While you may be aware that Nike offers their customers the opportunity to design their own shoes online, other shoe companies are joining the custom craze.
Vans is the latest entry to the custom sneaker market. And actually, whether you like your shoes plain or crazy, Vans offers some good buys. If you don’t mind a pair of custom shoes at a cost of $50 dollars and up, click here to play around with Vans options and colors.
It is actually very simple, and rather fun. In less than two minutes I was able to create the ugliest pair of shoes I’ve ever seen. I’m sure you’ll do better.
Nike is more costly with custom shoe prices starting at a minimum of $80, but you can try designing your own pair with a few clicks by going here.
While Vans has set their sites on younger consumers, Nike and their custom NikeiD program cater to an older, more affluent crowd. For now, both Vans and Nike concentrate on customizing the look of the shoe rather than the fit.
Category Men's Shoes, Women's Shoes | 0 Comments »Minden (near Reno, NV) artist creates teddy bears from mink coats
By Stacy Endres
Special to Douglas Times
That vintage mink coat taking space in the closet hasn’t been worn for years, but is too luxurious and valuable to throw away. What can be done with an old mink or other fur coat passed down to you from your mother, aunt or grandmother? Even those who object to furs as fashion may have inherited one from a family member and not know what to do with it.
Recycling the fur to make teddy bears is one answer.
Teddy bear artist Helen Crandall of Minden creates original stuffed bears from old but still valuable fur coats either that customers bring to her or that she finds at antique shops, rummage and estate sales.
With her home business, Desert Rose Bears, the fur seamstress works with all types of genuine fur including mink, Russian sable, beaver, fox, lamb and even squirrel.
“Most of the fur garments I work with have had a very useful life,” Crandall said. “They have been around a long time and have some wear and tear, but fur wears very well over the years.”
She creates cuddly custom bears and also rabbits, pandas and cats, in all sizes. The bears always are the biggest seller and rabbits are increasing in popularity, she said.
“Most of my Teddy bears are one of a kind,” she said. “I try to keep them unique.”
Universally loved
More than 100 years after the teddy bear craze began, the stuffed animal is loved and collected by children and adults all over the world. In 1999, collectors in the U.S. purchased an estimated $441 million worth of teddy bears. The teddy bear universe today offers a multitude of shows, exclusive shops, conventions, collectors, artists, publications and Web sites.
Click here to view entire story.
Category Careers in Apparel | 0 Comments »
