Now that our April issue is finished, I’m happily immersing myself in May’s Women’s Wear feature. One of the suppliers I’m interviewing is Tri-Mountain, which is introducing a female-only line in late April. Dubbed Lilac Bloom, the line features feminine fits, patterns and embellishments without male companion styles.
The introduction of the line made me think of a recent article in Vogue about The Row, a line designed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Before you scoff, you should know that the line was praised by fashion-insiders like the insurmountable Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue. Similar to Lilac Bloom, the line went against convention. It started as a T-shirt and legging line and grew into high fashion.
The Row began as a personal mission for Ashley Olsen as she sought a T-shirt that would fit all women. She tested T-shirts on women of every height, weight and age. The extensive research enhanced the line as each piece for spring/summer 2011 is cut to flatter the female form and designed to appeal to women of all tastes. Mary-Kate and Ashley have been involved in fashion design since they started a line for Walmart in 1992 when they were only six. In addition to their history of designing, the twins constantly resize clothing to fit their miniature frames, which gives them a personal understanding of cut.
Like The Row, Lilac Bloom is a personal initiative by lead designer Jennifer Tsai, who designs clothing she and her friends who work in the corporate world would like to wear. Close attention to fit and subtle embellishments guide the line, making it a good addition to Tri-Mountain’s styles and promotional apparel in general.
Keep an eye out for more stylish happenings in the runway and promotional products realms, both of which seem to be emerging from tough economic times with new, fashionable and profitable ideas.
