Checking in with Miz B

Looking around it seems that San Francisco is on the up and up for the 2011 Spring Season. This week is the Lunar New Year and as we ring in the Year of the Rabbit I stop to wonder how my good friend and local jewelry designer, Leila Radan is doing.

For those of you who do not know Lil’ Miss Leila, you will be pleasantly in awe of her multi-talented self. She is a model, jewelry designer, yoga teacher, actress, wife and mother. She is a fantastic asset to San Francisco fashion culture and a person whom createSF can not seem to live without. Her fearless take on bold colors, accents and weighted gems leave us wanting more everytime.

Lucky for us we got a chance to catch up with her in her busy life to ask her about 2010 and how she feels about the uplifting 2011. Check out what she had to say:

What was 2010 like for you and your business?

2010 was an interesting experience… I can’t quite think of another word! My jewelry line was actually born out of the gonna-go-stir-crazy-sitting-here-doing-homework-with-two-kids-&-not-accomplishing-anything-of-my-own-as-I-sit-the-hours-away frustration of some of motherhood’s duties. I naively thought that I’d make jewelry, partake in jewelry parties either organized by me or thrown for me by friends and, voila, easy money-making bonus on the side!

Somehow I became friends with Irene Hernandez Feiks (a woman that I just ADORE and love to pieces) who invited me to partake in the year’s first Chillin’ where I met Kate Knuvelder who enlisted me as both a designer and model for Visage, a fashion show she was putting together (where YOU modeled for me and where we met!) and, from there, I was led down a very unexpected path that added much flavor and spice to my year.

2010 held much chaos and pain in other aspects of my life and having had that outlet to leave motherhood and wifehood at home and every once in a while go play as a model and designer was very therapeutic for me and very much needed.

My jewelry line, in 2010, was born out of a need to fill a creative void. That having been satisfied, it’s now time for more…

What are your 2011 resolutions?

I haven’t really made any resolutions. I pretty much live my life on a day by day basis, always hoping to be the best I can be in that moment in space and time… hoping to be open to the universe, open to releasing my loooong list of wants and allowing for their manifestation into my life in whatever way they are meant to come to me…

Where can we see you in 2011?

I don’t know! My goals/hopes/wants for 2011, as far as my line Miz B is concerned, is to focus on nurturing the business aspect of it. It’s time to make money, to procure a rep, to take things beyond the San Francisco market into New York and LA and beyond… now what will indeed happen and how is beyond my control! I am in it for the ride and the joy that is to be found within the journey itself.  Here’s hoping that it be a magical one!

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Want more?? We do too!!

Below we have posted a few links for you to get a hold of Miz B herself.  If you are interested in any of the pieces shown above, please contact Leila Radan directly to discuss pricing.

We will be promoting her fashion shows and new jewelry right here on CSF, so stay tuned for upcoming deets!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Miz-B-by-Leila-Radan/133699253310784

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/MizBoheMia

Website: http://leilaradan.com

With lots of fashion-y love,

Ashton Miyako

Co-Founder of createSF

http://www.ashtonmiyako.com

Creating a Garment Business

Video Speaker: Ashton Miyako

Class being taken: Creating a Garment Business at CCSF

Instructor: Paul Gallo

Text: Fashion Entrepreneur by Sandra Burke

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1st Assignment:

1. Gather ideas for a product line:

• Type of clothing you will have with variations on ideas: (Menswear, activewear, women’s bridal, plus size, juniors.. etc.)
• Fabrics (No more than 5, complete with swatches)
• Color (Same as above)
• 50 rough ideas to get about 10-20 good ideas.
• **Make an inspiration Board!! **

2. Look of your company: Color schemes should match up. Since this is most likely the first impression most people will get from your company it should be clear what you are trying to sell, contact information, location… If all you are armed with is your business card, make it memorable.

• Logo
• Name
• Business Card
• Image
• Colors

3. Market you will be serving:

• Customer Profile – What is your customers story? What do you want them to feel when they buy your clothing? Where will they be going in your clothing? What kind of person are they?
• Demographic – Age, Sex, Education.. etc.

4. Name your competition: If you understand your market you will save time and money overall. Everything will come easier. Know your retail prices.

• MARKET AWARENESS –
  • If you are looking to sell to a boutique you should stop buy as ask them a few questions like:
    • What is your slowest/busiest time of year?
    • Who is the type of person to shop in this boutique?
    • What is your biggest/worst seller?

Based off of these answers you can approach the market differently and with more authority. If you find out that a specific boutique caters to elderly women it is probably not the best place to try and sell your Brazilian bikini’s. Knowing your market is one of the most important things that you will learn while starting your business.

 

Key point to think about: Who is NOT being targeted in the fashion market? What can I do/design for them?

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I will be posting my rough ideas within the next day or so. I hope to see what you all come up with as well.

xoxo

Ashton Miyako

Co-Founder of createSF.com

 

Welcome to our new space!

Hello CreateSF followers!!

First of all we would like to tell you HAPPY 2011!!

2010 was the “Year of Change” as expressed by many of our viewers.  It seems like everyone had extreme highs and lows but have somehow ended out on top (CONGRATS!!).  We have been looking into the forecast for 2011 and the skies are looking bright!  2011 is shaping up to be the “Year of Growth and Learning”.

Our two cents: Let us take all that we have been through from 2010 and move forward into 2011 with open eyes, open inspiration and open minds into an amazing and productive future.

With that said the team here at createSF sat down to discuss what we want for this year and with that we have decided to go a little more simple. We’ve created this blog space where you can check in to see what is happening with us and with San Francisco fashion.  We still plan on hosting events and of course promoting the amazing local talent that San Francisco has given birth to.

We love you, we want to attend your events and promote you as much as we can.  Don’t forget, if you want us to show up.. you have to tell us when we need to be there.

Email us with any questions, comments or events here: createSF.415@gmail.com