Crafting Fashion: A Pop-up shop for MakeShift curated by Billy Reid + Alabama Chanin

Opening Thursday, May 17th from 6:00pm - Until

Crafted Fashion, Food, Music, and Drink at Billy Reid 54 Bond Street, NYC Featuring a performance by Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Tift Merritt at 8:00 pm

Pop-up runs from May 18th - 25th
Store hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00am - 8:00pm, Sunday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Born and bred in Pretoria, South Africa, Albertus Swanepoel moved from Johannesburg to New York City after a seven year career as a critically acclaimed fashion designer under his Quartus Manna label.  In 1987 he won the Coty Award as top designer in his country.

In New York, Albertus trained as a milliner under Janine Galimard, who worked for Balenciaga in Paris in the 50's and 60's.

He assisted the well-known hat designer, Lola, for several years on a freelance basis. He  also worked with theatrical milliner, Lynne Mackey, where he constructed hats for Broadway shows such as Kiss me Kate and Mamma Mia, as well as several operas and ballets.

In 2000, he briefly acted as Style Editor for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine.

In 2004, Albertus began collaborating with several New York designers for their runway presentations.  He has since become known as the milliner to seek out during New York Fashion Week.  He has worked with such designers as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, Carolina Herrera, Peter Som, Erin Fetherston, Rodarte, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Nathan Jenden, Costello Tagliapietra, Narciso Rodriquez, Richard Chai, Derek Lam, Suno, Bill Blass, DKNY, and Araks.

In 2006, he formed his own company, Albertus Swanepoel LLC, which designs and produces handmade hats for a select number of stores in the US and internationally. Albertus has received a number of honors, including being named as one of two runners-up for the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2008, a 2009 nomination for Swarovski CFDA Accessory Award, a 2010 WGSN Award nomination for Best Accessory Designer, and was named Accessory Designer of the Year during the 2010 African Fashion Week International. Additionally, Swanepoel’s work was featured in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s 2009 exhibit, “Hats: An Anthology.”

albertusswanepoel.com

Imogene + Willie owners Carrie and Matt Eddmenson share a long and varied history in the fashion industry. Both began their careers at Sights Denim Systems in Henderson, Kentucky – once the world’s preeminent denim development laboratory. Carrie has worked in product development with numerous companies such as Paper Denim & Cloth, Earnest Sewn, Levi’s Vintage Clothing and Ralph Lauren’s RRL, just to name a few. She has worked with many companies to develop many modern day denim processes and finishes. Matt has helped develop products, fits, finishes, and branding for Earnest Sewn, Elie Tahari, Billy Reid, Rogan, and many others. Matt and Carrie have known each other since grade school, but reconnected while working at Sights Denim and married in 2006. In 2009, the Eddmensons moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where they operate Imogene + Willie’s showroom and flagship store out of a retrofitted 1950’s gas station.

imogeneandwillie.com