Billy Reid, Graduate of The Art Institute of Dallas, Wins Big!

Note:
After reading the press release below, be sure to check out the GQ BLOG for their take on Billy Reid's recent win at Fashion Week!


photo: Peggy Sirota

GQ NAMES BILLY REID 2010 BEST NEW MENSWEAR DESIGNER IN AMERICA
NEW YORK (February 12, 2010) – GQ announced today Billy Reid as winner of the third annual Best New Menswear Designers in America project.

GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson and creative director Jim Moore, along with the fashion editors of the magazine, had selected five other designers as finalists: Burkman Bros designers Doug and Ben Burkman, Richard Chai, Caulfield Preparatory designer Vincent Flumiani, J. Crew menswear designer Frank Muytjens, and UNIS designer Eunice Lee. Each designer will be featured in the March 2010 issue.

On February 4, the designers presented their collections before an expert panel including GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson, GQ creative director Jim Moore, CFDA executive director Steven Kolb, Levi’s® svp of merchandising & design Erik Joule, Bloomingdale’s vice president of fashion direction Kevin Harter, and Calvin Klein Collection men's creative director Italo Zucchelli. They then showcased a selection of looks at a party at the IAC Building on the evening of February 11, after which the judges convened to determine the winner.

As the winner, Billy Reid receives a $50,000 cash prize and the opportunity to create a limited-edition collection for the Levi’s® brand. His collection will receive an exclusive month long debut at several Bloomingdale’s locations in the fall. He will also participate in a mentoring program led by GQ, the Levi’s® brand, and Bloomingdale’s. A select item or outfit from his collection will be featured in the September 2010 issue of GQ.

William “Billy” Reid grew up Amite, Louisiana, just south of the Mississippi line. In 2004, he launched Billy Reid, a collection with roots in the designer’s Southern past. Today, Billy works out of his flagship shop and studio in Florence, AL. The store is furnished with Reid family heirlooms, and serves as a lodestar for his other boutiques. Additional Billy Reid shop locations include New York City, Nashville, Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas, and Houston.

Billy Reid is preceded by 2009 Best New Menswear Designer Robert Geller, and Engineered Garments designer Daiki Suzuki in 2008.

Source: LeviStrauss.com

Alexander McQueen

News that has shaken the fashion world...
Alexander McQueen, 40 years old, has been found dead in his home.
Read more HERE.

Alexander McQueen

Photo by Marcio Madeira for Style.com

Invitation - Meet a Stylist/Costume Designer...

Click on the image below for more information:

DIFFA

The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) is the oldest and one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide over $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide Starting with volunteers from fashion, interior design, furnishings and architecture, supporters of DIFFA now come from every field associated with fine design.

This year, why don't YOU volunteer at DIFFA Dallas?

Click HERE for information about Volunteering. If you are under 21, make sure you call/email to find out specifically how you can volunteer (stuffing gift-bags, etc.).

Volunteer Opportunities

NBA Wifes Luncheon benefitting the Susan G. Komen Foundation
February 12th
Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Dallas
400 Olive Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Dallas Ballrom

Needing 9 Dressers! Women only!
Call time is 10am until 2pm
Please bring snacks and a water bottle
You are to dress comfortably but nice in all black. Bring a sweater (backstage is cold).

Interested? Email rschambers@sbcglobal.net

The Elisa Project Fashion Show
Benefitting the Elisa Project www.theelisaproject.org
March 3rd
Dallas Market Center, Trade Mart Pavilion
Trade Mart
2100 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207

Needing 16 Dressers, 3 male dressers and 13women dressers!
Call time is 800:am to 12:00pm.
Please bring snacks and a water bottle.
You are to dress comfortably but nice in all black. Bring a sweater (backstage is cold).

Interested? Email rschambers@sbcglobal.net

Show What You Can't Say!

StylePortfolios.com is a website that allows you to build an online presence, as well as look for job opportunities. The cost to build a portfolio ranges from FREE on up...

Even if you aren't ready to build a portfolio yet, you will be able to view portfolios from other young designers, allowing you to scope out the competition!

Q: How will an online portfolio help my job search?
An online portfolio with StylePortfolios.com will allow you to communicate your talent in a quick, cost effective manner. With the click of a mouse, potential employers will be able to see your designs and learn about about the skills that make you unique.
Consider this: If two different designers send their resume to the same recruiter at the same time AND one of those resumes reads: "portfolio available upon request" and the other has a hyperlink to an online portfolio (styleportfolios.com/yourname.htm). Which designer has the advantage?

Amanda Vick - Ai Grad - Handbag Designer. In her own words...

Amanda Clevenger-Vick is a Fashion (Handbag) Designer who graduated in September 2008.
She currently works at a small company called Trenditions. Recently, she and her manager from Trenditions visited our Design Portfolio Show looking for possible New-Recruits (you see -this is why Portfolio Shows are a great place to network...).

Here's what Amanda has to say about her job:

"Since I work for a small company, my day is jammed packed with stuff to do other then just designing. I am in charge of specification sheets, the photography for our catalogs and splitting the design work with our other designer. We have four brands: Way West, Western Trenditions, Wrangler and Cowgirl Up. We are currently working on designs for Fall 2010. This season, I took 2 brands and the other designer took 2 brands. So my brands for Fall 2010 are Way West and Cowgirl Up. I would like to say that I have a regular day and do the same thing over and over - but that just isn't the case. If we are designing for new collections, then a regular day includes going through my library of swatches, looking for inspiration and then actually trying to design a collection. I start with one silhouette and I just go from there. A collection for us is about 3 bags(different shapes) and a wallet. If we are preparing for the catalog, then a regular day includes all day photo shoots.

The biggest challenge in my job is probably the photography. I came into it not knowing a whole lot about photography. That is something I wish I took in school for sure. Then i get the photography for the catalog handed to me. It took me awhile to get the hang of it, and I feel like I am constantly learning something new in that area. But when our Spring 2010 catalog came out a few weeks ago, I was very proud of my work.

My Greatest accomplishment is probably all the experience I have gained just working in the industry for a year. Although I do have to admit that it is a pretty awesome feeling seeing an idea that you had in your head go from just a design to a sample then to production and now actually selling."

We will be featuring photos of Amanda's recent designs, as well as more info on Trenditions in future blog entries, so keep reading! Below is a photo of Amanda with one of the Trendition handbags she designed: