Art of Fashion Co-chairs Relish The Experience

RANCHO SANTA FE — Maggie Bobileff and Denise Hug were already great friends before embarking as co-chairs of The Country Friends’ Art of Fashion 2017 Runway Show and Luncheon. However, they admit working on this grand Sept. 14 event at the Inn of Rancho Santa Fe gave them even a better opportunity to learn more about one another.

For Hug, she admires Bobileff’s tenacity and go-getter attitude.

“When Maggie wants to go after something, she puts everything into it,” Hug said. “She’s such a hard worker, and this shows in her boutiques.”

While Hug describes Bobileff as having an impeccable work ethic, another trait which equally stands out is her compassion.

“Maggie is always one of the first people to volunteer if you need help or if you’re in a jam,” Hug said. “She’s always there for you.”

For Bobileff, no one can find a sweeter person in town than Hug.

“I have always admired Denise,” Bobileff said. “She is such a charming person. And I learned that she is an excellent chairwoman.”

Instinctively, Bobileff knew Hug had the co-chairing skills. All it took was a little arm twisting to get her to agree to it. Bobileff approached the topic slowly and carefully the first time.

“I said, ‘No,’” said Hug, smiling.

Hug was accustomed to helping behind the scenes. Every year, she and her husband Bertrand host the Art of Fashion Patron Party at their fine dining restaurant, Mille Fleurs.

“She asked me again, and I said, ‘Maggie, no,’” said Hug, smiling even more.

Bobileff would not give up. Hug had worked for charities in the past, and Bobileff knew a co-chair position would be perfect.

So, she asked again.

“She finally coerced me, and I said all right,” Hug quipped. “We were walking the dogs one morning, and I said, “OK, let’s do it.’”

Now, Hug can’t imagine doing anything else. Co-chairing is an incredible honor and will leave an indelible imprint.  

The ladies agree that their partnership is relaxed. And above all, they enjoy working together. Bobileff shared that their tastes in aesthetics are quite similar, or they complement one another.

“I really think that this is why it has been so easy work together,” Bobileff said.

Being able to help The County Friends raise funds from this highly anticipated annual event to help support more than 35 local charities means everything to Bobileff and Hug. They are also quick to point out that their Art of Fashion 2017 committee is a dedicated and talented group.

Their generous sponsors also play a valuable role in the success of the event.

Hug admitted that she and Bobileff were also looking forward to having their good friend, Jenny Craig, be the Art of Fashion honoree.

For those attending the Art of Fashion for the very first time, Bobileff hopes they take the time out to learn about The Country Friends and what they do. According to Bobileff, The Country Friends is a charity with little overhead and mostly operated by volunteers.

“Raising money for a charity like this means that dollars go to where those needs are,” Bobileff said.

The Country Friends annual membership of $60 also goes to help fund the charities it supports. Its consignment shop in Rancho Santa Fe is another way it raises money.

“The Art of Fashion is a special tradition which has gone on for years,” Hug said. “There is such enthusiasm with everybody wanting to come to this show and with the knowledge that it supports all these charities.”

People Are "begging" for Plus-size Fashion

Retail's woes are well documented, but there's one corner of the market that's doing well: plus-size fashion. According to the NDP Group, a market analyst, the plus-size market grew by 6 percent in 2016, twice that of clothing retail overall. The folks at the front of plus-size fashion aren't the design houses you're used to hearing about, but smaller startups like Premme, founded by designers and social media icons Gabi Gregg and Nicolette Mason.

Ashley C. Ford, from Refinery29, wrote about plus-size fashion for New York Magazine. Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal spoke with Ford about her reporting and where the fashion industry might be headed next. An edited transcript of their conversation follows.

Kai Ryssdal: Where did women of larger sizes shop for fashion before?

Ashley C. Ford: Mostly Lane Bryant. And beforehand, there were just a lot of tricks, and tips, and there was a lot of making your own clothes, and there was a lot of, "Here's how to buy things in straight sizes that are oversized, and make them fit your body." Or, you know, things like that. It was a lot of internet sharing, and community sharing — how to adorn our bodies in a way that truly allowed us to feel as beautiful as we are.

Ryssdal: You mentioned internet sharing. You went into a brick-and-mortar retailer, and I can't remember which one it was. You didn't see your sizes there. And you went to the salesperson, and you said, "Where can I find stuff?" And they said online, and you went online. And it was a cornucopia, really, of stuff for you to wear.

Ford: Yes. Absolutely. That is something that you see with a lot of brick-and-mortar stores for some reason that I can't entirely explain, and these places don't really market the fact that they actually do carry sizes larger than a 10 or a 12 or a 14. And so, people just don't know to go there. They have no idea unless they happen upon it. You know, it's still most likely to happen online versus in the store.

Ryssdal: But you know, it's interesting you mentioned marketing. And in this piece that you wrote, there's some old Lane Bryant ads which are unbelievable. "Stout women dressed fashionably, look slender." And then, "Calling all chubbies," another woman, a full-size woman in a dress. And then you scroll down, and there's a Lane Bryant ad just owning it. Modern day, out there, saying listen. In fact, here's the tagline: "This body is made to be uncovered." It's remarkable, the change.

Ford: It absolutely is. And that change has really been driven by the community. As women have learned to love themselves, and to understand that every healthy body is not a straight size, we've pushed this market. And I love seeing that ad from Lane Bryant. I love that it ended up being part of the piece, because it is a great representation of how far we've come. And there's so much further to go.

Ryssdal: Here comes the nuts-and-bolts question: retail has been struggling, as I'm sure you know.

Ford: Absolutely.

Ryssdal: Does this emphasis on plus-size fashions and the profit it can bring, does it last, do you think?

Ford: I think it does last, and I think it lasts because the market is clearly starving for it. And on top of that, the market right now is really being driven by teen voices. You know, like, I'm 30. So it's like, you know, I could be saying this, and then, you know, 30 years it could be like, who cares? That generation is gone. You know, whatever. But the truth of the matter is, people who are much, much younger than me are begging for these options — are less begging than demanding these options. I think offering options is never a bad thing, especially to a community who is ready and willing to give you their money.

Indian and Bhutanese fashion to be a key theme at the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival 2017

The eighth edition of the Mountain Echoes Festival this year will see fashion as one of its key themes. Designers from across Bhutan and India will come together to curate collections which intersperse their nation’s textile heritage with contemporary fashion, with an aim to build a common thread between the countries and their shared culture.

Some of the names include Bhutanese designers Chandrika Tamang and Chimmi Choden, and Indian designer duo Abraham and Thakore.

A specially-curated fashion show will see models walk the ramp wearing exquisite weaves designed by Chimmi Choden’s CHIMMI House of Design. The home-grown brand gives the artistic heritage of Bhutan’s weaving culture a modern twist, preserves the country’s unique craft and builds upon it to create contemporary designs.

Fashion designer Chandrika Tamang will also present an exclusive line of outfits from her eco-friendly label CDK. Inspired by Bhutan’s stunning natural surroundings, CDK’s designs combine traditional patterns and weaving methods to create fun, fashionable yet 100% eco-friendly apparels.

Designer duo Abraham & Thakore, will exhibit their contemporary designs and present their interpretation of traditional Indian textiles at the specially curated fashion show. The collection will focus on designs created by the two for the 2016 Rajasthan Heritage Week, jointly organized by Khadi Board, Government of Rajasthan and Prasad Bidapa Associates. Made using hand-spun khadi fabric, the striking clothes reflect an aesthetic inspired by the country’s strong tradition of using earthy fabrics. The collection gives khadi a modern spin and encourages its use as a central fabric for modern designs.

The festival will also see eminent names such as Malika Kashyap, founder of digital publication & creative agency Border & Fall that focuses on India’s craft and Prasad Bidapa, one of India’s leading fashion consultants, join the designers for a session on the global evolution of textiles and design traditions.

The festival will also host a unique exhibition, titled ‘Handmade in Rajasthan’, curated by Prasad Bidapa that will celebrate the indigenous craft forms that give Rajasthan its distinctive identity. The exhibition will present a 360-degree view of Rajasthani textiles and a unique perspective of the designs that have been developed in the state by the local weavers, artisans and craftsmen.

Elaborating on the fashion element of the festival, designer Chandrika Tamang stated that Bhutan and India’s design traditions were closely linked.
“Our shared history has inspired designers across both nations and my collection will be a mix of traditional Bhutanese designs, created using an amalgamation of both Indian and Bhutanese fabrics,” she said.

Designer Chimmi Choden stated that the tradition of weaving was an inherent part of the Bhutanese culture. “For the festival, CHIMMI House of Design has created a collection inspired by traditional textiles, enhanced by timeless silhouettes, straight lines and bold colours. We hope our collection will inspire visitors to the festival to study, understand and appreciate Bhutan’s rich culture and traditions, using fashion as a medium,” she said.

Indian designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore stated that handloom fashion was one of the threads that tied Bhutan and India. “For decades, we have advocated the ethereal beauty of traditional weaves & fabrics and integrated traditional techniques into mainstream Indian fashion,” they said.

Fashion stylist and consultant Prasad Bidapa stated that the festival will also present a carefully curated segment of beautiful clothes which are handmade in Rajasthan.

“From the finesse of the kota doria sari to the robust hand-woven khadi we call our fabric of freedom; from the exquisite precision of our hand-blocked printing to the finesse of our embroidery, this collection is an emphatic tribute to the spinners, weavers, dyers, printers and embellishers of the beautiful state of Rajasthan,” he said.

The Mountain Echoes literary festival is an initiative of the India-Bhutan Foundation, in association with India’s leading literary consultancy, Siyahi. The festival will be held from August 25th-27th with an inaugural ceremony on the 24th August in Thimphu, Bhutan.