Shibori Slit Jacket
|
August
2008
Dear Past, Present and Future Customers,
I hope my letter finds you all healthy
and happy as time just flies. It seems I was just designing
our spring collection, and now it is almost fall already.
We have had a very hectic summer. Andreas, our son, suggested
a year ago that we should have a big family reunion on
our farm. This way it forced my old man Rick to complete
the building of our house and yes it almost worked. The
party was great, we had relatives from all over the world
camping in our yard, and the house is almost finished. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| My
studio is great, spacey, sunny and big enough to sort
out all my fabric treasures. I have been collecting forever.
I feel like the fairy tale girl who was locked in the
barn and had to spin gold out of straw. It is a big challenge
to create “wearable art” for our designer
collection out of boxes and boxes of pieces of hand-woven,
painted silks, laces, trims, furs, yarns, buttons etc.
Growing up in old Europe after WWII a young girl learned
everything, knitting, crocheting, sewing, weaving and
being resourceful which is a Dutch trait anyway. |
This
summer I was hit with “purple passion fever”.
Bet you never realized purple came in this many shades
– from soft lavenders and roses to hot berries and
watermelon to dark burgundy’s and plums and combinations
of all. The end result is fabulous (if you like purple).
We (my mother Anna and I) really challenged ourselves.
Besides the fabulous jewelry Anna makes, she also revamped
her knitting skills. This fall we will be showing a limited
amount of coats, jackets, capelets and shawls in a kaleidoscope
of purple and wine shades. She made knitting needles almost
as fat as broomsticks so the result is a very loose, open
weave, light almost lacy effect great over our silk pieces.
Some of our outfits look very theatrical, medieval, and
renaissance but can be toned down with the interchangeable
more casual pieces.
We have had great response to our less expensive more
casual ready-to-wear group and continue to offer these
“no-nonsense” interesting everyday pieces. |
I found this great French tapestry fabric in beautiful
hues of celadon green, bronze and black – flattering
colors for many women – with our popular linen
knit sweaters and silk linen Maggie pants to coordinate
of course all washable. Plus many interesting black
pieces to add to your existing wardrobe.
Our best advertising is happy customers bringing in
friends. It is not unusual to see one of you and telling
me the outfit you bought 25 years ago, you just wore
on your Mediterranean cruise and got lots of compliments.
I am proud of that. I call that “clothing without
an expiration date”.
Stijfselkissie had been in business almost 30 years
and yes I still love my work. I want to be strong and
healthy enough to do another 30 years (my mom is 82
and still going strong).
This winter we are doing the Florida shows again. It
was a great experience, work and fun combined.
Hope to see you ladies at one of our shows this fall
or at our semi annual trunk show in our studio in PA.
My love to you all and thank you for your continued
patronage,
Marijke
|
|
|
