The FAST FASHION Industry -  A new State of Affairs

Hello Folks,
I happened to be browsing through my Facebook feed and came across an AJ+ Video discussing the onset of Spring fashion and the ease with which one can be a fashionista without breaking the bank. Hm, now that's an idea worth exploring!
The host discusses how Americans are buying more clothes than ever thanks in large part to the "fast fashion" industry. 'Fast fashion" is being likened to FAST FOOD where consumers obtain cheap knock-off versions of the 'good stuff' sold in large quantities with swift turn around for the seller.
          When I heard this, my first thought as an entrepreneur wishing to establish brand recognition was: "My goodness, I wish Bàdu products would have such a quick sale turn over!" However, in the same token, I realize we are talking apples and oranges since the operative word here is 'cheap'. More often than not, I hear customers complain that the artist's products may be over-priced and some may be so bold as to calculate for you how much they think you should charge. However, one has to be cognizant of the fact that when Handcrafted products are purchased, you are not just buying the materials, you buy the time, skills and visionary effort of that designer!
 As the video progressed, the narrator went on to discuss how these clothing shipments made it to mainstream stores such as H&M, Forever 21 and Zara as often as once weekly. Large supply is now driving down prices of clothes (thanks to cheap material and labor) whereas everything else has gone up since the 1980's and 1990's.
Of course, product demand has to match supply and Americans are consumed with a 'Buy-buy spirit' from which we need deliverance as my friend laughingly admonished me several months ago in order to get me to stop buying so many clothes. Funny enough, I may have been delivered - Thank God- since I can count off one hand the amount of clothes I've purchased during the 1st quarter of 2016 compared to 2015. I am convincing myself and everyone who cares to listen that I have turned over a new leaf. Yes! Yes! & Amen! :)P
This video is a timely reminder for me. It is apt in its description of our addiction to material goods and the humongous amount of waste accrued - 85% of clothes end up in landfills (70 lbs/ person)  as well as those slated for recycle. Lets not forget the amount of clothes that end up at Salvation Army or Goodwill because you grew fatter [me :-(/ ], out of season, or just NOT plain interested in that style and you wonder why the heck you bought it in the first place but never got around to returning it [scream]! Now mind you, there's no way Salvation Army can sell all those clothes so they contract with middle men and bundle them off to developing nations who have a fiendish appetite for all things western or more specifically American.
In Ghana, my native home, 'Bend down boutique' is not a joke but a thriving business for various market sellers who judiciously sort out their wares into 1st Selection (mint condition), 2nd Selection (good condition) and 3rd Selection (visible defects - cheapest price) and place them on display for purchase by the masses. You even have to get to the market early enough to tap into the 1st Selection - lets not play! They have such good patronage that a good portion of the populace (other than the rich) utilize this medium in large part for purchasing clothes as opposed to established store front clothing shops and boutiques.
Oftentimes, we as consumers simply look at the end results - getting an affordable outfit for the next social event and blithely forget the process and the folks at the other end of the spectrum. I call it non-ecologically conscious consumerism because people do not make any conscious connections to the downstream effects on the environment, health, etc.
Even though we castigate the H&M's, Forever 21's and Zara's of this world for manufacturing cheap clothing  that is fueled by use of 'labor made cheap' (not cheap labor mind you) to churn this global machine of offshoring products and services, what's to say that high fashion brands such as Versace, Gucci, etc are utilizing "well-paid" Bangladeshi or Chinese factory workers (not sweat shops) to make their high end, quality brands. I DOUBT THAT... I'm just saying!
In addition to other environmental triggers, lets not forget the use of dyes being used during production and the likelihood of these chemicals causing an increase in human/ animal cancer in various Asian cities. These chemicals are often discarded into waterways that serve as sources of drinking water. We'd like to think that manufacturing processes are so fully regimented that these chemicals have no chance of leaching into our skin to cause secondary exposure but Alas! blue jeans dye stains on my white bag and tan car seats put that idea to rest very quickly. Really...What chemicals are we exposed to... and from where has caused this sharp incidence of cancer in people so young... many of us being poster children for that question!
At the end of the day, CHEAP is good for a majority of the masses in the US and elsewhere who cannot sneeze at it. They do not have the socio-economic buying power of the top 1% whom own and formulate policies that shift trade and manufacturing offshore to countries with less stringent environmental and production statutes where sweat shop conditions produce items that look nice for a great price and swift turnover to create a lovely economic state of affairs!
Interestingly enough, it appears H&M is one of the only outfits that recycles textiles and any material goods via donation and re-release of clothing in their 'conscious collection' effort (15-30% coupons for every bag. I wouldn't mind jumping on this opportunity, mind you, except I don't shop there often enough to accumulate a whole bag for recycle. :)
The great news is that they are at least making an effort to impact change given that humans are wasteful and most companies do not care about slave labor and climate changes if it is not impacting their profit margin.
And on that sad but realistic note, I leave you to continue shopping in an ecologically conscious manner.
 Ciao...
Bàdu

Bàdu Travel
 Beachy | Luxurious | Chic 

The Euro~Anniversaire Trip: August 15 -September 2, 2015

Hello All,
It's been quite a hiatus I've taken from blogging! Hence this blog post is retrospective at best when I am once again being bitten by the travel bug only to realize I never documented the previous trips. Given that I am somewhat a 'fly by the pants' type of girl when it comes to traveling, this trip was coordinated in less than a month with the help of a wonderful Expedia Travel representative when I realized coordination wasn't going as envisioned.

After receipt of damning medical news from my physician in June, my better half essentially announced: - "Babe we are going to Greece!" Life is short Hun and contrary to what we envisioned on our wedding day, who knows what tomorrow holds?! ... and Voila! Thereon began a scramble to put everything together! Greece has ALWAYS BEEN ON MY BUCKET LIST since Junior High school so it was no coincidence since I had dropped the hints several times. Of course, if we were going to make it to Greece, would it not make sense to fashionably explore the hubbub of Europe (i.e. London and Paris) while we were at it! 
We only had approximately 2 weeks off hence we tried to pack as many destinations and activities as was humanly possible into this trip. We started off in Appleton, WI for my cousin-cum-sister's 40th Parisian theme Birthday bash (oh how apropos)! From there, we attempted to make a mad dash back to Maryland to finish packing for our flight to London the next day. Alas! mad it was, dash it wasn't given the fact that we missed our flight and ended up spending 12 hours at the Atlanta airport thanks to Delta airlines for wrong gate notifications such that by the time we dashed over to the correct gate wheezing like a stuffed exhaust pipe, the irritating agents would not let us board despite being 10 minutes early because the slick twits had overbooked the flight anyways. It was beyond frustrating and eventually after some threats, ended up on a 8pm flight to Reagan National DC instead of BWI airport. Fortunately, we managed to get a ride to BWI to retrieve our cars and trudge home wearily with the hope that our trans-Atlantic flight the next day would not be this manic! 

Thank God it wasn't! However, the mayhem, jet lag and medication led to painful ankle edema that made walking harder and me groaning in my head about why the heck the path from disembarkation to Heathrow airport immigration check point had to be built like 3 miles away from point of disembarkation! Either way I was too excited given this was my first time in London. My husband had been several times; for that I was grateful because all the bus and train fares we had to purchase simply went over my head. I was simply there to be a pretty flower on his arm while he worked out the logistics. LOL! Obviously I discovered how foolhardy I'd been dressing up in my tight cobalt blue jeans, teeny puff sleeve jacket with my Hermès Birkin bag dangling off my fore-arm like I had not a care in the world. I almost did an about face when that dreary, cold weather slapped me in the face as we stepped outside with me shivering like a drenched chicken! Couldn't believe my friend in Scotland had the nerve to tell me it was nice weather up in London but then again...I guess we are comparing apples to oranges here when my tropical bunny tail should have known! The only salvation was that we crossing the channel in two days to spend our anniversary day in Paris where I could lounge in a romantic rooftop restaurant in full view of the Eiffel tower with my 'Michelle Obama arms' barred in my lovely outfit obtained from Afua Sam of Studio D'maxsi couture. Mind you, I had been fanatically working out for a month with a personal trainer and on my own in order to fit this outfit so that goes to show I was serious about warm weather!
I have to summarize my "take home" points for each port of call lest I drone on about the myriad experiences and blessings I enjoyed on this fabulous trip. 

Absolutely loving Europe - 
ENGLAND 
1. This UK "summer" weather is too chilly & temperamental for this tropical bunny "innit"?!
2. Time spent with old friends- Priceless 
3. Historical architecture & design - exemplary!

FRANCE
1. Can I say I LOVE PARIS !! (..the ambience, the busy streets, the sidewalk cafés especially, the Eurostar underwater Chanel that connected us from London..so many new experiences )
2. Gorging up on crepes & croissants- this is a sad state of affairs
3. The famous couture houses ... Hmmm .. I'll have to beg the hunnybunz even harder for a detour- who knows what I might find @C.Loubiton
4. FOOT KILLER DAY - Versailles is a beauty to behold but an incomprehensible money drain-- gold tipped gates, roofs.. Wouldn't have wanted to be a peasant working that land..IJS
5. Finally the famous Eiffel Tower..
6. Arc de' Triumph
7. Shopping
8. Can a homo sapien suffer from crepe overload (from the sweet--> savory )! Whewww Lord! Please forgive the gluttony.. You KNOW I won't find this roadside vendor in the US!

VENICE 
1. Lovely & picturesque town coupled with beautiful weather
2. Canal Water did not stink as bad as I was expecting Aminah Ali
3. Got lost finding the San Marco piazza in the winding alleys, so considering a 1hr walk vs. SIT & sample gelato..

THE MEDITERRANEAN (via the Norwegian Jade cruise line)
Corfu ➡️ Santorini ➡️ Mykonos ➡️ Olympia For romantics like me, this Greek Islands cruise was simply phenomenal!
1. Gorgeous! Divine! Hot! -- my kind of weather! 
2. Prime dreamy Bàdu locales that'll serve as great design inspirations - Absolutely!!
3. Onset of serious Lifestyle Modification- This is easy when you have an accessible Gym & a "hands on deck" chef! Trying to prove the hubby wrong- I can work out on the sea; even if I wasn't doing as much on land ! 
4. Sad- the vacation is almost over- last day in port today
5. Back to the chaotic Venice airport to fly back to our daily lives even as we appreciate the mystique of the various ports of call we were privileged to visit.

Life is short and time flies indeed when we are having fun. However, even as we discover newer facets about each other in this JOURNEY CALLED LIFE, we keep God at the head of this triad! ! Our Faith declares that #GodisinControl ! So we #SiezeEachDay#livestrong #CountingMyBlessings & #LoveStrong 

THE INTRICACIES OF DESIGN II

HELLOOOO ALL,
I hope you had a lovely JULY 4th HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!. I actually had a pretty restful weekend and spent some quality time with my bebe since it seems like for the last few months we've been like ships passing in the night. Unfortunately in all that enjoyment I forgot that my Dad's birthday was on July 4th, so calling him with well wishes completely escaped me :(/! But then again at 68, i'm sure he can identify with forgetfulness, so I am thinking I'm most likely forgiven ;-P
Shortly before holiday, I had spoken with a client who tended to veer towards a more simplistic yet chic look. She wanted a modification on a previous multi-strand coral and turquoise piece I had made months earlier so I ordered the beads for this custom project. It appears I ordered the wrong size coral stick beads for when the temporarily strung beads arrived, I was horrified but really didn't feel up to the hassle of return. Little did I know the stringing would be a labor of love. Suffice to say I was not a happy campter given that it took a combination of 2 days and almost 11 hours total to string the teeny beads onto a silver wire. On day 1- after I started dozing off at the table with only a strand and half completed, I was like, ENOUGH of this! Especially since I was working bright and early the next morning. Meanwhile my hubby had already given me a crazy look (u know the the one that says- "U are Joking right"..) and hied himself off to bed an hour earlier. What can I say, I tend to push the limits when I'm motivated! The only sad thing is the energizer bunny inside of me tends to be a wimp at times..huff..eyeroll!! :-P
In any case, I eventually finished it (NO JOKE) after much stringing and re-stringing to ensure that the layers would lie appropriately on chest and neckline once worn. These pictures are just to give you an idea of how labor and time intensive some of these beading projects tend to be. I can now start to understand why some of these products on the market are so pricey.

 The ORIGINAL 5-Strand Statement Piece- Adora

THE INTRICACIES OF DESIGN

HI ALL ...
Long time ... Siiiiigh! I really have these great urges to post as often as once a week or more but ALAS!
I've been trying to design as much as possible to showcase the product on the Etsy website (www.EdenHouseofDesigns.Etsy.com ) in the interim while I work on getting the company website running. A little while back a client reached out to ask if I could design something for her mom in time for Mother's Day. Feels like eons ago given its already halfway through the year now - my, how time flies!! In any case, I had just gotten some cobalt blue magnesite length drilled slabs and was pondering how to use it. I vacillated quite a bit between using silver versus gold findings to bring some 'bling' into the piece. After setting out the stones and deciding on silver, I then tried to determine what would bring some OOMph to the piece. A single strand appeared too simple for the statement look I tend to gravitate towards so decided to double it up with the hope that Mommy's neck bone was made of sterner stuff -- no flimsy collagenous bones here, whew! I ended up with a great set. However, the challenge was in trying to find pieces in my current stash to complete the product in a chic manner as well as making sure my poor fingers did not get caught in the pliers when twisting wire for the matching earrings. A big shout out to my client though - I got such an amazingly timely payment though she really had me struggling to figure out how to accept a payment via email of all things!! Who would've thought we'd get here with technology - I must still be in the Victorian era because all these email verification's via Wellsfargo in order to link to BOA weblink to transfer the $$ had me mind-boggled for a hot minute! Since the hold up was on my technologically backward end, I just went ahead and shipped the product out  in enough time for her to oooh & aaah over her new baby - from my arms to her neck - (all the while on bended knees praying funds would be figured out.. lol). Suffice to say, I ironed out my hi-tech issues and MAMA loved her GIFT!!!!
I subsequently re-ordered more stones but somehow the cobalt blue stones from the same vendor were not as vibrant as the previous set, I thought. I suppose given the nature of the stone, variations are to be expected. So this time round, I tried it with gold findings as well.
* A SAFE & HAPPY 4th of July Celebration to ALL* [...In my dreams but hoping come Monday when I return to work, I will see less banana bags (=vitamin replacement IV bags for alcohol abuse) and less admissions with those who got too happy with the moonshine lol.. we"ll see!! ]
...Muaahzzzzzzzz
PS:  Let me know which one you like better, Hugz

WORKING THROUGH THE PR & MARKETING ASPECTS OF THE BUSINESS

Hello All,
It feels like a whirlwind since the last post as I've been trying to get things organized in order to effectively birth this new promise in my life. I have been talking to so many people and listened to so many points of view that I may very well be information-choked, if there is such a thing.:)
After several years of being somewhat ambivalent and absent from social networking it appears the time has come to cast off that veil. In order to get the word out, I have been attempting to get more social media savvy since that is truly the cheapest way to market my business. I am still surprised at the many nuances one has to sift through to capture an audience and the amount / style/ verbage of posts involved in doing this . In order to get the marketing and PR show on the road, I'm going to have to maintain a more fervent effort at being a visible presence online. Hence, in addition to the facebook business page (Eden House of Designs), I just opened an Instagram account for 'EdenHouseofDesigns' and lets just say for those of you more media-savvy folks, you have to pardon my ignorance because hashtag use, specific verbage and posting times was a revelation that required a sit down briefing from my awesome logo designer Damon (plug for D.Rice Photography) in order to 'edJumacate' me! Whew!!
Presently , the most exciting accomplishment is being able to showcase and market the product in a viable way online after weeks of burning the midnight oil making the pieces. I wavered several times between setting up my own website (which is the gold standard supposedly) versus being a vendor on others' websites. After a candid talk with designer Jody Davis (who styles stars such as Patti Labelle and the Braxton sisters..) after I showed up unannounced on her boutique doorstep, she generously provided great insight on several aspects of start-up businesses and recommended I do Etsy. I had initially considered and discounted Etsy but after several web design quotes, ETSY IT IS so voila! [EdenHouseofDesigns.Etsy.com]
It actually seems to be working out pretty well given the dashboard that allows you to monitor customer views and statistics. I do have to use this opportunity to give a big shout out to M.O. - my first Etsy Shop customer. Hopefully there are more customized, luxury designs that will keep you and several others coming back for more. :)
NO REST FOR THE WEARY, OFF TO DO SOME WORK...:)
Peace and Blessings .. :-D
https://www.etsy.com/shop/EdenHouseofDesigns

Showcasing The Product II

Well Well Well, Photography is NO JOKE and I applaud all who put the time in to excel at this career.
I left the house yesterday afternoon on the pretext of going grocery shopping -at least that was what was agreed on since the refrigerator is EMPTY and the dining table is non-functional as I said before. However, I got a call from the ever capable Mz.Aisha to bring additional products for shooting if I had them (so generous spirited of her reaaaallly...). I took along a bottle of Motrin since she had complained of back ache from all the gyrations needed to get a great shots from several takes in order to get a different perspective on each piece. Little did I know this was not going to be a quick drop off as I had anticipated. I was recruited as photography assistant for the product shoot for all the pieces I had left with her (TO BE POSTED SOON) and my OH my! It was no easy task. Mind you, all I was actually doing was setting up the pieces on the white background and being a 'paper holder' to decrease the glare from the target lighting. I left there almost 3 hours later needing some Vitamin I (Motrin) as well STILL with no food in my fridge! Whew, I can now begin to understand the amount of work that has to go into making an excellent finished product. Lets just say, the products came out looking great and showcasing the character within some of the stone pieces. Can't wait to POST. Of course, the end result is to sell the pieces but it feels like I'm parting with my babies. Hmm...my hubby will probably spaz-out if he realizes I'm having separation anxiety - left to him alone, these babies should have found new homes by right about now...LOL!  So, till the next update, 'Keep your chin up and know all things are possible for HE is the LIFTER up of our heads!"
Hugz
PS: This is a teaser of a piece I made for the BOLD beach bride who is not afraid of color or size ;-P

Showcasing The Product

Hello Everyone...
These last couple weeks have been quite interesting! Trying to figure out the logistics of using photography to showcase these hand-made pieces in the best possible light for my target market has been a challenge to say the least. What with dealing with regular job drama and trying to stay up all night to make a sizable quantity for the product line launch, my hubby thinks I'm obsessed. Not surprising to hear him say that given the fact that the dining table has now become the beading table so it cannot support any 'fine dining' in conjunction with bead making. :P
So going back to logistics, one of my close girlfriends has been offering great advice with respect to the step-wise approach for executing a start up business and even though she doesn't mince words and makes me feel like a techie-dumbo, I am most appreciative for honest, constructive criticism -- keep it coming Petch, luvya!. Of course, I do have to say I love my cousin Kate's somewhat soft-gloved approach -- what can I say, i'm blood, she can't throw me out with the dishwater any way she looks at it..lol.. woohoo!
Either way, I feel blessed to have several people in my life who provide me with great support to counteract the daunting negativity one tends to get from other entrepreneurs who have no qualms letting you know they have no interest in answering or assisting you down the path they have already traveled. All I have to say is..God is good and HE who has seen fit to start me on this journey will see me to its completion [Phillipians 1:6]
Soooo....I spoke with several photographers and I really loved the work they all do so much so that I wanted them to be part of my vision. Some were more than willing to facilitate and others did not care to respond which is okay..it's BUSINESS as usual I suppose. We all know budget constraints for start up businesses are no joke and Lord knows quite a bit' of money has been invested into the purchase of material so true to a promise I made, I've stopped buying material and have been concentrating (sometimes to the detriment of my sleep) on the design and production phase. We finally found someone who could jump start this project - Jazzy Photography Studios who was wonderful to provide all the various aspects of the shoot (from models to MUA to a creative director whom facilitates wardrobe design and concept..etc) as well as a positive attitude and energy towards work despite being sick (big shout out to him and his lovely wife Aisha). I love the studio setting that Jazzy provided and can't stop raving about the great energy some of the models brought to the set. Hopefully, I can do a shoot with other LIFESTYLE photographers as well to round off my vision of versatility to create statement pieces for women of all races, shapes and sizes who are not afraid to take it to another level as they express their inner diva style. :)
For now, enjoy some of the unedited pictures I've obtained permission to use. XoXo!!

to show.
Muaahz