Handcrafted shoes by Molly Grant, booth #134. Image courtesy of the ACC.
If it’s summer it must be time for the Annual American Craft Council Show, the largest juried show in the west coming up August 8-10 at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
Marking their 39th year, the ACC gathers 220 top craftspeople from around the country (25 are from the Bay Area) to exhibit and sell their wares, which includes one-of a kind jewelry, clothing, gifts, and home décor. I’ve been attending the ACC show for years and I really enjoy the uniqueness and quality of everything I see. Some of my most treasured fashions have come from the ACC show, including a lovely felted cloche hat by Wendy Allen of Miss Fitt.
How about a custom-made pair of shoes or a hand- painted silk tie? Think fall fashions and early holiday shopping.
The American Craft Council Show coming up August 8th – 10th, Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason in San Francisco.
Visit the ACC website for more information: http://craftcouncil.org/event/american-craft-council-san-francisco-show.
… only a small fraction of American consumers are willing to pay premium prices for US-made apparel. The majority of consumers think of fast fashion, discount retailers, dollar stores and coupons when it comes to purchasing clothing. Country of origin is simply not top of mind.
– Edward Hertzman, publisher of Sourcing Journal, an apparel and textiles supply chain trade journal.
This quote is taken from Mr. Hertzman’s Op-Ed – Made in America is More Hype than Reality published in The Business of Fashion.
Well, I am one consumer that is willing to pay more for American made fashions as well as other products. But my whole approach to shopping for fashion has shifted – I buy less, often it’s vintage, and I sometimes have my clothes made. I believe a lot of people are considering the origins of what they wear and buy, but perhaps not enough.
How people look is crucial to how they are perceived.
– Nina McLemore, CEO and designer at Nina McLemore women’s apparel.
This quote is so true! And yet, no one seems to get it anymore.
Ms. McLemore designs for professional corporate women. Her client list includes Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren.
I actually love the idea that this dress has lived more of a life than I have.
– Dawn O’Porter, British television presenter and host of the new show This Old Thing.
Vintage fashion is a huge trend in the UK. There are vintage fairs all around the country, a vintage lifestyle magazine called Vintage Life and now a television show. This Old Thing is a how-to in the world of vintage – how to choose, how to repair, and how to wear. There’s also a lot of talk about sewing.
What I have been able to see of This Old Thing looks entertaining and informative. Unfortunately it’s not distributed in the US, but you can find a few segments on YouTube.
Chic is when you see a woman walking in the street who looks fabulous and you do not know why.
Valentina Ilardi Martin, editor of Grey magazine.