Don’t spend hours combing the glossies to find the hottest looks, brands and accessories, or pay a personal shopper big bucks to scour the busy boutiques. Let the ladies of Brandshop do the work for you, for free.
From Thursday, June 2, through Saturday, June 4, 2016, Brandshop will host its traveling, luxury shopping event and speaker series in New Orleans for the first time, bringing together top female designers and female-led brands with local women who shop with the eye of a collector.
Attendees will get free access to 2 pop-up shops, buy tickets to a powerhouse Speakers Series featuring Maria Brito (one of Gwyneth Paltrow’s favorite designers and art consultants), Senior Vice President at Christie's Lydia Fenet, former editor at Vogue and Glamour Ann Mashburn and Ashley Williams, Style Editor for Southern Living, visit with Alexa Pulitzer, who will offer custom stationery consultations, and enjoy a day of programming focused on Fitness & Wellness in partnership with Well+Good, featuring celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser, whose clients include Kelly Ripa, Shakira and Sarah Jessica Parker.
At the Martine Chaisson Gallery, 727 Camp St., and Reyn Studios, 725 Magazine St., Brandshop will present more than 30 female designers and entrepreneurs for a fashion festival of shopping, book signings, cocktail parties, the Speaker Series and exercise classes.
“We started Brandshop in the fall of 2015 because, as busy women ourselves, we didn’t have time to discover the emerging companies and unique individuals in the fashion, art and design worlds whose products and expertise we wanted to bring into our own homes,” Brandshop co-founder Laura Martin Mills said.
“Brandshop is a way to introduce—in person—sophisticated shoppers to a highly edited collection of emerging brands we think they’ll enjoy,” co-founder Hillary Crittendon said. “It’s also a venue for those brands to reach an audience of women who will carry their brand’s message forward.”
Mills and Crittendon said the primary focus of Brandshop is the open-to-the-public pop-up shops. On Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, attendees will have the opportunity to visit both locations, grab a coffee or fresh pressed juice, meet the designers directly and shop their collections.
“We began working with female entrepreneurs somewhat organically and found those women to be open and willing to provide advice, feedback and mentorship to each other,” Crittendon said. “We often become great customers of each others’ businesses. As female entrepreneurs ourselves, we find it particularly challenging to play the many roles that society sometimes gives us while achieving success and balance, and find Brandshop's community, networking events and informative conversations to be really helpful from a learning point of view, and inspiring from a motivation point of view.”
Brandshop is an experiential retail company, hosting a series of large and small events. For the upcoming New Orleans project, #thebrandshopnola, Brandshop is selecting retailers, organizing programming, speakers and marketing, establishing partnerships, designing the space and planning parties. For smaller events, Brandshop plays the role of retailer in a more direct way and actually handles merchandising and sales for designer’s collections.
“We believe that providing unique, compelling customer experiences that introduce our audience and clients to brands in an intimate, elevated format is the best way for women to connect with brands, become clients and hopefully advocate on behalf of those brands long-term,” Crittendon said. “It's our goal to help brands expand their distribution into new markets, whether that's by meeting clients who will continue to shop with them online or through introductions to local specialty stores.”
For its flagship event in New Orleans, Brandshop is working with many New Orleans natives including Martine Chaisson, Reyn Lambert, Alexa Pulitzer, Mallory Page, Jane Scott Hodges, Andi Eaton, Juley Le, BySmith, Die Kers and Porter Lyons.
“New Orleans is a city fraught with talented creatives,” Crittendon said. “I think the number of cultural and artistic events you have here are a great testament to the strength of your artist community. For us, having done a bit of work with the New Orleans creative community through our content company, The SoGood, we learned quickly that there was a valuable group who'd be interested in attending, supporting and participating in an event like Brandshop which was a key driver in our decision.”
In addition to the fashion frenzy Brandshop will create in the Warehouse District next weekend, the group is producing a Speaker Series at the Martine Chaisson Gallery on Friday, June 3, and a day of Fitness & Wellness in partnership with Well+Good at Reyn Studios on Saturday, June 4.
“Our goal is to foster conversations around topics that are important to both our consumers and the designers who partner with us,” Crittendon said. “We believe that if we can create a collaborative, engaging environment, we can form meaningful connections between consumers and designers.”
BRANDSHOP SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
THURSDAY, JUNE 2
Martine Chaisson Gallery, 727 Camp St.
Brandshop’s Opening Party
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Private, invite only
FRIDAY, JUNE 3
Shopping is available at Martine Chaisson Gallery, 727 Camp St., and Reyn Studios, 725 Magazine St., from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Events at Martine Chaisson Gallery, 727 Camp St.:
Nail Art By M.A.D. Nails
A manicure that’s a work of art.
First come, first served.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – CUSTOM CONSULTS WITH ALEXA PULITZER
Sit down with the designer to plan and design your very own bespoke stationary and entertaining wares.
First come, first served.
SPEAKER SERIES
Take part in an inspiring day listening to industry leaders speak about everything from fashion and art to entertaining and design.
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: COLLECTING AND LIVING WITH ART
Maria Brito, Creative and Interior Designer, Art Advisor, Author and Curator in conversation with Robyn Dunn Schwarz, Fine Art Advisor and Appraiser with Michael Clayton Brown
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: THE ART OF PARTNERSHIPS
Dara Segal, Founder of Simply Framed
Elizabeth Brown, CEO of Viyet
Morgan Hutchinson, Founder of Buru in conversation with Ashley Finch, Head of Partnerships at Lean In
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: CRAFTING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE
Sarah Easley, Fashion Designer, Lifestyle Expert, Trend Forecaster and Co-Founder of Kirna Zabete
Ann Mashburn, Creative Director at Ann Mashburn in conversation with Ashley Williams, Style Editor at Southern Living
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.: SECRETS TO CREATING AN UNFORGETTABLE PARTY
Mary Giuliani, Caterer to the Stars, Author and Restaurateur
Juley Le, blogger at Upperlyne
2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.: BOOK SIGNING WITH MARY GIULIANI
Giuliani, Caterer to the Stars, and Party Host extraordinaire, will be signing copies of her book “The Cocktail Party.”
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: THE ART OF SELLING
Lydia Fenet, International Director of Strategic Partnerships, Senior Vice President at Christie's, will talk about what it takes to raise a million dollars in a minute. Fenet has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for top charities around the world. With her witty humor and sassy style, she’ll offer a behind-the-scenes look at how she broke from the traditional model of selling in order to shake up the established world of auctioneering while pioneering a new department within a 250-year-old firm. Fenet’s insightful tips, perfected from years on stage as an auctioneer and in boardrooms around the world, give novices to experts a fresh approach to selling.
4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.: THE FUN IS IN THE MIX
Jane Scott Hodges, Founder of Leontine Linens
5:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – HAPPY HOUR
In partnership with Noteworthy Mag
Free Sips & Bites
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
Shopping is available at Martine Chaisson Gallery, 727 Camp St., and Reyn Studios, 725 Magazine St., from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Brandshop’s Wellness Day in partnership with Well+Good at Reyn Studios
At Reyn Studios, 725 Magazine St.:
Custom Portraits with Inslee and Simply Framed
Fashion illustrator Inslee Farris will be offering live custom portraits of attendees, their kids, pets, etc. Each portrait includes a free custom frame by Simply Framed.
Stop by or make an appointment here
Dorothy Shain Art Show
The artist will present a collection of collages.
Wellness Day in partnership with Well+Good
Enjoy fitness classes and panels about health and wellness.
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – MASTER CLASS WITH ANNA KAISER (ONLY 25 SPOTS AVAILABLE)
Join Celebrity Trainer and Founder of AKT inMotion Anna Kaiser as she teaches an action packed class that combines dance, HIIT, strength training, and flexibility. A celebrated fitness authority and elite personal trainer with a background in professional dance and sports medicine, Anna Kaiser began her career teaching ballet, body conditioning and dance cardio at the Reebok Sports Club/ NY and The Sports Club/ LA in 2003. Her natural enthusiasm, sense of humor and reputation for results quickly made her the preferred trainer of such celebrities as Kelly Ripa, Shakira and Sarah Jessica Parker. Through AKT INMOTION, Anna combines all of her years of expertise in performance and training to create a cross-training technique that incorporates the best workouts available in the most effective, efficient and fun way.
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: JUICE & BITES
Refresh with snacks, juice and more.
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: BEYOND CARDIO + KALE: THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF WELLNESS
Alexia Brue, Founder of Well+Good
Lianna Sugarman, Founder of Lulitonix
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: HILLIARD STUDIO METHOD CLASS (ONLY 25 SPOTS AVAILABLE)
Join mother-daughter duo Hilliard and Clary Hilliard Gray of Charlotte-based Hilliard Studio Method as they lead an exhilarating class in their proprietary fitness method that is being hailed as one of the more exciting fitness experiences out of the South.
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: LEADING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Anna Kaiser, Celebrity Trainer and Founder of AKT INMOTION
Clary Hilliard Gray, Co-Founder of Hilliard Studio Method
Liz Hilliard, Co-Founder of Hilliard Studio Method
2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: YOGA STRETCH WITH REYN LAMBERT
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: SIPS & BITES
SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTERS INLCUDE:
• Alexia Brue, Co-founder of Well+Good
• Ann Mashburn, Designer of her namesake line and former Editor at Vogue and Glamour
• Anna Kaiser, Celebrity Trainer and Owner of AKT inMotion
• Ashley Finch, Head of Partnerships for Lean In
• Ashley Williams, Style Editor for Southern Living
• Clary & Liz Hilliard, Co-Founders of Hilliard Studio Method
• Elizabeth Brown, CEO of Viyet
• Jane Scott Hodges, Owner and Founder of Leontine Linens
• Juley Le, Lifestyle Blogger
• Lianna Sugarman, Founder of Lulitonix
• Lydia Fenet, SVP of International Partnerships at Christie’s
• Maria Brito, Designer and Art Consultant (P. Diddy and Gwyneth Paltrow)
• Mary Giuliani, Author, Restaurateur and Celebrity Caterer
• Sara Costello, Author, Editor, Decorator and Style Consultant
• Sarah Easley, Co-Founder of Kirna Zabete
BRANDSHOP NEW ORLEANS DESIGNERS INCLUDE:
• Abbey Glass
• Alexa Pulitzer
• Alexis Mera
• Buru
• BySmith
• CCH Collection
• Circ-Cell
• Dorothy Shain
• Fernweh Jewelry
• Flagpole Swim
• Inslee
• Jane Pope Jewelry
• Karolina Zmarlak
• Kule
• M.A.D. Nails
• Maria Brito
• No Ka 'Oi
• Porter Lyons Designs
• Rothy's
• Simply Framed
• The Skinny Dip
• SOCO Gallery
• Whit
