Rock & Royalty™ Takes the Throne

I would like to announce that Modern Material will now be represented by a new brand name called Rock & Royalty™. Over the last 2 years the brand evolved into a clear direction inspired by rock & roll and European royalty. I felt that it was time to create a name that could gain more appeal and understanding for the brand image. Modern Material will still remain the business behind the scenes, but Rock & Royalty will take the throne on the consumer side. I am working on the process of trademarking the name, as there certainly is a market for apparel and accessories inspired by this theme.




New Name. New Domain. www.shoprockandroyalty.com. The former Modern Material website will also remain active as we have developed a strong customer base around the world in the last 2 years. Both domains route to the same site, which has been completely updated to reflect the new brand name. I decided not to start from scratch when creating the new brand image, so there could still be some recognition of the Modern Material brand. The colors and logo look very much the same, however I've added some ornate elements to the design. The brand will now focus on clothing and accessories, while beginning to remove the paper category. Customers can now shop by collections including women's and men's.


Tis the Season to Rock the Night Away. A Holiday giveaway is now underway with a gift set valued over $100. The link to the entry form is on the home page. The items are mostly from the women's collection, but could make a great gift. Please be sure to register and pass the link onto your friends. (Note: my family and personal friends are not eligible).

A Collaboration of Music & Style. The Indie Rock Collection has also been an amazing addition to the brand, which will also go nicely with the new name Rock & Royalty. I am so impressed by the amazing musicians who are featured in this collection. There is a great mix of music from beautiful songs by singer/songwriters to songs that make you want to rock. There are several songs that have been used on hit television shows, including: Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill and 90210. The goal of this promotion was to spread the word about these great artists, while offering customers an amazing value. I appreciate everyone who has contributed to this project. It took a lot of hard work to get things pieced together, but I think the concept is something that will continue to revolve around Rock & Royalty. The current collection will be available until June 15, 2010, or while supplies last.

Several new pieces will be added in time for the holidays! Of course the thing I love to do more than anything is design accessories and embellish apparel. I have several great new items that I have yet to put on the website, as well as some great new designs in mind! One of the most exciting additions I am working on is a collection of ties, for both men and women! They will certainly have the Rock & Royalty flair, consisting of embellishments that will set them aside from anything the rest of the pack. Think rock & roll not business attire. A few limited edition clutches and totes are also in the mix.







Rock & Royalty™ Couture. This will continue to be the line of embellished apparel and accessories that require more time and expense. I personally put a lot of time into these pieces to offer something unique. The Alison Wonderland and Mad Hatter Couture Tees drew a lot of attention this summer. This is a theme I hope to expand on in the future, especially with the Tim Burton remake starting Johnny Depp sure to become a smash hit at the box office.







Inspired by Rock & Royalty Romance. The entire brand is a mixture of hard edge rock and roll elements and elegant ornate details. I'm inspired by the 150 + concerts I've attended to the exquisite costumes from the modern day Marie Antoinette movie and Gwen Stefani's video for What You Waiting For. It feels like a fairy tale romance between the heir to the throne and a rock star from opposite sides of society, destined to be together. A short love story of what has created the style of Rocker Romantic can soon be found in the About section of the web store. Long Live the Rock & Roll Queen.

Creekside Festival & Music Promotion

The last several months have been a whirl wind for me as I set out to conquer several major projects for Modern Material. The first of which being a booth at the Gahanna Creekside Jazz & Blues Festival just outside Columbus, Ohio. The chance to spend 3 days displaying merchandise in front of thousands and thousands of people was sure to give a huge local boost in brand recognition. The second major task was creating an amazing music promotion to draw attention. Somehow I managed to pull everything together to launch the Free Music Download promotion at the festival.

After receiving news about being accepted into the 2009 Creekside Festival, it was time to start building inventory. I added several new apparel and accessory designs which will soon be available online. Much of the product production is still handled by myself, so I spent countless hours and days sewing embellishments and assembling jewelry. My husband, Steve, also contributed dozens of hours to building display walls and updating the website, while my best friend Tiffany found herself helping out with some challenging projects. Perhaps the most challenging of all was being able to locate just about everything I seemed to loose in all of the chaos.



3 DAY WEEKEND
Creekside turned out to be a very successful event. My close friend, Jamie Linscott, joined me to sell her fine silver jewelry and vintage creations. Overall the sales were great, and the responses to the line was amazing. It gives me a huge boost in confidence, and from a marketing standpoint, it was a great customer analysis by overhearing the conversations that people were having with each other as they looked around. The Alison Wonderland Couture Tee (originally designed as a gift for Gwen Stefani), was an instant attraction, followed by The Mad Hatter Couture Tee, which is now available. The Royal Highness necklace was the most popular Modern Material jewelry item, while the new Long Live The Rock & Roll Queen tanks also sold well. I also introduced a military style hat which was easily a best seller.



THE INDIE ROCK COLLECTION, V1
The music promotion was also very exciting to share with customers, although I don't believe it was really the right crowd who understands indie music. It did seem to open up some interesting opportunities that were presented to me, which I hope to be a part of. As you are now beginning to notice, Modern Material is becoming intertwined with indie rock & roll music. Music originally inspired the overall mood of the brand, and I am very honored to have found so many talented musicians wanting to support Modern Material and license a song for us to give away as collective gift with purchase. I intend to use this collaboration to not only generate more sales, but also shed light on dozens of lesser known indie musicians who deserve to find success in the music industry. I want to make the shopping experience with the brand a statement. I remember receiving music samplers at concerts or other events, which at first glace seemed like a waste of time because I had never heard of a single musician listed. However, I soon discovered some artists who would go on to be among my all time favorites musicians. A new tee shirt or piece of jewelry will probably stick around in your closet for a year or until the trend wears out. A great song will never go out of style....unless of course popular radio kills it for you...over...and over.

THANK YOU
I would like to give thanks and credit to the dozens of people who have contributed to this music promotion. First I owe the largest thanks to my husband Steve for his patience with me over the last few months. He has also made everything possible as I continue to want to add new features to the website almost every day, and we still have a major piece to tackle with the 30 artist profiles. I would next like to thank Vance McNabb from Charleston, SC, manager for Howie Day, Jay Clifford, Owen Beverly, Steven Fiore, and Nick Zuber for his support of Modern Material over the last year and for guiding me in the right direction as I set out to create this music compilation. Thanks to Jason Corron, Art Director of Promowest Productions in Columbus, OH, for opportunities that are hopefully yet to come. Thanks to The Thrifters (and basist Chris Henke) from Cleveland, Ohio, who found me online and expressed interest in collaboration and who took the promotion on tour around the US. I would especially like to thank those who I reached out to, simply because I heard a song that I really liked. Thanks to David Blutenthal of Brick Wall Management in New York City for his strong support, lending music from The Alternate Routes, K.S. Rhoads, The Spring Standards, The Clarks, Slow Runner, Ari Hest, and Sons of William. Thanks to Chris Hacker of Engine Room Recordings in New York City for sharing The Bloodsugars, Porterblock, Lowry, and Israel, Darling. Thanks to Andy Forts of Eenie Meanie Records in Hollywood, CA for the music of Great Northern, Scissors for Lefty, Blue Eyed Son, and Oranger. And more thanks to Fara D'Augiar with Derek James. Jody Gayle with Listen 2 Three. Cloud 13 Records for Soft Targets and The Ums in Tallahassee, FL. Brad Lyons of Oceanship in Ontario, Canada. Gandhar Savur with Miss TK & The Revenge in Ashbury, NJ. Andrew Lizon of Drew in Columbus, OH. Paul McGough and Hillary Abel with Vacuity in Kitchener, Ontario. Tiffany Schloesser and Stef Shapira of The Rebel Group in New York City for music from Wheat. Corinne, Cindel, Dustin, and One Union Project from Rock Factory Studios in Pickerington, OH. Music has been licensed for a period of 1 year, and over the next several months we will be working on building a marketing campaign to reach out to music and fashion media outlets, primarily in the U.S. The response to the Modern Material brand and music collection has been amazing, so we anticipate much more exposure once we have the chance to distribute press releases. Things are just getting started, so please check back for the latest and greatest.

MICHAEL JACKSON
On a final note, I would just like to pay tribute to the very first musician who truly inspired me when I was just 4 years old. I will never forget watching the videos for Thriller, Billie Jean, and Say Say Say over and over again on an old VHS tape. Michael's poster hung on my bedroom wall, perhaps my first crush or just someone I wanted to be. A piece of my childhood gone, just like everybody else's.

Coming Soon! The Indie Rock Collection

Sorry that my blog posts have fallen way behind the schedule that I wanted to keep. However, I've been busy with few new things for Modern Material that promise to be way better than reading about my thoughts on music and style!

Over the last 2 months I have found 30 amazing indie rock bands and singer/songwriters to collaborate on a Gift With $10 Purchase from Modern Material. All sales of $10 or more will receive a download card or code for all 30 songs absolutely FREE! I am really excited to be able to offer this promotion, because I know how excited I get any time I get even 1 song for free! A few months ago I bought tickets to see No Doubt for almost $100 per ticket! That's the most I have ever paid for a show, but to have the chance to see Gwen so close was worth it. But what really made my day was when I got an email with a code to download No Doubt's entire catalog for free! 84 songs total! Several of my ND CDs skipped on every song, so it was a great benefit for me! Anyway, I decided it was finally time to see what I might be able to pull together for a promotion.

I used to dedicate much of my free time to several artist street teams in the past. I love to promote indie bands, and be current on music before they become rock stars. It only seemed obvious to me that I tied together my rock inspired brand with rock music. Unsure how to tackle this project, I found help from a few friends in the industry and then started contacting bands, managers, or indie labels about the promotion. I received so many positive responses that things moved so much faster than I anticipated. It has also been a lot of work on top of getting a booth ready for a big weekend festival in a few weeks.

Things are finally wrapping up, and I plan on having everything ready to launch by June 15th. The website will feature artist profiles and preview clips of each song. Discover great independent music coming from L.A. to N.Y.C, many states in between, and even Canada.

Get ready to Shop. Rock & roll.

- a n n i e -

CHRIS CORNELL - SCREAM

There is something new in the world of rock and roll, created by an old favorite from the 90's. I'm talking about rocker Chris Cornell and his new album Scream, produced by hip hop master, Timberland.




It certainly is a departure from the sound of Cornell's bands, Soundgarden and Audioslave. Long time fans seem to have rather mixed reviews about the new album. Many seem to love the new sound, and others seem to think he "sold out", giving into the powers of the record label industry. I myself think the new album is rather brilliant. I bought a ticket months ago to Cornell's Cleveland House of Blues show. It was going to be my 3rd show (counting one Audioslave concert and one solo gig). From nearly 2 decades of his music, Audioslave produced several songs that will forever stand the test of time in my opinion. I really liked his last solo album, Carry On, but I never seemed to connect to it for some reason. My friend Jamie was truly the hard core Cornell fan, always anxious to catch a show. When the Scream tour was announced, I was certainly excited to go, but it wasn't reaching the top of my must see shows. I knew a new album was coming out, and truthfully that worried me. With only a month between the release and the show, I didn't think I would have enough time to ever get acquainted with the music, let alone have it resonate with me. But after getting a code for a free download of the entire album for purchasing a concert ticket, all of that changed.

I was a little confused when I first started playing the music. It wasn't anything even close to what I was expecting. The electronic sounds started pumping through my iMac speakers and until I heard the deep vocals of Chris Cornell, I wasn't sure what was playing. It was so different and I was instantly drawn to it. My first reaction was that it sounded more like Kanye West and reminiscent of Justin Timberlake. Quickly I started hearing the Timbaland influence and looked up the album to confirm the collaboration. I'm really not a huge fan of hip hop, but there are certainly many songs that are especially enjoyable for a night of dancing that rock and roll just can't offer. Scream just makes you want to get up and dance, have a great time, and step away from the darker and depressing sounds of rock and roll. I started listening to this album, over and over for days at work and in the car. Suddenly, the concert couldn't come soon enough.

Last Monday I left work early to make the 2 1/2 hour drive up to Cleveland in the pouring down rain. Our plan was to grab a quick dinner at the House of Blues and then be granted early entrance for the show. The bartender said the line had already formed so she boxed up our dinner to eat in line. By the time we got our food, there were already a few dozen fans waiting in the crusty back entrance. An hour later we entered the theater, and were able to find a place about 4 rows back from the stage. The crowd quickly filled in, making for a rather uncomfortable space, with people bumping, shoving and pushing, and it was still hours until Chris Cornell would even take the stage. Jamie and I started talking to several people around us, getting into long discussions about our favorite show, LOST, or having debates on who was the bigger Cornell, Pearl Jam, or Gavin Rossdale fan. Long live the 90's grunge bands. The Outernational opened the show. They were pretty good, and I need to remember to look them up on myspace. Then finally the erie electronic voice started to introduce Chris Cornell the way it does on Scream. I think a lot of people were afraid that the new sound would dominate the show. In a way I was hoping it would. I expected to hear several favorite Soundgarden and Audioslave songs as well. The night rocked on until the next day began. 31 songs graced the set list, giving a full range of music from the past and present. Classics such as Hunger Strike from Cornell & Eddie Vedder's Temple of the Dog, acoustic sets of Like a Stone, Fell on Black Days, and Doesn't Remind me. One of my favorite songs from Scream, Never Far Away, had me screaming at the top of my head. And the 90's anthem from my high school years, Black Hole Sun, closed out the show and ended with a bizarre elevator music style outro set to Black Hole Sun. The only song missing was my personal all time favorite song, Be Yourself, which is the song that wakes me up every single morning on my Blackberry.



The crowd was feeling every single song. Packed like sardines, we were a little weary of a few random drunk guys wanting to start a mosh pit. Fortunately most of the people surrounding us were cool enough to prevent the crazies from pushing everyone. We became protective of our space and nobody would allow newcomers to weasel their way in front. There was one obnoxious guy who kept pushing my foot around trying to find a pic thrown into the crowd. He's lucky I didn't break his finger with my heel which was in severe pain from the 6 hours spent standing. He found a pic only to somehow lose it a few minutes later and continue to bitch about it for an hour. Why he spent more time whining about the pic rather than watching the show, I do not understand. I already had a pic from the last show, so it seemed pointless to me to waste my time looking for one on the ground. A few rows up in front, 3 young boys around 10 years old caught Cornell's attention and one of them scored his black leather jacket which he tossed into the crowd. He was very interactive with the crowd, even accepting a request from a girl in front of us who wrote Loud Love on a piece of paper and passed it up on stage. And at some point he invited another girl up on stage to sing Happy Birthday to her friend. I managed to get a few decent pictures, but not too many since the lighting was low and the crowd was pushy. During the encore break, Jamie and I decided to leave our spots up front to make our way to the back. The feeling was completely different, and I'm glad we endured the noisy crowded group up front because it's not the same to rock out with the mellow fans in the back. And like Cornell mentioned during the show, you just have to stand up and kick it at a rock concert. Then just like Cinderella at the ball, the clock struck midnight and it was time for us to scurry back to our carriage which meant another hour standing and waiting for the Valet to retrieve the car.



SET LIST (Cleveland, OH 4.13.09):
Part of Me
Time
No Such Thing
You Know My Name
Burden In My Hand
Pretty Noose
Hunger Strike
Preaching The End of the World
Loud Love (By Request)
Outshined
Show Me How to Live
Ground Zero
Never Far Away
Billy Jean
What You Are
Rusty Cage
Heavens Dead

Acoustic:
I Am the Highway
Can't Change Me
Seasons (with entire band)
Fell on Black Days
Like A Stone
Doesn't Remind Me

Cochise (with strobe lights)
Watch Out
Scream
Let Me Drown
Spoonman -Good Times Bad Times- Spoonman

Encore:
Enemy
The Day I Tried to Live
Black Hole Sun

With only 2 hours of sleep, a large Redbull, and my iPod playing Scream, I powered my way through another day designing accessories. It took several days to recover from the fatigue, but it was worth every minute. I hope everyone gets the chance to listen to this album. The last I checked, it was still available on iTune's for $7.99. The album is also designed to listen to as a whole. Each song has an intro and outro that flows into each other. Certain songs are a little choppy at the beginning or end if listening out of order. This is my only negative comment regarding the album because I often like to make playlists to mix it up.

Fans of Chris Cornell should also follow him on Twitter. He has been making dozens of tweets each day, reminding you that he is just a normal guy taking photos of himself in the mirror or stuck at the airport trying to find a cup of coffee.

FASHION SET LIST:

Chris Cornell - SCREAM by Modern Material featuring Forever21 rings

My Concert Count: 151
Rating: 5 Stars

www.chriscornell.com

THE KOOKS

I chose to write my first post on a band who is on the top of my list for the moment. There may be posts where I decide to feature a more well known band, simply because I want to. Even though some of these bands have signed major record deals, they still are hidden gems in the American music industry in comparison to music tycoons like U2 or high rising artists like The Fray, who were once my undiscovered indie gem years ago.

British Rock is the most influential music genre for Modern Material. One band I just can't stop listening to is The Kooks. It's feel good music that will brighten up my day or help wake me up on my long commute to work every morning. A few years ago my friend Jamie had me listen to a few songs off the 2006 album, Inside In / Inside Out. But it wasn't until she took me to a show at Newport Music Hall in Columbus, OH, this past fall. I thought I would enjoy the show, but expected to only know the few songs I heard on CD101. Somehow I thought I knew almost every song they played that night, but I really just think the music was so uplifting it had a familiar feel. I remember being disappointed when I pulled out my camera and realized I forgot to put a memory card in it. As a designer and music fanatic, I crave the perfect photograph as a memento from each show. So the ones on my Black Berry just didn't cut it.

Jamie and I were having her husband drive by and pick us up at the Newport, so she told me it was time to go before the show was over. Normally I refuse to leave a show until the lights come on. We thought we'd just miss the encore song, but as we stood outside in the cold, with no ride in sight, I could hear the happy sounds from the inside seeping out the doors. I felt like a kid in a candy store, crying for more candy. And then it was over. The crowd filled the street, and we realized we would have to hike a few blocks to catch our ride. The following day I bought both albums on iTunes, Inside In/Inside Out and Konk. I have this rule where I won't buy an entire album on iTunes because I would rather have the physical CD and packaging to admire. But I didn't feel like driving a few miles down the road to find a music store. I wanted the damn candy.



The Kooks are composed of singer/guitarist Luke Pritchard, lead guitarist Hugh Harris, bassist Max Rafferty and drummer Paul Garred. This UK rock band has made waves from across the pond. With songs like She Moves In Her Own Way and Mr. Maker, the Kooks resemble a modern day version of The Beatles. The steady upbeat beats and vocals could make way for a new British Invasion. The quieter, more mellow songs like Seaside, One Last Time, Shine On and Sway still have this undeniable power to make you move along to the rhythm, tap your foot, drum on your steering wheel or mouse, and sing along.

Quoted from The Kooks website..."If it doesn't make you feel good, then what's the point?" says Luke. "There's too much drab shoe-gazing sh*t around. I hate all that cack. You've to push through it. That's where you get great songs."

There are currently no tour dates in the US. Check out their website for updates.
The Kooks Official Web Site
The Kooks MySpace


FASHION SET LIST. With each new post or review, I intend to include my fashion set list, which is a collection of clothing, accessories, and beauty products that along with the music review, inspire me as I look for the next great design for Modern Material. This week is titled European Rock Royalty, likely to be a regular category featured in this blog. Dominated by black & white with blush accents, ornate chain link details, and floral elements, this set is classy and elegant yet says rocker chick without screaming it.


THE KOOKS - European Rock Royalty - by Modern Material on Polyvore.com

- a n n i e -

ARCHIVE BLOG: Shop, Rock & Roll

I decided it was finally time to create a weekly blog to feature new music material from up and coming musicians. I would consider myself a bit of an indie music junkie, anxious to discover new music and support the indie community. With attendance at over 150 concert performances and past dedication to musician street teams, I decided it was time to incorporate my passion for music with my commitment to develop her own product line.

I hope to turn Modern Material into a weekly online destination for shopping, music & fashion for the indie lifestyle. The weekly music & style review is designed to connect shoppers to hot new music and bring music fans to a trendy little place to find rocker influenced apparel and accessories.

Featured artists will most likely be from genres including Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, British Rock, Acoustic Rock and Signer/Songwriters. However, there are always exceptions when music moves you.

My plan each week is to choose a song or album to review and stream music from the blog. I will be searching for new artists to interview and share their music and fashion style. Relevant information such as album releases and tour dates will be noted. Photos and links to their MySpace page or web site will be accessible to encourage new fans to to join their communities. A fashion “set list” inspired by their music will also be created. These fashion sets will not be limited to the Modern Material brand. They will be reminiscent of style guides found in every fashion magazine, to inspire a new look.

If you are a musician or manager interested in having your music featured on Modern Material, please see my contact information on www.modern-material.com. If selected, you will be notified of the date your blog feature will be slated to appear. A banner with your band will appear on the home page of modern-material.com the week of your highlight. The only request is that you share a reciprocal link or banner to the Modern Material home page with your fans.



I am also open to suggestions to check out your favorite indie musician. I spend all day listening to indie radio stations online, and have a long list of my favorite new artists. I love to catch shows at intimate venues as frequently as possible. The excitement of seeing and hearing one of your favorite bands up close and personal is amazing. And leaving a show with a new CD from an awesome opening act is even better.

Click over to the web store and find some rock and roll flair to wear to you next concert.

MODERN MATERIAL web boutique
Shop, Rock & Roll.

- a n n i e -

Lastest Press

I just wanted to share a few recent features for Modern Material. I was interviewed a few weeks ago for a fashion article in the Columbus Alive newspaper. It was a fun experience but I'm not used to having the attention on me. Any free press for Modern Material is wonderful, so I guess I'll just have to get over the embarrassment! Sorry if the links are not showing up.



www.columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2009/02/12/ca_s_rack.html

Another great blog called Cuteable featured a Modern Material bracelet last week. They have added so many more cute things since, so you will have to scroll down for awhile to find it!




cuteable.com

I also continue to see dozens of new item uses on Polyvore.com. Usually my notebooks and buttons are frequently used but there is one set created by a user I would like to share.


The city is at war. - by J e s s;] on Polyvore.com

Keep rockin.

- a n n i e -

Turn the Radio Up. It's Magick.

Well I haven't followed through with my new years resolution of posting more blogs. Last week while stuck in traffic during another snow storm, I had a dozen things on my mind that I wanted to write about. But that's the way life goes, right? The best and most creative ideas always come when you're stuck in a situation where you can't do anything about it. I've often woken up in the middle of the night with a great new concept or design, but at 3am, what am I supposed to do about it? I used to keep a notebook in my night stand just to jot down ideas before they escaped like a dream you know you want to remember but you never will.

So I'm stuck in my Murano on I-670 with nothing more than my music to entertain me, and my mind to distract me from the thousands of vehicles surrounding me. Those of you who know me, know that music is just as much a part of my life's inspiration as my career in design and fashion. I was on the verge of another migraine, which always seem to develop on my drive home from work. But there was something that was pulling at my strings, forcing me to turn the volume up. Maybe it was the new mix CD I made from iTunes recently. Maybe it was the sheer boredom of the usual 45 minute commute ticking slowly to the 2 hour mark. All I wanted to do was drift off to a new land. If only it were as simple as the television show LOST, and the white flash would instantly transport me in time to somewhere way cooler than the Columbus interstate. Luckily my imagination was in full gear since obviously my car wasn't. I let the music tell my story. Tell me where it wanted me to be. So here is a little journey through the songs and destinations I took that cold and lonely night....

Song: After Tonight
Artist: Justin Nozuka
Imagination: A warm star studded night under the open universe on Oahu's North Shore. Beach, blankets, bonfire, close friends, and a chilling acoustic performance next to the crashing pacific waves.


Song: Electric Feel
Artist: MGMT
Imagination: A night out dancing with the girls, drinking martinis at a trendy night spot.

Song: I'm Not Over
Artist: Carolina Liar
Imagination: Road trip. Westward of course. The fresh start of spring and the windows rolled down. An old fashion Rand McNally road map flapping in the wind, our only form of navigation with the miles of winding road stretched ahead.


Song: Dawn of the Dead
Artist: Does It Offend You,Yeah?
Imagination: Set sail on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. A week of fun in the sun and no stress or worries.

Song: Magick
Artist: Ryan Adams
Imagination: The anthem for a bad day. When you just want to say something you know you shouldn't. All you want to do is blast the music and scream at the top of your lungs. What goes around comes around.

Song:Supermassive Black Hole
Artist: Muse
Imagination: Get ready to rock. Our basement is equipped with a giant 8 foot screen waiting for the next Guitar Hero to take the stage.

Song:It's Amazing
Artist: Jem
Imagination: If one of my favorite shows, The OC still existed, I know this song would've led to another Ryan, Marissa, Seth & Summer romantic drama in Newport.


Song: The Planets Bend Between Us
Artist: Snow Patrol
Imagination: Somewhere I should be now, rather than imagining it. Eyes Wide Shut with a satin sleep mask. In my own cozy bed, listening to my iPod(which is officially dead), drifting off to sleep and letting my imagination roar.....

New Years Resolutions

Happy New Year! January is the time of year where we all begin to start over with the things we never did last year. Suddenly the gym is packed, our meals are healthier, we've reconnected with old friends, and we've begun to tackle the cluttered areas of our home. A few weeks go by and we start to slack off again.

Last January my resolution was to launch my website and work really hard to help it succeed. I was stuck in a marketing job that wasn't well suited for my design aspirations, however it gave me the drive to push Modern Material further. I received dozens of requests to feature Modern Material on blogs, fashion shows, in boutiques, in a magazine, celebrity gift baskets, style giveaways, and charity events. I felt I needed to be very selective in donating items for exposure, and had to turn away many requests. With very little budget to start my line, I haven't been able to spend any money on advertising, therefore relying heavily on social network sites, indie designer directories, and word of mouth. Sales started coming in from customers around the world who happened to find my site somehow online. Florida, California, Wisconsin, Ohio, Washington, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, Canada, Scotland, England, and France. Although I don't get orders frequently, each order reminds me that it is possible to take this further. So Resolution No. 1 is to get back online and post my site on as many websites as possible and make as many friends on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and the designer networks I am a part of.

I haven't dedicated much time to promotion or development since last spring if you haven't noticed. I started a new job in the summer as a product designer with a vendor who manufactures for dozens of major fashion retail brands. I design and embellish bags, slippers, flip flops, compact mirrors, hair accessories, sleep masks, pillows, plush, prints, graphic tees, and packaging. It is very inspiring to be back in the fashion accessory scene full time. I was afraid it might burn me out, preventing me from working on my own line. Instead it has taught me more and keeps me in the loop of what trends are hitting the market. As a result I'm happier and more focused.

I have designed several new pieces of jewelry over the past year, mainly because it is fun and doesn't require the up front expense of printing graphic tees. The Couture Tee was an idea I developed for Gwen Stefani's gift basket, and it seems to be receiving the most attention on my website. Resolution No. 2 is to expand on this category. I have been getting very frustrated because every time I start to develop a design using a tee from American Apparel, I find out it will be discontinued. It would be hard to full fill larger orders to boutiques or popular demand of a specific item when I can't reorder materials. However, with the Couture Tee collection, the idea is that it is a unique item with very limited quantities.

Resolution No. 3 is to figure out a way to be able to afford to sell wholesale to more boutique stores. I had several lined up last year, but decided not to pursue many of them. There are 2 boutiques in Albuequerque, NM that have a large assortment of Modern Material products in their shops. I soon realized I could never sell my products to boutiques with the retail rates I set. I started off thinking I needed to compete with this major retail brands like Old Navy and Forever 21 that offered trendy apparel and accessories yet at much lower prices. I didn't want to be pricey like other major retailers like Abercrombie, Express, Banana Republic, etc. But I have to be. It's just me. I don't develop anything in China for next to nothing like the big guys. I have a much longer blog about this, so I might as well not repeat myself. Shop Indie. Support Designers.


Resolution No. 4 is to expand on my blog. The more content I put here, the better search results I should get. I would like to be able to blog about whatever is on my mind. I'm sure it will get boring for you if everything here is about Modern Material. There is a lot more too me than my brand, although not that much =). I mentioned in my last blog that I would like to focus more on music. Well that hasn't happened...yet. There are also a lot of great TV shows I'm addicted to, which I'm sure many of you are too. For example, who is a fan of LOST? If you are we probably have a lot to talk about. Season 5 starts in less than 2 weeks and I would like to leave my weekly thoughts and theories here. I watch a lot of TV. Many shows are great for trends in fashion and music. Gossip Girl, The Hills, The City, What Not To Wear, and Grey's Anatomy (which I'm pretty much over).

Well I suppose I better finish up my rambling. Please be sure to subscribe/follow my blog and see if I follow through with my resolutions.

annie