FAKES ARE NEVER IN FASHION!!
As we get ready to welcome 2010 there are so many things to reflect on from this year. The biggest is the economy…or lack thereof and its impact on the fashion industry. Okay, those of you that still have managed to hold on to your house, job and most of your investments…start shopping! I say that with the most sincerity and understanding. If people lose the mindset of “quantity” over “quality”, our economy would start to bounce-back. It’s no wonder little boutiques are closing their doors with a blink of an eye. With Target, WalMart, H & M, and Forever 21 “imitating” contemporary designer lines and offering merchandise designed “especially” for their stores, the customer FEELS like their getting the style of a well-known designer but getting a “deal” as well. This is NOT THE CASE. If you know quality and you’ve shopped contemporary designer labels in the past, you also know there is no comparison between Paul & Joe (the label) and “Paul &  Joe for Target”. They’ve basically sold their license to Target’s manufacturer so the Target customer can also wear something “trendy and high-style” and they can make money on both luxury and mainstream America. Those designers “HAVE SOLD OUT ON THE AMERICAN DREAM”. Let’s face it, more is not better. Better is better. Better quality, better-made and longer closet life all adds up to less cost per wear. So if you by a LBD for $315 but wear it 10 times in 3 years you end up with $31.50 output each wear. This beats buying the LBD from H & M or Forever 21 at $48 because chances are the $48 piece will fall apart after 2 wears and then be donated to Goodwill whereas the designer dress you will have in your closet up to 5 years or longer.

The other thing that sickens me in the fashion industry is how people are willing to buy “knock-off” merchandise without the knowledge of neither how this merchandise is made nor the ethical impact on our society. If you have ever read articles about underground slave camps used to turnout those “oh so trendy but cheap” faux Louis bags or David Yurman pieces, you’d never go to another “house bag party” again. I recently read an article in Harper’s Bazaar about how Chinatown storefronts that have dungeonfuls of children who work day and night with their ankles chained to the floors behind sewing machines sometimes not seeing daylight for weeks. Some of these children were 10 years old. I just cried. The Fakes Are Never In Fashion initiative started by the magazine and backed by the New York City Police Department is one of the most uplifting campaigns I have read about.  You can’t imagine the criminal activities connected to the sale of counterfeit luxury goods including child labor, drug and sex trafficking and even terrorism. To get involved, go to FAKESARENEVERINFASHION.COM.

With that being said, I want to end on an upbeat note. Thank you  for your belief and support this past year. With your patronage, FRESH! boutique will continue bringing you the best in contemporary fashion from newest and known designers ensuring you stay in style. Because, during the holiday, all us fashionistas really want is to feel the warmth of cashmere against our skin while the joy of family and good friends warms our hearts!!!