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Designer: Mercedes Salazar Joyería

Tue Jan 05 07:10:50 -0800 2010

Mercedes Salazar Joyería : With incredible amounts of creativity and talent, Mercedes Salazar’s designs use traditional handcrafted techniques, versatilely combined with the most unusual materials. These beautiful and unique pieces “will connect you to the Universe”, in the designer’s own words. Besides gold, silver, bronze, semiprecious stones, diamonds and emeralds, pips, acrylic, glass, pearls, steel, aluminum, fabric and industrial materials can be found on the different pieces, creating an interesting contrast of light and color which Mercedes skillfully puts together thus creating a jewel that reflects all her love for existence and will never go unnoticed. Mercedes Salazar was born on June 17th 1975 in Bogota DC, Colombia. She attended the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes’ Craftwork School in Mexico City (2000). Her work is diverse, sophisticated, voluptuous, and always tries to show the two sides of the coin, the balance between lightness and weight, roundness and squareness. To her, opposites are fundamental. Mercedes Salazar is a young woman who watches what goes on around her and takes inspiration in the everyday life to turn those seconds and words into jewels. She spends the whole day with her artisans creating jewels, exploring and retrieving ancient techniques. Diverse, cheerful and defiant, she does not hesitate in breaking the rules with a profound conviction. The never-ending search for her own roots is the main nourishment of her spirit. Her lines are refined and subtle, and they reflect her admiration for hand-made jewelry. The Mercedes Salazar Jewelry Company was created seven years ago and its headquarters are located in Bogota, Colombia. It includes boutiques in the stylish Parque de la 93 and the El Retiro Shopping Mall in Bogota, and the historical quarters of Cartagena de Indias, the magical city that was deemed World Heritage by UNESCO. At present, Mercedes Salazar’s work can be found in fine boutiques and distribution points in more tan ten countries around the world, including the United States, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Venezuela, Australia, Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico. This Colombian designer has exhibited her work at local fairs as Expoartesanias, and international trade shows such as ENK - Accesorie Circuit in New York City on its three annual versions, Première Classe Paris, SIMM Madrid and Democircuit Barcelona. The Company is an active member of the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce: www.amchamcolombia.com.co

Designer: Julie K

Tue Jan 19 11:43:16 -0800 2010

Julie K : finding a perfect mix of fashion and function..

Designer: Erika Peña

Mon Feb 08 13:14:52 -0800 2010

Erika Peña : Erika Peña has become well know for her cultural inspired jewelry that appeals to all fashion trends, budgets and ages. Born in Puerto Rico, Erika Peña moved to Florida when she was three years old. Her bicultural background of Dominican Republic parents, Puerto Rico roots and US upbringing has shaped her jewelry designs into culturally sound pieces of fashion and art. After graduating from Parsons School of Design, Erika’s fashion passion thrived off multiple internships and collaborations of the New York designers. Ultimately, the start of her fashion empire began with the dismantle of her prized shell lamp to create her first pair of earrings. In 2006, Erika Peña launched her signature collection Kika and brought on her sister, Bielka Peña-Bevillard to sit atop the fledgling empire. While Erika was anointed by AOL as one of the top 10 Latina with Style & Beauty and one of the top four Latina Entreprenuer by Harper’s Bazaar. Her designs have been embraced by celebrities and top stylists alike. Celebrity clientele include Kim Kardashian, Maria Menounos of Access Hollywood, Whitney Port of Mtv's The Hills and The City and Bridget Marquardt for her Travel Channel show Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches. Stylist to Latin American Idol version Objectivo Fama for three years and six seasons, Erika Peña crossed the fashion line between Latin and American designs that so many designer find hard to accomplish. Then in 2008, Erika Peña launched her line internationally with the prestigious Sevilla showroom Show Me That owned and operated by the Dukes of Feria home to clients such as Manolo Blanik, Oscar De La Renta and Tiffany and Co. Now Erika is using her jewelry as a platform to help grow awareness of a foundation close to her heart, Yayasan Membina Api Cinta Asih (YAMACK). The Cinta Kasih jewelry features the signature helping hands necklace and bracelet with 40% of the proceeds going directly to the YAMACK Foundation. In an industry where break out designers are far and few between Erika Peña has shown that her designs have a transcendal ageless quality that prove she’s going no where but up in this fashion jungle.

Boutique: Stacey Todd

Fri Jul 03 11:41:07 -0700 2009

Stacey Todd : homey atmosphere and unique styles.

Boutique: Pink Mascara

Mon Jul 20 10:23:59 -0700 2009

Pink Mascara : PinkMascara.com© offers exceptional value from the hottest new designers around. The designers we choose to feature are available only in specialty stores, featured in top fashion magazines and are usually only known, at this time, to the people “in the know” about fashion. Everybody that appreciates quality and fashion will be aware of these designers soon. At PinkMascara.com© we bring them to you now! Our buyer at PinkMascara.com© has been in the fashion and entertainment industry for over 12 years. In her late teens, she lived and worked all over Europe in the fashion industry, where she was exposed to European styles and designs. Upon returning to the U.S., she remained active in the fashion industry while completing a degree in film and television in Southern California. She has traveled the world, walked the red carpet at the Oscars and, at the encouragement of associates was co-founder of PinkMascara.com©. At PinkMascara.com© we strive to provide you, our valuable customers, the best quality, selection and price that you can only find in the top specialty stores. Keeping you abreast of the latest trends and providing the convenience of shopping from home.

Boutique: DIANI Boutique

Wed Jul 29 14:52:08 -0700 2009

DIANI Boutique : Hard to find designers and amazing customer service .

Product: Tatum

Julie K

Tote w/ big outside pocket

Product: Signature Flap Jean in Metallic Stripe

Carlos Campos

japanese denim 100% cotton

Product: Vintage Cocktail Rings

Laura James Jewelry

Available at www.LauraJamesJewelry.com!

Editorial: Carlos Campos Signature Suit

Carlos Campos — Fri Nov 06 10:09:43 -0800 2009

Rodner Figueroa wearing a signature Carlos Campos Suit and tie for the 2009 Latin Grammy Awards.

Editorial: Gossip Girl!!!!

Elizabeth Gillett — Fri Sep 04 13:42:45 -0700 2009

One of our classic favs - the "Kitty" knit ruffle shrug made it onto Gossip Girl!

Editorial: Life & Style - Duffy Scarf

Elizabeth Gillett — Fri Sep 04 13:41:05 -0700 2009

Super-cute multi tonal handwoven scarf - great with a simple tee for added color.

Member Blog: Laurajewels

Sun Mar 07 13:58:57 -0800 2010

In a distinctive combination between the modern and the elements of earth, Laura Reynoso represents an intersection between fashion and ethnic chic style, giving it a unique touch to each of its parts. Laura Dominican designer makes her graduate studies in Barcelona, Spain, experience factor in the style of his pieces. Create your line in mid-2004 in the city of Santo Domingo where she started her journey through the world of women's accessories. Handmade jewelry created with the initiative to use different materials such as cow's horn and wood. Wood is the central focus of the pieces of this designer uses wood for this tree Dominican Sabina. The Sabina is a valuable wood, smooth, durable, aromatic, easy to work, usually used for the outdoors, has a flavor that distinguishes it from others, including distillation is obtained valuable oil. Unique creations in wood in combination with fabrics, beads, stones, metal and silver can find fabulous necklaces, bracelets unprecedented and unparalleled detail. Laura currently resides in Puerto Rico where he has his workshop in which assembles imported parts from their homeland and elsewhere. www.bylaurareynoso.wordpress.com

Member Blog: ElizabethBanks

Wed Dec 16 04:49:37 -0800 2009

Poloshirts was designed by the world-class tennis player, Jean René Lacoste, also called the alligator due to his vicious playing tactics. Being a tennis player he realized like other contemporary tennis players that the uniform for tennis was restrictive. The tennis garb that prevailed in those days was a long sleeved shirt with a tie. The polo shirt was made out of pique cotton. The design was towards baggy with a button down collar that could be flipped up to escape from the scorching rays of the sun. Thankfully the tennis tie was bidden bye for good with the advent of polo shirts according to some freelance writing jobs in the philippines made. In 1933, Lacoste, who had then retired from professional tennis, joined hands with an old friend, André Gillier. Gillier was into clothing merchandising. They formed a company called the Chemise Lacoste. They started marketing the shirts in Europe and North America. The polo players wore shirts of similar design in the late 19th century, due to which the name ‘polo’ stuck to the outfit designed by Lacoste. But by the mid 1930s, the polo players also took on Lacoste’s design. Today’s Poloshirts do not have a button down color but are still made of cotton and has two to three upper buttons and short sleeves. These shirts have become a uniform for several sports like tennis, polo, golf and rugby as well. These shirts have also walked out of the sport stadiums and became a part of the popular culture as semi-casual wear. Ralph Lauren’s brand Polo in the 1950s contributed in placing these shirts firmly as a part of mainstream attire. In the subsequent period other designers also brought out such shirts leading to its wide popularity today. Their popularity surged so high that today they have become uniforms in some schools too. Besides popularity, these shirts also stand for status symbol for both men and women. In the 1980s, Lacoste brand Poloshirts that had an alligator insignia near the chest became very fashionable. The Poloshirts are still very poplar and are often preferred to T-shirts as the collar makes it a little formal in design than the later. The less expensive Poloshirts have a blend of cotton and polyester. A polo shirt can be worn in all occasions. It can be worn for the comfort’s sake while working in the garden, cooking in the kitchen, painting the house fence, driving a car or a bike, playing football, going to a party or picnic, shopping and so on. It also comes with a pocket which makes it more useful. You can keep necessary things there and let your hands be free. A key, a small notebook, a pen, money and a pen drive will easy be accommodated in the pocket. These outfits are often used by the corporate as tools of promotion. A sober color is chosen and a logo of the company is placed near the chest or wherever it will be noticeable. These shirts are then distributed among the employees working in the organization.

Member Blog: shahid.designer

Sat Nov 14 00:26:10 -0800 2009

AABWABAA FRANCHISE INc., Email: shahid.designer@gmail.com, Tel+8801711953213 Dhaka Bangladesh --------------------------------------- Dear Friends, With due respect to let u know that we’re a leading 100% export oriented Quality Fabric supplying House. We ensure short led time, competitive price & Quality assurance. Merchandize are of AZO FREE & APO FREE guaranteed as well as ECOLOGY & OKOTEX-100 Standards. 1. Moreover we are supplying Cotton, Polyester, Poly Nosic, Bengalin, Stretch poplin, Stretch Twill, Twill weave, Flannel, Microfibre, CVC, Canvas, Oxford, corduroy, Denim ( Chambray, denim blue, denim black overdyed denim, bull denim, stretch denim Fabrics) with different constructions as per buyer requirements. 2. Ensuring Excellent Colour fastness & Low shrinkage properties as per AATCC standards. 3. Henceforth, you’re welcome to let us know your enquiry including TEXTILE PANTONE NOS. Fabrication/Construction (YARN COUNTS + DENSITY + WEIGHT + WIDTH ) at the earliest. 4 Most of our products are export to all over the world and enjoying great reputation in all of our customers which would be contributed to exquisite techniques, unique recipe, excellent quality & richness background in textile field. Your early acceptance & necessary consideration would highly be appreciated. Do not hesitate to contact for your enquiry. R I N G N O W Thanks and Best regards. Sincerely yours, Shahid DIRECTOR (SOURCING & MERCHANDIZING) SKYPE NAME: SHAHID.DESIGNER Cell + 00 8801711 953 213 E-mail: aabwabaa@yahoo.com.au TEXTILE ANALYSIS LABTEST & QUALITY CONTROLL STATE AGE GRADE USED FOR TESTING OR AGE GRADE DETERMINED BY MTL/BUREAU VERITUCH/ INTERTEK/SGS/ QTEC 1.C/F T to Washing 1.Dimensional stability to Washing 2. C/F to Water 2.Appareane after Washing 3. C/F to Crocking/Rubbing 3. Spirally /Twisting 4. C/F Light---AFU Grade 4.Print Durability (In House Method) 5 C/F to Perspiration 5.Cross Staining/Self staining 6 C/F to Dry cleaning 6.Wash and Wear Test 7. C/F to Seawater 7. Dimensional stability to commercial Dry cleaning 8 C/F to Chlorinated Pool Water 8. Appearance after commercial Dry-Cleaning 9. C/F to Ozone______Cycles 9.Seam strength 10. C/F t Burnt Gas fume-------- 10.Seamslippage 11. C/F to Saliva 11.Bursting strength 12.C/F to Chlorine Bleach 12.Pilling Resistance(ICI/Martindale/Random)_____ Cycles____________Hours 13.C/F Non Chlorine Bleach 13.Abrasion Resistance____Cycles_____Hours 14. Flammability (16 CFR 1610/ASTM D 1230/ BS 5722) 14. Stretch & recovery test 15. Children’s Sleepwear flammability (16 CFR 1615/16) 15. Water resistance test 16. Fiber Content analysis 16. AZO FREE 17.Fabric Weight 17. APO FREE 18. Fabric Count/Constructions 19.Yarn Count 18. Recommendation care instructions 20. Tensile Strength 21. Tearing strength

Blog Entry: Check out our New Blog

carla — Thu Jul 31 05:21:05 -0700 2008

Some of you may have noticed that we have a new blog format. When you click on “blog” at the top of the page, you will see a chronological display of all of our featured posts, by all of our featured editors. If you want to read my posts, click on “CEO Blog” under “categories” on the right hand side of the page. Also check out our hysterical editor, “Boutique Peek” who highlights some of the best boutiques in the country. Finally, we have a new writer who focuses specifically on great fashion websites. This is under “Links we love”. There are more categories to come! Stay tuned!

Blog Entry: My Photo Shoot

carla — Sat Jul 12 08:50:25 -0700 2008

I did a Photo Shoot this week with a professional photographer. I’ve only done about 5 of these in my life. Once when I was 5, when I was 16 and getting into acting, when I was 20, when I was married, and when I was pregnant. This time, it was for business. When I arrived at Kathleen Harrison’s studio I had done my hair and make-up and I was armed with a bunch of outfits (all black and white-classic). I had geared myself up to boldly say: “I want you to make me look like a super-model who is being shot for a lifestyle magazine” Hell, if I am going to be shy about what I want, I won’t get it. Right? Kathleen shows me a few black and white photos of professionals. “No. No, no, no. I don’t want the corporate headshot stuff. It’s not me. I want these shots to be fun and flirty and casual and not too posed. This is fashion. I tried to fit into the corporate image and it just doesn’t work. I have to be me” Kathleen is probably thinking to herself, “Oh boy. I have a live one on my hands.” Realize that I make all of these demands with a big smile on my face while I am running around, digging though bags of clothes and accessories. I am a FUN, demanding bitch. We start the shoot on a white backdrop. I pretend I am a model moving to new poses between clicks. Kathleen encourages me for a while but I soon run out of moves to make. We take a quick look at a few shots on her camera and I my heart sinks. Where are my eyelids? My hair looks frizzy. Ugh, my mouth looks so tight when I try not to smile. Gosh. I am really not the person I think I am when I look in the mirror. Oh well. I look pretty good, FOR MY AGE. What a friggen show stopper that is, isn’t it? FOR MY AGE. What the hell happened to my eyelids? They are hidden beneath the upper brow. God, this is a reality check. So, we take a million more shots. I am having fun with some of them… it’s getting better. Clearly, I have no training in this because when Kathleen tells me to kick my leg up, I turn my ankle in a way that makes me look like I have a fat calf and no foot. We go outside where I can ham it up in natural light. I am embarrassed by the cars, bikes and people going by thinking, “Who does she think SHE is? A Super Model? NOT!” God forbid , I run into someone I know. A young man (boy of 20 something) walks by and then turns around to ask what we are up to. It’s perfect timing because we are having a hard time getting the reflector to stay still. He offers to help. Oh god, now I have an audience. Funny thing is, NOW I am really having fun. There is something about a young man standing there appreciating you that makes you feel… fun and flirty and sexy. These are the best shots of the day. I look at a few and recognize me for who I think I look like. Phew! Kathleen is brilliant. Here is her site http://www.kathleenharrison.com And here are a few shots.

Blog Entry: Mountain Biking with Patty

carla — Fri Jun 27 07:57:50 -0700 2008

Every time I go out mountain biking with my friend Patty she pushes me beyond my comfort zone. Last Saturday was the first time in a loooong time that I even went out on my bike with someone else. I like to exercise at my own pace; neither waiting for someone slower than I am or anxiously trying to catch up with someone who is stronger than me. Patty and I were at the peak of my normal mountain biking loop and I already felt like I wanted to puke. While it was only 8’oclock in the morning, the weather has been in the 100’s lately and I was probably dehydrated. “Okay, ready to circle back down?” I said “No, we have another climb,” Patty answered. “We need to climb White’s Hill and then hook up on the B-17 near Tamarancho” (we’re so damn cool, aren’t we?) “Shit Patty… I’m scared. (She laughed) Okay.. Let’s go!” Patty takes me to a peak of a mountain where I can then see all of Marin. It’s a spectacular day with funny puffy clouds and it’s clear as a bell. I wish I brought my camera. These shots could be amazing! We start heading down on the crest of a mountain with the trail falling away on both sides. I feel like I am on a carnival ride because like an infinity pool, the trail is so steep, I can’t see it over the edge. Even with my ass totally hanging off the back to combat the bike from pitch poling, my rear tire is skidding out. I know I should let off the breaks to prevent skidding but the trail is so steep my fear inspired iron grip won’t loosen. If I lose control I’ll fall off either side of the mountain and probably won’t stop. We get to the bottom of this mountain and I am silent.. almost in tears and pretty pissed at Patty. I suddenly remember this primitive feeling from when my father used to put me in situations where I was terrified and had no choice but to push through. He would take me to the top of KT 22 (a black diamond ski run) at Squaw Valley when I was just a kid. I’d cry and skid down the mountain, hating him for putting me through such terror. From an early age, my father never pushed me in team sports but he was an outdoorsman and he would take me backpacking in the Sierras. When I was 14, we went backpacking with a group of 11 friends; some of the kids were my age. My father and I split off for a few days on “solo cross country” trip. “Okay, let’s go off the trail here” My Dad said. I was filled with fear and dread right away. “Where are we going Dad?” “I don’t know.. Let’s just check it out and see where we end up!” I hate this shit. We first climb a mountain made of shale. We take one step forward and slide two steps back. God Dammit. We finally make it to the peak (we are above tree line: 13,000 feet), look down the other side and discover that the only way down is a slope of ice. I start to cry. “How are we going to get down this mountain Dad???” We can’t walk down. We decide to take off our backpacks and throw them ahead of ourselves so we can literally slide down the ice mountain. Needless to say, we survived. I have some good stories to tell but this feeling of being out of control and someone putting me in a scary situation causes me great anxiety. Patty and I aren’t done with our ride. Next she takes me on my first single track trail. It’s a beautiful trail that winds through a forest of oaks and redwoods but she instructs me not to look down. “Just keep your eyes on the trail in front of you.” The trail is about 12 inches wide and again, the mountain falls away steeply on one side. If I fall, I won’t stop. Nothing is more Zen than single track riding. You can’t think about anything else. A tree root or rock juts out of the trail, you get your tires stuck and you are a goner. If I don’t finesse my way under and around a low hanging branch or trunk I’ll be sure to dislocate my shoulder or snap my neck. Another mountain biker comes up behind us, expertly maneuvers between Patty and I on the 6 inches of trail we leave him and while he says, “You guys good? Need anything?” he skirts off into the woods. “All the cute guys are on B-17” Patty says. I look like shit when I am mountain biking.. My head is tall from my helmet. My legs feel like sausages in my shorts and that lovely Pad they put in your shorts to “protect” your underlings.. well, it is not a flattering site. Plus, I am dirty, sweaty and smelly. What would a gal like me say to a cute guy riding by on B-17? “Yeah, I do need something… I’m scared!” Patty is in hysterics. In the end, when we meet up with a trail I am familiar with, I let go of my terror and anger. I don’t need to be afraid of situations like this. If Patty can do it, I can do it. And you know what? I might just go do it again.