You Can Save the Economy One Garment
at a Time
You can save the economy--and your conscience--by buying US-made designer
clothing. Heightened sensitivity during this recession has people
switching to domestic labels that will stand the test of time.
February 11, 2009 - New York City - You are a sensitive person,
and your friends are losing their jobs. You wouldn’t think of taunting
them with your new threads, even though you got them on sale. But you
still need clothes with style. The solution? Buy clothes that are high
quality, timeless, and made right here in the United States.
New York designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz has noticed the sensitivity trend
among her clientele. Since 2005, she has been answering the call for
designs that will stand the test of time, and for a price point shoppers can
handle. She keeps overhead low by selling only through the Ivey Abitz
website, IveyAbitz.com, and her by-appointment-only studio in New
York’s upper west side.
“Even before the recession scare, our clients were looking for garments
that transcend trend. Now their purchases are being justified, and we’re
getting even more people looking for clothes that outlast current
fashions.” says Ivey Abitz. “Long lasting designs let a person’s
individuality sing, instead of putting the focus on a trendy garment.”
To transcend the trend, Ivey Abitz combines aesthetically pleasing elements from
various eras. Then she uses juxtaposition to create a sense of individuality, such as
mixing textured linen trousers with a brocade jacket, or purposely crumpling pleats in
a silk taffeta shirt. The result is a versatile look that can be worn for occasions or casual
everyday wear, depending on how pieces are mixed together.
The other part of the solution is buying U.S. made designs. As more corporate fashion
labels send production to developing countries, more of their customers are sending
money out of the U.S. In addition, the trend for cheap production encourages
exploitation of workers in those countries. However, the current recession is cause to
reconsider where your money is going, and more shoppers are making the connection
between foreign production and a weak economy. Just as driving an SUV says, “I don’t
care about global warming,” wearing the latest fashion made overseas is starting to
say, “I don’t care about the economy or human rights.” As a result, people are looking
to smaller U.S. designers like Ivey Abitz for clothes that say they care.
The trend toward long-lasting quality could indicate the end of our love affair with
foreign-made goods. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, between 2000 and
2007, gross production of apparel in the U.S. dropped almost 9 billion dollars, while
general retail sales climbed over 230 billion dollars. If more shoppers looked for
American-made clothing, like Ivey Abitz, those numbers could even out, resulting in
more domestic jobs and reinvesting wealth here at home.
Some of those new domestic workers work with Ivey Abitz. When it began in 2005,
Ivey Abitz sought out professional seamstresses and tailors here in the states and
found that many had lost their jobs to developing countries. According to Cynthia Ivey
Abitz, “Some of the most creative and professional tailors were working at a national
chain retailer doing menial part-time tasks just to make ends meet.” Ivey Abitz clients
are proud to know that their purchase provides a meaningful living for workers in the
U.S., saving the economy one garment at a time.
Ivey Abitz designs vintage-inspired apparel for women and men and makes it in the
U.S. It offers approximately six limited engagement seasonal collections each year.
Customers buy online at IveyAbitz.com and through a by-appointment-only studio in
New York City. Made-to-order clients receive their custom garments about a month
after ordering. For those with less patience, rush orders can be requested with a
turnaround time of about two weeks. The price point ranges from $60 - $600. There
are no order minimums.
--- --- ---
Ivey Abitz is the creation of artist/designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz and her husband,
Joshua Ivey Abitz, who seek beauty in everyday existence. In a world saturated
with bland cookie-cutter clothing, Ivey Abitz honors the tradition of made-to-order
clothing, bringing bespoke designs to every day life.
View this press release through a news service.
