one female designer in a man's world

Men's fashion is on! Even I have just announced the launch of the Fashion Rocks Men Collection. Men's fashion - and woman's by the way - is dominated by male designers, that is a fact. It's therefore all the more refreshing to see my feminine self featured among some high profile male designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Paul Smith and Kenzo in this People Magazine type Swiss National TV show from just a couple of days ago. See for yourself:

fashion rocks rockstar magazine

Yeap, just came hot off the press! Fashion Rocks collection featured in Rockstar Magazin! Thanks to my all time top photographer Carl Posey and Swiss connection PR genius Arnold Meyer.

switzerland in nyc

Now, I've been blessed. Truly. To be embraced, as a young woman doing my own thing, by so many. There seams not to be much I can do wrong. Even back in the day, when I suggested that sneakers should be worn with evening gowns or after I said: "the heck with a serious fashion show" and started break dancing on the runway, they still celebrate me, as one magazine put it: "The Most Important Invention After Color TV!" Got to love it!

The Swiss press in particular is always there to put the word out about their Swiss fashion export (me!) and this past Sunday, Switzerland's "People" magazine "Schweizer Illustrierte" or "Switzerland Illustrated", was in NY to find out what I am doing and wearing in 2008...

Here are just a couple of behind the scenes pics, courtesy of Carl Posey.

...photographer herve lecnuff, writer/journalist nina siegrist and idil vice chillin' in front of the NYC skyline after work!

...we've got to do this again, idil...


...o.k. I've got the shot!


...cool pic, herve!

...nina puttin' it down in words...

So get ready for some very exiting picture story in "Schweizer Illustrierte" with - I can't give away too much!! - but here a few clues: An Alphorn in the Meatpacking District, an original Zurich Dirndl in front of Pastis, high heels, colorful clothes and a new version of the traditional "Kitchen-Shoots" with my Hubs!!

swiss press

Below is the current weekly issue of Anzeiger, the magazin of the Eastern region of Switzerland, which includes my hometown and Kanton St. Gallen. I am especially proud of this article (It's all about me!!) because during all these years in the fashion business, I was reminded and learned, again and again, that St. Gallen, besides being one of the most beautiful towns in the world, is also the place of origin of the most pricey and highest quality fabrics in the entire world!

"This one is expensive, it's Swiss!" I hear from countless fabric dealers in NYC's Garment District. And whenever I came across a piece of Swiss fabric, it was true: The do not compare to anything. They are smooth, crisp and mostly detail oriented.

Some of the most regarded St. Gallen textile firms are Jakob Schlaepfer, Bischof Textil and more..

Examples of Haute Couture designs by Jean Paul Gaultier and others using Jakob Sclaepfer textiles from St. Gallen.

Can you imagine that I, growing up there was not aware of this world famous export? It shows in a way the character of the people in St. Gallen and maybe in the rest of Switzerland as well: The got it, but they don't flaunt it! Well, it's served them well so far and they have been the quiet leader in all things design and manufacturing.