Wednesday March 23rd, 2011 Design Meeting!

We will be having a SPECIAL meeting within our "Designers Story" series this WEDNESDAY March 23rd at 6:30 p.m. in room 311 in Alison Hall.

We will have a special guest Julia Paintsil Designer and Owner of Simply Julia Totes!

Check out her site http://exquisitetotes.com/gallery.html and the pictures below!

Simply Julia Totes started in the most interesting way. Interior designer Julia Paintsil was sitting in her showroom and saw two pieces of tapestry lying on the floor. “Why not make this into a tote?” she thought. Her creative spirit led her to create a tote that would be perfect to carry everything she needed and would be different from all the other bags she had seen around her.

Julia started using her bag and before she knew it, each of her friends wanted one.

The beauty of the bags was that no two bags looked the same, so her friends could have a bag that no one else had.

Her nineteen year old daughter Ashley Paintsil saw that the bags were an amazing accessory for a woman’s wardrobe and signed on as co-designer and the face of the brand.

Since then the totes have also expanded to hand bags. When you buy a Simply Julia tote or handbag, you’ll be sure no one else will have it.

Julia Paintsil now lives in Newark, Delaware with her husband and three children. Her daughter and co-designer Ashley Paintsil attends the University of Delaware where she is currently studying psychology, entrepreneurship, and fashion.

She will be demonstrating one of her signature designs supplies will be provided from our club.

We will also be discussing our next fundraiser, trip to Washington DC and OUR MAIN EVENT IN MAY!!

If you are a new member and have not paid the dues please bring $5 to become a new member!!

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!!

Tracy Weidman from Punkrocknits came to the University of Delaware to teach the students how to knit. This group was composed to mainly non knitters and Tracy Weidman was able to teach us the basics and how to create in knit form. Tracy is a dedicated artist from Pennsylvania who has turned her hobby into a career, where she travels from show to show selling her creative and funky accessory designs. She is now currently selling in three stores and looks forward to expanding her knowledge and items in the near future. Tracy will be coming back in late November to teach us how to knit in the round!

The Garment District thanks Tracy for coming and teaching us a new trick!

Marina Makaron- A Designer's Story

Marina Makaron-A Designer's Story

Russian-born designer marina makaron moscow spent her life living, working and studying in diverse metropolises ranging from Moscow and London, to Paris and Philadelphia. Makaron's background lies in International Business, inwhich she earned her degree at the age of 20 at Drexel University. Upon graduation, she pursued careers as a researcher and analyst in financial, publishing and legal institutions until she decided to further her studies at the London School of Economics and later at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia. It was not until the conclusion of her second dissertation that her creative calling kicked in and her passion for design took over. With a nod to her Eastern-European roots, Makaron began experimenting with basic Russian imagery and folklore depictions. Combining her knowledge of the International marketplace with a penchant for fashion-forward design and a fondness for her culture's traditions, it was not long before Makaron created a silk collection unlike any other-- fusing within its dappled patterns the nostalgia of times past, the style sensibilities of the present and the global attitudes of the future. Endless nights of generating business and investment plans paid off in the end with the creation of her first line, marina makaron moscow .




Marina Makaron came to the University of Delaware April 14th, 2010 and wowed the crowd. She playfully shared her scarf designs with fashion design and merchandising students. She explained her process toward developing her company and what obstacles she experienced along the way. The process of packaging, understanding the consumer, developing concepts, setting selling prices and experiencing failure and success. She extended her knowledge of the industry and we look forward to working with her this coming Philadelphia Fashion Week.

Lissa's Designs

The Garment District has focuses of the month, February was dedicated to Jewelry Design. Our second meeting as an official club we had guest speaker Melissa from Lissa's designs from Newark, DE.

She focused on teaching the members about everything jewelry had to offer. She discussed gemstones and the science behind jems though a presentation and visual aids. We were shown peals, diamonds, jade, and many other well known gems used in jewelry design.

Melissa brought several pieces she designed and after the presentation we worked on making our own earrings from wire and seed beads. Below are some pictures from the meeting.