|
NEW
YORK—Designer Jennifer Bawden isn’t letting a soft
economy or retailers’ limited interest in fringe
resources slow her down.
For
nearly three years, she’s been taking steps leading to
the launch of a full-scale evening dress business, and
at 5 p.m. on April 17 she’ll present her first fashion
show with the Next Generation of Apparel Designers.
It’s at the Laura Belle restaurant here.
Bawden
said this marks her third fall season. Her volume
was just under $250,000. Until the holiday season,
her dresses were exclusive to Bergdorf Goodman.
For spring, she has developed a client base of about 10
retailers, including Nordstrom, Fred Haymen Beverly
Hills and I. Magnin.
“My
goal for this year is to get into about 30 good
stores,” Bawden said.
She got
a boost from two consumer magazines, as her dresses
appeared on the covers of last November’s Cosmopolitan
and the December New Woman.
The
collection ranges from $550 to $1,200, wholesale.
Most of the fabrics are silk chiffon and crepe.
Some dresses feature elaborate beading, tapestry work
and laces.
Bawden
grew up in Toronto and started her designing career with
active outerwear, while she competed in freestyle,
ballet and downhill skiing events in Canada and Europe.
She switched her focus to evening wear about three years
ago. |
