Crazy couple of weeks, and more great news coming

Hello friends!

Well, it has been a somewhat crazy few weeks following the NYFW Cabiria show, and all the press that came around it. I think I had underestimated what a big splash we were making with our little company, relatively brand new and all. But people really understood that Cabiria was making history, and with a groundswell of positive public sentiment as well. It was awe inspiring to watch that recognition happen around the globe, and I'm incredibly proud to have been the emissary.

All that attention meant that I needed to move everything into a factory that would take good care of us, fast! We have as of this week gotten into the perfect sized place for us - not so small as to lose the professional touches, and not so big as to get lost, and best of all, in my beloved Garment Center in New York City!

I will be releasing items in waves this time around, as I didn't make it in time to fulfill regular seasonal delivery, but we've gotten order from around the world, and pre-orders for more. New fabrics, and many of those pieces from the NYFW show, so familiar shapes. Separates, and sumptuous fabrics too, and some surprises up my sleeve for spring!

The next step as a small business is going to be growth. Now I have shown that there's interest and a real market out there, I need to do a more formal round of capital raising to get to the next step. Many challenges are on the horizon, but I know we can do it!

In the meantime, here's some teaser fabrics for the new collection - all silk and high quality wools, of course...

As far as press goes, we hit the jackpot. We were on the front page of the Sunday Style sections of MAJOR papers around the world right after the show, featuring my beautiful plus size models. I'm talking The London Times (UK), Suededeutsche (Germany), Al Jazeera America, and L'Express (Paris). And Yahoo's front page, CNN, Nightline, OMG Insider, and ABC News. And major papers in China and Kenya and Oman and New Zealand and Indonesia.

Then there was a lovely mention by Jimmy Fallon on his late night show (he totally got it), as well as an NPR segment and Howard Stern. Definitely hitting the zeitgeist there. And finally, a standing invitation to go on the new Queen Latifah talk show. I love her!

Because I can't even handle how much press came in, here's a comprehensive list, unless of course I missed a few. Entirely probable, actually. Please forgive me! And enjoy catching up if you like.

All my best, Eden

Beutiful Magazine

AFP footage from the show

The Curvy Fashionista

Nightline

NPR with Audie Cornish and Robin Givhan of The Cut from New York Magazine (comment at 2:47-3:00)

Hello Giggles: Queen of The Day

The Gloss

Fashionista post show article</>

ABC News

Dare Magazine (Canada) page 10)

Zaftig Times

Al Jazeera America

Suedeutsche Stil (Germany)

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (monologue 4:47-5:05)

CNN Erin Burnett OutFront

OMG Insider with Emme

Times of Oman

Explosiv (Germany)

Jezebel

Wondervol (Netherlands)

Curvily

Straits Times (Singapore)

Oman Observer

Capital Kenya (Kenya)

Masque Mag

Sioux City Journal

Grown and Curvy Woman</>

Ozarks First

Houston Chronicle

Style Hs No Size (Netherlands)

Amica (Germany)

Girl Talk HQ

Beautiful Curvy (Italy)

Policymic (China)

Terra TV (Brazil)

Fashionista

DNA Info New York

Break Thru Radio

Paozim de Queijo (Brazil)

Fashion News Live

NY Daily News

Yo Dona (Spain)

ENCA (South Africa)

Grazia (France)

Juromano (Brazil)

Sueddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)

Huffington Post

Yahoo Shine

Fat Chic

Agence France-Presse

Today

Moda and Estilo

Culturebox (France)

Pudelek (Poland)

Yahoo Shine (Canada)

Vogue Italia

L'Express (France)

Yahoo News

UK MSN Style

Little Lime Dress

Beleza GG (Brazil)

Fashion Holo Fote (Brazil)

Curve a Porter (Brazil)

Life and Style (New Zealand)

Gulf News (Dubai)

The Times (UK)

Washington Post

Business Insider

She Knows

New York Business Journal

Metro Nieuws Amsterdam

The Atlantic

Daily Life (Australia)

Style Has No Size (Netherlands)

Curvy Is the New Black

Yummy Mummy Club (Canada)

Squishy Gals

Bernadett Vajda

Fashionista

Daily Mail UK

Refinery29

StyleList

De Morgen (Netherlands & Belgium)

Glam

Analogue Chic

Abbey Post

HLN (Belgium)

Fashiontographer

Hello Beautiful

Fashion Times

Fashion n' Style

Daily Venus Diva

Grazia (UK)

Total Beauty

More of Me To Love

Caras (Brazil)

Global Noiz

Plus Model Mag

Internet Nachrichtenagentur (Germany)

Misstop (UK)

Famosas & Fotos (Brazil)

Debora Fernandes Plus (Brazil)

Okezone (Indonesia)

Newsstand 24/7

Cosmopolitan . net

Fashion Lately

Fashion Courier

Beauty Advices

My Fashion Life

Timing is Everything, Slow and Steady (and TV Stuff)

Hello friends,

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer. It's been waffling back and forth between heat waves and monsoons here in New York for weeks! As many of you know, I also went on an incredible trip to the Upper Midwest this summer as well, which allowed me to meet the customers and store owners who make this whole adventure possible. Thank you again.

One question that came up a lot was "Are you doing a Fall/Winter Collection?" A very good question, indeed.

Originally my funding had come from Kickstarter, which supplied a very helpful push to get production for Cabiria, but wasn't enough to cover multiple seasons. I had assumed I would sell out of my dresses, and that money would fund subsequent line development. This is the reasoning that comes from a fine art school education, and very little business knowledge.

Sales have been incredible (thank you!), especially for a brand new line. Reception has been entirely positive, and press keeps building more awareness. I've accidentally found astounding allies who know what they are doing far more than I do, and have put me directly in the right places at the right times. What that means is that with only 1 season's micro collection under my belt, I've attracted *media placement, an investor, and the interest of several larger retailers who want to carry Cabiria. This is unprecedented, seriously, and I count my blessings, for sure.

*While they're not the clearest shots, here's the lovely Ashlie Atkinson in the Sofia in Oxblood Beetle in the pilot of "Us and Them" on FOX Television!

I also need, for the time being, to keep my day job in order to have cash flow to build the inventory lines and pay the rent. I am lucky in that regard as well to work with dear friends in an industry I love - in this case, I'll be wardrobe supervising a television series. I know some people may be able to do it, but I do not know how to efficiently perform at high levels on two jobs that are 90 - 100 hours per week each.

Quality and details mean everything to me with Cabiria. Professionalism and customer service, rapid follow through and production supervision for development are all very hands on. So rather than try to force through a Fall/Winter collection that's half-baked for time reasons, I am going to quietly develop both a Fall/Winter Collection and a Spring/Summer Collection for release early next year. I am going to concentrate on having product I believe in, and that my vendors would be proud to carry. I will have time to find the right fabrics, and develop the right silhouettes based on on my design sensibilities and your incredible feedback. I will develop more tops, as well as dresses with sleeves and more tailored pieces in a range of high end fabrics. I will do this right, or as right as I can get it.

Thank you everyone for understanding, and know that Cabiria is still going strong. Stronger than ever, thanks to you all!

All the best, Eden

GOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!! Telemundo, WNTW, and a new Boutique!

Hi friends,

I'm so pleased to know Aimee Cheshire and her extraordinary website for plus size independent contemporary designers (like me), MadisonPlusSelect.com. She curates designers who wouldn't otherwise have a broad platform, and she does it with panache!

Last week I was part of a press event for Madison Plus Select and the new pieces on the website, and then this week, she had us featured on Telemundo's "Mujer de Hoy" program. As in gorgeous plus size Latinas who look amazing in my bold patterns and curve enhancing dresses!

Here are some photos from the press event (it was dark, so lots of flashed out shots, mea culpa),

and the video from Telemundo yesterday:


In another piece of wonderful news, I just shipped a big selection of Cabiria pieces to the amazing, classy Boutique Larrieux in Milwaukee, WI. The boutique is located in a pretty shopping district of landmark buildings in the Historic Third Ward, and Lydia Hamilton's shop is a perfect jewel in the center of everything.

You ladies in the upper Midwest have wonderful taste!

Finally, the TLC show "What Not To Wear" came into Curvaceous K in NYC last week, and makeover girl Carly got one of our silk jersey dresses! Not only that, but she'll be featured in the episode trying it on and loving it! Such an unbelievably wonderful addition to our great press - I can't wait to find out the air date and show you the reveal.

Thank you to everyone involved in this wonderful journey. I get so excited to see people respond so positively to Cabiria and my work!

All my best, Eden

More stores, including New York and New Orleans!

Hello friends,

It's been such a great ride so far since these dresses have hit the market. I'm so very excited that as they get more attention, more stores want to carry them, and then you, my dear reader, can actually see, touch (and buy) them!

This week brought some amazing things: NHK Japanese TV show "El Mundo" shot a segment about us while we were still in production, and it aired this past week, showing us in the factory! I'm currently trying to figure out how to get the segment trimmed to show you just us, since the show is an hour long. Very cool and Cabiria looks great!

Now the best news - I love independent plus size boutiques, and I'm thrilled that Cabiria is now in 2 more of them! New Orleans ladies, The Voluptuous Vixen in the French Quarter has Cabiria in stock in the next few days, and my New York City sisters, Curvaceous K on the Lower East Side has Cabiria on the racks as we speak. Here's a shot of what landed at Curvaceous K before she even had a chance to put them on pretty hangers:



To add to the fun, Stephanie Sack at Vive la femme in Chicago made a video showing off the new shipment of Cabiria dresses as well. Check out the great video!

And don't forget Bombshell Boutique in St. Paul, and everywhere on Madison Plus Select and Pionna and of course on our Cabiria website as well. If there's an item you want to try on from the website, TALK TO YOUR RETAILER and ask them to order it in for you. I'm perfectly willing to work with stores this way, and it helps create a network of customer, store, and manufacturer. Conversation!

Finally, I'd really really appreciate it if everyone could "Like" the Cabiria Facebook page. It's important to be able to get information out on the business without it all feeding through my personal account, and it helps promote the brand as a whole. PLEASE "Like" us, and if you have ideas on how to get more Likes, please let me know. Thank you all and go shop!

All the best, Eden

Location locked!

Hello friends!

I've been Tweeting away in 140 character updates this week, but it's been pretty spectacular for updates. We've got our location for the catalog portion of the photo shoot locked down inside the epic Archive Building in the far West Village:

So far, I have 3 finished sample dresses in my hands, courtesy of the superlative Michael Bevins at 4 Seasons Fashions, who slaved away during NYFW for me. The brilliant photographer Matthew Powell and I have been scouting the exteriors with a lot of promising results. If I haven't already mentioned it, Cabiria is lucky to have the stellar talents of Farrah Olivieri

Maxey Greene

and Allison McGevna

Insane how gorgeous these ladies are! We've also found great, hardworking PA's and the hair and makeup dream team of Fabian Garcia and Stella Sensel, as well as the talented behind the scenes documentary shooter Jendra Jarnagin and our inimitable video segment director Colleen Davie Janes.

SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE!! I am so lucky. Can't wait for this all to come together in a few weeks, but in the meantime, back to paperwork and permits... it can't all be glorious, right? So why am I smiling so wide?

-Eden

Bucolic settings

Hello friends,

It's been quite the adventure here in Cabiria Studios! There are some aspects to starting a business that are, let's say not my favorite tasks. You learn an incredible amount while reviewing contracts and usage documentation, and you gain skills when programming websites and social media integration, but I tip my hat to those who take pleasure in these tasks and accomplish them well.

To that end, if there are any interns interested on working on locations or on a fashion photo shoot with an incredible team of professionals, please get in touch with me as soon as possible!

The parts I enjoy are having sample fittings and watching the line come together, from research and inspiration, to sketch, to patterns and muslins, to putting on the first finished sample for the line. Incredibly thrilling, even when it's on a humid, sweaty day and the pins are jabbing your tender skin! I was tempted to take a few photos at the fitting yesterday as a sneak peek, but then realized that I want to show you all the beautiful, glamorous side instead.

In the meantime, we're hunting down some Italianate locations around the city. The wonderful part of this, is that I get to play tourist and photographer at the same time, strolling up and down the streets of my beloved town, looking for the perfect frame that steals New York away and transplants you into Italy in the 19th century. Finishing that with a glass of wine with a friend has to be the best part of any job.

Now comes the detective part of this job; tracking down the building management companies, the superintendents, the gatekeepers, literally. So many padlocked gates in the city! I enjoy the detective work, and truly hope it opens doors for my crew to come inside.

In the meantime, I encourage you all to go to your nearest corner bistro, order a lovely glass of wine, and enjoy the upcoming autumn. I will leave you with some of the bucolic sites I saw yesterday. Happy Wednesday! - Eden

Next round, coming up - this time with finesse!

Hi folks!

I know I've been very slow to post and report lately, but there's been movement on the Cabiria front, I promise.

As you saw before, dear readers, I hit a bit of a snag with my plans in Bangkok. When I came back to New York, the extraordinarily talented Michael David Bevins extended technical help my way through his company 4 Seasons Fashion. I'm diligently working away on patterns now, with a real class act providing the art of finesse. Such heartening news!

In the meantime, I leave you with this image from "Mad Men", returning to television in a few weeks. I am obsessed with border prints and the magic that they can do for any figure, slim or plus. Discuss.

Here's to new updates faster, sooner, and with more new dresses!

-Eden

Lessons Learned are Part of the Process

Hi folks!

I'm back from Thailand, and it was a fantastic trip as a vacation. It was disappointing as a samplemaking venture, however. The head of the shop and I tried very hard to come to an understanding, but there were issues, so it's back to the drawing board for the patterns, literally.

One of the things I've found fascinating about starting this business is that it teaches me that failing in one path is not necessarily a "failure", per se, but an opportunity to learn more about what to do differently in the future. For instance, I've learned that I know more about the patterns than I thought, and I know better how to guide the next patternmaker. I know that the control lost in working with another country, even if I'm standing there trying to explain it, is not the style of work that I've become accustomed to, and quality is lost, so don't try it that way. That second guessing myself is not good as a leadership model. Cool! I got schooled.

I also found a store in Chiang Rai in the north that sells only Plus Sizes, and has the cutest sign! It really is called "XXL", and the lady who owns it, Plooey, is super sweet.

I'm lucky that I have the resources of many friends already in the fashion business to draw upon, and most of them are in New York already. While in Bangkok, I did reconnect with an old college friend who's doing incredibly well with her own fashion brand, chain of stores, diffusion lines, restaurants attached to the retail stores, and soon, a boutique hotel! Her advice to me was indispensable, mostly because she showed me that it's possible to go the independent route and succeed wildly.

If you're in Bangkok, or now Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, please check out her stores called It's Happened To Be A Closet [sic]. They are a mainstream size line, but very easy to wear, and great design. Kind of like an Asian version of Anthropologie.

Finally, if you ever get to go to Thailand, north or south, you're sure to be inspired. The colors and beauty there are breathtaking, and definitely gave me a refreshing outlook on what's possible next for Cabiria!

Back to New York and back to work on Cabiria. It really is a fascinating process, and will come to fruition, I promise!

-Eden

Cabiria Studio is up and running!

Hi all,

First of all, thank you so much for your patience in waiting for my blog updates. It's been a very hectic few months here with the move to New York and the new studio set up, but we're in and ready to start cranking out beautiful patterns now. Thank you for everyone who's helped and supported along the way!

For your enjoyment, the first shots of the new Cabiria Studio!

My next step is to start working with the wonderful patternmakers and samplemakers I've reconnected with here in New York, and hopefully knock out the first samples so I can photograph them on beautiful plus size women and show them to wonderful plus size boutiques! I'm keeping busy, for sure!

Thank you again to my generous and wonderful donors, who are collectively responsible for much of the items you see in the studio - bolts of fabric, labels, notions, and of some you don't see - licensing and bureaucratic paperwork fees, professional services, etc. Your help means the world to me, and I appreciate it greatly. Hope to show you what I can do with those gifts soon!

-Eden

Less than a week until the new studio is set up!

It's a short post this week, but it's a good one: On Saturday and Sunday, Cabiria will be moving into it's new studio space! Been spending a lot of time getting it all set up and figured out, and I'm happy with the results so far. Last step will be to get on in there. How exciting!

-Eden

Getting it together in New Yawk...

Hello all!

I know I've been horribly delinquent in posting how things are going for Cabiria. I am officially hand slapped. What I've been up to has been administrative, mostly - establishing the new LLC in New York State, talking to New york based patternmakers and samplemakers, and hunting for new workroom furniture, including an enormous cutting table. So much whirlwind activity, blogging ended up slipping to the side. Mea culpa!

The upshot is that dresses like this one:

will be coming together here in New York soon!

Stay tuned, folks. Stay tuned.

-Eden

Personal post, but could lead to secrets revealed!

Hello fair readers!

Just a small, off- business post to let you know that I am looking for TWO roommates for the apartment in Astoria, NY as of August 1st. Here it is in all it's glory on CraigsList.

This is also going to be Cabiria HQ, so you'd get to witness the Magic Happen! Or at least the Figuring Out of the Logistics Happen. But seriously, if you know anyone interested, please pass it on. Thank you!

-Eden

New York, New York!

Hey folks!

Sorry I haven't been posting often here, but it's been a crazy few weeks. Some may know that I'm decamping from Georgia to New York, and I am now in MD, about 2/3rds of the way to New York. Today the adventure was talking to federal and state agencies to transfer my business over legally so I can maintain my WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) and DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certifications. I thought it would be so much easier, but then bureaucracy is not something I tilt at every day. Silly me.

Did you know there's no business license class for "Clothing Designer", but there is one for "Bootblack" and "Blacksmith"? Weird.

My friend Christine got to see me wearing an early sample from a long ago version of one of my designs. This was when I wisely realized that I should hire professionals to produce my clothing if I wanted to sell it, but I still love the swingy dress on a hot day. With that in mind, I present to you LUCIA!

This is a halter neck sundress with a smocked back and a peaked center front waistline. The bat wing halter ties are weighted so the weight of your bust is cantilevered over your back instead of against your neck. The shape of them add two other features: the width of them drape across your back, revealing and concealing enticingly, and (here's the super cool part) they are shaped with a button and loop feature that attach in a way to let you have bat wing sleeves if you so desire. "Oh, here I am at this conservative thing. I wish my shoulders were covered." Done. "Such a nice day, I want to feel the sun kiss my shoulders!" Done again.

I'm so into this design, it's why I've been messing with it for such a long time.

Hope you enjoy!

-Eden

Forward momentum

Hey folks,

So as you know from my last post, I'm moving back to New York in a few weeks. I'll regretfully not be there in time for Full Figured Fashion Week, but I encourage all of you to check it out. More exposure and positive press means more ability to make brands like mine a reality!

I'm furiously trying to make sure I don't leave anyone in the lurch information-wise while I transition, so here's another teaser from the line. This time, we have FLAMINIA.

This dress is inspired by James Galanos and Hana Mori, two designers famous for making women look chic in the 1960's - 1980's. Galanos was Nancy Reagan's favorite designer, and wore one of his designs for the 1980 inauguration. Chic!

FLAMINIA has a surplice (cross front) bodice, so many bust shapes can be accommodated, inverted tulip short sleeves, adding a pretty, feminine detail, a relatively straight/ pencil skirt, and a wide shaped waistband. Oh, and of course...pockets, so you can be chic and practical at the same time. Perfect dress for a spring or summer day at the office!

I hope to have some more big news very soon, so hold tight, loyal followers.

-Eden

Moving to New York!

Hello, folks!

So there's been important moves happening for Cabiria - we're moving to New York!

Eden has been a New Yorker most of her life, and this move will facilitate ease in working with the gifted patternmakers, samplehands, and fabric stores available in the New York area.

It also means that there's a possibility that there's going to be a lull in updates over June and July as everything shuffles. Hopefully we'll be able to be up and running quickly from there.

For now, I'll simply leave you with a little treat: VALENTINA! A swingy knit dress with a center back zipper and a split Mandarin collar, so when you look up, your neck doesn't pull against your bust and cause pain. Of course, there's pockets, too...

Enjoy, and hope to update you soon!

-Eden

First patterns and fittings!

Hey all!

I came back a few days ago from a VERY exciting fabric buying trip in NYC, and today I had the first fitting of a block with the patternmaker. Very exciting to see it moving forward, inch by inch, and know what beautiful fabrics I have in store for you all!

Now I know it looks a hot mess right now, but it's kind of like jazz; a little science, a little invention, and a little arbitrary detail zhuzhing. Please don't ask me how to spell that one right. But it's the basic shape of a big girl with many, many curves, and it's the building block for everything else to come. More to come!!

-Eden

Big steps forward!

Hey everyone,

This week has been a huge leap forward for Cabiria coming to fruition! The bids came through for the patternmaker, and she's off and running. I met with my web development guys, and gave the go ahead, so soon I'll have the Phase I website up and running. I found some great fit models and photo shoot models, I borrowed a video camera so I can make a video to show you all what I'm up to, and I attributed style numbers and determined the first line. THE FIRST LINE!!! I know that's nothing to those who aren't fashiony and all, but for a fashion company, determining exactly what I'll be offering as a collection for the very first season of production is ENORMOUS!

I even got samples in of my swag for donors, and have a very sexy bistro mug about to go into production.

I'm insanely excited that this is moving forward - I know it seems like it's taking forever, and in some ways it is, but I'm Going Big here, so I'm trying to cover all the bases. In the meantime, I have a buying trip in New York scheduled this coming week, too. Fabrics are calling to me!

Happy Spring, everyone! I hope it's as productive and fruitful as mine is so far!

-Eden