Untitled 11:11

Like many people in the fashion industry, I was addicted to the first few seasons of “Project Runway” but certainly never took any of the contestants seriously in an Alexander McQueen sort of way. The contestants always seem to be cartoon characters who could sew…some of the time. (I remember running into Austin from Season 1 on the street and gasping, not in recognition, but in horror at the over application of neon pink rouge.)

But moving right along, I was literally stopped in my tracks when I saw Christian Siriano beside Narciso Rodriguez and Proenza Schouler in the window of Saks Fifth Avenue just before show week in New York. Firstly, a major retailer believes in his collection enough to invest in giving him floor space during one of the toughest times for retail ever. Secondly, they gave him the front window right next to the main entrance and placed him next to some of the most proven young design talents of our time. My interest was piqued.

Personally, I’ve always felt that Siriano’s designs leaned toward the world of beauty pageants, but as a former scribe I obviously decided to poll some experts. A friend who writes for the Financial Times and Vogue China (among others) stopped by the Untitled 11:11 presentation just before the Siriano show up at the tents. I was surprised she was going, but she assured me that he was something to watch. He can sew. Fine. His designs are somewhat interesting. Check. He merchandises his collection. Ok. But then I asked her if she thinks he would be where he is if not for “Project Runway.” She looked over her glasses and down her nose at me and said, “What do you think?”

Well, here’s what I think, if you care to know. I think that a lot of people love “Project Runway” because it offers a chance for the common man to walk off the street, to make a dress or two out of trash or recycled jeans, and to win the hearts of America. It harkens back to that favorite of all American mascots: The Underdog. And, I think that Christian Siriano is the first Underdog to graduate from “PR” who has a fighting chance to go up against the big boys and girls of fashion. The real beauty of the formula is that those same people who voted for Christian Siriano to win “Project Runway” are the same people who Saks and other retailers are hoping will buy his clothes.  This time around, it’s Melva from Houston who will decide if Siriano is in or if he’s “aut.”
 

The team here at BBC often finds itself in the position of a proud momma when our clients score an amazing hit. Thus, it was when Untitled 11:11’s striped bustier Rita gown custom woven in an eco-friendly khadi material showed up on the cover of the UK’s Bliss magazine. Even more fantastic was the fact that young woman of substance and talent, Taylor Swift, not only modeled the gown on the cover but also specially chose it. It’s a big accomplishment for two talented designers holed up in a small studio in Brooklyn making clothes for the love of what they do. Think of it as bringing home an A+ on an AP calculus exam when you’re only a freshman in high school.  We say, “Bravo, Untitled 11:11! You can stay out past curfew this weekend!”

We've added a few new clients to the BBC family in the past few weeks and we couldn't be tickled (neon) pinker about it. All bring a little something special to the table that gets us excited to talk to writers and editors about, and each one has a limitless potential for growth as far as we see it. Stay tuned for news on all the amazing things that are sure to come!

Blank en Soela
Owner and designer Francoise Dissels has been a friend of BBC for quite a while. She's outfitted our mostly girly staff with some cute yet cool custom cocktail style dresses and blouses over the past couple of years causing many a friend and colleague to exclaim, "Where'd you get that adorable dress?" Music to our ears! So when Francoise left New York behind to start her own collection, Blank en
Soela, in her native Suriname we were delighted to help her conceive of her launch. The new collection will hit New York in October and you'll have to fight us off to get your orders in!

Every Monday Matters
Every Monday Matters came to us through our much loved client, charity: water. Founder Matthew Emerzian met Scott Harrison on the speaking circuit a few years ago and has been tracking the great work that charity and BBC have being doing for a while. Every Monday Matters, or EMM, was founded on the principle (and I paraphrase) that if everyone did one thing to help others or the planet each Monday, then the effects would be exponential. EMM is taking off at lightening speed with a second book deal in the can, a partnership with the holy grail of Oprah and a school program that is catching on like wildfire. We couldn't be happier to be on board!

Jessica Robinson Jewelry
Stacie Fierce (she's going to kill me for writing that!) was prancing into work with all this pierce-me-in-the-heart-it's-so-fine jewelry and, as you can imagine, the office couldn't help but notice! And in her Stacie-way she would casually reply, "It's my friend Jessica's jewelry." Suffice to say, with all this slamming jewelry staring us all in the face each day, we had to sign her on as a client. Viola! And we were right, the editors can't get enough of it either. That's what I call "les slams."

Robert Graham
A former client gave us a call a few months ago and told us that she was working with menswear bastion Robert Graham and that there were so many stories for the press she couldn't tell them all herself. Well, she wasn't kidding! From New York Yankee players to rare vintage car collectors, the mans can't get enough of Robert Graham. AND, now they have a women's line that is just as hot to trot plus they've branched out into cufflinks, belts, hosiery and there's more to come. Phew!

 
Untitled 11:11
Oh, Untitled...I must admit, the entire Lux Team is in love. You should just see how we handle the garments (as if we're about to break out into song in the manner of Eliza Doolittle at any moment). Not only are they song-inspiringly gorgeous, they are made so brilliantly that even our former director of production for Catherine Malandrino (that would be Stacie!) has the urge to weep upon inspection. We are so ready to get them the press and utter worship they deserve.