If you haven’t heard, it’s my honor to tell you that I have been invited to show a collection at Midwest Fashion Week 2011. Midwest Fashion Week (MFW) began in 2006 when Catou Couture fashion designer Berny Martin, discovered a need for an outlet to allow local, national, and international designers, models, stylists, and photographers to showcase their talents. I’ve designed a new collection for the season and this is an amazing opportunity for me to share it.

I’m looking forward to showing a re-imagined, evolution of my Signature Collection with some smart and highly functional handbags. A handful of entirely new pieces  will round out the showing.

Summer has gone, no time to be sad.

The fall air is also bringing me closer to nature, natural (bold) colors and materials, these things inspire me lately. Structured shapes and refined finishes put a feeling of luxe and lasting quality to the natural materials. While I may find myself going back to the tried and true classics of fall fashion for a look, it’s always a good time for a ‘statement piece’ accessory, especially a handbag.

I’m REALLY excited that I get to show this new season in my hometown of Indianapolis. It means a lot after living outside of Chicago for the last ten years to get to come home and be part of this years show (extra butterflies). I really hope to get a group of friends and relatives to attend (hint, hint). Alas, these next four weeks (and sadly the show as well) will be gone in a flash, so I am going to make this one to remember, I hope you all enjoy it!

Another 7 inches of snow has been dumped on my fair city and since I can barely stand to go outdoors I’ve been spending way too much time traveling the world from my trusty computer. Though it’s far more impersonal than I like I have managed to find some pretty amazing stuff. It would be a determent to society not to mention the stylings of Chanel Kennebrew of Junkprints! Ok, so I can’t take total credit for finding her, she did happen to mark my etsy shop on her favorite list, but I think I’m in love…

Party on the Inside Jacket by Junkprints

Junkprints hails from Brooklyn, NY and has something for everyone. All the graphics are custom designed collage style art by Chanel and are printed on sweatshop-free tees and hoodies. I happen to be obsessed with her “Party on the Inside” denim jacket, it’s just well, fabulous! Maybe it’s the custom graphics, or the printed inside or the cu,t but it’s made the top of my favorites list hands down. Junkprints offers skate decks, custom handbags and all sorts of delicious gear to make you a show stopper. Her designs  mix colorful hip-hop style with a funky vintage twist and I think I did detect something with hint of… dare I say 80′s-chic?!

Monitor Mania Jacket by Junkprints

Matilda Duffel Bag by Junkprints

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Most of her designs are done in limited batches of about 50 pieces, so no worries that you might run into someone on the street sporting your favorite new tee.

You can stay connected with all the latest Junkprints action on dookyblog.com a fun quirky read that’s sure to give you something productive to do on Monday mornings when being at work just isn’t on your top ten list.

You can check out all her killer gear online or on everyones favorite place to buy and sell handmade items…etsy!

Being an indie designer can often be a bit lonely, spending countless hours holed up in my studio cutting fabric, sanding, painting and sketching. Though I think you never truly know yourself until you create alone there is an interesting phenomenon that has begun to take shape in our generation. Perhaps it is a need to be different, a need to have a voice, a need to share and to become a more responsible consumer. The definition of “community” has changed so dramatically in my relatively short lifespan. We are no longer defined by zip codes, state lines or vast oceans…all we have to do is to turn on our computers and type the infinite phrase:http://www.______.com. There is quite possibly a limitless amount of information available at our fingertips.

Most artists, designers and crafters are all very familiar with Etsy the premiere handmade marketplace to buy and sell handmade items. What I didn’t expect was a conversation I overheard this weekend while in an upscale salon in the Chicagoland Suburbs. Two twenty-somethings were perusing hair magazines, one toting a black Coach Bag and the other a very unique tote which had of course immediately caught my attention as well.

They were having a conversation about their handbags and the girl mentioned that she had purchased it on Etsy. The other girl started asking questions, commenting that she had never heard of that store but that she really would like to have a handbag that everyone else wasn’t carrying.

What struck my interest most about their conversation was the shift in consumer attitude. Now I realize that this isn’t any sort of ground breaking discovery on my part, it was just very unexpected especially given my location where labels are the ultimate status symbol. It drove home the realization that there has in fact been real growth in the independent market and that it had even stretched to the spot in which I was sitting.

And strangely enough this morning while sorting through my e-mail and favorite morning blogs I stumbled on an Etsy video I thought was worth sharing:

What I enjoy most about Etsy is the communal environment of creativity they have built. You can add items and shops to a favorites list, share, ask questions in the forums and of course buy and sell amazing items from artists, designers and crafters the world over.

The concept that we as artists and consumers are no longer defined by our physical location and now able to reach one another in a whole new way is exciting. This movement that embraces creativity and places a true value and opportunity to earn a living wage is the fundamental idea on which the American Dream was built.

And of of course I would be remiss not to mention that fashionjenn handbags are also available on Etsy!