Tibi designer and founder, Amy Smilovic, began her career in the fashion industry shortly after moving to Hong Kong in 1997. Following a successful marketing position at American Express in New York City, Amy relocated to Asia with her husband and began designing a small collection of contemporary dresses. The company has rapidly expanded into its current offering of ten collections per year as well as a complete shoe line, swimwear, and home accessories. Amy hand designs a range of prints and styles to match her personal taste and distinctive approach to dressing which she showcases in the tents of Bryant Park each season during NYC’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.
Two years into the business, Amy was joined by her husband Frank Smilovic, now President of the company. Frank is responsible for developing and implementing Tibi’s global growth strategy and managing the day-to-day affairs. Before assuming this role, Frank was Senior Vice President of Gateway’s Japan, Asia and Australia operations. Prior to Gateway, Frank was with American Express for over 25 years in a variety of senior positions including Head of Finance for Europe, Vice President Worldwide Marketing based in New York and President Merchant Services Group for Asia.
September 2006 marked the opening of the first Tibi retail boutique in New York. The 2,200 square foot space, designed by Steve Blatz and Antonio Saracino, is located in SoHo at 120 Wooster Street and has received architectural acclaim in notable publications such as Interior Design Magazine. This is the first of many free standing stores in the comprehensive Tibi retail expansion strategy.
Tibi is now one of the largest contemporary lines found in over 500 specialty stores and upscale department stores worldwide including Saks Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Net-a-Porter, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Scoop. Smilovic has recently opened showrooms in Los Angeles, Dallas, London, Milan, Australia and Canada to better support the company’s expansion. Scarlett Johansson, Liv Tyler, Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon are all fans of Tibi’s sophisticated prints and feminine designs.
Amy and Frank reside in Greenwich, CT and run the business out of their 8,000 square foot loft in SoHo, NY.
Tuesday’s episode of MTV’s “The City” was all about TIBI! Please check out the episode and an interview with Amy on MTV.com; links to both below:
Click link for a full episode (season 2, episode 12) – http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-city-season-2-ep-12-lost-in-translation/1643567/playlist.jhtml
MTV.com’s interview with Amy here – http://style.mtv.com/2010/07/14/the-city-olivia-palermo-tibi-amy-smilovic/
Bettye Muller’s “Sage” espadrille is the shoe of summer 2010. As seen in People Style Watch, the Sage goes with any summer outfit. Thank you Jennifer Aniston for making espadrilles look so good!
When Anna Sui was four years old, Anna Sui was already talking about becoming a designer. “I’m not exactly sure where I got that notion. It was probably something I saw on television. I always had it in mind that a designer had beautiful fabrics around her, and a big sketchbook, and would drape cloth around a mannequin, and go out to lunch. It seemed like a very glamorous life.”
Anna Sui always went fabric shopping with her mom. Anna Sui watched her sew and would take the scraps and make doll clothes. Once she understood how patterns worked, she started making her own clothes.
Anna Sui remembers reading an article in Life Magazine about two girls who graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York and then moved to Paris, where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton opened a boutique for them. “As a kid, you think “wow”, you’ve found the magic ticket…all you have to do was move to New York and go to Parsons. Years later when I went back and re-read that article; I realized that one of the girl’s fathers was the legendary photographer, Irving Penn (which might have given them certain advantages!)”
Anna Sui did go to Parsons. In her second year, she overheard two seniors talking about a job opportunity at “Charlie’s Girls” with Erica Elias. Anna Sui ran up there with her student portfolio, and got the job. “That was probably the best job I could have ever landed because Erica gave me my very own design room to work in. I had sewing ladies. I had a draper. They had five different divisions where I could do swimwear, sportswear and sweaters. I learned how to do everything. She was a very tough boss but without that experience, I don’t think I could ever have had the same opportunities that I later enjoyed. When Charlie’s Girls closed, Erica’s name still opened doors for me at many of the other big sportswear houses.”
In 1981, Anna Sui had the idea of doing her own clothing line but didn’t really know how to go about it. Anna Sui had some friends who made jewelry and were going to try to sell it at a trade show. Anna Sui made five pieces of clothing and they asked her to share a booth with them. To her delight, she got orders from Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s (and was featured in an advertisement in The New York Times)! At the time, Anna Sui was working for a company called Glenora. The man who owned the company saw the ad and said: “Is this girl on our payroll? Why does she have an ad in the Times?” He said if she didn’t stop, he would fire her. So Anna Sui got fired.
That’s how Anna Sui started her own business. Anna Sui had a loft-like apartment, so she worked out of a little corner of her living room…but it eventually took over. One morning she woke up, opened the door from her bedroom. There were boxes everywhere, racks everywhere…and she thought, “Okay, I have to find a space. I can’t live like this anymore.” So she rented half a floor on 39th Street and moved her office there.
In 1990, Anna Sui had been in business for ten years. “Until then, I never imagined attempting to stage an actual fashion show. All my friends at the time worked in fashion. They included: photographer Steven Meisel, editor Paul Cavaco, hairdresser Garren and make-up artist Francois Nars…along with the most popular models of the time- Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington. My apartment was like “clubhouse central”. Everyone would come over. We would hang out. Birthday parties were always at my house. We all knew each other really well.”
Anna Sui’s friends got together to encourage her that it was the right time for her to take the plunge and consider producing a show. This was at the height of 1980’s “power-dressing” companies like Chanel, Lacroix and Versace. Competing against them seemed like the scariest thing Anna Sui had ever done. She felt like she had to find her own voice and present her sensibility in a staging that would stand-up next to other big-name fashion houses.
Anna Sui’s first show for fall 1991 was one of the giant breakthroughs of hery career. She suddenly started getting a lot of press notice internationally. It was a case of being in the “right place at the right time”. All the Japanese stores were coming to New York looking for American designers to develop distribution deals with. Anna Sui started getting a lot of offers. The company that she finally chose was: Isetan. It has been the most amazing partnership for her. Isetan made her collection so famous in Asia. They opened freestanding Anna Sui boutiques in Japan. Anna Sui also got 12 licenses, including a cosmetic line. And the German company, Wella (now P&G) asked to develop perfume with her. That’s really what made Anna Sui a global brand.
“I give my parents a lot of credit for my success. My father was a structural engineer and my mother studied painting. They met when they were both students in Paris. I get the business side from my father and the artistic side from my mother. After they married, they traveled throughout Europe for three years and finally settled in the U.S. My father continued studies at the University of Michigan. I was born in Detroit.”
Growing up and learning about Chinese culture from her parents, and hearing them talk about all the different places they had lived…prepared Anna Sui for thinking globally. This perspective took away any fears of being able to function in a foreign country. “Their experiences were a gift to me.”
Anna Sui’s biggest problem was always money. Starting with $300 is not a good business plan. She has always had to do extra design jobs just to keep my company going for the first 10 years. Anna Sui reinvested every penny she made back into the business. “There were times after I paid my employees that I didn’t even have enough money for a subway token, and I would have to walk to my office in the Garment Center.” In those early years, Anna Sui was often offered magazine editing positions, but had to remain steadfast about being a fashion designer. Anna Sui wanted my own thing, and resisted anything that would take her off that path. You have to have an incredible focus. “That is one of the big keys to success. There are sacrifices and tradeoffs that you have to make along the way. But you have to decide for yourself what’s more important.”
Anna Sui is a very realistic designer. She understands that there’s a big difference between a fashion show and the actual product that a consumer buys. In her own store, she sees what women want. “I hear what they’re asking for. On the runway, I’ll do crazy styling and crazy accessories, but there’s always a beautiful dress or a great shirt underneath. One of the biggest compliments is when someone tells me, “I have a dress I bought from you 10 years ago- and every time I wear it, my husband tells me look beautiful.” You can’t ask for more.”
People are attracted to Anna Sui’s fashions because of all the elements she tries to put into it — There’s always a very sweet feminine, girly aspect…a touch of nostalgia. There’s also the aspect of trendiness; the hipness Anna Sui tries to create by always adding a rock-and-roll coolness. There’s always that ambiguity…the Good Girl/Bad Girl thing. All these facets have to go into her designs, or it doesn’t look like “Anna Sui”. Every product she puts her name on has to personify the “World of Anna Sui”. “When a customer buys a tube of lipstick, it should give them the same excitement as buying a dress from my collection. If it doesn’t, then I’m not really doing my job.”
Alicia Bell tells stories. The kind of stories you love to hear, and see, and put on� creating your own little role in her tale. This story is full of magic and whimsy, romance and sophistication. A setting with a most stylish backdrop, the clothes are created from a perfect marriage of feminine Victorian style and clean modern cuts. Bell by Alicia Bell reflects a deep understanding of classic femininity, confidence and well-tailored clothing, by both the designer and her customer.
Alicia Bell was educated at Parsons School of Design in New York. Her talent and interest in fashion have taken her abroad to work with legendary designers such as Vivienne Westwood. Her line reflects the fine craftsmanship and individual sense of style taught by her established mentors. Details and tailoring are impeccable in every garment whether it is a frayed skirt hem, a ruffled collar on a cape, or a small grouping of box pleats at the back of a hobble skirt. Circle skirts magically transform into bustles with a bra hook closure and secretary tops are fitted to new buxom proportions. Rich textures in velvet and herringbone wool take flight with flowing ribbon accents and sensuous sheer lace trims.
The story continues in the most beautiful way, as Bell by Alicia Bell approaches its 7th year in business. Bell has been featured in Italian Vogue, Vogue, Elle, Women�s Wear Daily, W, Jane, Wallpaper, In Style, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Lucky, US Weekly and The New York Times.
Over the past few years Bell has developed a strong celebrity following, with loyal fans including stylish actress Shiva Rose, Grammy-winning singer Vanessa Carlton, Madonna and Oprah (who have recently been spotted wearing a Bell pleated cuff shirt).
Adam Lippes was born December 24, 1972 in Buffalo, New York. Adam Lippes attended the Nichols school in Buffalo and studied Psychology at Cornell, from where he graduated in 1994. Upon graduation from Cornell, Adam Lippes continued his studies at the American University in Paris where he focused on art history and architecture. In 1995 Adam moved to New York, and began his fashion career at Polo Ralph Lauren before moving to Oscar de la Renta, where he was quickly promoted to Global Creative Director becoming one of the youngest to hold this position in the luxury fashion world. From 1996 to 2003, Adam Lippes worked closely with Mr. de la Renta on every aspect of the brand, including design, marketing and new business development.
In 2004, Adam Lippes determined to pursue his dream of designing his own collection launched a collection of cotton basics under the label adampluseve. His desire to “fuse fashion with the perfect white tee” began with a global search for the finest manufacturers of cotton, cashmere, and wool. The Collection of Basics was launched at Saks Fifth Avenue in the spring of 2004, quickly becoming one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things” and winning O’s “Real World Style Awards.” As a result of these early successes, the business has evolved from cotton basics into a full sportswear collection for men and women, now known simply as ADAM.
In August 2007, Adam was inducted to the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). In September 2007, Adam staged his first formal runway show during New York’s Fashion Week to great critical review, gracing the cover of Women’s Wear Daily the following day. In the October 2007 issue of Vanity Fair, Mr. Lippes was chosen as a member of their elite list, “The Next Establishment,” named as one of the most important young designers of today. In December 2007, Adam opened his first freestanding boutique in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District where his men’s and women’s collections are currently showcased alongside a selection of hand-picked lifestyle accessories. In October 2008, ADAM opened its second store in Adam’s hometown of Buffalo, New York and recently opened a store in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In 2009, MANGO contracted Mr. Lippes to create limited edition collections for men and women that was sold around the world in over 900 MANGO stores.
Today the ADAM collection is available at the ADAM flagship store located in the meatpacking district of New York City, ADAM’s e-commerce site, and over 250 stores in 10 countries around the world, including Bergdorf Goodman, Jeffrey NY, Intermix, net-a-porter.com, Neiman Marcus, Lane Crawford, TSUM and Harrods.
Adam Lippes is also involved in many charities and is currently the co-chair of the Whitney Museum of American Art and a partner of the New York Humane Society, which inspired his charity event “ADAM loves dogs.” Mr. Lippes is also active in fundraising for the Sandra F. Lippes Foundation at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Mr. Lippes is 36 years old and splits his time between his homes in New York City and the Berkshires.
Autumn Cashmere introduced its very first collection in 1993. We have attained an incredible following in the United States and around the world since then. The reason for our success is simple – we have always been true to who we are.
Autumn Cashmere is a fresh, contemporary and innovative knitwear company, creating cashmere, cashmere blend and cotton sweaters and accessories that excite the senses and inspire fun living. Our identity is known by countless fashion minded consumers and many high profile celebrities.
Autumn Cashmere backs up every garment with quality and unbeatable craftsmanship. Rich cashmere and cotton yarn of the highest quality is the cornerstone of our fashion-driven philosophy. We don’t stop at innovative designs because we know our product needs to be made well, fit well, and it’s got to be comfy!
From the beginning, Autumn Cashmere recognized that the contemporary cashmere market was largely untapped. Most luxury knitwear companies offered fairly traditional product, lacking in stylistic elements and seasonality. Where did that leave the fashion consumer? Starving for something to wear!
We offer affordable price points, seasonal updates and a flexible merchandising range. These ingredients have enabled us to create and maintain a strong appeal with both retailers and consumers.
On the technical side, we have a vertically integrated operation that creates a synergy between design, production and distribution. Autumn Cashmere owns its production facilities in Shanghai, China. This helps us provide superior quality and craftsmanship, while creating a unique blend between the art of design and the science of production.
A youthful spirit is the heart of our company. Our creative staff brings a fresh and innovative approach to cashmere design experimenting with an array of super soft yarns, luxurious trims and high fashion inspired styles.
Autumn Cashmere’s popularity and reputation secures us consistent placement on the pages of many fashion magazines including InStyle, Lucky, Elle, Glamour, Vogue, Teen Vogue and many more. Kate Hudson, Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, Will Smith, Ryan Reynolds and Penn Badgley are just a few of the stars enamored by Autumn Cashmere.
With a collection of vintage designer shoes that once exceeded 500 pairs, Bettye Muller is what you might call a connoisseur- though, she didn’t always realize footwear was her specialty. Instead, the New York native spent her early years as a competitive ice skater and ice skating instructor, graphic designer, shoe model and soap opera actress before she created her first small collection of shoes while living in London in the 1980s.
When she returned to the States, Bettye designed shoes for labels including L’Emporio, Henri Bendel, Marc Jacobs for Perry Ellis and Linda Allard for Ellen Tracy before taking her professional pursuits to Miami, Florida. She eventually returned home to New York City and in 1998 started her own label with just a handful of styles.
Today, her 60-piece collection is informed by her love of luxurious fabrics as well as experiences living abroad in England and Italy and travels to the Far East, and Central and South America. In styles that range from 50s modern to 20s and earlier, Bettye Muller shoes are vivid, pretty and as colorful as the designer’s own eclectic tastes. Inspired by vintage fabrics and intense colors such as Bordeaux, granny apple and tangerine, her collections create a sense of fantasy for women. “My shoes are like Hitchcock Blondes. Like Kim Novak and Grace Kelly, they have a distinct look that is mysterious and beautiful. Each one tells a story,” Bettye says with smile.
Since they’re unique, her shoes aren’t for just anyone. Attracting modern-day blondes from Katie Couric to Cameron Diaz, the artist says that women who wear her pieces must have a great sense of self and a distinct style. “They’re a statement, so the women who wear them must be very confident,” she says.
Mirroring the designer’s individuality, the beauty of her Italian-made pieces lies in the details: faux fur-lined interiors, vintage brocades and vibrant beaded accents are just a few special touches that distinguish her footwear. “They’re original, and I always want to keep them that way,” Bettye explains.
But no matter where Bettye’s design inspiration takes her, some things will remain consistent about her shoes: they will be sophisticated and feminine, stylish and fun- and always unexpected.
