Fur Fashion Week
With 12 companies showing 19 designer lines and another five companies poised to possibly come on board, not only is this year's Fur Fashion Week collective showcase going to be bigger and better than last year's premiere event, it's already getting the full-court press with promotional efforts designed to entice even more buyers and members of the media.
Set for May 20-23 at a location soon to be named, the following companies will participate: Alixandre, Ben Kahn, Denimax, Jerry Sorbara, Maximilian, Mohl Fur Co., Natural Fur, Paula Lishman, Pologeorgis Furs, the Tepper Collection and Zuki Furs.
Saga Furs of Scandinavia will also participate this year with a showcase of its roster of Saga Designer Initiative (SDI) talents. As previously reported, this year's Designer Initiative will involve more than 20 ready-to-wear designers creating new ideas for stoles and fur-trimmed fabric coats. Last year's SDI introduced several recognizably named designers to furs for the first time.
Revillon will show its furs and expanded product line at the new Fifth Avenue boutique following the last show on Monday, May 20. Corniche Furs is the only manufacturer who participated during Fur Fashion Week last year but will not return this year. Its Bob Mackie furs will premiere as part of the designer's show at Bryant Park the month before.
The current roster of designers is expected to include Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Feraud, Byron Lars, Paula Lishman, Zandra Rhodes, Oscar de la Renta, Jerry Sorbara, Valentino, Yeohlee, Zuki.
This year's sponsors to date include the following: American Legend, American Ultra and Saga are Gold Sponsors, donating a minimum of $5,000 (they get their names on the program, on the invitation, in the New York Times advertisement and on display in the auditorium); Pellicce Moda and Central Fur Storage are Silver Sponsors, donating a minimum of $2,500 or the equivalent in products (they get their names in the program, on the invitation and on display in the auditorium); Fur New York and the American Fur Merchants Association are Bronze Sponsors, donating a minimum of $1,000 (they get their names in the program and on the invitation). Once again, W magazine will provide daily lunches. Northern Supreme will be a sponsor, but which level is yet to be determined.
New Neiman's Salon
Neiman Marcus opened its 22nd fur salon last weekend, at the new store location in King of Prussia (outside of Philadelphia), PA.
Rudinski to Maximilian
As part of its ongoing restructuring, Revillon Furs last week announced that it has moved John Rudinski from his position as manager of the Revillon at Saks Fifth Avenue salon in Short Hills, NJ, to become merchandise manager for Maximilian at Bloomingdale's in Manhattan.
Rudinski has 10 years of fur experience with Revillon at Saks, where he developed a strong customer following. He holds a degree in fashion buying and merchandising at F.I.T. (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York City.
Help At Service Time
The Fur Council of Canada is producing a retail mailer to help during storage and services time this spring. Geared toward helping retailers remind customers about the importance of taking proper care of their coats (including cold storage, cleaning and repairs), the brochure will be available in about two weeks. For information contact the Fur Council in Montreal at (800) 376-9996.
Rich Named Chicago Furrier of the Year
Chicago, IL -- The Associated Fur Industries of Chicagoland (AFIC) recently honored Steve Rich, of Leonard Adler & Co. Inc., as 1995 Furrier of the Year. Chicagoland furriers, their families and friends attended a banquet honoring Rich, who was given the award for outstanding contributions to the fur industry and the community.
Rich, whose business provides notions and sewing supplies to the fur industry, has been a director of AFIC since 1987 and currently serves as First Vice President. He also has served as treasurer and membership committee chairman and chaired several successful annual dinner dances.
above left: Steve Rich, Chicago's Furrier of the Year, with his wife, Lois, and Howard Bresnik (of the Chicago Fur Outlet), who presented the award.
right: Rich (right) with Hal Waitz of Herman Waitz & Co., who was recently re-elected president of the Associated Fur Industries of Chicagoland.
Shoplifting Season
Retailers in the New York market last week recognized a pair of African American women who they suspect of shoplifting. After a visit last year, one company found in its vault a coat wadded up in a ball, hidden under another coat, where it didn't belong. Larry Cowit of Henry Cowit Inc. said, "It's the usual: one tries to distract you, while the other one goes shopping." Murray Cox of Miller & Berkowitz said, "Furriers should be careful to stay with both parties and not let one wander off."
National Chin Show
The 1996 National Show for Empress Chinchilla Breeders Cooperative will be hosted in San Francisco, CA, Mar. 1-3, by the Northern California Branch.
For the Animals?
PeTA's (PeTA) latest advertisement against fur is hardly being taken seriously by the fur industry. Published in last week's New York magazine, it pokes fun of fur supporters Sophia Loren, Karl Lagerfeld, Ivana Trump and Catherine Deneuve by depicting them as fashion dinosaurs.
What's not so funny, though, is the fundraising message underneath, encouraging readers to send tax-deductible contributions. Members of the trade have long questioned PeTA's legitimacy as a charitable organization eligible for tax-deductible contributions. What's more, do consumers know how PeTA spends their money? Are ads like these considered by PeTA to be educational efforts? This one was captioned, "This message partially funded by a grant from the Poplock Foundation."
March for Animals
The National Alliance for Animals will hold another March on Washington for animal rights this year as part of a World Animal Awareness Week, scheduled for June 18-24 in Washington, DC.