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The Alive wrote
Can Columbus become a Midwestern fashion capital?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
By Brittany Kress
Take a look at the street corners, the sidewalks, the grocery stores. It’s a sea of people in sweatshirts and sneakers, and that casual, Midwest lifestyle is stifling Columbus designers’ best intentions.
Well, so are the makeshift studios they’re working from in bedrooms and living rooms across the city.
But it’s not just quality craftsmanship, training and education, sweatshop-style long nights and promotional efforts that’ll put the city’s designers on the map. Simply put, if Columbus wants to become a fashion capital – and plenty are pushing for it – we’re going to have to start looking more like New York. Or at least shopping a little more local, and with a little more style. Because designers can’t get respect coming from a city of sweatpants.
Alive’s Featured Fashion Designers:
- Columbus Style: Akira Burgess
- Columbus Style: Working from home
- Columbus Style: Brad Osting and Justin Hemm
- Alive & Unedited: Project Runway’s Terri Stevens
- Columbus Style: Shannon Mingus
So then it could be considered frivolous during the warmer months and anyone wearing one is ridiculous?
I understand what you’re getting at, and I’m partly just playing Devil’s Advocate here, but ultimately I think the whole issue could be dealt with by you just not caring about what other people choose to wear or not wear, right? ;)
Wasn’t trying to be a pompous ass… maybe a little cutesy…
I guess I see the keffiyeh thing differently. Prior to it becoming the hipster accessory du jour, I thought of it as either a symbol of Palestinian resistance or something that could be pulled over the face to keep flying debris out of the mouth and nose. I believe it can also be worn over the head as a turban.
Anyhow, symbols have meaning. Function has meaning. Are Americans wearing it as an act of solidarity with Palestine? Occasionally, maybe, but in general I kind of doubt it. Just like I doubt it’s being used to keep anything out of their faces.
Yeah, except I pointed out the social stigma attached to not wearing a shirt. That is a ‘soft’ function, but it certainly serves a very significant purpose.
Hey, I openly admitted that I was choosing to put a target on my back, didn’t I? :lol:
Sounds like a frivolous accessory to me. ;)
Anyway, to try to steer some of this back on topic…
I wrote about local D’Ira clothing on my blog back in March, and like some of their sweater designs. I wasn’t going to pick up a sweater in the Spring though, so perhaps now that it’s getting cool enough I need to place that order. ;)
Anyone else have any other local favorites not mentioned by the Alive?
I think the cost of living really hurts the ability to be a “fashion capital.” Now bear with me here. My cost of living here is lower than what it was before, and in such, I get paid less. That works out fine for me on most fronts (rent, food, gas, etc.), and leaves me with about the same percentage of my paycheck left over as before. However, slick clothes cost the same here as they cost me in Seattle/San Francisco/New York and while I have the same percentage of free money available, that percentage is smaller in actual amount of money.
Thus, I can’t just drop 30-40 bucks on a t-shirt without thinking twice, or 150-175 on jeans.
Not to mention, the sheer population of people, in Columbus, who have the income necessary to put fashion as a priority, and who match the body type of some of the more stylish clothing makers (I’m looking at you Ben Sherman, Ted Baker, and G-Star… why must you make me cry? You loved me 40 lbs ago… now I have to shop at fucking Old Navy, are you happy now?), aren’t quite as common in sheer numbers as in other “fashion capitals.”
First of all, I’m going to have to take a bit of opposition to this slamming of scarves…for obvious reasons!!!
Second of all, I work in the fashion industry in Columbus. There’s a helluva lot more going on here than most people are aware of, and there’s a reason David and Lee and Ford have had agencies in Cleveland over the last decade (doing most of their bookings to the south of Cleveland, btw). I dare say, I’d put my models up against any in Chicago, and in fact several of mine have worked both markets and made more here…and btw, both are commercial markets, not fashion, anyway. Chicago is looked at in cities like NY, Miami, Milan, etc. as being about on par with Columbus.
Once again, however, Tenzo has no freaking clue what he’s talking about…imagine that.
btw, Project Runway standards for fashion design?
Ohio=3
Illinois=0
at least this season. That’s almost 20% of the total contestants from Ohio.
The scarf thing.
Beyond the obvious (fashion accessory), the “scarf thing” has several functions. During the summer going in and out of places with air conditioning blasting it can help – if you seriously get cold. I do. Another function is simple. It’s an in-expensive way to add a pop of color to an otherwise dull outfit. It’s a trend. Trends come and go. Big deal. As far as a scarf somehow being emasculating? R U 4 real.. Rather, get real. Sounds like someone is being haunted by their inner-man lover. Why would a guy pay that much attention to other dudes and give a shit for that matter.
I think there is large element of Columbus that thinks anything for males that is actually fashionable is somehow feminine.
Good fashion, like good design is a balance of form and function. Aesthetics and their relationship to the self at that moment – matter. If it was all about “function” we’d be running around in government issued denim diapers shitting ourselves.
Inexpensive and good fashion can work. That’s why I think landing a Zara store (known precisely for being able to churn out fashionable articles at surprisingly reasonable prices) would be a hit. Currently, there is not even one located in Chicago, yet there is one in Dallas, so we’d be the only place in the Great Lakes and greater Midwest. It might even draw shoppers from other cities who would then see what else we have to offer. We were able to get and apparently support a Roche Bobois after all.
Great point. How you put it all together is really what makes smart fashion work, which is why the rich just can’t buy their way into good fashion IMO.
Fashion seems to be varied enough that if you have your own personal, distinctive style, you really can’t go wrong. I knew of one gal who attempted to set a fashion trend by wearing thongs as hats. Who knows, that may catch on eventually.
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! Columbus needs a store like Zara or Sisley or Mango or Club Monaco and, in particular, a better H&M! These stores allow people to buy fashionable, relatively nicely made and long lasting (if taken care of) clothing at pretty reasonable prices. If Columbus can support a Saks, Nordstroms, Henri Bendel, Cole Haan, Puma, Von Maur, and Tiffany and Co., we can sure as hell support a Zara, Sisley, and another Benetton and H&M.
Ooh, a Zara would be a good fit. But if they (or any other particular national or international retailer) aren’t interested in Columbus, why wait? I think the Alive feature is more about the local talent, and those designers should look to fill the gaps in the market. And then we should support them to be the next big thing.
I think part of the problem could be that 95% of our “fashion” lies outside of the downtown core. While you can find some of these stores being mentioned in Columbus, they’re all in suburban shopping centers. Which is find and dandy that they are here, but it doesn’t compare to the “high fashion” of NYC or LA that we’re talking about. The Short North is the closest thing we have to a “Fashion District” and I don’t think it will ever truly become that.
I don’t think it’s anti-suburb to say that fashion is born out of urban centers. If anyone wants to see Columbus become a capital of fashion though, there needs to be some sort of concentrated effort at some level to create some sort of cluster of businesses in one spot in or around downtown. Designers, producers, retailers, agencies, scouting offices. All in one spot.
i agree with the suburban dearth of fashion ideas. that’s why my shop isn’t here in lewis center, but in clintonville.
the idea of making stuff to fill a department store doesn’t appeal to me though. i know no one is asking me to do it, just saying :).
the thing is, it’s hard to find clothes made in the usa. many of the stores that sell cool LOOKING clothes at reasonable prices go to other countries for cheaper labor. i know that’s not what we are talking about, but it’s a big issue for me when i’m shopping for clothes.
I don’t think it’s anti-suburb to say that fashion is born out of urban centers. If anyone wants to see Columbus become a capital of fashion though, there needs to be some sort of concentrated effort at some level to create some sort of cluster of businesses in one spot in or around downtown. Designers, producers, retailers, agencies, scouting offices. All in one spot.
completely agree. the arena district, for example, would be a great place to have “fashion district” because it’s the closest location to the largest concentration of foot traffic in our downtown core. there are plenty of open lots to fill in. the area would be a great recruiting tool because of it’s “hip” location and proximity to, well, everything. maybe even tie a new district in with the redeveloped city center and riversouth district.
it just dissappoints me to no end that our major fashion company’s (abercrombie, limited, victorias secret, etc.) have no interest in moving even one of their many divisions into the urban core. in fact, they really don’t do much of anything when it comes to promoting the city as a fashion hub. it’s like their existance is only to provide jobs. hell, there are probably alot of people who live in columbus who don’t even know these companies are based here. i just think they should get more involved with their city. stop building in the burbs, throw more fashion shows, help make downtown more “hip”……..anything. you want to help keep some of the young professionals in town, here’s a way you can help. somebody mentioned it earlier……chicago’s merchandise mart, just a smaller version.
What most of our local designers are missing is a place to sell their creations. I suggest a Fashion Co-op. Perhaps they could find a space downtown or on High St. in either Clintonville or the Short North.
You know there is this large, empty building sitting on a huge parcel of land right in the heart of downtown Columbus this idea would be perfect for.
:D
Easton-schmeaston.
I would agree. My observation is that these companies actually try everything within their power to disassociate themselves with this city. They do have a large retail presence in the urban core of major metros, which they take a loss on. The goal of these locations is not to push product though. These stores of course are an exercise in image and branding to further the illusion of these fictitious brand narrative fantasies.
I’m not really sure what you guys are looking for in a “fashion district.” The Short North is host to the best shops in the region already. In 5 blocks we fill every fashion niche I can think of with:
Rowe, Sole Classics, Tigertree, Substance, Jinny, Milk Bar and Alternative Apparel. And that’s just clothing. If someone goes out like Ivy Hill, there is someone lined up to take their space before they’ve even left. If there is something you want that you can’t find, tell us and someone will pick it up.
We could really use some chains. I would love a Zara. I would also love a CB2 or some other reasonably priced modern furnishings place.
Why the hell would you want to start a fashion district in the arena district, two blocks over from the foundation we’ve already laid?