously, and it’s important that every shoe I put out is both something I would wear and reflective of my personal style.
FN: How is your personal style woven into the look of the line?
IT: I like glamorous, classic styles and don’t want things that are overly trendy or seasonal. I tend to be drawn to more timeless pieces, but I also want a bit of edge. I tend to like pointed toes and thinner, stiletto-type heels over heavier, clunkier styles. But I recognize that I’m on my feet a lot at work, and the shoe has to feel good. I’ll also have a line of sneakers, flip-flops and flats because that’s pretty much all I wear on the weekends. It really spans day to night and beach to city.
FN: Being famous must have helped you launch the brand, but are there also drawbacks to being so recognizable?
IT: The drawbacks are more personal: I don’t have a lot of time, I don’t sleep a tremendous amount, and there’s always something new to focus on, in addition to maintaining and growing everything I’m already doing. Professionally, the only negative is the assumption that the collection is not a genuine partnership and is more of a passive interest or a purely monetary endeavor.
FN: What does it take to make a celebrity line successful?
IT: Nobody wants to buy a pair of Ivanka Trump shoes or a pair of Ivanka Trump earrings unless they like Ivanka Trump. And if they like Ivanka Trump, they know how I dress, how I look. If the collection doesn’t reflect that, consumers won’t be interested. It’s really that simple. The greatest way to validate the line and create buzz is to wear your product. I always wear my jewelry and don’t bother wearing anything else. What’s the point?
FN: Are there any mistakes you’re trying to avoid?
IT: The biggest pitfalls would be if the product wasn’t designed well, if the launch wasn’t executed well, or if you simply regarded it as a publicity opportunity. You have to constantly nourish a brand and support it, and I’m not sure that every celebrity signs up for that kind of commitment. I hope to be doing this for a long time. I’ll be able to evolve the design and the aesthetic as my tastes change, and as I grow up a little. The interest in me as a partner isn’t based on a hit single or a current blockbuster movie.
FN: How is making footwear different from making jewelry?
IT: Shoes have to be well engineered. There’s a lot that goes into a shoe that you don’t have to think about for a pair of earrings. You think about the weight of a pair of earrings. With shoes, it’s more complicated to create a comfortable, 4-inch pump to wear during a 12-hour workday.
FN: What other categories would you eventually like to see under the Ivanka Trump umbrella?
IT: I don’t sign a deal and move on, and right now I’m focused on the execution of jewelry, shoes and handbags. But there are other categories — like sunglasses — that, at the right time and with the right partner, would be very interesting. Apparel is sort of the next natural step, but for now, I’ve got quite a bit on my plate.
FN: How do you ensure a cohesive look is applied across the brand?
IT: Once a month, I gather all my friends at Marc Fisher, handbag licensee Mondani, Ivanka Trump Diamond and Trump Hotel Collection in one room to talk about what we’re working on. We’ll have design meetings where we talk about the shoes and the bags, which colors were a focal point and the materials being used, so they can create a full look. One of the clasps from the jewelry collection inspired details on two pairs of pumps. There are a lot of benefits to everyone coordinating their efforts.
FN: Do you have plans for an Ivanka Trump footwear boutique?
IT: For now, it makes sense to embrace retail partnerships that give us access to more customers and have so many more points of sale. That’s something I’m focusing on with the jewelry, as well. We launched a wholesale collection three months ago, and have gotten incredible commitments from more than 45 retailers domestically, and many more internationally.
FN: How has social networking played a role in developing your brand?
IT: I have around 900,000 followers on Twitter, and it’s been a great way for me to communicate about the things I’m working on, get feedback and have a dialogue. It’s really gained a lot of traction, and now I’m working on a pretty incredible Facebook page. Few brands have a person behind them, and social networking is a great way to speak to people.
FN: Your father certainly knows about branding. Is his business model one you’d like to emulate?
IT: I can’t even comprehend why somebody — unless their brand lacks credibility — wouldn’t use their name. People may be drawn to a shoe because somebody they identify with designs it, but they’re not going to make a purchase unless the product is great. My father has created an incredible platform and a brand synonymous with success and luxury. To disassociate myself would be a very big strategic error.
FN: A lot of people would assume you could have joined the Trump organization regardless of what you studied in college. Why was the business degree important?
IT: The interesting thing about being in a family business is that you’re given great responsibility, probably in excess of what your actual experience warrants. You either sink or swim. I definitely manage and have direct responsibility for things that somebody in my age range would not normally be in charge of. There’s tremendous privilege and responsibility. I tap into any resource to enable me to make better decisions.
FN: Who are some of your fashion icons?
IT: Grace Kelly was incredible, and so was Audrey Hepburn. I’ve always admired people whose beauty, grace, poise and style transcend the generations. In terms of contemporary women, Gwyneth Paltrow has great, classic and a little bit preppy-but-elegant style.
FN: What about footwear designers?
IT: I’m no longer giving them good press! Laughs
FN: You’ve been on “The Apprentice” for a few years now. Any ambition to do more TV?
IT: Truthfully, no. I get asked to do a lot of things, like be a host on morning shows or do outrageous things like be on “The Bachelorette” before I was married. I don’t think so. Some of it is beneficial to our business, and that’s interesting. I go on CNBC quite a bit — and that’s a good place for me to be — but “The Apprentice” is a lot to handle in itself.
FN: When you manage to carve out some time, what do you do for fun?
IT: I’m no longer at the stage where I’m going to clubs, and instead tend to do more low-key things, liking cooking and hosting dinner parties with really interesting people. I’m a movie addict, too, and I love the salacious stuff like “Gossip Girl” and “The Tudors.” I’m so upset that show is done, but I guess Henry VIII ran out of wives.
(WWD)
No surprise here, Ivanka is quite the enterprising young woman. I’m sure that we can expect much more from this creative mind. I’m particularly partial to the pink sandal, and look forward to seeing more from her collection.
Edited by The Fashion Web
You have over 10 pairs of these in your closet, two more on your front porch airing out and you’ve lost over 30 of them in your life. You’ve skated through half of them, 5 pairs don’t have laces, 2 pairs are covered in mud and you’ll probably go grab another pair next week. They are the original California skate shoe, the shoe that will never let your youth escape you. They are Vans. Click for the continuation.
On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, California, Paul Van Doren and three partners opened up their first store. The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public. On that first morning, 12 customers purchased Vans deck shoes, which are now known as Authentic. The shoes which were made that day were ready for pick-up in the afternoon.
Paul Van Doren was born and raised in Boston and started working for a shoe company in the city. Paul worked his way up the ranks and became the Executive Vice President of Randy’s, a Boston based shoe manufacturer. Randy’s was well known at the time and made canvas shoes for Bob Cousy, the flashy Boston Celtics legend who was later voted one of the top 50 NBA players of all time.
Paul was soon sent out to the California factory that was loosing a million dollars a month. Paul Van Doren, his brother Jim Van Doren and long time friend Gordon Lee were given the task of straightening out the factory, and after 8 months they turned the west coast factory around and it was doing better than the one back in Boston. Paul soon realized that he could be doing this work for himself, it was time to venture off and start his own company.
The company was formed with Paul and Serge owning 40% each and Jim and Gordon owning 10% each. It took a year to set up the factory at 704 East Broadway in Anaheim. It was built from scratch using old machinery the bought from all over the USA. It took a lot of machinery and was a lot harder to do then, compared was with todays modern processes. Since 1900 there had only been 3 companies that had manufactured vulcanized footwear in the US, Randy’s, Keds and Converse.
And now there was Vans…
The company continued to grow into the 1970s. During this period they also produced wool lined canvas and rubber mukluks under contract to the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force. Skateboarders who liked Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole were seen sporting Vans all over Southern California in the early 1970s. In 1975, the Vans #95, known today as the Era was designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. With a padded collar and different color combinations the Era became the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders. In 1979, Vans introduced the #44 shoe, and with the help of skateboarders and BMX riders the Vans Slip-On became all the rage in Southern California. By the end of the 1970s, Vans had 70 stores in California and sold through dealers both nationally and internationally.
After three years, Vans had paid back all creditors and emerged from bankruptcy. In 1988 Vans original owners sold out to an investment banking firm. The company has been sold several times since; most recently for $396 million in 2004 to Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. Steve Van Doren, the son of co-founder Paul Van Doren, is still with the company, as is his sister Cheryl and his daughter Kristy. Vans began manufacturing footwear overseas in 1994, allowing for development of new shoe styles.
And on a closing note, the term “Off The Wall” was created from skateboarding legend John Cardiel.
Edited by Rebecca Alexander
Thanks to the FunnyOrDie folks, Paris Hilton is threatening to run for president! Actually sounding smart! Can it be? I guess so. What a great comeback Paris, I think I’m voting for you!
