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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
Our dress is moderately comparable, at least the times i’ve bumped into you it seems so, and having spent two years living in the short north i have never once had anyone say any harrassing/negative remarks to me about it.
Same holds true the countless times I’ve been harassed here in the Short North. The delivery usually comes from some Applebees fed heavy attired in a boxy shirt that fits like grandma’s muu muu.
Based on your comments in this thread, I’m not sure why you’re so offended by being called names based on your appearance when you’ve been quite judgemental yourself. This whole thing started because you didn’t know how guys that don’t dress like you got dates. Seems like what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
I’d also like to posit that the thorough ineptitude of every single variation on fashion/style/whatever journalism that appears in hardcopy Columbus newspapers/weeklies/bird cage liners is not helping. It’s all straight flyover, whether it’s the![]()
http://209.85.62.26/12257/100/emo/emot-smithicide.gif of some empty-eyed girl fresh from Dr. Mojoe in some dated L.A. Trash Liberace bar slut steez or the “HAY GUYS CAN YOU BELIEVE I GOT ALL THIS STUPID LOOKING SHIT AT THRIFT STORES??? LOL LOOK A SUIT” variety.
I am looking at you Columbus Alive.
I agree with Jon’s assertion that A&F, at least in its current incarnation, has an extremely confused brand identity that would be difficult to pin to any legitimate “lifestyle” branding. At its core, the Abercrombie & Fitch aesthetic is one of the most profoundly gay things (in the literal sense) that has been accepted in a seemingly unironic manner by suburbanite normals. This confuses the hell out of me, it seems a bit like bumming around Reynoldsburg and seeing loads of dudes in Comme des Garçons just chilling.
This makes the situation of plucked-over, gelled-up douchebags all jackassed up in their stripeys and bootcuts reeking of date rape and Abercrombie Woods, looking like they just crept out of the pages of Inches Magazine in a soma haze calling anyone in the entire world a fag all the more mindblowing.
Same holds true the countless times I’ve been harassed here in the Short North. The delivery usually comes from some Applebees fed heavy attired in a boxy shirt that fits like grandma’s muu muu.
Based on your comments in this thread, I’m not sure why you’re so offended by being called names based on your appearance when you’ve been quite judgemental yourself. This whole thing started because you didn’t know how guys that don’t dress like you got dates. Seems like what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Umm. Of course, one will judge others when being judged. Duh..
I don’t however walk around this neighborhood screaming “FAT HICK” every time someone is pokin around on the sidewalk with their head in the clouds.
I’ve always relished the irony of that brand for that very reason.
I hear all the well dressed kitties are wearing capes this year (not gay but may be bi-curious)
/\/\ – LOL – :lol:
I am so grateful we have Saks here. It helps people stay with the program. If you cannot afford Saks you hopefully go to see and then try to find at other shops for a discount or have friends that will let you use their discount.
BTW if anyone has not had the pleasure of seeing Jon Meyers in real life, he is always sporting something fashionable. I love to see men wearing D&G, ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA, MOSCHINO, THEORY, ETRO, DIOR, ARMANI ANY day over Abercrombie :roll: As for women’s fashion, I would prefer to see more fashion than tramp—you can find deals at TJMAXX Henderson Rd. There is this Escada top that I am so in love with–bell sleeve sweater $1500…but I will find it or something similar for under $100. Filenes basement also has some great deals on great fashion.
In what is considered a “town coup” Columbus has netted one of the foremost fashion consultants to rocket the city into the designer capital of the Midwest
“I think High street is as fashionable as Pa-ree”; said Minnie, modeling her new hat.
^^^^^^^^^
I thought Walker told you to keep your whiny “I hate Columbus” garbage in your own thread.
i just hate spending tons of money on something made by a 12 year old in guatemala
Dude, give it up. I know you get off on making an ass out of yourself in public, but it’s getting old. Publicly mocking people (or an entire city, for that matter) for what you see as a lack of sophistication…is decidedly unsophisticated.
Woah, I have to call you on that one Enzo. We have got to have the worst Saks (and Nordstrom for while I am at it) in the country.
Tenzo, what are you wearing? $100 says if I pulled you and Jon Myers into the same place right now, Jon would have you beat. Scott Litch too. There are some others but they are not on here and I do not want to be naming names.
You are so hyper focused on the lack you are missing the beauty.
I suppose it depends on what you appreciate. Some people do not value fashion and that is ok. I wish I could afford Escada, Dior and Akris Punto all the time but as a single mom, if there is not a bargain it is not going to happen….however, I am not going to wear some ratty nasty something..I am going to find something on sale or a replica. This is why I love TJMaxx and Marshalls because they will have top designer items from a past season and that is ok, it is still fantastic and I hate mass produced anything. ALSO do not forget resale and vintage shops…my most favorite dress came from a resale shop…had it cut and hemmed it looked like Valentino but I spent a total of $22!!!!!!
Nordstrom is lame here, but Saks is ok!!!!! We have a Chanel boutique!!! We have La Perla lingerie, Les Copains, Armani and the ability to get anything in from any other Saks. I love Saks. I miss the discount.
Jesus Christ Tenzo, go back to Chicago already. I’ll help you pack.
I won’t really help you pack.
Jumping in here very late I have to say As a fashion designer in Columbus there are several obstacles and this is just my opinion since I have been on Hiatus for 3 years and just re-entering designing.
I have lived in Chicago and NYC and the biggest things there are that they have SUPPLIES. I find it hard to find a good supplier of findings, trimmings, cloth, etc. What makes it easy in NYC and why express, limited, A&F, Victoria secret do all their Design work there is because they can easily access the materials they need for their prototypes/designs. I find that I have to hunt in tapestry section of Joann’s, hope that Stitching post gets in patterns or fabrics I need or just Wait for my trip to Chicago or NYC to pick up what I need. I hate to order online because I can’t see and feel it and Shipping KILLS ME.
Even in Chicago I had no problem getting around without a car to get my supplies and they even had garment LEATHER I could buy locally which was a treasure!
I love Columbus and I grew up here all my 27 years with the exception of 5 years in chicago and NYC for school. I don’t plan on moving and I do want there to be a successful garment/fashion entity here. I think Kelly Martin and AmyD are great inspirations for me because they did it! They own stores and pay the bills and still get to do what they love. They are also to completely different styles but still COLUMBUS. Who cares as long as it looks good and is appropriate for you right?
Another hinder that I have myself and I have been communicating back and forth with Nikki from Tigertree is that CCAD and a lot of fine art schools that have Fashion programs don’t force the kids to learn anything about the Business of it all. I went to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and in my 3 years of design classes we were forced to do flat sketches ONCE. I think learning the basic of how to approach boutiques business’ is really important and CCAD doesn’t seem to enforce it or have it from what I know. I can sympathize with the boutiques that it would get annoying to have students coming in trying to sell themselves with no professionalism, product or terms. This is a big thing of me because I know that I don’t know these things either and last thing I want to do is waste their time and look like another Ass off the street.
Lastly I have a made it a personal goal/mission of mine to try and get to know the local fashion spots in Columbus and be genuine. I’m looking forward to more great discussions with Nikki and Josh from Tigertree. I am going to do some work with Kelli Martin on her upcoming fashion show that you ALL better BE THERE!!!!!! I went to the AmyD fashion show at liquid. I wish there was something and I would LOVE to organize something that get’s us all together to discuss this thread. I think if we all knew each other better and worked together it will only generate a better buzz of it all. Everyone I’ve seen has such fantastically different styles there wouldn’t be competition.
I’ve also hopped on board as soon as Ryan Morgan contacted me about the Halloween Highball. The way I see it the more people who actively participate the better! I want to make it work in Columbus Fashion however you see it is what looks good and invokes self confidence IMO.
A&F and the Limited do their design work right here in Columbus. We have some draw backs with notions, sure. You have to work in trips to the garment districts when you’re on the coasts for that. I always bring friends along so they know how to get back when I really need something. If you do leather though, you couldn’t be in a better location. Weaver Leather, right here in Ohio, is worlds cheaper than the place I used to get hides from in LA. Tools as well, and you can get everything from their catalogue or go in person. If you’re serious about leather working, go up, take a look through their HUGE warehouse of hides and explain to your customer service person what you want in a hide. I order the same thing at least once a month and I have never been disappointed.
For men I struggle with the Saks here. They’re ok if you like lots of Hugo Boss. Seems like women have more options (of course, they always do). The concept of an A store, B store, C store, etc. that these giant retail chains have has always pissed me off. With the exception of Chicago we always get C stores and we always seem to get the bottom of the barrel at main stream retailers here in terms of selection. Even a lame retailer like the Gap will have some decent looking clothes in magazines that you can’t buy here. Hell, I can’t even wear American Apparel anymore because they’ve adjusted their fit to be mass-market appropriate.
Maybe there is a corporate conspiracy to keep the mid-west unfashionable. :shock: