Work It: Nordstrom Looking for Fashion Ambassadors

Finding your dream job is no easy task. At a young age, you're asked to make a decision about what you want to do and invest a good amount of money into one career pathway to do it. That’s why it’s good to know an undesirable career pathway, just as much as a desired one. Well, why not get a head start?

If you, or someone you know, is interested in the fashion industry, keep reading! High school juniors and seniors are invited to apply to become a Nordstrom Fashion Ambassador, and it's a great opportunity to get some experience underneath your belt and decide if fashion is the world in which you want to invest your time and money.

As a Nordstrom Fashion Ambassador, you’ll get to learn the ins and outs of the industry, influence Nordstrom buyers, and have behind-the-scenes access to exciting fashion projects and events. Another great thing about this gig is that you’ll have access to fashion insiders who will share their tips and tricks for jump starting a career.

To apply for the 2015 to 2016 year, or to learn more about this program, go to www.nordstorm.com/fashionambassador. Application deadline is Sunday, April 19.

Local Designer Series: Designer Moves Back to Michigan to Create and Grow Left-Handed Branded

Scott Tallenger, designer of Left-Handed Branded, is a man who wears many hats, and has left New York to get back to Michigan to wear them! He is self-described as a left-handed, right-brained designer, photographer and skateboarder. Everything from womenswear and menswear, to eclectic film-inspired jewelry fills his collection, and it’s colorful, bold and fun – just as we would imagine his personality to be.

DG3: Tell us about yourself, Scott.

Scott Tallenger: Scott Tallenger aka “The Marquis De Guac,” “Scotty Avocado,” and “Scottstradamus” is a Left-Handed, Right Brained, Resourceful Human (but an HR Nightmare), Digital Immigrant, Retrosexual, Photographer, Skateboarder, Fashion Designer and all around idea guy.

DG3: Tell us about Left-Handed Branded.

ST: Left-Handed Branded is my new name after re-branding in 2015. Short version, I named it after my dominant left hand, which has been a source of inspiration and discrimination my entire life. It is my new umbrella to house all the ideas I am currently developing.

DG3: Why use natural fibers and up-cycled materials?

ST: This combination goes back to my days in Fashion College. I use natural fibers because they are the strongest and most breathable, and my interest in up-cycled materials was originally born out of poverty. I started using them in an Experimental Design Class and never stopped. I was working a lot of Film Production jobs at the time and started collecting film off of cutting room floors. When we had to choose a non-traditional fiber to make a fabric, I chose film. The result was my “Tribute To Norma Desmond Gown.” Over the years, I have expanded the use of 35 mm film into accessories for fashion, and for the home.  Thirty five mm film makes a beautiful window treatment; I call it Modern Stained Glass.

DG3: Where do you sell the collection?

ST: When I was in New York I sold my products at The Shoppe BX, The Artist Market NYC and my 35 mm film bracelets at The Sundance Film Festival. My Michigan marketing has been largely word of mouth from happy customers, but I am currently working on my new website for Left-Handed Branded. If you go please be patient with me, as it is still in the beginning stages, but it IS live! I do have a lot of content yet to upload.

DG3: There seems to be a good amount of clothing/accessory collections being made in Hamtramck. What do you think draws people to that area?

ST: My girlfriend and I were both being priced out of our neighborhoods at the same time last year and we wanted to get under one roof. I grew up here, but I had to sell a New Yorker on Michigan. When I would bring her home with me for family visits, we would always stay with my good friends in Hamtramck. We loved their house and yard, and as luck would have it, when we were looking to move they had just bought the house next door to them and were looking for tenants – the stars aligned. Having been back for 10 months now, I can say personally that I love the international community in which we now live. New York City is still a melting pot, but an expensive one. When they started calling my old neighborhood in the South Bronx “SoBro,” I got out!

DG3: What do you find to be the most inspiring thing about Detroit?

ST: The support for start-ups and small businesses right now is enough to keep me here alone. I was only in New York for six years, but a lot has happened here while I was away, and I am just happy to be back and a part of the change.  Between Entrepreneur Week and just the event programming of The Build Institute alone, I have stayed busy. I am starting the Build Basics Entrepreneurship Program in April.

DG3: Can you give three pieces of advice about starting a clothing collection? 

ST: I have not manufactured clothing since I lived in Los Angeles, and all my productions there were small and self-funded.

1.  Know how to make your own patterns, sew your own samples, etc. People will take you more seriously if you know your shit. I would have never gotten my manufacturer had I not made my own patterns (She told me that!). 

2.  Study what Flint and Tinder has done using crowd-funded Kickstarter campaigns for clothing production.

3.  Find an investor. Easier said than done, but if you meet one looking for talent let me know.

DG3:  Describe your style:

ST: Retrosexual – I design and make all my own pants that are pretty modern, but I like to mix them with vintage shirts, jackets, and accessories. 

DG3: How do you take your coffee?

ST: Light and sweet.

DG3: Menswear trend for women, or the skirts (a la Marc Jacobs) for men?

ST: The menswear trend for women pants down. But I do love Marc Jacobs.

DG3: Karl Lagerfeld or Tom Ford?

ST: Tom Ford

On The Town: Women Entrepreneurs Revitalizing America

Held at the Renaissance Center, the National Women’s Business Council had a quarterly public board meeting yesterday and DG3, along with other local businesswomen and entrepreneurs, was in attendance. The meeting was informative and empowering, and we learned about all they have been doing for women in the workplace, along with hearing a couple of inspiring stories of women helping women right here in Detroit.

Changing government policies to help women secure funding easily, increasing the number of women making investment decisions and improving outreach efforts to find women entrepreneurs are just a few of the many things they have and are hoping to accomplish. Through the council’s efforts and research, they have found that women are doing more than ever before.

“Another great thing that the council of research determined is that the number of patents obtained by women in the U.S. is equal to men,” said Teresa Nelson, board member, Professor at Simmons College School of Management and Director of the Entrepreneurship Program.

Below are a few quick stats from the NWBC:

1.    The U.S. has over 7.8 million women-owned businesses, earning $1.2 trillion in annual r receipts.

2.    An overwhelming 88.2% of these firms have no employees other than the owner, and 11.8% employ over 7.5 million people and have annual median receipts of $210,000.

3.    Women-owned businesses account for 29.6% of all business and 17.5% of business and 20.2% of business with employees.

4.    The economic impact of women-owned businesses have been estimated at $2.8 trillion, and more than 23 million jobs.

In the next year, the NWBC hopes to engage more entrepreneurship ecosystem stakeholders in the dialogue and the solutions. These stakeholders include policy makers, leaders, media and other influencers in the public, private and academic sectors.

The NWBC is a non-partisan federal advisory council created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Congress, and the White House on issues of impact. For more information, and to get access to some of the toolkits they have created for women business owners, visit www.nwbc.gov.

Do It: This Weekend’s Fashion, Beauty and Style Events that Are Not To Be Missed

This weekend is chock-full of fun and fashionable things to do, so if you’re itching to hit the town, these events will keep you busy!

Smythe Show | Wednesday, March 25 through Friday, March 27

Meet Smythe’s representative, and shop the fall 2015 collection at SHE in Bloomfield Hills. Browse through special spring styles, and pre order your favorite fall 2015 pieces. Also available are the new handbags from Campomaggi, and Annette Ferber’s new handbag collection. The store is packed with spring and summer collections, brought in early just for you.

SHE is located at 4076 W Maple Rd., in Bloomfield Hills.

Bizarre Bazaar | Thursday, March 26

From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. shop the sale and silent auction benefitting Michigan Aids Coalition. Spend your night bidding at the silent auction, browsing the “buy-it-now” section, and then naming your price on the remaining items at the end of the evening. Tickets for the event are $25 at the door, and include passed appetizers and one drink ticket. For more information, call 248.545.1435x105.

The Twist Night Club is located at 22901 Woodward Ave., in Ferndale.

March Detroit Startup Drinks | Thursday, March 26

Everyone is welcome to mix and mingle with founders, freelancers and moonlighters from 6 to 8 p.m. at Great Lakes Coffee Detroit. There is no agenda, no speaker – just community.

Great Lakes Coffee Detroit is located at 3965 Woodward Ave., in Detroit.

The North American Bicycle Show | Saturday, March 28

Come peruse Detroit’s premier consumer bicycle event starting at 10 a.m. at Cobo Center. Everything bicycle related is under one roof, including new stuff for 2015 and deals on last year’s merchandise. There is something for everyone with over 150 vendors, and events happening all day. Take part in the Bike Swing, Workshops on Bicycle Education and Advocacy, Moosejaw Mountaineering, and other events. More information can be found at noam.bike.

Cobo Center is located at 1 Washington Blvd., in Detroit.

Slow Roll Season Opener | Sunday, March 29

The Slow Roll Season Opener is this Sunday at 11 a.m. with over 4,000 or more of your closest friends. Kick off the spring/summer season right with a little exercise through the city of Detroit. Cyclists should meet at Eastern Market, Shed 2.

Eastern Market is located at 2934 Russell St., in Detroit.

March Detroit SOUP | Sunday, March 29

Another public soup dinner is happening from 6 to 9 p.m. at Detroit SOUP. Pay $5 at the door to learn about different creative projects happening in Detroit, and then vote on which project to fund with the money rose from dinner. Like usual, doors open at 6, proposals are at 7, dinner is at 8 and the winners are announced before 9. For more information, or to submit a proposal, go to www.detroitsoup.com/submit.

Detroit SOUP is located at 2900 E Grand Blvd., in Detroit.