SoHo Exchange

Wishing you and your family a happy, holiday season. The SoHo Exchange blog will return January 5, 2010. Be safe and stay looking cute!

Things are really heating up in preparation of the upcoming collection. This week’s big project was finalizing the models for the upcoming show. We are happy to announce one of our favorite models we have ever worked with, Meghan G., will be walking during the Commingle show and modeling SoHo Exchange designs. Here is a look at one of her previous appearances on the runway modeling SoHo Exchange.

Photo Credit: Zao Photography

The saga continues with sewing. One gown is complete and gorgeous; however it will not be unveiled until the Commingle show January 27, 2010. Tickets go on sale next week.

The jacket, shown in previous entries is not finished. There were some fit problems and it was not rushed to completion. The photos of the other entries for the contest, were professionally styled and photographed, so the decision was made to wait until next year after our Lookbook is complete and our brand would be represented up to the standards of the rest of the competition.

As part of our continued effort to make clothes that every woman can wear. We would like to include one full-figured look in our runway show. If you know a full-sized model with a 38″ bust (hip is negotiable) please email us at soho@sohoexchange.biz.

So I woke up in a panic this morning, remembering that I hadn’t written this week’s installation. I usually begin writing it Sunday, but if you followed the posts on Twitter…the last 48 hours were really busy and crazy.

Last week I mentioned the pant leg of the recycled jeans were not large enough for the pattern piece. Well, I come from the school of thought “If there is a will – there is a way!” I finagled the pattern piece, and cut it in a way that the compromised portion would be in the seam allowance.

The jacket as it looks now…

It's Coming Along

As the jacket is evolving, there are some things I will do a little differently next time. For instance, I will take the time to dye the denim or give it some type of treatment, to give it a less “patchwork” look, but I still like how the shading in the denim plays with the modeling of the vinyl.

Oh well, you live and learn!

The good news is, I have a dress 95% completed (you will have to wait to view it with the completed collection), this jacket will be done by Friday and the contest I want to submit these items to, has granted an extension for submissions. WooHoo!

Talk to you next week or get the day-by-day saga, on twitter.com/SoHoExchange.

It has been a busy week at SoHo Exchange. Beginning with not using the billboard shown in part one. Welcome to the world of creativity. After reviewing the sketch for the two items included in the blog, that billboard was just not going to work. So here is a picture of the newest billboard.

So Many to Choose From!

Often patterns are made simultaneously while selecting the vinyl. You will be spared the tedious details of pattern-making. Let’s just say there is lots of physics involved. We will be highlighting 2 looks, one a formal gown and the other a jacket accompanied with either a skirt or pants…stay tuned…it hasn’t been decided yet. Also, part of the not being locked into a path and letting the creativity evolve.

After selecting the vinyl, the pattern is cut. One of the challenges with using such a big section of textile, it is filled with a lot of wrinkles making it necessary to trim up the pattern to make it more accurate after the initial cutting.

Takes a Steady Hand...

Working with recycled billboards takes a lot of elbow grease. The signs are filthy! So after the pattern is cut the pieces are washed (scrubbed actually) and hung to dry. Once it is dry, we transfer the markings from the pattern on the textiles so that we know how to put the puzzle together.

It Dries Pretty Quickly

In conjunction with vinyl billboards we use recycled denim, leather, fur, silk, yada, yada! For the jacket, it will also be entered into a contest that has specific guidelines on materials that may be used. One of the acceptable textiles is denim…so I found some old men’s jeans. I usually do a 1-piece set-in sleeve…but as part of the evolution of this garment and the ever changing design…it has a 2-piece raglan sleeve (think of a sleeve on a jersey). Problem! The back piece of the sleeve was not fitting on the leg of jeans. Grrrr! In the next life, planning will be more a part of our makeup!

If you would like to see a daily (sometimes moment-by-moment) account of this venture, please find us on twitter.com/SoHoExchange.