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A GAMBIT PUBLICATION | M A R C H 2 0 1 2

HOME FASHION

BEAUTY

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vintage-inspired women's clothing & accessories for work, play, night, day sizes XS–2X OPEN SEVEN DAYS 11AM-7PM 6010 Magazine Street (near State Street) New Orleans • (504) 891-GIRL (4475)

agirlisagun.com

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contents

MARcH 2012

FASHION

17 27 36

wHAt guys wAnt All green everything

woRk it out Wear anywhere activewear

cue kiDs

33

cue tiPs

Kid-sized cooking supplies

Where to buy local goods in Bywater

fActoRy giRls Local fashion from a West Bank garment factory

HOME

12 21

18

Built in style Chalk paint brings a stroke of genius.

HoMe feAtuRe

PERSPECTIVES

09 39

fRoM tHe eDitoR No rest for the revelers

sHoP Dogs Dolly and File Gumbo

Designer Natasha Shahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s old-meets-new aesthetic

BEAUTY SHOPPING

10

new&cool Gifts and goodies fit for a saint

35

lusteRPHile The eyes have it

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FEATURED IN

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The Slim Cut Suit For a Man of Style $495

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TWO GREAT STORES, ONE GREAT LOCATION

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Activewear that goes anywhere

LIFE IS A SPORT

play hard!

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5523 MAGAZINE 08 CUE

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(between Octavia & Joseph)

his is CUE’s March issue, but the publication date is Fat Tuesday, and all I can think about are parades.

Judging from the conversations I’ve been having (e.g., “We’re slammed. Can this interview wait until Lent?”), Carnival is heavy on everyone else’s minds, too. So far I’ve talked to pastry chefs pulling 18-hour shifts baking king cakes and fashion designers stitching couture ball gowns while readying their collections for next month’s fashion weeks. They sound equal parts harried and gleeful at the impending collision of parades and parties — it’s kind of insane to do as much as we do to stage this glittery, boozy, citywide show, but somehow it all gets done before the stroke of midnight on Mardi Gras.

That same spirit of endurance and exuberance permeates a number of the women profiled in this issue: Lisa Iacono and Tam Huynh created a factory to produce made-in-New-Orleans garments; Lakeview resident Lisa Rickert became the first U.S. distributor of an innovative brand of paint; and Amy Knoll opened a new brick-and-mortar showroom for Etsy-based crafters in Bywater.

Though these women have very different business ventures, all cited the supportive New Orleanian community as a driving factor

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oN CUE m i S SY W i L K i N S o N |

in their successes. To paraphrase a quote from Rickert, it wasn’t a question of whether they’d tackle their respective visions, it was a question of how.

Which is the question we’re facing now: How are we going to make it through this intense avenue of revelry?

I’ve been asking myself that, and I really have no idea how to find time to do everything I want to do. But I’m not alone in that quandary, which is no small source of comfort: We’re all in the same float.

mArGo dUBoS | editor

dorA SiSoN |

editorial

K A N dAc e p o W e r G r Av eS

micheLe SLoNSKi a dve r ti si ng ad m inis trator 4 8 3 -3 14 0 micheles@gambitweekly.com

chriStiN JohNSoN

clothing • shoes • gifts • accessories

a dve r ti si ng c oord inator 4 8 3 -3 13 8 christinj@gambitweekly.com

Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 12pm-5pm 5509 Magazine Street (504) 899-5509

ac c o u n t e x e c u t i v e s

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S h e r i e d e L Ac r o i x-A L fA r o , L i N d S AY W e i S S , LY N B r A N t L e Y, Britt BeNoit, mArK WAGUeSpAcK pr e- pr e ss coor d i n ato r

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a dv e r t is i n g d i r ec tor 4 83 -3150 sandys@gambitweekly.com

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m a n ag i n g e d i to r

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PHOTO By QUE DUONG AND THE MAKEUP L AB ARTISTRy

from the editor

GA MB IT | 392 3 Bi eN v i LL e Stree t | N e W o r L e A N S , L A 7 0 1 1 9 504 . 4 8 6.5900 | response@gambitweekly.com

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SHOPPING

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ST. JOSEPH’S FEAST YOUR EYES ON GOODIES FIT FOR ST. JOSEPH’S DAY AND BEYOND

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ITALIAN LUCKY BEAN PENDANT BY ANNE DALE, $225 AT ANNE DALE JEWELERS (12 ST. ANN DRIVE, MANDEVILLE, 985-626-4266; WWW.ANNEDALE.COM).

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RED LE VERSHA CHAIR, $248 AT ANTHROPOLOGIE (THE SHOPS AT CANAL PLACE, SUITE 127, 333 CANAL ST., 592-9972; WWW.ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM).

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GREEN CLUTCH WITH PEARL BEADS, $68 AT ORIENT EXPRESSED (3905 MAGAZINE ST., 899-3060; WWW.ORIENTEXPRESSED.COM).

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11

HOME

BUILT IN STYLE

BRUSH WITH

GREATNESS INSPIRED BY A POPULAR BRITISH CHALK PAINT, LAKEVIEW RESIDENT LISA RICKERT BECOMES ITS FIRST U.S. DISTRIBUTOR.

BY C A R R I E M A R KS I M AG ES BY P H OTO G R A P H Y BY LO U I S isa Rickert had an MBA in finance, a career at a large corporation in New Orleans and a limited budget with which to decorate her dream house. She found herself seated on the floor at Barnes and Noble, frustrated and overwhelmed by her unsuccessful attempts to create a European aesthetic in the Lakeview home she’d recently purchased with her husband. But at one serendipitous moment, the title of one of the strewn-about books jumped out at her: Creating the French Look.

A few pages into the book by British painting and decor maven Annie Sloan, Rickert was hooked. The style guide’s old-world aesthetic and do-it-yourself appeal helped jump-start her creativity. “I told my husband, ‘We’re going to do everything ourselves,’” she remembers. “We didn’t need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on new furniture.”

She barely paused when she learned that the key to Sloan’s method — the eponymous chalk paint the artist had developed — wasn’t available for purchase in the U.S. due to the lack of a distributor. Rickert ordered some from England for her own use, hoping it would live up to its description. From her first application attempts, she says, she was “in love.” The paint came in a variety of colors, had a beautiful finish, and best of all, required minimal prep work and expertise. “I consider myself a creative person, but I never really had an outlet or the time for it,” Rickert says. “I didn’t have years of training, but I fell hard for this product. It took so many steps out of the painting process.”

That’s when the seed of a career-changing idea took root, and Rickert contacted Annie Sloan directly. She learned that Sloan, a painter, entrepreneur and bestselling author, was open to selling her product in the U.S. — she’d tried a few years before, but the attempt had fizzled out with little success.

Rickert was taken with Sloan’s story, vision, sense of humor and commitment to educating her fans. Rickert felt confident that her head for business, coupled with her husband’s family background in distribution, could be the ticket to the brand’s success in the U.S. “I’m not a very risky person,” Rickert says, “but something about Annie and the product spoke to me. It became not so much the question ‘Should I do this?’ but ‘How am I going to do this?’”

She’s since figured it out. It took eight months to sort out the nuts and bolts of getting the paint imported, but in July 2010, the chalk paint made its statewide debut in three locations in New Orleans

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WAX AND SAND THE CHALK PAINT FOR A WARM, ANTIQUED FEELING OR TO DRAW ATTENTION TO DETAILING.

THE CHALK PAINT CAN BE DILUTED WITH WATER TO SHOW THE GRAIN OF THE WOOD.

BUILT IN STYLE via rickert’s company, Jolie Design & Decor Inc. (2473788; www.anniesloanunfolded.com). the city seemed a natural choice for rickert, not least because she’s lived here her whole life. “new orleans is the closest you can come to a european city in the u.s.,” she says. “i was confident that the look of the paint would tie in with the aesthetic here and that people would respond.” she was right, and not just about the local market. as of February 2012, Jolie designs routes annie sloan chalk Paint to more than 140 locations in the u.s. and canada, and continues to expand. rickert is on the cusp of branching into australia and new Zealand, and the paint has recently been featured in a number of national home decor magazines, including Country Living and Kitchen Living. she credits the green movement with much of its success: “nowadays, people are more interested in repurposing old things.” in march, sloan will embark on a multi-city tour of the u.s. to meet face-to-face with her growing fan base through a series of all-day workshops and book signings. budding painters will get a chance to hear about sloan’s technique, learn her views on color theory and see demonstrations of the various finishes specifically engineered to work with her chalk paint, including the craquelure (which creates a multicolored, shatter effect when applied to furniture) and the dark waxes (which add a distressed finish). the tour also will coincide with the release of a new shade of pink to raise breast cancer awareness, and a percentage of every can sold will go toward various breast cancer research and support organizations.

For rickert, both the workshops and the tour are emblematic of what truly keeps her connected and committed to the brand: the community of do-it-yourselfers who find joy and inspiration in the creative control the paint affords them. “a lot of this is about giving back,” she says. “we try to reach out to small businesses, to women who are looking for a second chance at a career and need a jump start. we’re all being exposed to the same passion.”

HOME

For kitchens, use at least two coats oF annie sloan chalk Paint toPPed with several coats oF wax. there is no need to sand or aPPly Primer to cabinets.

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• 3 WINNERS will be chosen by CUE editor, Missy Wilkinson. Deadline to enter: March 31, 2012.

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FA S H I O N

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OLIVE GREEN SPORK, $2.99 AT MASSEY’S PROFESSIONAL OUTFITTERS. m a rc h .2 0 1 2 <<<

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SHOPPING

CUE K I D S

COOKING

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A KIT THAT INCLUDES AN APRON, HAT, POTHOLDER, TEA TOWEL, WOODEN SPOON AND ROLLING PIN TURNS ANY KID INTO A WELL-OUTFITTED SOUS CHEF, $17.99 AT LE JOUET (1700 AIRLINE DRIVE, METAIRIE, 8370533; WWW. LEJOUET.COM).

CUE K I D S

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available at

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REFLECTIONS OF STYLE FOR NATASHA SHAH, DESIGNING A HOUSE IS ABOUT TELLING A STORY

BY

L E E

C U T R O N E

|

PH OTOS

BY

S A R A

E S S E X

SHAH DESIGNED A RAISED POOL, ACCENTED WITH BAMBOO AND A BUDDHA FROM JAPAN. THE EDGE OF THE POOL DOUBLES AS A BENCH FOR SEATING, A FEATURE THAT WORKS WELL WITH THE SHAHS’ LOVE OF ENTERTAINING.

always tell clients, ‘Bring me three things that would tell me who you are if you couldn’t talk,’” says interior designer Natasha Shah. “I ask them, ‘What do you want your house to say to you, to your friends, to anyone who walks in?’”

The first thing one encounters in the Uptown house Shah shares with her husband and their 19-month-old son Kai is a 15-foot tree sculpture. Barely after entering the front door, guests know — or at least suspect — two things about Shah: She likes contemporary art and takes an unconventional approach to design.

“Designing a house is about combining things to tell a story,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what the style is. Everybody has their own style.

But it has to be a great combination of things.”

When Shah, originally from Croatia, and her husband Pulin, a doctor who grew up in Lafayette, first viewed the house in 2008, they weren’t immediately sold. Built in 1890, its traditional exterior featured timeless architectural elements: upper and lower porches, a leaded glass door, octagonal columns salvaged from Loyola University’s former music school, and a wrought-iron gate with a fleur-de-lis motif. But its 4,000-square-foot interior was a cramped warren of rooms that hadn’t been updated in years. Still, the couple recognized the house’s potential and embarked on an eight-month renovation designed to open its

I

TOP: In The dInIng rOOm, Shah cOmbIned TradITIOnal wall mOldIngS wITh a mOdern-day ScaTTerIng Of ceIlIng rOSeTTeS. She added ImPacT TO an anTIque chandelIer OrIgInal TO The hOuSe by cOverIng IT wITh a cOnTemPOrary drum Shade ThaT’S OPaque when The lIghT IS Off and TranSParenT when The lIghT IS On. “The chandelIer IS The ePITOme Of whaT I TrIed TO dO In ThIS hOuSe,” She SayS. “The Old wITh The new. ghOSTly buT rOmanTIc.” a Table by lIgne rOSeT IS PaIred wITh cuSTOm wOOden chaIrS and berTOIa wIre chaIrS, and anchOred wITh TwO cOwhIde rugS. Shah cOvered The SeaT cuShIOnS wITh red hOrSehaIr. The glaSS vaSeS are frOm hazelnuT. rIghT: TO maInTaIn The kITchen’S Sleek lOOk, Shah hId aPPlIanceS behInd cabIneT dOOrS and InSIde drawerS. an exTra-large ISland, TOPPed wITh STaTuary marble, cOnTaInS a farm SInk and PrOvIdeS cOOkIng SPace. STOOlS by PhIlIPPe STarck. The clOud SculPTure IS by Shah’S brOTher, Srdjan lOncar.

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Shah decorated the gueSt bedroom, which She dubbed Storyville, to look “dark, romantic and Sexy,” like the French Quarter. “i wanted For my gueStS to Feel new orleanS,” She SayS. She added tin wainScoating and painted the metal bed (From pottery barn teen), the deSk and the church pew oppoSite the bed. ceramic dog From eclectic home.

obstructed flow, let in plenty of natural light, and provide a minimal, neutral backdrop for their art collection.

With Shah at the helm of the remodeling effort, the house became a careful blending of old and new. “The biggest challenge is when you like contemporary but the house doesn’t call for contemporary,” she says. “This is where a lot of people make mistakes. When you deal with an old house, you have to show respect. If it was just contemporary, it would be too cold. And if it was just antiques, it would be too traditional. It wouldn’t be who we are.”

Shah retained classic structural elements like wooden floors, floor-toceiling windows and high ceilings. She maintained an open, breathable flow in the house — the current kitchen and great room occupy a space previously made up of six small rooms. Instead of building walls, she relied on unconventional elements to divide separate living spaces. Downstairs, she separated the living room and a casual dining area with a freestanding fireplace. Upstairs, she created pocket doors from salvaged materials to turn a single bedroom into two. In the center of the dining room ceiling, a plaster rosette typically found in houses of the period received a modernday twist with a sprinkling of plaster flowers.

Shah held fast to the principle that each piece of furniture should be strong on its own merit and that the process of furnishing the space should take as long as necessary. After seeing a taxidermied albino peacock in the window of Bloomingdale’s in New York, she tracked down the taxidermist and waited eight months for her one of her own, which now resides in her dining room.

“Furnishing a house in not like putting together an outfit,” she says.

“This is a longer commitment. You have to know what kind of atmosphere you want to create. I would rather have nothing and wait for the right thing.

To settle is never good.”

In addition to the cautionary advice that one should never settle, Shah is given to other design maxims: “A great black-and-white combination is always classic,” “nature always has the upper hand,” and “when things compete, something has to lose” are among those that play out effectively in her home. Inspired by the timeless quality of her favorite local restaurants, she created a clean, calming backdrop of mink-colored floors and white walls. “Opposites provide balance,” she says.

With the underpinnings in place, Shah layered the rooms with a carefully edited, less-is-more mix of contemporary furnishings, colorful art

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CUE 23

Shah deSigned one of Several gueSt bathS around an antique tub She found in the attic and had refiniShed. the cabinet (uSed aS a vanity) iS from iKea. Shah added the hardware and marble top. light fixture from Z gallerie; glaSS tileS from waterworKS.

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a Saarinen tulip table by knoll iS Surrounded by metal chairS purchaSed on ebay. Shah had the Seat coverS and corSet-inSpired backS cuStommade. a chandelier by ingo maurer iS above the table.

the centerpiece of the Shah’S foyer iS a lifeSize tree made by Shah’S brother, artiSt Srdjan loncar. formerly on loan to the ogden muSeum of Southern art, the tree iS made from photographS of oak treeS that lined the avenue leading to the new orleanS muSeum of art prior to hurricane katrina.

and frequent references to nature: animal hide rugs, a lamp made with ostrich eggs, an image of a Bengal tiger and a bird carved into the surface of a custom credenza. Shah, who’s afraid of birds, says she confronts her fears by incorporating beautiful and often whimsical avian displays into her surroundings.

Sculptural light fixtures with the impact of art are a love affair she indulges whenever possible. German designer Ingo Maurer’s “Birds Birds Birds” chandelier hangs over the informal dining area, and Danish designer Tord Boontje’s lacy, snowflake-like pendants add to the nursery’s sense of enchantment. “In some places, like in a workspace, the primary function of lighting is to illuminate,” Shah says. “But in other places, it’s about creating an atmosphere. You want a little bling, something different.”

Despite the home’s finer details, Shah believes a house is only of value to its inhabitants if it’s used and enjoyed.

To that end, she chose family-friendly fabrics and surfaces. Chalkboard paint covers several walls, and there are five coats of polyurethane on the floors. Washable, stain-resistant, custom-made slip covers and leather chair coverings were a must in a house that invites children to be children. A pedal car with the retro appeal of a mid-century classic is momentarily parked near the sofa, and like most items in the Shahs’ house, it tells part of their story.

“I love watching my son Kai play throughout the house, riding his little car and jumping on the sofa,” says Shah, who is expecting her second child in March. “When he is playing, I don’t need to worry or be constantly saying ‘Do not do that, do not touch.’ I want the house to feel lived in by everybody that comes in, especially my son.”

Shah, who referenceS birdS throughout her home, uSed decalS of birdS on a wire to add an induStrial touch to a landing where She alSo diSplayS art. She added a yellow Stripe for a jolt of color. m a rc h .2 0 1 2 <<<

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Sprin g 2 0 1 2

HEMLINE M ETA I R I E

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ON ERIN (LEFT):VIOLET DOUBLEDRAPE TUNIC BY HARD TAIL, $71 AT BASICS UNDERNEATH; BLACK YOGA PANTS BY RESE PILATES, $80 AT PRIORITIES. ON MICHELLE (RIGHT): BLUE AND GREEN TIE-DYE TANK, $60, NAVY BLUE CIRCLE LEGGINGS, $62, BOTH BY HARD TAIL AT BASICS UNDERNEATH.

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Gray sports bra by rese pilates, $38 at Priorities; purple skirted yoGa pants by lVr Fashion, $56 at Fini Boutique.

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This page: Jumbo braided flaT headband, $6, Turquoise Tennis Top by nike, $64, Turquoise Tennis skirT by nike, $58, WhiTe Tennis shoes by prince, $98, all aT The Tennis shop. on The cover: yelloW seamless sporTs bra and pink seamless sporTs bra, boTh by champion, $38 each aT prioriTies; yelloW shorTs WiTh Turquoise piping by nike, $32, WhiTe Tennis shoes by prince, $98, boTh aT The Tennis shop.

sTore informaTion Basics UnderneaTh (1281 n. causeWay blvd., mandeville, 985-7279521; 5513 magazine sT., 894-1000) Fini BoUTiqUe (6250 gen. diaz sT., 304-0633; WWW.finibouTique.com) prioriTies (5523 magazine sT., 8992212; WWW.prioriTiesnola.com) second skin inTimaTe apparel (701 meTairie road, meTairie, 322-2931) The Tennis shop (5918 magazine sT., 899-6700; 4931 W. esplanade ave., meTairie, 457-4401)

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CUE T I P S

SHOPPING

ETSY EASILY here’s a new retail spot in Bywater for locally made clothing, accessories, housewares and furniture. Bon Castor (3207 Burgundy St., 948-9987; www.facebook.com/ boncastor) owners Amy Knoll and William Walker hope to contribute to their neighborhood by filling the retail void and providing local artisans with a brick-and-mortar space to showcase their wares.

“I live here; this is my neighborhood, and we didn’t have any retail,” says Knoll, who is also part-owner of Lost Love Lounge. “All the people in this neighborhood who make things now have a place to see it, six days a week.”

Named for French philosopher and feminist Simone de Beauvoir, pet- and credit card-friendly Bon Castor (which translates to “good beaver,” Beauvoir’s nickname) offers a bit of everything, including repurposed clothing from the House of Phantom, jewelry and bags from LillyPearll, furniture from Echo 9 and ceramics from Lucky Nola. The store’s locally made furnishings are also for sale. Bon Castor is always looking for new vendors and will hold a grand opening party at the shop from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 10, featuring live music, food and drinks. — MEGAN BRADEN-PERRY

T

BON CASTOR CO-OWNER AMY KNOLL SHOWS OFF DRESSES MADE BY LOCAL DESIGNER ESTHER ROSE.

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WWW.VILLERESFLORIST.COM m a rc h .2 0 1 2 <<<

CUE 33

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BROW FACTOR INDUSTRY TIPS FOR ACHIEVING WOW BROWS B Y M EG A N B R A D E N - P E R R Y air like Katherine Heigl, a figure like Jennifer Lopez, a smile like Halle Berry and eyebrows like — Oscar the Grouch? Don’t be that girl.

“So many people don’t realize how important brow shape is in relation to their entire face structure,” says Kisha Williams, cofounder of The Makeup Lab Artistry (843 Carondelet St., Studio 4, 9820289; www.themakeuplabartistry.com). “Our brows showcase the most effective form of expression, and if their shape doesn’t complement the overall facial structure, it can send a wrong message.”

Routine professional eyebrow shaping is a simple, affordable way to improve your look. To prepare for professional brow shaping, “let brows grow out at least one month with no tweezing at all,” says Nellie Spahr of Earthsavers (Lakeside Shopping Annex, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 140, Metairie, 835-0225; 3414 Hwy. 190, Mandeville, 985-674-1133; 5501 Magazine St., 899-8555; www.earthsaversonline. com). Schuyler Louapre of Make Me Up (3426 Magazine St., 891-9688; www.makemeupnola.com) says, “My suggestion is to do it the day before you go out, never the day of because it will cause some redness.” Take a hot shower 30 to 45 minutes before the appointment to help open the pores, which lets hair come out more easily. Pop aspirin or ibuprofen to minimize pain.

Spas generally offer three methods of eyebrow shaping: waxing, threading and plucking.

Each keeps excess hair at bay

H

(Left to right:) TWEEZERMAN SLANT TWEEZER, $20.95 PETER THOMAS ROTH UN-WRINKLE ANTIAGING CONCEAL AND BRIGHTEN DUO, $35.95 JANE IREDALE BROW GEL, $16.50 STILA EYE SHADOW IN EDEN, $18 STILA STAY ALL DAY WATERPROOF BROW COLOR, $21 ALL AT EARTHSAVERS

for up to four weeks. Jaime Pietrangelo of My Spa by the Park (6312 Argonne Blvd., 482-2219; www.-myspabythepark.com) says, “If you’re using retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids or other topical prescription products, you need to pluck [or thread] and not wax.” The ancient Eastern practice of threading combines the swiftness of waxing with the precision of plucking. During a threading, the esthetician winds a cotton string around small sections of the brow and plucks the hairs all at once.

Due to medical conditions, genetics, over-grooming or age, some women have eyebrows that are too thin or too pale. “Using … brow pencils, powder and gels to give sparse brows a little help is a very common thing,” Williams says. “There are ways to color in brows without overdoing it or creating a harshly drawn brow.” To avoid looking fake and overdone, Williams urges women to take their hair color, natural brow color, skin tone and personality into consideration. “Even if brows are sparse, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every person has to completely fill them in,” Williams says. “Brows … should be filled in based on your comfort level. Not everyone is meant for a perfectly sculpted brow.”

“A great brow begins with going with your own brow shape,” says Lauren Prats of Earthsavers.

“You should never try to make your brows look like someone else’s.”

For a semipermanent solution to sparse hair, consider a topical eyebrow growth stimulator such as LiBrow by LiLash. “Growth enhancers ... must be used consistently in order to see results,” Williams says. “Not everyone will see the same results, because everyone’s body chemistry is different.”

Between professional shapings, there are a few tricks to maintaining the look. Prats recommends Jane Iredale brow gel for enhancing brow color and shape. Williams uses Maybelline’s DefineA-Brow pencil sparingly to sketch in hairs and trace around the natural shape of the brow. Irma Benavidez of Earthsavers says, “Cover any new growth with a bit of concealer and flesh-toned eyeshadow.”

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CUE 35

FA S H I O N

F E AT U R E

HOME SEWN HOW A FASHION DESIGNER AND A SEAMSTRESS JOINED FORCES TO CREATE A THRIVING GARMENT FACTORY ON THE WEST BANK.

BY MISSY WILKINSON hen fashion designer Lisa Iacono arrived in New Orleans last May to work in Suzanne Perron’s design room, she was eager to launch her own line. She’d worked in New York’s fashion industry for five years designing for American Eagle and Betsey Johnson, and she had her own vision for the polished, menswear-inspired pieces that would bear her name.

But her efforts to launch her label were stymied by a lack of local production facilities.

“I looked for (local) manufacturing, and I came up with nothing,” Iacono says. “I just wanted to have one style made. So I managed to contact one of the people who used to own a sewing factory.

He said, ‘Get in touch with Tam. She’s the best person I ever worked with.’”

Tam Huynh had worked for 22 years for Kenneth Gordon, a menswear factory in Elmwood that produced garments for clients like Brooks Brothers and Burberry. She started as a seamstress and was quickly promoted to a manager position.

Under Huynh’s leadership, the factory grew from 40 to nearly 450 employees. But when the factory was sold and relocated to Pennsylvania following Hurricane Katrina, Huynh found herself — and the talented seamstresses with whom she’d worked for decades — with an empty spindle.

“I had people who wanted to sew,” Huynh says.

“Lisa knew designers who had a high demand for sewing. I said, ‘Let’s do something. If we can’t make this work, shame on us.’”

Huynh and Iacono started manufacturing Iacono’s eponymous line from a mechanic’s garage on the West Bank owned by Huynh’s brother. “The product was coming out beautifully,” Iacono says.

“Other designers started to ask us, ‘How are you getting your stuff made in New Orleans? I thought that was impossible.’”

Word of mouth spread, and Nola Sewn (2101 Eighth St., Suite B, Harvey; www.nolasewn.com) grew exponentially, from two or three clients to 20, employing a rotating roster of 10 to 20 seamstresses. In January, Huynh and Iacono relocated from the garage to an airy facility that has an office, a salon for fittings and a sewing room.

Though Nola Sewn currently occupies 1,200 of the building’s available 4,000 square feet, Iacono says plans to expand are already underway.

“We’re excited to fill a piece of the puzzle that has been missing in the New Orleans fashion industry for a while,” Iacono says. “We do sampling for designers — some are getting started, some

W

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LISA IACONO (LEFT) AND TAM HUYNH CALL NOLA SEWN “A LABOR OF LOVE.” PHOTO BY JEFFREY DUPUIS

F E AT U R E

FA S H I O N

WHERE TO BUY NOLA SEWN GARMENTS: Look for Iacono at Hemline Chartres (609 Chartres St., 592-0242; www.shophemline.com), Victoria’s (4858 Magazine St., 861-8861) and Weinstein’s (4011 Magazine St., 895-6278; www.weinsteinsinc.com).

Look for Mesdress by Molly Stackhouse at Angelique Clothing (7725 Maple St., 866-1092) and The Mix (4480 Hwy. 22, Mandeville, 985-727-7649; www.themixclothing.com).

Look for Ottilie Brodmann, Josephine, Brennan Manuel and The Wild Life Reserve at Vernon (2049 Magazine St., 309-5929; www.-vernonclothing.com).

LEFT TO RIGHT: THUY NGUYEN, LISA IACONO, TAM HUYNH, JENNY TRAN AND XUAN NGUYEN AT WORK IN NOLA SEWN’S SEWING ROOM. PHOTO

BY JEFFREY DUPUIS

are more established. We have custom jobs — brides and Mardi Gras customers, retailers — and we don’t have order minimums.”

Molly Stackhouse, a New Orleans designer and a graduate of LSU’s fashion program, recently designed her first collection for production with Nola Sewn. “It’s just going to be better if it’s made here,” she says. “It supports the city, and it’s just ethical. Lisa and Tam have really helped me, and their company is growing every day. I wouldn’t be able to have a business here without that. I could go somewhere else, but it’s great having them here. And they do really good work.”

For Huynh, who escaped from Vietnam by boat at age

16 following the fall of Saigon and her grandfather’s public execution, the opportunity to give back to the community and to employ many first-generation Vietnamese seamstresses is a blessing, she says. Long before she employed them in her factory, Huynh was assisting her countrymen by translating for them during trips to buy appliances or apply for food stamps. “I spent a lot of time finding jobs for people (after Kenneth Gordon closed),” Huynh says. “I feel like I owe them a lot.”

“The same thing (you did when you first came to the U.S.) applies to what you do here — helping your community,” Iacono says to Huynh. “Connecting people — it’s your calling.”

Huynh defers Iacono’s praise to the fashion community that has nurtured Nola Sewn. “(New Orleans) is very supportive,” Huynh says. “All our cutting tables used to belong to Kenneth Gordon. The factory (RSI Global) gave them to me for free.”

“People have come out of the woodwork to help,” Iacono says. “There’s so many talented people in New Orleans who should have a way to make their products come to life and get them to consumers. And we have people sewing who are so incredibly skilled. It’s very humbling to give them the opportunity to showcase their skill.” m a rc h .2 0 1 2 <<<

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pERspECTIVEs

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doLLY & fILE guMBo

TExT AnD pHOTOS By

nIcOLE cARROLL

Dolly’s

favorite things ...

Tug of waR RIdIng shoTgun CaRRoTs dREssIng up foR haLLowEEn t’s not uncommon to see dogs barking and milling around at a vet’s office. But at the West Esplanade Veterinary Clinic (3640 W. Esplanade, Metairie, 455-6386; www.gregrichdvm.com), the only dog on the premises is usually Dolly, a 7-yearold blue merle Australian shepherd owned by Dr. Gregory Rich. The clinic has specialized in exotics only (any household pet that is neither dog nor cat) since Rich purchased the practice in 1993.

Rich has been passionate about veterinary medicine for most of his life. “At age 12, my profession of choice was a veterinarian,” he says. “And if I couldn’t do that, it was a veterinarian. And if I couldn’t do that, it was a veterinarian.” His love for Australian shepherds is also long-standing. He’s admired them since his vet school classmates introduced him to their pets of that breed. Rich’s exotics-only clinic lends itself well to a resident dog; there are no cats to chase, and no other dogs laying claim to Dolly’s turf. Dolly is always respectful of the animals in Rich’s care.

“There is nothing that she’s ever chased, nothing she’s ever snapped or bitten at,” Rich says.

Last December, the dog injured herself while playing and is required to wear a cast for another three weeks. A dedicated worker, Dolly has continued to come into work while recovering. She earns her keep by accompanying Rich into every exam room every day. She also lends a helping hand (or mouth)

I

by carrying patient charts from the exam room to the reception area.

When Dolly conducts business with Rich in the back, another clinic mascot interacts with clients in the reception area: 6-year-old double yellow-headed Amazon parrot File Gumbo. File lives in the clinic round the clock and has the task of greeting clients.

File loves communicating using his broad vocabulary.

He knows basic salutations like “hello,” “goodbye,” and “go Tigers!” as well as songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” File also volunteers outside the clinic, accompanying Rich on visits to schools and Boy and Girl Scout troops to educate children about proper bird care. File enjoys taking time from his busy day to pose for pictures, which later get posted to his own Facebook page, where he has nearly 500 friends.

Dolly and File share a unique rapport. File enjoys playing little games with Dolly. “From time to time, File will drop food just to watch Dolly come scurrying to get it,” Rich says. “File kind of messes with her mind.” On the flip side, if Dolly is given a treat and File isn’t, he will climb down off his perch to attack Dolly.

For clients, the two animals make for a fun and comforting visit to the vet. “It takes their mind off the illness their pet might (have),” Rich says. “It’s always been fun for my clients when they come in to have something to talk to, and then we’ve got Dolly when they go in the exam room.”

file gumbo’s

favorite things ...

TaLKIng To pEopLE spRaY BaThs Loud MusIC anY TYpE of food

m a rc h .2 0 1 2 <<<

CUE 39

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