Trunk Show at Bananas!

Store: Yes, We Have No Bananas (map) (website)

Location: 697 State Road. West Tisbury, MA 02575

Years in Business: 6 years

Favorite Personal Item: Swirl Skirt.

This weekend is big for Martha’s Vineyard! Not only are our President and oh-so-fashionable First Lady Michelle, vacationing in town, but our very own Aimee G is hopping on the ferry, Martha’s Vineyard bound, for a trunk show at a delightfully quirky boutique/gallery called Yes, We Have No Bananas! Aimee will be showing off her Fall / Winter line on Saturday (8/29) and Sunday (8/30) during the store hours. So, if you’re in the area, by chance or by hopes of catching sight of the VIPs in town, stop by for your chance to check out Aimee’s new line! And who knows, you might just see Michelle Obama shopping the new collection!

Coinciding with the trunk show, we would like to introduce you to the eclectic boutique store, whimsically named “Yes We Have No Bananas“. Bananas Gallery sells clothing, jewelry, and kid items by the brands including Aimee G. They also showcase photography, and fine artwork. They have the reputation for the selling the most unique gifts in town, and we are honored to be invited for the trunk show this weekend! Today, Judy Hartfort shared with us some thoughts on her store and Aimee G’s designs.

What is the inspiration behind your name?

“Yes We Have No Bananas” is that song from the 20s. The store was also originally built as a farm-stand.  By preserving its farm-like and homey charm, Bananas emanates a personal warmth not usually experienced in a retail.

How did you discover Aimee?

About 4 years ago, we meet her at a trade show and felt in love with Aimee G’s design. Since then, we become very committed to her line.

What about Aimee’s design that you enjoy the most?

I love her mix of fabric and the asymmetric shapes. They show off the female body wonderfully. They’re also really fun and unique.

What’s your best selling Aimee G item?

The Stella dress. The Swirl tube dress does well also.

Who are you customers?

Mostly people who have summer homes, we have lots of regulars. Mostly 40 and over. We want to start to develop more younger customers. Hopefully Aimee’s G will bring in a new young crowd.

What is your store philosophy?

We try to do things that are different and unique. We shop with an open mind, we don’t really read magazines. We developed good reputation by having wonderful and exciting items that don’t necessary coincide with what’s “in”. We don’t pay attention to the trends.

Describe your personal style.

I don’t really dress my age (60s in 4′6”) , I dress more casual and a little funky, kind of artsy, including some items by Aimee G.

Beneath the Skirt Introduction – Lena

It’s never a quiet day at Aimee’s studio. On a scorching Tuesday morning I accompanied Lena to the Russian Factory in Midtown to pick up fabric. As my subject of the week, I took some pictures while we chatted. Lena, also of Russian origin, is cheerful, high-spirited and quite humorous at times (Many Russian-American jokes). Lena has been working for Aimee as a freelancer, helping out with all kinds of things.  Through the interview, I saw how she is such an integral part of the designing process. Today was an especially frenzy day with the new Spring / Summer 10′ line on the horizon. In addition to assisting with production Lena was all over the map with trips to the factory, hardware store, fabric store, then one last errand to Chinatown! Thankfully Lena was resilient and she even had time to answer my questions! Thanks Lena!

Q & A with Lena

How long have you been working for Aimee?

2 or 3 months

What was your last job?

I was a stay at home mom.

How did  find yourself working for Aimee?

I brought Sampleline (a line by Aimee G) sweater and became addicted ever since. Then I found Aimee’s website and emailed her to see she was hiring. I knew it was a long shot but here I am.

What were you experiences in the field prior to working for Aimee?

I didn’t really have much experience in production, but I make leather bag (They’re beautiful!) Aimee taught me everything I needed to know.

What do you usually do for Aimee?

Cutting, Shipping, pattern making and running errands

Where do you see yourself in the future as far as fashion ?

Not sure, but I’ve always been into crochet and making stuff with my hand…so it’ll always be something along those lines.

What about Aimee’s design attracted you most?

Oh man I just love it, it’s extremely comfortable, durable and fit many types of body. After finding wearing Aimee’s you wouldn’t want to wear “normal” clothes ever again.

Last questions, what are you having for lunch?

Grapes and banana so far…

Lena. 11:16AM, midtown fabric factory

More Pictures at facebook!

This Fall, the heroine wanders the Parisian streets in plaids

Each season is another chapter in the book of the Aimee G saga, featuring fashionable women of the world. Meet Marie Blanche:

Today in Marie Blanche’s life (our heroine and muse), she is on a Paris street wearing a schoolgirl plaid cleverly constructed as a double weave gauze that was expertly assembled by the talented weavers at a French Mill. The layers of fabric and the beguiling drape of the gauze lends itself to an unexpected triple collar jacket (Miss Taro).   With all those ideas flowing thru my (Aimee G’s) head, I again encounter Marie Blanche appreciating the Palais Royal Metro Station in Paris.  All the twinkly lights make the station functional and beautiful at the same time!  For a moment, both Marie and I forget about everything else. I feel I must capture this moment in everyday adornments for the likes of women like free-spirited Marie.  She wants to fool us into thinking she has worked quite hard to look so self-assured and picturesque.  Really, she just slipped into a Plaid jacket (Miss Taro), layered with a twisted-collar white shirt (Milos) -a no-brainer!-, and stepped into a subtle plaid skirt. (Ha! She broke an antiquated rule and put two plaids together – c’est magnifique!) She finished her look with a lovely hat and shoes to make her toes curl…

That is an excerpt of Marie Blanche’s life. No different, really, than how Aimee G put together and presented to you her Fall ’09 collection.

- Aimee G

fashion & figures:
From left clockwise: Megan in Lupe dress; Leighton in the Zora Sweater and the Magda Pants; Paloma in the Miss Taro Jacket and the Domino Sweater; Teruko (seated) in Solitaire Aweater and the May Day skirt.

Beneath the Skirt Store Interview – Hannah

With the heat wave advisory in effect, Aimee and Lena continue to solider on with the Spring/Summer ‘10 line. Thank goodness for Air Conditioners! Next week we will introduce you to Lena, who is running errands all over town today. But for now, we would like show our love to one of our favorite stores that carry Aimee G!

This week Susan, owner of Hannah store located in the heavily tracffic streets of Soho at 155 Prince St., was was kind enough to share her thoughts on Aimee’s design and answer some questions.

Store: Hannah

Location: 155 Prince Street. New York, NY 10012

Years in Business: 28 Years

One word to description your store: Timeless

1. How long have you been carrying Aimee?

Since this year. For the Spring/Summer Collection

2. What about Aimee’s design do you enjoy the most?

Aimee’s designs are creative, well designed and intelligently engineered. I love her combination of different kinds of fabric. Her clothes are very comfortable and wearable but unique at the same time.

3. What is the best selling Aimee G Design in your store?

The Ocho dresses with or without sleeves and the stella dresses is very popular as well.

4.  How would you describe your store?

A beautiful collection carefully selected and composed comprising of unique and wearable designs.

5. How would you describe your customers?

Over 30 years old professionals who are artistic and creative.

6. What makes your store different from the rest?

I would say the fact that we have more than 40 designers that I hand-picked from.

7. How do you select the designers? and what do you look for when it comes to finding designs that fits with your store?

I discover designers mostly through trade shows and showrooms. I am interested in universal designs that not just fit one body type. I also look for novelty fabrics, like the ones Aimee uses, something different but timeless at the same time.

8. If you did not pursue a retail career, what would you be doing?

I would probably be a designer if I wasn’t in retail. I would be designing clothes similar to the the ones I carry in my store.

New Line! Fall / Winter 2009

While half of New York population had escaped the summer heat and gone away on vacation, Aimee and her assistant Casey are diligently working on the Spring / Summer 2010 line. In the meantime, to satisfy the needs of the general public we have the new Fall / Winter ready for you! View the new line  (soon to be posted on Aimee’s website) on Facebook and Myspace! Feel free to comment, we love to hear from you!

Also coming up… As part of the “Beneath the Skirt” series, new behind the scenes pictures from Aimee’s studio and interviews with our favorite Boutique stores! Get real-time updates from Aimee G’s studio at twitter!