Got Notions?

Day 3 in New York...but the first day of our meetings!

Our first stop of the day was a company called TrimLab.  TrimLab is a great source for up-and-coming designers and small businesses who need zippers, zipper pulls, snaps, elastic, ANYTHING for a project.  The way they work is that a designer can come to them with a need for any notion and TrimLab will work with them to make sure they have the right size, color, quantity, etc.

They work with you step-by-step of the project, and provide he materials to the client at a wholesale price.  The thing that makes them stand out from other such companies is they provide FREE samples of the notion needed to the client.  That way the client can make sure it is the right product for their project.

TrimLab can even customize any notion for you!  Simply bring them your logo/design idea and they will get it manufactured for you.  Below are a few samples of custom zipper pulley they made.  The lips you may recognize, because they are the actual ones for Diane Von Furstenberg.

Another great thing about TrimLab is their involvement in the community and their willingness to help guide emerging designers.  Their conference space hosts many a party and they try to have gatherings that allow fashion industry veterans and emerging designers to mingle under one roof.  They also host competitions that allow emerging designers to showcase their talents and utilize their products.

Up next was M & S Schmalberg, a family-owned company that produces handmade flowers.

This company was so awesome! They have been in business for 99 years, and still use the same flower making techniques from the very beginnings.  The current owner, Warren, was a hoot and you could tell he takes pride in the fabulous work his company does.

M & S Schmalberg has done flowers for many celebrities, Disney movies, ballet companies, you name it.  They can use any fabric the customer provides them with, and create any flower shape using one of there many molds.  They can also do shapes other than flowers, such as butterflies, stars, etc.

No matter what they are making, the shapes are die-cut from fabric that has been stiffened with a water/starch mixture.  The piece of fabric that is left once the shapes are cut is just as cool as the actual shapes.  Warren was nice enough to let us actually take some of the leftover die-cut fabric with us!

They had so many extra flowers in the warehouse and we were able to purchase whatever we wanted.  I bought this awesome two-tone vinyl flower.  Touring M & S Schmalberg showed that handmade is better and many customers still love quality over quantity.

Our next stop after M & S Schmalberg was at RMC USA, Inc.  RMC is a company that produces knit goods for many companies, but their main client is Anthropologie.  RMC does everything from start to finish.  They select the yarns, dye them, knit them up and show samples, rework if needed, and ultimately produce the final product.

Our final stop was Earnshaw's, a renown magazine for those involved in the childrenswear industry.  There, we were able to talk with the creative director, Trevett.  He was awesome.  We learned about how they find inspiration for their photoshoots.  Pretty much they get that aha moment from a location.  They will scout far and wide to find that perfect place.  For instance, my favorite shoot of theirs was the 70s spread.  Trevett said they scoured for days looking for the perfect place and then found that vintage, abandoned bowling alley.  Hey also pulled inspiration from The Brady Bunch.  So much creativity flows through each and every employee at Earnshaw's and you can really see it.

That night, we went to dinner at a Contemporary American restaurant called Commerce.

Monday was a great learning day and it only got better from there!  Until Tuesday!