I think I have looked at these images every day this week – I’m in awe. The color, the format, the incredible detail.
I’ve always loved understanding the process behind things – and even though I know how exactly how much work it takes to take an item from concept to reality, it still feels sort of magical to me when I see a finished product. Christopher Payne’s incredible photography makes that process seem even more magical
“Christopher Payne has spent much of the past few years photographing more than 20 of the mills that make up what’s left of America’s textile industry…
He uses a large-format view camera — just a lens, a bellows and a ground focusing glass — that exposes individual sheets of 4-by-5-inch film; the setup for his long-exposure shots often takes hours. He describes his work as an attempt “to convey the significance of places and processes, once marvels of their time, that have now fallen into obsolescence” and yet remain vital to the few people left who employ these methods and purchase these goods.”
We’ve talked about a lot of the economic/logic-based reasons for supporting American designers and makers – but when it comes down to it, it’s all about the connection. If you make incredible products but you aren’t very nice or your other business practices aren’t as thoughtful, I’m a lot less likely to continue to support you. But if you surprise me and inspire me, I’ll be you customer and advocate for as long as you’ll have me.
Giejo, Gabby Sabharwal’s swimwear line, is the perfect example of a brand that I love (and an A List brand, of course!). I discovered Giejo last year while searching frantically for a suit for a trip to Tulum. I was getting ready to leave my corporate job and my frustration and anxiety had manifested itself in a pretty significant weight gain (turns out, cinnamon rolls and pizza aren’t meant to be eaten every day! who knew?!). I knew I needed a new suit but I dreaded the experience… swimsuit shopping is not my idea of fun. I came across Giejo and loved the cuts and mixed patterns so I ordered several options and sizes. I was surprised at how good I felt when I tried them on – the fit was great, the material was fantastic, and the pieces were comfortable. I kept my favorites and sent back the rest – and then was shocked to get an email from Gabby herself, asking for my feedback on the fit and if she could help me find what I was looking for. I sort of expected the standard, well you aren’t a model so of course this won’t fit right, and was so happy to find that she really just wanted to understand how her line fit different customers and body types. That email led to a few more and this fall we met while I was in New York to talk about the line – which she has recently expanded to include the best cover ups and beach wear (can we talk about how good this bomber and this dress are? amazing.)
Gabby is incredible – she’s so passionate about her work and about keeping her production local and using sustainable materials (Giejo suits are made of deadstock fabric) and she also has a full time job managing PR for a huge label – it’s inspiring and motivating and I’m so excited to see what she does next!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
The beach, travel, the world around me, my friends and street style.
WHAT MADE YOU START YOUR LINE?
The idea to create a swimsuit came about really as something that was initially just for me. I was looking to purchase a new swimsuit for my upcoming vacation to St. Thomas with my girlfriends to celebrate my birthday.
WHAT IS THE MEANING & INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR LINE?
[gee-joe] interchangeable and multi-functional swim separates featuring versatile prints and figure-flattering silhouettes that can be mixed and matched for a unique look.
The collection is very reflective of my own personal style. I love to layer and mix and match patterns and textures when I dress and I really kept that in mind when choosing the fabrics and prints for my suits.
Another important aspect in my collection was to create multiple looks with a limited amount of pieces. This stems from my original design inspiration and the ability to mix and match prints. I love the idea of having options because not only can you get multiple wears out of say three pieces, you can also make something our own. You are not committed to a suit that is shown to you in the store. This really allows my client to create her own style, another key element to the giejo girl.
WHAT DRIVES YOU?
My passion for life. Knowing that I am living out my dream. Everyday I wake up and pinch myself that this is really it!
WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY?
A smile
WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE ESSENTIALS?
A killer bag and shoes. Also, my jewelry – each piece has a special story and reminds me of someone special in my life.
WHAT IS NEXT?
I would love to expand into mens and childrens.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?
I learn something new everyday – there is always a new challenge.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER ENTREPRENEURS?
Listen to your gut and do what feels right to you – never lose sight of your vision.
WHERE DO YOU DESIGN?
In my head throughout the day. It doesn’t all just happen at once or at one time. I am constantly inspired by the world around me!
WHERE ARE YOU MOST INSPIRED?
New York City. I could spend hours people watching. They are the real people wearing fashion. I always dreamed of moving to this city and I am grateful everyday to wake up everyday and experience what surrounds me.
WHERE DO YOU MAKE YOUR LINE?
giejo is proudly made in the USA. All of our materials are sourced locally in New York City’s Garment District and produced just across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP?
My absolute favorite place to shop is the Barneys shoe section!
WHERE DO YOU ESCAPE?
To the islands – my parents have a place in St.Thomas and St.John, so I have grown up escaping there.
WHY DO YOU MAKE YOUR COLLECTION?
To address everything that was missing in the swim market. I tried to address everything that I felt was missing from the market that my friends and I were looking for, because honestly the giejo girl is me and all of my girlfriends too. We wanted swim that was fashion forward and that would make us stand out on the beach.
WHY DO YOU MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA?
I think it is important to support the industry here. You also have a better understanding of the conditions and can be a part of the process by proximity.
WHY IS AMERICAN MADE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
It helps to support our economy and drive local businesses – I love having the personal relationships with the mom and pop stores in the garment district and my guys at the factory are like family.
WHY DOES MANUFACTURING IN AMERICA SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS?
I have more control and as I mentioned earlier can be more a part of the process. I can just drive through the tunnel and check-in to ensure that production is running smoothly and correctly – you have no idea how much can be lost in translation!
WHY IS YOUR COLLECTION DIFFERENT?
We support sustainable fashion by utilizing vintage and reclaimed textiles in our limited-edition designs.
Sarah Jessica Parker once told Vanity Fair, “If you’re a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barneys. It’s the decadent reward.” And who am I to disagree with SJP?
Barney’s is one of my favorite online sites to browse, and a must-stop whenever I travel… It’s also one of the few online retailers that clearly states which products are American-made! Suffice to say, I am incredibly excited to be featured on the Barneys blog, The Window, this week!
Check out the interview to learnwhat I’d wear if trapped in a Barneys overnight (dream come true!), see what I’d ask Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of Rag & Bone, and for some of my favorite advice….
I also loved picking my favorite American-made items currently available at Barneys… I want all of this stuff! Check back tomorrow for an interview with Giejo founder Gabby Sabharwal.
AND! I updated The A List with even more of my favorite American-made brands. The A List is made up of the brands I regularly shop and recommend; a collection of what I consider to be the best American-made brands. The goal is to make it easier for you to find what you are looking for! Search by state, by product, and by category…
Did you set a fitness related resolution this year? I didn’t, exactly… but I do start basically every week thinking I’ll work out more than I did the last week, so it’s kind of an ongoing thing for me.
New workout gear is definitely a motivator for me – maybe I’m vain for caring what I look like while working out, but it really does seem to help.
When it comes to work out clothes, quality matters, to a point. The cut and material absolutely have to be right – no one wants to be adjusting tops or pulling up their pants all day long (or see other people doing that!) but I also don’t think of most of my work out clothes as investment pieces – they obviously get sweaty, are thrown in gym bags, washed frequently, etc. I want them to last for six months to a year, but I’m not expecting anything longer.
I’ve yet to find a favorite brand (and my thighs definitely touch, which may explain why a certain big brand doesn’t work for me!) but I’ll be trying these out this year. Any other American-made favorites I should check out?
