Following are notices of three opportunities I intended to post last week. Until I finish decompressing from my most recent class (writing debriefings is so helpful!) and get back to posting normally tomorrow, this is what I have for you.
Beau Grabner, producer for the Sundance Channel’s show All on the Line writes to announce casting for the second season. I haven’t seen the show but some people like it. I went to the site and saw two F-I alums. Yay us! Mr. Grabner says:
Joe Zee is looking for New York based fashion designers to work with on the second season of the Sundance Channel’s “All On The Line”. Joe will work one on on with each designers and help them prepare for a buyer meeting that he has arranged. If you are in the New York area and would like to work with Joe Zee please contact allonthelinecasting@gmail.com
If you are a forum member, Mr. Grabner requests that you contact him using the contact information and email address listed here rather than the one posted above.
Another opportunity is Fashion on the Grand (see that link for official rules and registration form). Although this design competition is held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the contest is open to US residents over the age of 18. Submissions consist of a sketch and a 100 word statement. The event is slated for August 27 with a grand prize of $5,000 and related products. Break a leg.
Kate with Jens Casting (and Kim) sends word of an opportunity to win a $10,000 prize package for a new fashion competition show that will be filmed in NYC. Jen says:
There is a limited time commitment (approximately 2 days), and designers will not have to relocate to live with other participants. This is an amazing opportunity for fashion designers to participate in a short competition that will give them national exposure and the chance to win a $10K prize package.
Read the flyer (pdf) for all the details.
Switching gears, Forever 21 is suing a blogger. Good grief. F21 has been sued for copyright infringement no less than 51 times, is single-handedly responsible for the Garment Manufacturer’s License requirement in the state of California due to their rampant abuses but now they’re getting bent out of shape over a bit of satire? Don’t know your take but it is possible that the WTForever 21 blog is more likely to drive customers to Forever 21 than not but you’re the better judge of it. Rumor has it that F21 knocked off one of most loyal members last week so I’m even less favorably disposed toward the company than ever. As per the latter, I’ll keep you posted if permitted to do so.
See you lovelies tomorrow!
Jen’s Casting takes you to GoDaddy.
Kathleen,
I suggested a few weeks ago that you do a post on this show. Sometimes the host’s advice makes sense, sometimes it sounds like Reality Show posturing with all of the manufactured obstacles. For one thing, I can’t always tell if the deadlines he’s giving them are realistic. Is he giving them three weeks to do a capsule collection for presentation to a buyer? A month? Two months? To be a fashion editor is not the same thing as to be a designer and to get clothes made, although I’ve read that some editors do give extensive feedback to designers (sounds a bit incestuous and conflicty; I guess fashion journalism ethics are different).
For some insight, I recommend watching the Dana-Maxx episode, which I believe involved a postponed buyer’s appointment because of deadline problems occasioned by Zee and a consultant’s insistence that the DE change factories and then go to the Dana-Maxx website and read the company’s discussion of the experience. According to the designer, there were reasons for why they had made certain decisions, which were not made clear in the episode. In fact, they were made to seem petulant, even childish.
I’m in no way a candidate for a show like this, but I don’t understand why people are willing to put themselves through the circus of a Reality Show. There’s a fixed narrative to this series: You’re broken down to be raised up (maybe) and if you’re not a success, it’s your fault. I don’t know if I’ll watch the second season, Zee got on my nerves and I didn’t like a lot of the clothes, but the fascinating part was seeing people in the midst of making decisions without the usual omniscience that a drama would give you. You have no idea whether Zee or the designer is right and goodness knows how it’s been edited. I think I’m the only viewer who had some sympathy for the admittedly irritating designer in the lingerie episode, even though I thought Zee’s advice was very sensible.
Oh, and Joe Zee, if you’re reading, I suggest you cut the endlessly repeated spot in which you talk about your struggles as a poor fashion design student, ending with a victory wave of your hard-time momento diner spoon. It’s an ordinary spoon.
Reader, I did not ignore your suggestion but I can’t watch TV. I think my competency on this blog (which favors my splinter skills) makes it difficult for others to comprehend the extent of my disability. Either I can’t find the manual (I do not know how to turn the TV on) or I am reluctant to risk the time involved to watch the show on the web because I often become cognitively overwhelmed or confused (characters may change their clothes so I don’t know who they are anymore) that I’ve lost the story line. It would be less overwhelming if they had subtitles but that option is rare on the web. Otherwise, it’s so much visual and noise soup.
As tactfully as I could, I mentioned your concerns with the show (you left in an earlier comment) to the producer and suggested they might consider having an expert for consultation. To allay any presumed self interest, I offered to make suggestions for likely candidates but that I was too maladroit for their purposes. The producer seemed responsive to the idea, that their intention was to make the show truer to life. I will be certain to update you if anything comes of it.
I’m in no way a candidate for a show like this, but I don’t understand why people are willing to put themselves through the circus of a Reality Show.
Because it’s essentially the opportunity to get a one-hour advertisement of your business, with repeated airings, and even online airings, something that none of these companies can afford to buy.
Reality shows can be advantageous for people who understand the strategic opportunity and use it as such. However, too many of these designers seem to be so caught up in the designer aspect of it, that they lose sight of the opportunistic aspect, thus losing the advertising effect.
although I’ve read that some editors do give extensive feedback to designers (sounds a bit incestuous and conflicty; I guess fashion journalism ethics are different).
Edits and buyers for marquee retailers are probably the best positioned to give designers feedback because they are the ones who have their fingers on the pulse of what consumers will respond to. Using negative adjectives to describe that relationship is almost implying that it’s not welcome and what would happen when they stop participating?
don’t buy the premise of this show… its a show for Joe, and the “opportunities” on reality tv are never what they seem, but of all the reality show prizes this is the most questionable- ALL of the designers come off as spoiled and inexperienced despite their varying backgrounds. Reeks of manufactured drama as reader above mentioned. Highly advise passing on this and focusing your time and efforts on design and sales. There are no shortcuts and if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
As a “newbie” designer I will tell you that the program has shed much light on the process of designing a line. All On The Line gives designer’s insight from seasoned fashion professionals. I watched every episode on Season 3. The advice from bloggers, celebrities and buyers was priceless. As I watched each episode I took notes. I went back to my collection and looked at it with a fresh new prospective. I only wish I wasn’t a “newbie” designer so could actually be considered for casting.
To all of those behind All On The Line I can’t thank you enough!!
Smiles,
Yoli Rapp