Indigo Basketweave Raw Silk Cap Sleeve Pleated Dress x Britex Fabrics Guest Blogging

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Jamie

JLD Indigo Basketweave Raw Silk Cap Sleeve Pleated Dress 1

A sunny morning in Golden Gate Park

One of our top-selling dress styles is the fit and flare silhouette, available with a gathered or pleated skirt, square or rounded neckline. In this latest version, I used an indigo basketweave raw silk. Its beautiful texture works great with this tailored silhouette, originally designed using a Japanese dragonfly print.

Our form flattering Navy Pleated Tonbo Dress in a textured Japanese cotton.

I love the beauty of raw silk and its natural, subtle luster.

JLD Indigo Basketweave Raw Silk Cap Sleeve Pleated Dress 2

I styled the look with my Rachel Comey trompe l’oeil wood wedge platforms and colorful ikat Bonne Maison socks. For order inquiries of this new dress style, please contact us at jamielaudesigns@gmail.com.

Colorful chaussettes for styling

American Craft Council 2015 San Francisco Show

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Jamie

Visit us in Booth 135-1 at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion!

We are excited to participate in the American Craft Council Show this year in San Francisco, a high-end craft show market celebrating it’s 40th year this season. This show is the largest juried craft show west of the Rockies, featuring approximately 225 exhibitors from the United States with artists ranging from ceramics to fashion wearables. Jamie Lau Designs will be participating as both a wholesale and retail exhibitor as part of the Hip Pop program. This is a great opportunity for shoppers to explore high-quality American craft and meet the makers behind the work.

American Craft Council San Francisco Show
July 31-August 2, 2015
Friday, 10-8pm
Saturday, 10-6pm
Sunday, 11-5pm
Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion
2 Marina Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94123
Booth #135-1

ACC 2015 San Francisco Show Banner

Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco 2015

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Jamie

Renegade Craft Fair 2015 San Francisco Market

See the full list of vendors here. Visit us in Herbst Pavilion Booth 330.

We have exciting news to share! Earlier this month, the Jamie Lau Designs studio moved across the country from New York to San Francisco. We’re kicking things off on the West Coast with one of our favorite events. Join us this weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair at Fort Mason along the San Francisco Bay. Come get your shop on and check out our latest selection of dresses, tops, and totes to kick off your summer. We’ll be showcasing our handmade designs alongside 500+ makers, artists, and workshops. Plus, our top-selling Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress is back in stock and will be available in other fabric ways as well. This silhouette is the perfect year-round travel uniform and great for summer getaways.

PLEASE NOTE THE VENUE CHANGE: We are normally in Festival Pavilion, but the event has grown this summer and will be in TWO adjacent buildings. We will be setting up shop in Booth 330 in Herbst Pavilion.

Renegade Craft Fair San Francisco
July 18-19, 2015
Saturday & Sunday, 11-6pm
Fort Mason Center Herbst Pavilion
2 Marina Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94123
Booth #330

In the meantime, visit our web shop to peruse our designs and follow us on Instagram for a behind the scenes peek of what’s to come.

Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn Saturday Pop-Ups 2015

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Jamie

Renegade Craft Fair 2015 Brooklyn Saturday Pop-Ups

See the full list of vendors here

Jamie Lau Designs will be setting up shop along the Williamsburg waterfront this month. Join us on the first two Saturdays in June at the Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn Saturday Pop-Ups. Come get your shop on and check out our latest selection of dresses, tops, and totes to kick off your summer. We’ll be showcasing our handmade designs alongside 350+ makers, artists, and workshops. (Smorgasburg will also be happening next door featuring tasty treats from an array local food purveyors.) Plus, our top-selling Black and White Dotted Ikat Midi Dress is back in stock and will be available in other fabric ways as well. This silhouette is the perfect year-round travel uniform and great for summer getaways.

Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn Saturday Pop-Ups
June 6, 2015 (Booth #67)
June 13, 2015 (Booth #49)
Saturdays, 11-6pm
East River State Park
90 Kent Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(Between N. 7th and N. 8th Streets)

In the meantime, visit our web shop to peruse our designs and follow us on Instagram for a behind the scenes peek of what’s to come.

5/21 San Francisco Patternmaking Workshop at Britex Fabrics

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Jamie

Top: Our Linen Palazzo Pant Jumpsuit; Bottom: Our Linen Colorblock Lowered-Waist Shirt Dress

Join me in San Francisco on Thursday, May 20, 2015 for a 2-hour patternmaking workshop on drafting collars at Britex Fabrics. I will discuss different collar types and demonstrate basic patternmaking techniques including a live demo on how to draft styles including the Peter Pan collar, Mandarin collar, and more. I’ll share some expert tips on pattern plot and manipulation, drafting undercollars, and applying interfacing to collars. This workshop is open to students of all sewing levels and may be particularly helpful to students looking to update and personalize existing sewing patterns that you use regularly, or those looking to delve deeper into fashion design and patternmaking.

Drafting Collars
Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Britex Fabrics
146 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Register Now
$25.00

Silk Linen Curved Seam Midi Dress x Britex Fabrics Guest Blogging

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Jamie

This minimal silhouette is a great palette for accessorizing, styling, and personalization for year-round wear.

One of our top-selling dresses is a relaxed fit ikat midi dress with short kimono sleeves. I wanted to create a new midi style with three-quarter sleeves in a slightly heavier weight fabric.

JLD Silk Linen Curved Seam Midi Dress 2

This new style is sewn from a slubby textured silk linen blend made in Scotland and features curved seam detailing at the bustline.

JLD Silk Linen Curved Seam Midi Dress 3

JLD Silk Linen Curved Seam Midi Dress 4

This style of dress would not be complete without pockets, and I added them at the side seams.

JLD Silk Linen Curved Seam Midi Dress 5

Given the minimal nature of the fabric in this silhouette, the dress makes a great palette for accessorizing, styling, and personalization for year-round wear. For spring, I chose to style it with a statement ceramic textile necklace, polka dot socks for a pop of color and pattern, and my go-to clogs.

Jamie Lau Designs dress styled with Object & Totem ceramic necklace, Bonne Maison socks, and Rachel Comey clogs.

What I love most about this fabric are the subtle specks of blue yarn woven in with the overall grey and white.

This silhouette is loosely inspired by choir robes and religious clothing.

Visit the Britex blog for my latest article on how to make and sew bias tape using this dress as an example in my tutorial.

American Craft Council 2015 Baltimore Wholesale and Retail Shows

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Jamie

Visit us in Booth 3501-4 at the Baltimore Convention Center!

We are excited to participate in our first ever American Craft Council Show this year in Baltimore, a high-end craft show market celebrating it’s 39th year this season. The Council’s flagship show is selectively juried and highly competitive, featuring approximately 850 wholesale and retail exhibitors from the United States with artists ranging from ceramics to fashion wearables. Jamie Lau Designs will be participating in both the wholesale and retail shows as part of the Hip Pop program. (Check out our recent feature story on BmoreArt to learn more!)

American Craft Council Baltimore Wholesale Show
February 18-19, 2015
Wednesday & Thursday, 10-6pm
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Booth #3501-4

American Craft Council Baltimore Retail Show
February 20-22, 2015
Friday 10-8pm
Saturday 10-6pm
Sunday 11-5pm
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Booth #3501-4

In the meantime, follow us on Instagram for a behind the scenes peek of what’s to come!

Jamie Lau Textile Exhibition at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Jamie

Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art

I am excited to announce that my hand dyed, handwoven, and handsewn textile art will be on display at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art (京都市美術館 Kyōto-shi Bijutsukan) in Japan this month from January 14-18, 2015. Last spring and summer, I spent two months living in the mountains of Kyoto dyeing and weaving and learning the traditional Japanese art of kasuri (ikat) as one of four international students accepted into the Kawashima Textile School (川島テキスタイルスクール) weaving program.

For the graduate textile exhibition, I have created unique fashion wearables in the Jamie Lau Designs aesthetic, taking an even deeper, holistic approach to design with these handwoven garments. I am honored to have my work on display in one of the oldest art museums in Japan and look forward to seeing you all there and reconnecting with my Japanese colleagues. (For a sneak peek of what I’ve been working on, check out my Instagram feed.)

Kawashima Textile School Graduate Exhibition
January 14-18, 2015
Wednesday-Sunday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (Admission until 4:30 PM)
Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art – Annex (Kyōto-shi Bijutsukan Bekkan)
Okazaki Kōen, Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, 606-8344
Free admission
Access information

Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art Map

Pop-Up Shop at gather

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Jamie

Join us for a special artist reception on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at Gather from 2-6 PM

Join us in San Francisco for the opening of the Jamie Lau Designs Pop-Up Shop at gather in Hayes Valley. Shop a selection of our handmade dresses and tops, each cut and sewn in our Brooklyn design studio one stitch at a time. Treat yourself to a unique party dress, or pick out a thoughtful holiday gift for that special someone. We’ll have a mix of fit and flare dresses, shifts, sheaths, and easy-to-wear tops.

We’re kicking things off with a special artist reception on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Join us for a designer meet-and-greet, festive treats, and champagne while you shop.

Saturday, December 20, 2014
Artist Reception
gather
541 Octavia Street (b/w Grove + Ivy)
San Francisco, CA 94102
2-6 PM

December 17, 2014-January 18, 2015
Pop-Up Shop
Store Hours:
Monday-Saturday 11-7 PM
Sunday 12-6 PM

Aubergine Scalloped Wool A-line Dress x Britex Fabrics Guest Blogging

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Jamie

Jamie Lau Designs Aubergine Scalloped Wool A-line Dress

Catching an unusually sunny day in Brooklyn this time of year

With winter approaching and temperatures dropping, I wanted to create a wool dress to keep warm for the season as an alternative to just wearing sweaters. I was partially inspired by the geometric cuts and stark tunic shapes of 1960s Pierre Cardin.

Jamie Lau Designs Pierre Cardin Inspiration 1

The Cosmocorps collection in double-face wool jersey, 1967. Photo by Yoshi Takata.

As Cardin once said, he “wanted to give women […] a chance to work, to sit, to take the car and drive in [his] dresses.” As a person constantly on the go and working long hours, I appreciate that sentiment and always aim for comfort and functionality in my designs.

For this design, I chose an aubergine wool blend with embroidered scallops. I wanted a looser fit with some sleeve coverage, so I decided on an A-line dress silhouette with a boat neckline and set-in sleeves.

Jamie Lau Designs Aubergine Scalloped Wool A-line Dress 2

Embroidered scallop detail

Visit the Britex blog for my full article and get inspired!

jamie lau designs

Fashion Designer | Sewing Instructor | Craft Author