Millinery is the art of designing, blocking and trimming head wear using the finest materials. The word millinery was derived from the city of Milan, known for producing beautiful materials.
Hi! I am Tonya Gross from Tonya Gross Millinery. I am a hat designer, also known as a milliner, based in Chicago, IL. I produce bespoke, couture and ready-to-wear hats for men and women. I am excited about an opportunity that most small businesses like mine dream of; I have the opportunity to produce and sell my collection of hats through online retailer Zappos.com. This collection will be made in Chicago, IL, USA!
Recently, I was selected by Zappos.com for its 2013 Emerging Designer Program, a program initiated by Zappos.com employees to promote up-and-coming designers like myself. In March of 2013, my Tonya Gross Millinery CAPSule Collection for the Zappos.com Emerging Designer Program will be prominently featured by Zappos.com through an online boutique, and through social media and marketing campaigns. I am thrilled for the opportunity to partner with such a prominent online retailer like Zappos.com, and so honored by this distinction. As a fledgling designer, it is the “big break” for which I have worked so hard for many years.
This is a unique venture in that I will produce handmade, ready-to-wear hats for a large volume online retailer that are locally produced and plan to hire and train a talented team drawn from the Chicago fashion industry; I am really proud of this. But, I need your help to raise the funds to produce my line of handmade hats.
Your contribution to my campaign will allow me to:
- purchase hat foundation materials & trims to complete a large volume order for Zappos.com
- initiate a hiring and training program for MITs-- aka Milliners in Training
- hire this team to assist in fulfilling a large volume order of HANDMADE hats
- purchase the marketing materials, hat boxes, shipping materials, and ship to the Zappos.com warehouse
- fulfill the PERKS for this campaign that reflect the best of my Zappos.com collection!
I believe my project is significant for the following reasons:
- I will bring US-made quality, hand-finished couture and ready-to-wear head wear to a large, online global marketplace
- I can increase the number of job opportunities for skilled labor in apparel manufacturing in the Midwest
- Create training programs and employ a talented pool of skilled individuals that will earn a living wage
- I will act as a catalyst to restore the tradition of hat manufacturing in Chicago- much like BesBen, Raymond Hudd and Mr John
- I will successfully fulfill the order and encourage a large online retailer to take a chance on a small business rather than import from a mass-production facility outside of the US
Yes, I tried and failed to make my goal on another crowdfunding site around the holidays-- bad timing on my part. It was an all or nothing platform; therefore, I have initiated this Indiegogo campaign because the need to fund my collection still exists. Note: I did secure a relationship with a shipping vendor that will significantly lower my overhead (and have lowered my goal accordingly.)
I understand that not everyone can afford to make a contribution. I ask for your help to FORWARD this campaign on to others who may be able to help. Please SHARE! I am thrilled for the opportunity to begin this journey with Zappos.com and to initiate a start-up manufacturing operation that will create jobs in Chicago. I cannot produce this collection without your support. THANK YOU for viewing this campaign and for your contribution!
THANK YOU!
tonya
