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03/06
we asked our in-house print master,
David, to walk us through how he makes
his perfectly pretty patterns
A print is born: The prints usually start out as actual drawings or paintings that vary in size from large canvases to tiny little laser-cut wood panels. We turn them into digital files, send them off and they return to us in the form of lovely fabric. We also design plenty of plaids and stripes, which are done completely on the computer, but the art-based prints are really intricate and fun.
Hands on: I always prefer working on physical objects, like paintings. I love bumping around in my studio, not having exact ideas as to how things will look, what mediums I’ll use, etc. The paint itself has a randomness that you can’t get on a computer, but there are some obvious advantages to working digitally; for example, it is way easier to create a repeated image on a computer than it is to paint it into an actual piece of artwork. And, of course, it’s always nice to have an undo button.
Keeping it simple: The more complex I make things, the more difficult they are to turn into a workable, printable pattern. The director of the textile design department is the best at doing the more complex digital side of this. There have certainly been times when I’m in my studio working and thinking to myself, “Man, he is going to hate me when I bring these paintings in.” It can be a pain but sometimes it’s the price you have to pay to make a great print!
An artist’s life: My background is as a painter and a fine artist, so I grew up painting a lot of vegetation and landscapes. When I paint for J.Crew, I’m usually inspired by the vintage fabrics they source, which are pretty amazing. I talk a lot with the designers, so I’m often inspired by what they are looking at as well, and then make new artwork based on those things. Honestly, inspiration is everywhere—I just have to keep my eyes open for it.
shop all our accessories -
02/09
a firsthand look at how our beloved belts are made,
courtesy of our accessories guru, Liv
Buckle up: Circa is the name of the factory where most of our belts are made—it’s located in San Francisco and has been around since 1967. It operates like a family-owned business, and most of the workers have been there for years. They’re all very hands-on, which is quite lovely to see—I was lucky enough to go out there in September to witness all of the inner workings.
1. Whirl around: This is a tumbling drum, used to give the belts an aged or vintage look. Belts can go around and around on these machines for up to 120 minutes, depending on how worn we want them to appear. The drum pictured here is actually about 60 years old; Circa purchased it a decade or so ago at an auction in Italy.
2. To die for: The die shop is where all of the belt designs start to take shape—literally! “Die” refers to the metal stencil cutters, which are used to create the patterns and shapes for each of our belts (especially a perforated or cutout design), and every die that Circa uses is made out of recycled metals. The two guys in charge of this process at Circa, Porforio and Julien, have been at the factory for over a quarter of a century.
3. Leather library: This is just a small snapshot of some of the fun, bright leathers that I discovered while at Circa.
4. Sew perfect: Keow Tan has been sewing Circa’s samples by hand for over 35 years! Watching her work in person made me really appreciate the detail that goes into making one little belt.
Check out all of our belts at jcrew.com. -
09/08
around the office, girls are letting their wrists do the talking.
from bright hues to heavy metal, each set is completely unique.
We’re loving the look of layered bracelets at 770. Mixing friendship bracelets, beads, bangles and watches gives every girl’s wrist a collected, eclectic feel. The more color and contrast, the better. Liv, one of our accessory designers, lends a hand to her favorites (seen above) and offers a few insider tips.
Here are a few of my favorite unexpected places to find bracelets to mix and match:
-Your grandmother’s jewelry box
-Local markets—I found some great friendship bracelets at a street fair a couple of weekends ago.
-On vacation! Always check the local shops…I always find treasures there.
-If you see something you like on a friend’s arm, negotiate a traded time share. It is a great way to mix it up a bit! -
08/31
just in time for back-to-school, one of our stylists
shares her tips on personalizing Jack Purcells®
for little ones (we’re jumping on the bandwagon too)
Get inspired:
The shoes above were inspired by Gauguin’s paintings in Tahiti and ikat textiles from Uzbekistan. Check out the V&A museum for more ideas.
Design:
Keep it simple! The shoes have lots of nooks and crannies, and the rough canvas makes detail nearly impossible. Take into consideration the lines of the shoes and consider how your design will fit in with the stitch lines, piping and lace holes.
Color:
Use Prismacolor markers, and buy extra since they run out really fast! You’ll have to go over your pattern multiple times to get saturated colors.
Add texture:
In keeping with your inspiration, find sew-on beads, rhinestones, prong-set studs, etc. (don’t bother with stuff you have to glue). Changing the laces to a unique trim also helps add a custom touch. Each kid’s sneaker takes 1 to 1.3 yards per shoe, and you can find lots of trims and things here.
In love with these one-of-a-kind shoes? This pair and others are available at our crewcuts Tribeca store. -
08/15
here’s a first look at the making of one of
our favorite new collaborations—
Fratelli Rossetti S.p.A. “New Brera” loafer
Only a very specialized artisan is able to hand stitch the vamp of the shoe. The tassel is also handmade, out of one long strip of leather. Above, the upper of the shoe is being placed on the last.
After the shoe is constructed, it undergoes an unconventional treatment: It is washed in a washing machine! Finally, the shoe is polished to further enhance its well-worn look.
Check out Rossetti for J.Crew in custom colors you can’t find anywhere else (available now in select stores and this Thursday on jcrew.com).
(post by Tracy Rosenbaum; photos courtesy of Fratelli Rossetti S.p.A.) -
08/02
in response to questions on our Facebook
page, we get up close and purse-onal with
our handbag designer, Frances
Don’t dismiss the classics…I thought the classics
were outdated or already done, but over time
I realized that like clichés, they exist for
a reason: They make a whole lot of sense.
What’s a typical day like for you?
In accessories, we spend a lot of time considering color and how it relates to (but doesn’t necessarily match) the apparel, whether to complement an outfit or to make it pop—that’s really important. And of course there’s a lot of sketching and working with technical design to make everything perfect. We also do a great deal of materials development—we design from the bottom up!
What is your design background?
I went to Parsons School of Design. I was kind of a jack of all trades, but I really liked working with leather, so I gravitated toward handbags and belts. The whole leather goods field just seemed so artisanal and craft oriented, which I love.
Do you have any advice for aspiring handbag designers?
Know the basics like the back of your hand, but never stop experimenting and pushing the envelope. And most important, look outside the box for inspiration—you will find it in the most unexpected places.
What’s the one thing you wish you’d known when you were first starting out?
Don’t dismiss the classics. As a young designer, I thought the classics were outdated or already done, but over time I realized that like clichés, they exist for a reason: They make a whole lot of sense. I can’t tell you what a wealth of inspiration we get from them.
Where else do you find inspiration?
I think as a designer one can and will be inspired by anything and everything, from the most monumental places (a Moroccan flea market) to the smallest everyday objects (package design). Most recently? Origami boxes.
Do you have a favorite handbag?
I know this sounds so tragically obtuse, but the truth is that they’re like people—they all have their own personality. What would we do without all different kinds of people and personalities in our life? It would be so boring.
Confess…how many handbags do you own?
Whoa—no comment.
A peek at Frances’s desk:
1. Copic markers: hands-down favorite markers.
2. Magazine tears for inspiration.
3. “I love rough textures and neutrals, like these faux-skin swatches.”
4. “I can’t draw without these pencils by Stabilo! I go through two-and-a-half boxes every season. God forbid they ever stop making them.”
5. J.Crew’s Darlington hobo “I’m in love with motorcycles right now. The quilted details on this bag were inspired by accents on the jackets.” -
08/01
At J.Crew, we’re completely shoe obsessed.
That’s why we’re excited to share a peek at the
well-heeled staffers at 770. From vintage boots to
comfy strappy sandals, you’ll be inspired to put
your best foot forward. Stay tuned for a weekly
dish on all things foot worthy!
Name: Kimberly N., our buyer extraordinaire
What kind of shoes are you wearing?
Our new Weatherby rain boots—they are the perfect solution to looking good, even in the nastiest weather. And I love the back zip—it’s a surprising little extra that makes them both fashionable
and functional!
If your shoes could talk, what would they say?
Bring on the rain!
How do your shoes make you feel?
Sensibly chic. They make a rainy day so much more fun!
If you could walk anywhere in these shoes, where would it be?
Picking blueberries in Maine (the blueberry capital of the world), near where I grew up—you always eat more than you pick!
(post by Dulci Cuprill) -
07/06
from the sketchbook of our accessory
designer extraordinaire, Frances
The feeling of how he (Irving Penn) portrayed
those bags not as style icons or fashion pieces but as
part of our every day…
When we were developing the Marlow style, I was really into Irving Penn still-life photographs. They are oddly old-world and somehow timeless, and his images are filled with layers and a kind of depth that’s remarkably subtle. I found a few of his still-life photographs of everyday things that use bags as objects, and I tried to capture the feeling of how he portrayed those bags not as style icons or fashion pieces but as beautiful objects that are part of our everyday life.
This carryall is quickly achieving can’t-live-without-it status. See Frances’s sketch come to life in jcrew.com’s handbag shop. -
07/01
inside our beach beauty’s straw tote…
Just in time for the 4th, our sun worshipper spills her beach bag.
Shop all our pack-and-go carryalls at jcrew.com. -
06/29
our latest obsession, CODE,
a new line from Lulu Frost
Everyone has a lucky number or a date they love to remember…now you can wear it.
Stacking the CODE numeral rings has become a J.Crew obsession. Kim wears her husband’s and daughter’s birthdays combined, while Marissa’s lucky numbers 3 and 13 share space with other treasures. Inspired by the typeface found on the doors in the historic Plaza Hotel, CODE rings are classic no matter how you wear them.
CODE 14K gold numeral rings are available at the 1035 Madison and 769 Madison Avenue stores.
(post by Tracy Rosenbaum)
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