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

Fashion Rocks.

Fashion. Design. Music. These are a few of my favorite things. I have always wanted to incorporate music into Modern Material. I am not a musician unless you count my lousy attempts with the piano, cello, and flute in grade school. I admire the skill and creativity involved in writing music. As a designer, it's a continual struggle to create something new, fresh, yet still appealing to the crowd. I believe musicians have the same challenge to overcome. Just as there will always be songs criticized for sounding like another, there will always be fashion and design accused of being knock offs. Originality only goes so far. There are only so many beats and melodies in the musical universe. And there are only so many colors and styles in the design spectrum.
Modern Material is about what inspires me. It's what gives me light at the end of the tunnel. It's a goal. It's a dream. It's the feeling of waking up each day motivated and ready to discover something new.

So while my professional career is about the trends in fashion and design, my personal career has dedicated a lot of time to finding great new tunes to rock out to. I am a strong believer and promoter of indie music. I can relate to their struggle to survive in a world of major record labels and platinum albums. Only my world revolves around making a name for myself among the Gap's or Calvin Klein's of the industry.

Here's my most recent thought. Why not start a collaboration between designers and musicians? I've been slacking off on listening to new artists over the past year while developing Modern Material. I used to make it to several shows each month. I really want and need to be inspired by new music. We all get a dozen Myspace requests for bands each week. How many of us actually listen to the music player? My goal is to start listening. If I find the music exciting and inspiring, I would love to feature a blog review of their album and post a link on my website. In return, I would like for the band to feature a banner for Modern Material on their Myspace or Facebook page for at least 2 weeks. Indie artists unite.

To kick it off, I'd like to share some of my favorite songs from musicians including: The Bravery, Citizen Cope, Audioslave, The Kaiser Chiefs, Modest Mouse, Atmosphere, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale, Your Vegas, Switches, Howie Day, Jack Johnson, Charlotte Sometimes, Jason Mraz, Mark Ronson, Snow Patrol, 30 Seconds to Mars, Aqualung, Radiohead, Mat Kearney, Pete Yorn, Hard-Fi, Bush, Incubus, Rock Kills Kid, The Shins, Cake, Pat Monahan, New Radicals, Big City Rock, Foo Fighters, and The Fray.


Rock On. - a n n i e -

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

SCM Gwen Stefani Gift Basket Press Release

Hello-
I just wanted to share the official press release for the SMC Gwen Stefani Gift Basket. I will soon post photos of the entire gift basket, and detailed shots of what was featured from Modern Material.

thx-
annie

------



For Immediate Release

Oviedo, FL (May 22, 2008)

Contact: Kimberly Morales & Becky Ocasio / 407-687-1543 / info@stylecafemoms.com

Style Cafe Moms, an online “resource cafe for the trendy mom”, strives to be the top online support system for business owners and those who have developed their own product and need affordable advertising and exposure. In addition to advertising, Style Café Moms offers boutique and product reviews as well as a shopping guide, recipes, celebrity dish and of course,the Style CaféMoms Celebrity Basket.

Style Cafe Moms, offering an array of services for a businesses advertising and promotional needs, however they still looked for more unique opportunities to promote the businesses that they represent,and with that the Style Café Moms Celebrity Basket was born – a venue allowing several businesses to receive extraordinary distribution and publicity. Style Cafe Mom's celebrity baskets are the ideal setting
to launch a new product or create awareness of an existing product, by delving into the celebrity realm and offering businesses the opportunity to introduce their product(s) to some of the biggest celebrities.

The recipient for Style Café Moms most recent was Gwen Stefani. This basket included items not only for their new little rock star, but also for Gwen, Gavin and Kingston as well. The Gwen basket was a huge success for

Western Chief – Westernchief.com
Chooka – Chookaboot.com
Goosie Cards - Goosiecards.com
Baby Planet - Baby-planet.com
The Children’s Nest Boutique - Childrensnestboutique.com
Rockin Baby Sling - Rockinbabysling.com
Bella Materna - Bellamaterna.com
My Brest Friend - Mybrestfriend.com
Table Topper - Tabletopper.com
Tres Couture – Trescouture.com
Modern Material - Modern-material.com

Modern Material was chosen to be featured in a celebrity gift basket for style icon and musician, Gwen Stefani. Gwen is due to have her second child with rocker husband, Gavin Rossdale, former lead for the 90's grunge band Bush. Gavin's solo album, Wanderlust, hit the charts this month.

Style Cafe Moms, is a group of women business owners focused on promoting up and coming brands and designers. They specialize in celebrity baby baskets for A-List celebrities and media outlets. Several celebrity moms are selected each month to receive the lavish gifts. The most recent celebrity to receive the gift basket was Jessica Alba. She was very happy with her gifts and even sent a thank you letter to the group. Jessica was spotted wearing one of the necklaces from one of the designers.
Other celebrities chosen for the gift basket include Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Victoria Beckham, Kelly Rippa, Julia Roberts, and Reese Witherspoon just to name a few.

I chose to feature some of the core products from the Royalty Collection. I also designed a few new pieces for Gwen, Gavin, and Kingston. The Alison Wonderland Couture Tee, inspired by Gwen's Harajuku Lover's Tour, is now featured on my site as a limited edition piece. I also designed a few custom pieces including a hoodie track suit for Kingston and onesies for the new baby.

Here is a photo of the entire gift basket, along with a few detail shots of Kingston's gift.











Be bold. Be different. Be daring.

- a n n i e -

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

Blog Feature

Just wanted to share this with you. It's really cool when you discover someone out there has discovered you and decides to feature your site on their blog.

I found this blog after viewing my website visits this week.

http://aridesigns.blogspot.com

Keep Rockin.
- a n n i e -

Featured in Gwen Stefani SCM Celebrity Baby Basket

CELEBRITY BUZZ
Last week I received an invitation via my web site to take part in the SMC Celebrity Baby Baskets provided to celebrity mom’s such as Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie, Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba, Tori Spelling, Kelly RIpa, and Gwen Stefani. A fee is required to secure slots in each basket which are available to approximately 15 independent designer brands. Modern Material™ will be featured in the upcoming gift basket for Gwen Stefani. I can include as much product as I want for Gwen, Gavin, Kingston, and their second child due later this year. For those of you who know me well, Gwen is my favorite female celebrity, musician, designer, and style icon. I even dressed up as her for Halloween! So to have the chance for my brand to grace her presence, even if she ends up giving everything away, is a huge honor for me. The potential buzz that could be generated might be the break I need as photos and a press release of the basket will be distributed to large media outlets such as Access Hollywood, E!, Oprah, and InStyle. Who knows what the future holds.
- I will update my blog once the basket is finished and photos are available.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN OUR CELEBRITY BABY BASKET

Upcoming Baskets...

Style Café Moms can help you with a unique marketing technique and some extraordinary distribution through our SCMs Celebrity Baby Baskets. This is the ideal venue to launch your products and services and can create just what you want, awareness and hype! Reserve a spot in our SCMs Celebrity Baby Basket! To learn more or to reserve your spot please email us at: info@stylecafemoms.com

Featured on Vintage Indie March 24.2008

The Daily Swank - Modern Material

There is a rockin' new indie shop on the block called Modern Material.

Mix UK Royalty with a little Rock and you've got Modern Material. They offer a line of paper, apparel and accessories to fully get your fashion fix. My favorite of the line, their Vintage Collection of course. It's full of retro chic illustrations and old school images. Check out Modern Material today and shop indie!

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