Cultural Awareness & Custom Design - - - www.orleansembroidery.com

Not only just one, but several companies have been in the news recently for their culturally insensitive products that sparked discussions all across the nation.

Last year, Urban Outfitters published a line of "Navajo" products, inlcuding items as inappropriate as underwear and flasks with "Native American" designs. After the products hit the shelves, many customers were upset with how the company "has taken Indigenous life ways and artistic expressions and trivialized and sexualized them for the sake of corporate profit." Even worse, the Navajo Nation had its Department of Justice sent a cease-and-desist letter to stop Urban Outfitters from selling any more "Navajo" products.

The items are still available, however, Urban Outfitters has since had to pull the names, which, in addition to being culturally offensive, turned out to be a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act and Federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which states that “It is illegal to [...] sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is [...] the product of a particular Indian or Indian Tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.”

Forever 21 committed a similar, yet more debatable, faux-pas: the Oriental Girl necklace. Shine from Yahoo Canada calls the necklace "odd and offensive" and says "Lumping all Asian people into an archaic, offensive label like that is just plain wrong", while others can find nothing offensive about it and call the stir an over-reaction.

Brooklyn based jewelry store Bejeweled infuriated customers with their Swastika earrings. But the symbol, standing for Nazi Germany as a mirrored image of the Sanskrit peace and prosperity, divided the public into pro-personal expression and con-racism camps. Even though the shop owner published a statement saying that the earrings were manufactured in India and do face the traditional Buddhist way, she took them off the shelves to end the uproar.

The bottom line is that perhaps especially in this day and age of globalization, people demand a respectful and sensitive approach to cultural identity. The racism of the past should teach us to do better in the future. So if you are planning on going public with a custom design, may it be a clothing line or company logo, printed, embroidered or embossed, be aware of this issue and be considerate to avoid hard feelings, lawsuits and losing customers.

It's Fleece Sweater Weather!

It's wintertime and the temperatures are way below most people's comfort zones in many places. Even the astonishingly mild winter in Louisiana, home to Orleans Embroidery, has its cold days that make working, walking and all other outdoor activities a little miserable. So what better way to keep yourself cozy and comfortable in spite of cold, rainy, stormy weather than a fleece sweater?

The choices are ample: big, small, tight, loose, with zipper, without zipper, blue, green, yellow, etc, etc. But there are also differences in the fleece materials themselves:

Regular fleece, also known as Polarfleece, was introduced to the world in the late 1970s and soon gained fame because it's lightweight and warm nature meant a giant improvement in outerwear. Trying to perfect the fabric has led to experimentation with cotton, wool and acrylic. Nowadays, most fleece fabrics are 100% polyester.

Microfleece is made from finer yarn, which gives the fabric a higher density than regular fleece. It is also brushed less, so that the garment is overall softer and warmer.


R-Tek™ Fleece is even softer and more lightweight than microfleece and has a special anti-pill finish to help counteract the formation of those annoying little tangled balls of fibers that you can see on the surface of fabrics as a result of friction or simply after a while of regular wear and tear.

If you own a business and want your employees to wear uniform fleece jackets or simply want to give your own fleece sweater a personal touch, the best way to customize fleece is embroidery. Due to the "fluffy" quality of the fabric, stitching will work better than printing.

So visit http://www.orleansembroidery.com/ to get an offer on customizing your cold weather gear today!

How Much Are You Willing To Spend On A Custom T-Shirt?

Look at this T-shirt. Look at it closely. How much would you be willing to spend on it?

How much would you be willing to spend on it if you knew that it was produced from 100% pure organic cotton?

How much would you be willing to spend on it if you knew this 100% organic T-shirt was manufactured using only renewable energy?

And how much would you be willing to spend on it if you knew this 100% organic T-shirt with a carbon footprint reduced by 90% was adorned with 16 real diamonds that amount to a whooping 9 carats?

Probably still not as much as The Most Expensive T-Shirt In The World  is going to charge you for this made-to-order luxury item: £256,500. According to xe.com, this currently translates to $399,889.81.

Just to give you something to compare the value of this shirt to: In New Orleans, you can purchase a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom home with a pool and a nice piece of land surrounding it. You could also buy 16 Mazda 6's. Or take your spouse on 67 all inclusive three-week transatlantic cruises. Or donate16,665 measles vaccine crates at unicefusa.org, which is enough to vaccinate 1,333,200 children in underprivileged countries around the world.
To be fair, though, the shirt comes with two perks: an included one-year warranty (excluding improper use, accidental damage, loss and theft, of course) and free worldwide shipping.

If you are looking for a more budget-friendly way to be green and still express your style uniquely, however, consider the option of taking an "ordinary" organic cotton T-shirt and turning it into your own million-dollar-style by having it custom embroidered at a place like Orleans Embroidery in New Orleans.

Ban on Pajamas

Commissioner Michael Williams of Louisiana's Caddo Parish District 3 is tackling an issue that has been a thorn in the side of many for years: the public wearing of pajamas. What caused him to finally take action was "seeing a young man wearing a pair of pajama bottoms that revealed his private parts while shopping at a local Walmart", which is unpleasant at the very least, if not borderlining on a crime.

Indecent exposure is defined as "the crime of exposing a private body part to others [..., ...] usually considered a misdemeanor. [...] If any contact is made between the offender and the victim, the crime may turn into sexual assault [, which] may be classified as a felony. An offender may also face harsher punishment if a minor is the victim of the indecent exposure".

Now, this is not to say that all public pajama-wearers are criminals who drop their pants deliberately, by all means. But accidents happen, and when worse comes to worse, who believes a public offender? Is this really the kind of situation we want to be faced with (at either end of the spectrum)? Is being too lazy to get dressed after rolling out of bed worth accidentally being arrested? But let's not get carried away with worst-case scenarios.

Williams pointed out that the ordinance is about restoring a sense of respect that has disappeared from society. Respecting others enough to do them the courtesy of wearing proper clothes, and maybe even conveying a sense of self-respect to the rest of the world?

A similar ban caused a huge outcry in the UK last year: The supermarket chain Tesco requests "that customers do not shop in their PJs or nightgowns". In-store security is authorized to deny unruly customers entry. From a food hygiene point of view, how can you argue with that? Would you want someone to touch your food who has been wearing and sleeping in their clothes for God knows how long?

However, customers were outraged. "I've worn my best ones today, just so I look tidy. I walked in with my trolley [shopping cart] and the security guard came over and told me to leave", one customer reported. Take a moment to think about that. She spent time carefully considering and choosing which pajama bottoms to wear to the grocery store, instead of just hopping into a pair of jeans? Or slacks? Or even sweat pants? So she picked her red-carpet pair of pajama bottoms to go to the store?

Says another customer: "This is just pathetic [...]. Do they have any idea how difficult it is to get three kids off to school when you are a single parent? You haven't even got time for a cup of tea never mind getting all dolled up." Yes, being a single parent is stressful. No, it is no excuse for letting yourself go and being a slob. It takes an estimated 15 seconds (time even mother-of-19 Michelle Duggar can find every day, by the way) to put on a pair of jeans or a skirt or a dress (which, on top of it, eliminates the question "What oversized sweater goes best with my teddybear pajamas?"). Be a role model! See?

So if you feel the need to wear your pajamas in public, think twice. And then change into a decent outfit. There's ways around looking like a slob. But if you must, maybe at least do it in style with a pajama-inspired shirt à la Ryan Gosling:

2012 Golden Globes Fashion Trends

There are three major events every year that give celebrities the chance to impress the public even more than usual with their style and fashion expertise: the Oscars, the Grammys, and the Golden Globes.

The latter of which were celebrated this weekend, and although some may say that the evening was a little underwhelming compared to past years, what stood out as usual was the red carpet event - perhaps the most anticipated part of all for all women. As celebrity after celebrity appeared on the red carpet, didn't we all dream of having one Cinderella night of our own to wear expensive gowns and lavish jewelry?

Well, 2012 is still young and at least some of us will have a prom, graduation or ball to attend. So why not take some of the current Golden Globes looks as inspiration for our own (maybe less spectacular, but nevertheless) glamorous events?

Here is a short recap of this year's award show fashion trends:

Slim silhouettes: Big and pouffy is a thing of the past! To show off their super-petite bodies, celebrities like Kelly MacDonald, Nicole Richie and Michelle Williams chose to go with a much simpler, slim silhouette this year. This accentuates their shape and makes them appear a little taller. The extra sheen and glitz adds elegance to the outfit and makes them shine!

Nudes: Nude tones made a comeback this weekend. Diane Lane, Mary J. Blidge and Sarah Hyland know that nudes, furnished with a little shine, texture or contrast, are much more flattering, but no less elegant than black, and make them stand out from the crowd.

Extravagant details: Zooey Deschanel, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore resorted to another tried-and-true trick. The lavish detailing turns their otherwise understated dresses into red carpet eye catchers.

Mermaids: What was interesting to see was the small crowd of mermaids floating through the masses. All aquatic in color and shape, celebs like Rachel Evan Woods, Sofia Vergara and Kelly Osbourne chose mermaid-style gowns in watery blues and greens for their big entrance.

As young as you feel: Andie MacDowell, Helen Mirren and Jodie Foster are regulars at the Golden Globes and have showcased many trends over the years. One thing they all have in common is that they agree that age is not a handicap and that women in their 40s, 50s and 60s can still look as beautiful, elegant and radiant as the young'uns.

Classic elegance: Men have much fewer options to look red carpet appropriate than women. That is why George Clooney, Leonardo di Caprio and Mark Wahlberg stuck to classic, elegant tuxedos and bow-ties. To add a little visual interest (as if their faces weren't enough to cover this point), they added some subtle sheen to their lapels.

Wonder Worker Hervé Léger

Among celebrities, Hervé Léger is know for his classy, tight-fitting, figure-flattering dresses. In the entertainment industry, where image is everything and everyone is judged on their appearance, this is an invaluable asset, especially for those who refuse to starve and diet themselves into a Size 0 and instead choose to embrace their full figures.

 

The line of (excuse the expression!) high-end shape-wear has been a favorite for many curvy stars because of its qualities: it hugs the curves in all the right places, shapes where needed and flatters where wanted.

 

If done right, this is what said dress does for your body:

 

 

Both Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Lopez are known for their womanly figues  -  and for being proud of them! Their Léger dresses correct little imperfections and accentuate all essential places.

 

The good news: This line is technically also available for the average consumer. If you are willing to fork out quite a bit of money, you, too, may shine like a celebrity.

 

The key here being: "quite a bit". A model like Ms. Lopez' might cost you a whooping $1650, Jessica's slightly cheaper version $1350. But not to worry if you are on a budget: the basic model starts at $780! 

 

Beauty  - and perfect curves  - after all, come at a price.

German designer develops milk fabric

As Reuters and Trophy Wife report, German fashion designer Anke Domaske has developed a new and unique fabric called QMilch, made from high concentrations of the milk protein casein. 

The casein is extracted from dried milk powder and heated up with other natural ingredients. The fiber comes out in strands and is then spun into yarn, from which the fabric is made. The heating process ensures that the molecules will bind in a way that the fabric won't decompose, is washable just like regular clothing and will remain scent-free.

According to Domaske, the fabric has a whole list of benefits: it can help with poor blood circulation, support anti-aging, and due to the fact that it is produced entirely without chemicals it can also be used in medicine and make-up.

Currently the designer's line Mademoiselle Chi Chi is made from a combination of fabrics, including QMilch. But Domaske plans to design a collection made entirely from the milk fiber.

The production of one dress would require about six liters (1.5 gallons) of milk and would cost around $200, which is well within the budget of celebrity customers like Mischa Barton and Ashlee Simpson.

Defining "Business Casual"

There is one phrase that every job interviewee, new employee, business (wo)man, executive and human resource department dreads:

Business Casual

It strikes fear into the heart of workers and companies alike because the precise meaning eludes us. How much "casual" is still "business"? How much "business" allows an outfit to still be "casual"?

Anne Field wrote a very interesting article about the neverending battle for an appropriate work dress code for Businessweek Lifestyle: What is Business Casual?

Welcome!

Welcome to Orleans Embroidery's new blog about

• all things fashion,
• all things embroidery,
• all things interesting.

Enjoy!