What a deliciously busy start to the New Year, I am yet to exhale since it has begun and am still learning daily lessons in branding, marketing, and design. Birthing Patrick & Skinner has been more valuable in gaining knowledge than any lecture I have attended. Now it is truly born, I must nurture, love and cherish it like a child, those of you who are parents will know that all the nurture, love and cherish needs to keep coming! I have been in a cyclone since I last touched base here. We had pieces in the Lingerie Buyer, WWB, and Scarlet that have been valuable. The Women’s Wear Daily in NY has used some Raspberry Bits for an editorial in Feb and kindly sent me a snap shot of the model pre-shoot that I have attached for you. I had a phone interview with ‘Body’ Magazine in the States in order to broaden the awareness of P&S to a global one. I found myself slipping in and out of the American twang the more I was sucked into the interview much to the amusement of those sitting around me. The interview was most valuable and I’m thankful that the contact was made.
Look Books are finished and have been flying out like hot cakes! We are hand making them in house leaving Sarah my fantastic assistant falling asleep on the laminator most evenings but she has done a fabulous job. I have been creating the look for the new collection “The Sweetie Shop” inspired from old school sweetie shops, hard-boiled candies, and 1950s & 60’s swimwear patterns. I would like to get 3 trilogies out this year starting with “The Custard Creams”. We will be bringing you Rhubarb & Custard, Apple & Custard and Banana & Custard as an introduction. The sleep-deprived nights have already begun though made much easier by my magic fabric genie (fabric specialist Mike) that dives into every corner of the world sourcing only the most luscious silks & lace for our creations.
I’m actually typing this on a Train from Gare De Nord to the CDG
airport in Paris returning from The Salon international de la lingerie which can I say was stunning. The world’s most beautiful brands mixed with rustic scent of the Parisian atmosphere brought a UNdeniable feel to the expo. I did not exhibit but was there having some power meetings as well as getting a glimpse of future trends and the creative boom seeping from some of the Lingerie Houses. While tottering around the expo I could not help becoming aware of the sea of ‘Men in Suits’ controlling most brand stands. Do they really know what women want? It’s so odd to hear the bustle of buyers discussing cup comfort and underwire with someone who has never worn a bra! Or maybe this is the secret to their success; maybe there is more going on under those suits than I thought!
The phrase I will remember most over the past year will be “Structured Bra” the one thing I did not do which will be the most priceless piece I could add to future collections. The high-end niche brand market is defiantly broader than the skinny sloanies.
I’m learning more and more daily about the markets suited to my brand. The U.A.E being one of them. DiaDiwan the fabulous Saudi fashion site is aiding me in opening this market by featuring us in a major give away of extremely high retail worth. It really is another world, one I defiantly plan to explore. I had better stop there or I will be going to terminal 2 for my flight instead of 3. I’m leaving as the sun sets on Paris to return to pool of work and timescales and you know what, im excited!
Scrumptious Regards,
P.s xx
Michelle Patrick – Patrick & Skinner
Designer of the scrumptious Patrick & Skinner label, director and extrovert lingerie-fanatic. Her homepage is located at patrickandskinner.co.uk.
Read all posts by Michelle Patrick right here!