Do you love vintage? Have you ever walked into a vintage store hoping to find that timeless retro look in your size and in perfect condition, only to be disappointed? Are you tired of contemporary shapeless and casual looks that flood todays market? Do you want to dress and feel like a lady in wearable clothing? Then let me introduce you to RECOLLECTION.

Fall 2013 collection preview. Rose Callahan photography.

A couple of years ago, having worked as a designer in New York's fashion industry for over a decade, I was fed up. Fed up with come-and-go trends, disposable clothing and my jam-packed closet that didn't excite me. However, I still loved fashion and particularly vintage fashion. Good vintage was getting harder to find and due to how fragile it is, I seldom wore the pieces I had. I checked out some vintage reproduction labels but their style felt too costume for me and the quality was poor. I wanted high quality designer vintage style in new condition and modern fit. This was something missing in today's market and seeing as I was a designer I thought, hey, why not start my own independent label!

I named my label RECOLLECTION which so far has seen a lot of success with press and in local stores in New York. I regularly get emails from women all around the world seeking my designs after discovering them in one of the many blogs it's been featured on. Last year I was a successful finalist in Design Entrepreneurs NYC, a mini MBA program offered to a select group of New York City-based designers. This gave me the business tools I needed to understand how to take the next step and launch an online store making RECOLLECTION globally available, wherever you are.

Fall 2013 collection preview. Rose Callahan photography.

I've created this project to help raise the funds needed to launch the online store. I've been working very hard on the new Fall 2013 collection as well as gathering a special selection of vintage accessories to compliment it, which will also be available through the store. Production is underway in New York's garment district and now I need to prepare the website for sales. Some of the additional expenses to start an online store include:  

If you would like to help make the RECOLLECTION online store a reality, I would be truly grateful for the support. Your generosity will not only be appreciated but rewarded. Perks begin at $10 and every pledge, no matter the amount, can help me reach my goal of $8,000. It's all-or-nothing with this project and to be successfully funded I have to reach my goal. If I am not only successful but surpass my goal, the additional funding will be used to grow my business. Short-term this means attending tradeshows (average cost $10,000 p/season) to meet new store buyers and expand my distribution outside of New York. Long-term this means developing RECOLLECTION as a lifestyle brand expanding my product categories to include: swimwear, lingerie, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. 

You can check out the RECOLLECTION press book to see who's been talking about us and stay up to date on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube. Be sure to also check out my past collections on the website!

Thank you so much for your support and contributions, Sandra!

P.S. My closet isn't nearly as full anymore but it's much more stylish ;)

PERKS

Thank You Notecard

 

Inspired by my collection of vintage sewing patterns.

Tote Bag

Tote bag with designer fashion illustrations.

Customized Print

One-of-a-kind created for you!

Silk Scarf

Collection Sizing

Available sizes for the Fall 2013 collection.

Risks and challenges

The Tote Bag shown is a first prototype. We might need to adjust the final artwork slightly for bulk production. I expect to maintain the bags overall look but you might notice little changes to the artwork.

I will be personally designing and mounting each Customized Print. If demand for this reward happens to be very high it might delay delivery until October in some cases.