A Rock & Royalty Fairytale Romance

Here is the story of how Rock met Royalty and lived happily ever after....

 New web design coming soon...


A ROCK & ROYALTY Fairytale

In a land of beauty and privilege, there once lived a young woman who was heir to the Royal throne. Miss Alexandria Kensington had everything she ever wanted yet felt her life was missing it’s true meaning. She was expected to marry a young man, chosen by her Royal family, and carry on the legacy to one day be queen.

The Grande Masquerade Ball was quickly approaching, as was the night she would be engaged to Sir Jameson. Dozens of couture runway gowns were presented to Miss Kensington and she didn’t spot a single one that sparked her fancy. Alexandria rushed to her wardrobe and pulled out a black Vivienne Westwood gown and began cutting it to shreds. Embellishments of ruffled lace, ribbon and crystals were carefully added with fine detail, making an exquisite piece of her own. The clock struck midnight and Alexandria felt as if Tim Gunn were going to walk through the doorway and announce “Designers, time’s up.” Luckily she made it work, and was ready for her night on the runway, or rather her procession on the Royal Court.

The evening would seem magical to almost any girl, but Alexandria wanted something more. Happiness wasn't about wealth, power or privilege. It was love and freedom to live the life that eluded her. Alexandria found herself fixated on grandiose sounds from across the ballroom. She slipped away for a closer look and felt the music and lyrics resonate in her. The band was playing Coldplay's Viva La Vida, which somehow reminded her that the monarchy was ruling her life. Rock chords and classical strings blended a magical potion of love, romance, and inspiration to live life. Alexandria disappeared into the darkness, hoping to find a way to avoid the inevitable engagement. She found herself in peril among the deep forest until a light shined upon her. Up rode Ashton Kingsdale, the rock star and now her knight in shining armor, to rescue her from a kingdom of high society. He whisked her away on his white motorcycle through the streets of London. Like a rebel without a cause, Alex felt like Cinderella had just tossed her glass slippers into the Thames river, trading in prince charming for rock's own royalty.

The encounter with Ashton swept Alex away on a journey that would forever alter her life. She had to disguise herself when she would sneak way to catch the band's gigs in London. It was time to trade elegance for edge. As she entered the dark and noisy underground music scene, Alex felt out of place but enjoyed the freedom she never had. Ashton was already on stage rocking the night away. It was a romance that would be forbidden. Like the battle between Montague and Capulet, Alexandria knew her Romeo would never be accepted by her Royal family.

The secret rock & royalty romance continued for some time, then one day Ashton proposed to Alexandria. Love was in the air. She finally decided it was time to wear her heart on her sleeve, even if her family banished her from the Royal throne. After she returned home, her mother noticed the key, belonging to her heart, was no longer worn around her neck. At first her mother was astonished by her confession. Then a smile and tear appeared, for she only wished she had been strong enough to follow her own heart a long time ago.

It was then soon announced to all of the land, that a union of Rock & Royalty would one day reign with style and beauty.  It was time to live. A time to love. And a time to rock. Long Live the Rock & Roll Queen.

Rock & Royalty at ComFest 2011!

I hope everyone is having a great summer! ComFest gave me a renewed interest in continuing forward with Rock & Royalty. I took a break from my little side business since last summer, but the excitement around it at ComFest has given me the motivation to get back to business.

I've done a total of 3 large festivals over the last 3 years. I had applied to ComFest the previous 2 years and never had any luck getting in. With over 200 booths each year in the festival, and maybe 1000 applications, the odds  were stacked against new businesses wanting to get in. Then luck would have it that last year at Gahanna's Creekside the director of ComFest visited my booth and was impressed at the set up and product and personally requested my participation at ComFest and other local festivals. It was a pleasure to be a part of the festivities this year. We had a very successful weekend and seeing and hearing everyone's reaction was an amazing thing for me as a designer. It proves that there is a huge interest in the brand and that it is worth investing in again. People were telling me I had the best booth at the festival, posing for pictures with my dress form wearing the Alison Wonderland Couture Tee and Royal Ball TuTu. I also had people telling me that it was the talk around the festival and their friends that they had to come check out the booth. 3 long days of this type of reaction was nothing short of wonderful.

I originally had a larger retail brand in mind when I first started this business. After all, my professional career has been submerged in designing for large retail brands over the past 8 years. But what I've learned that I love most is designing unique product with attention to detail that you just aren't going to get from any mass produced product. This means I spend hours upon hours with a thread and needle, or pliers and jewelry supplies to hand craft each product that I design along the way. I try to buy enough supplies to make multiples between 3 and 6 for each design so if something is successful I can create more. A lot of what I made for the festivals were one-offs, and once I sold it it's gone. I do still have several pieces left that are not on the web. I working on updating the website with the new items and replenishing some items that sold through. I've told people to contact me through email if they remember an item that they would like to custom order. Until then, I'm just posting a few photos of items to give a little newness for the brand.

Long Live Rock.
annie

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.

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 -

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

Modern Day Inspiration

It's been a few months since I've really spent much time continuing to develop Modern Material. I've been extremely busy adjusting to a new full time job in which I am designing fashion accessories and graphics for numerous retail brands. I am really enjoying the exciting projects and creative atmosphere during my 8 to 5. At first I thought I might loose some of the creative motivation I had over the last year, but instead I'm finding it more inspiring as I am constantly surrounded by creativity and style. Time, is still however the hardest part to find.

I found this site while looking over my website analytics and thought you might enjoy it. It all started by someone adding some Modern Material products to their profile, and from there, many other users have branched on. The site is called Polyvore, and it's a fun place for inspiring fashion and style. I've spent the day building my own profile, and hopefully adding more items from Modern Material for other people to use in their style sets. Remember how as a teenager you would cut out your favorite things from your magazines and create a bulletin board on your wall? Well this is basically an online edition where you search the internet for anything cool and trendy, and create your own collage. So far I've seen dozens of users add Modern Material items to their collages. It's cool to see the inspired trends by potential customers.

Here are a few sets I pulled. If you ever have any free time, start your own profile and see what inspires you.


Click to view image.

Well my long weekend is nearing the end. I still have some freelance work to finish and it's finally time to watch the premiere of Gossip Girl! It's a great new show for inspiring trends in fashion, design, style, and music. It's the new O.C. replacement for today's fashionistas.

xoxo

annie

Moving Forward

It's been a few months since I launched my site and now I'm starting to reach the point where I need to determine where to take this brand. I've been doing everything possible to promote it online, with as little cost involved as possible. I want to keep my brand competitive with the current market, but I also have to remember that it isn't really possible to position myself in the big leagues. I am quickly realizing that I need to start small have my brand featured in as many specialty boutique stores as possible. I have been approached by several shop owners interested in carrying Modern Material in their stores. In order to do so, I have to sell my products to them at wholesale. After carefully analyzing the situation, I realized that I did not have my retail prices set accordingly for certain items, mostly apparel and accessories. The last thing I want to do is raise my prices, however, if I want to get my brand in stores, I have to raise them or else I will loose money and never be able to get this brand off the ground. Please keep in mind that I am the sole designer and owner of this brand. I'm not off in China developing products for pennies like the mass market brands you are able to buy in your local mall. And even some of those brands sell their products at ridiculous prices. Instead, I am only developing small quantities which cause production costs to be very high. I also do a lot of the assembly and production work on my own, so you can be sure that products are high quality and not manufactured in a sweat shop over seas.

My plan is to run as many sales and discounts as possible so I can allow lower prices for my products online. Hopefully this makes up for raising the retail prices. Please fill out the contact form if you would like to receive special discounts.

- a n n i e -

Queen Alexandria Reigns New Mexico

I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day weekend. Ohio weather is actually coming through for us this year! I have so much work to do on Modern Material before I get started on a freelance project for Crabtree & Evelyn for the next few weeks. Steve and I moved our computers out to the patio so we can enjoy the crystal clear weather and watch the neighborhood garage sale bring lots of traffic to our quiet circle. So I probably look like the biggest dork with my 24" iMac desktop computer sitting on the patio table. But hey, it's much better sitting out here listening to Cake with the cool spring breeze as summertime approaches.

Speaking of Cake, I just checked out pictures from Cutie Pie Boutique, in Albuquerque, NM, who has been carrying Modern Material in their shop via Hey Pretty Cupcake, another cool boutique carrying my line. Here are some photos from some rockin girls in New Mexico.



Gabbie at Cutie Pie Boutique






Betty, owner of Cutie Pie Boutique knows how to look like a Rock Star wearing the Alexandria necklace.


Interior of Cutie Pie Boutique, Albuquerque, NM

Introducing Couture Tees...Pre-Order NOW

This idea came to mind late one night while I was watching Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers tour on HDnet. I had just received my spot in Gwen's celebrity baby gift basket and I wanted to be inspired to design some new products to send her. I started thinking about how much I enjoyed creating my Gwen Halloween costume a few years ago. It was a costume but I loved it so much it was hard to shove it in a box, never to be worn again. So I started thinking....how could I translate this costume into daily wear? The answer...Couture Tees.



I started designing a shirt based on an aqua American Apparel tee I had in my closet and some left over lace and ribbon from my costume. After a few days I felt I had runway material. The next step was order the materials. I ran into many roadblocks along the way. American Apparel had discontinued every style and color tee I felt could work for this design. There were limited sizes and quantities available, so I knew I would never be able to make this a permanent addition to the Modern Material line. But then I realized that would make this tee special. Once they are gone, they're gone.

As soon as I got my materials, I sat down at my sewing machine and let my imagination run. I have to admit, I was quite impressed when I was all finished. The next step was to see what everyone thought. I slipped on a black pencil skirt, black heels and accessorized the shirt with a wide black patent belt and chunky chain link necklace. I decided not to mention that it was one of my designs. I figured people would think it was either some weird crazy trend I was sporting that hasn't caught on yet...or they would love it. I was hoping it was the later. That day, I seriously received more complements in one day than I thought was possible. People I didn't even know very well were saying how much they loved my outfit. One of my friends realized I designed it, and couldn't shut up about it. I wore it out on the town that night, and my husband said he noticed a bunch of girls checking me out. I'm pretty modest, so it was hard for me to accept so much attention, but I knew I was on to something that could set me apart from the millions of other tee shirt designers.

So if you are looking for something amazing to add to your wardrobe or want a special gift for a friend, you'll know where to find it.

I am accepting pre-orders now, before this design is introduced to my web store. Keep in mind that sizes and quantities are extremely limited, so if you want one, please let me know. For more information, including price, please send an email to annie@modern-material.com.

Be Bold. Be Daring . Be Different.

- a n n i e -

http://www.modern-material.com

Featured on Style Cafe Moms March 21.2008

Modern Material™ launches a web based independent designer boutique featuring the latest trends in paper, apparel, and accessories. Discover rock & roll inspired apparel and bold accessories which will command attention from the rock gods. Why not save the snail mail and jazz up your sister’s refrigerator rather than her yahoo inbox? Colorful and decorative note cards are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Founder & designer, Annie Weihrauch, 28, launched Modern Material™ as an outlet to express her creativity and style. After graduating with honors from Columbus College of Art & Design in 2003 with a degree in Advertising & Graphic Design, Annie spent four years as a packaging and accessory designer for Bath & Body Works. Now she is beginning to establish herself as an up and coming designer, located in Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Weihrauch states, “The vision for this brand is to remain open to emerging ideas instead of focusing on a brand right approach. Trends are constantly evolving, as are my creative aspirations.”
Several collections are designed to represent an individual’s personal style. The Royalty Collection is inspired by the mixture of modern world rock & roll and medieval European royalty. This edgy rocker style is represented by iconic guitars and royal coat of arms, including the crowned eagle and rampant lion, decorated by banners and flourish details. The Vintage Collection brings forward the retro chic illustrations of travel posters and advertising
campaigns from the early part of the twentieth century. Unique distressing of designs lend to a weathered billboard look, revealing years of built up layers. Rich pigments and bold typography create a charming display of retro style.

The Monthly Limited Edition features a new design each month which will be packaged as a set of 10 postcards and included as a free gift with any purchase over $10.
Modern Material™ is beginning to be featured in specialty boutique stores in the U.S. and is also listed on several amazing online resources including Marmalade Pink, Indie Collective, Bust, Scoutie Girl, Indie Designer Labels, Indie Parade and Ultra Hip Boutiques.
Why only shop among the powerhouse retail stores like everyone else? Be bold. Be different. Be daring. So if you are looking for a memorable gift or a treat for yourself, visit online today to uncover something new.
If you would like more information about Modern Material™, or to schedule an interview with Annie Weihrauch, please call Annie at 614.583.9153 or email her at annie@modern-material.com.

Contact: Annie Weihrauch
Ph: 614.583.9153
www.myspace.com/modernmaterial

annie@modern-material.com