I’m Off, But Just Slightly…

Or perhaps I should say, no more than usual. At the beginning of the month I headed out again for the wilds of that Island called Manhattan, showing my wares to stores across the country at another round of wholesale shows.  We filled up our docket pretty much through the end of September with orders to keep the knitters’ fingers mighty busy. Isn’t there some saying about working your fingers to the bone and what do you end up with? Rim Shot. Bony Fingers. Yup. That’s about the size of it around here.

There are new samples to be made and orders to go out at the same time. There are new yarns in development and new fibers we are trying to source. We are also finally working with a mill to knit the black jersey we use for our Basicwear line so that we will have a good fabric that will be what we want and all the same dye lot for a really long time. Egads. Lots going on.

We’ve been gearing up big time here as we attempt to both expand and streamline at the same time. It’s quite remarkable. I’m thinking that it must be like trying to clear your mask of water when you are underwater and learning scuba. A scary, exhilarating, frustrating, exciting, breath-holding, wobbly-legged feeling.  And most astounding of all about it, I guess, is to be in the whirlwind midst of it as it is indeed happening. Since everything about the business grew so organically from “yo misma”, it’s an interesting perch from which to view progress and progression. But then again, when one bandies the term “organic” about, we all know that mostly one is talking about a whole lot of “natural fertilizer” of one sort or another and that helps to keep things in good perspective.

Did you know that we are in a fancy catalog? Check out what is happening in www.artfulhome.com. Write in Amy Brill in their apparel section and see what pops up. Kinda cool. I was going to spend a whole lot more time on shameless self-promotion of another sort this week, writing about more of the new styles that I brought to NYC this last time, but there is some sort of write up about me in the online catalog in their ‘for women by women’ section, and that’s about enough of me for now.

All I have to add to this is something that Dr. Suess said best:

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter, don’t mind.”

On we go. Wish us luck.

Love.

Amy

Where The Wild Influences Are

Maurice Sendak passed away last week. I can’t even remember when he came into my life, but I know he’s been with me, like, since forever and allways. And yes, that is double “L”, as in all ways.  The drawings spoke first to me and they weren’t even in books that he wrote.

That little boy was there. That scruffy haired, shiny eyed, defiant little boy. And when his name was Max, that clinched it for me. Max. The name I would always choose for my own, if he ever came. Max, my secret nickname for my Grandpa, because my Grandma’s name was Minnie. And the little dog’s name was Jennie. My other Grandma’s name was Jennie. Coincidence? I think not. And oh how I wanted a dog. I wanted a dog so, so much. And what did I name a dog when I got one? I named him Izzy. Grandpa Izzy’s name. How funny. I never thought about that until just now. Jennie and Izzy.

We influence and are forever influenced by countless people and things around us every day and throughout our lives. Tread thoughtfully as you meander on your journey. Be open, be humble, be kind.

Every day is a good day.

Love.

Amy

Method to the Madness or Design on Demand

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing- that’s why we recommend it daily.” –Zig Ziglar

Egads staring down a blank page is nasty business. Waiting out a deadline ‘til the last moment. 

Procrastination? Is it the Divine in the details or is it the Devil? Too much to do to actually get down to doing it? Have your jobs expanded to fill all of your available time? They will tend to do that. 

It is time to stop for just a moment. Take a breath. Okay. Now let it out. It is all okay. Better than okay. It is fabulous. Motivation is the simple act of beginning. Take a step. Take another. Repeat. Over and over again.

So, now that you are all perked up and motivated, I wanted to catch you up on some of the latest news around here. I think I must’ve written before about how crazy it sometimes feels to design for seasons ahead of time. Boy, if motivation seems like a bugaboo, design on demand can really bite sometimes. But we here are figuring out how to bite back. And we are coming up with designs that are super sweet and, if I may say so myself, totally brill-iant.

For Fall, the Airstream is a stand-out best seller already. It’s kind of poncho-y, but not. It has a great cowl neck that stands or drapes or folds, and sleeve cuffs. But that’s the only part of the sides that are sewn. It’s a statement piece and yet easy enough to wear every day. 

And we’ve put together the entire Spatial series. You know how I like to do an entire series on some styles? Well, Spatial is special that way. Just wait until you get a load of the Popover. To die for. But why stop there? You can have the Spatial Cardy, Spatial Vest, Spatial Pullover, and the Spatial Popover. Each will have its colorful neck banding and two front pockets. And each will have it’s Spatial Tail Light Pocket in the back. They’ll see you coming and going in this one. I’m lovin’ it.

I think I’ll wait until next time to tease you with some more. After all, I want to keep you motivated. And there is madness in my method. Wait. Stop. Reverse that. Aw, you know what I mean.

Love.

Amy

Making An Appearance or Trunk Show Myth Busting 101

So, come Saturday morning off I go again for my “nearly yearly” (to borrow a phrase from Peggy) trunk show at Elsbeth Rose East in Fayetteville, New York. This time Mary will come with me to help and delight. Now why is this important? And why should you come?

Well, let’s start out with a definition of sorts of what a “Trunk Show” is. A store brings in the entire line of a designer’s clothes a season ahead and you get the chance to special order anything you want. April and May are usually pretty big months for the Fall Season. And that is what I will have there. Actually, everything is already there right now because we shipped it ahead, along with a whole bunch of Spring things, so that whoever stops in at the store will have a chance to look things over and be ready to ask questions when we get there on Saturday.

You see, no store can carry an entire designer’s collection, so what you find on the racks at your favorite boutique is the store buyer’s interpretation of what best suits their customer. But, the trade shows can be so overwhelming! There are thousands of designers and each of us has thousands of styles to choose from. Sometimes I think it’s like trying to pick the perfect tile in the perfect color and the perfect size for the kitchen of the people who live two blocks over from you that you’ve never met. Hard enough to come to a decision for your own kitchen. Now stake your livelihood on it.

So. Here is your opportunity to ante up in so many ways. First and foremost, you get to see everything and special order exactly what you want. You get to get what you want. You also get to have a voice in what gets ordered for your store. You have a pretty powerful position.

We really have us some fun at these trunk shows. Basically, we play “Dress Up Barbie” and run in and out of the dressing rooms and eat cookies all day. I say this over and over again and I really mean it, I love to see real people trying on my stuff. You get to get up close and personal with me, and, I get to see what different styles look like on different bodies. That means more to me than you can possibly know. You don’t have to buy anything, just come and play. Believe you me, it is also so much easier to do when there is a group of people doing it.

What else can I say to entice you?

Here is the location:

Elsbeth Rose East / 100 Salt Springs Road / Fayetteville, NY 13066

We’ll be there from 10 am to 4-ish! It’ll be fun. I’ll be there. So should you.

Oh, by the way, it is called a Trunk Show because when these things first started, the garments were transported from the designer’s studios in large leather strapped trunks. Now of course, nothing is as grand and elegant, but the name of the game remains the same…..

Love.

Amy

If It Ain’t Broke, You Can Bend It Some More

I really love Yogi Berra. Even though I made up the title above in an attempt at my best Yogi-ism, I figure, it’s a worthy effort.

What we have in Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra is an American National Treasure – a guy who certainly took what he had and “went for it” in all the ways he could. The story goes that he got his nickname from a childhood friend who was watching a movie about an Indian snake charmer and he thought that Yogi looked an awful lot like that Hindu man and said, “That yogi walks like Lawdie (Larry) Berra”, and the name stuck. Funny thing is that “Yogi’s” own Mom couldn’t pronounce Larry and used to call him Lawdie. Sometimes I think “Oh, Lawdie!” might’ve been a fun nickname for him, too. But that’s another story. And Lawdie Bear and Boo-Boo wouldn’t have had the same ring in Jellystone Park…

At each stage of his life, when he “came to a fork in the road, (he) took it”. And certainly gave it his all, as he continues to do. I love that about him. Hard work and loyalty; and remaining true to the principles he holds dear.

He has an uncanny knack for knowing not only his own worth, but also the value of a strong supporting team. Sometimes there just is no better way of looking at things, than to look at them through Yogi’s mouth:

“It’s like déjà vu all over again.”

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

“If you don’t set goals, you can’t regret not reaching them.”

“You can observe a lot just by watching.”

“If you can’t imitate him, don’t copy him.”

“It ain’t the heat; it’s the humility.”

And my favorite…

“I didn’t really say everything I said.”

Play nice.

Love.

Amy

Substantial

We did our first Pop Up Store this past weekend. We wanted to open up to the public and sell off our older extra stock, to make some room for some newer extra stock and what all. And we did it at the local Mall. What a trip! An interesting experience, to say the least. It’s a wacky thing. I mean, Amy Brill Sweaters is represented in over 200 stores across the country, and in Canada, too, but not right here in our hometown. You see, there are no groovy little boutiques in Ithaca. Although I suppose you might say that all of Ithaca herself is a groovy little boutique. Mostly we here in Ithaca are dedicated to being localvores and tree huggers. Case in point: I think the last issue of AARP magazine voted Ithaca “the best place in the Universe to walk everywhere you don’t even want to walk” or something like that.

So, that being the case, we decided to step up to the plate and do it. Figure out how. And do it. Sometimes you just have to. I guess it’s true of most things. Everything basically starts with a blank page staring you in the face. You can stare at the blank page all day long and be too paralyzed by fear to start anything. Or, you can do it. I say, be willing to take a chance on yourself. Put yourself in the game. After all, it is just a game.

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.”- Lily Tomlin.

You are somebody. And so am I. All of us are capable of big things.

The first step is in realizing it.

Love.

Amy

Spring Has Sprung, or It’s not Nice to Fool Mother Nature

I know that the calendar says that now it is Spring, but, um, well, in Ithaca, we are not safe until the last freak snow storm on Mothers’ Day, so should we relax and enjoy this glorious bounty of insanely mind bogglingly fine weather? Of course. Always enjoy, that’s my motto. I believe in Mother Nature and I accept her in all her perfect shapes and forms. I also believe in Marilyn Monroe and I think she speaks for all women (Mother Nature included) when she said:

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”

Words to live by.

And while you are thinking about how to handle us in the nicest of ways, why not stop on over at the Amy Brill Sweater Sale this Saturday and Sunday up at The Shops at Ithaca Mall (Pyramid Mall)? It will, of course, be fabulous. And you deserve it.

Love.

Amy