i can only type with my left hand so i have to keep this short, but i broke my collarbone playing soccer last week. soooo… i’m very slow on the computer and wont be uploading photos of the store opening fashion show anytime soon- or updating the online store much for awhile- but you can check my flickr album new store opening fashion show to see the pics my interns so kindly put up for me. i unfortunately cannot sew so i have to put a hold on any sewing projects, personal orders, participating in any fashion shows or anything fun, really, for the next month. and i can’t really type (well i can, just only with my left hand and not very quickly) so i won’t be able to respond to any emails promptly, i apologize!

however! because i can’t sew and am worried about stocking my store, i’m looking for more consignors and vintage items right now. if you want sell your old items you don’t wear anymore- please contact me! i need to fill my racks! send an email to intern -at- auh2odesigns -dot- com and someone will get back to you and make an appointment for you to come by. we do appts before we open or when we close so it’s not so busy with customers. thanks!

As you know, AuH2O is now bigger and better! Same location, same address - I only moved next door, but now with twice the space and three times the inventory. Even though I moved in a month ago, I’ve just now finally finished setting everything up and I’m ready to have a fashion show and opening party. Plus, my mom’s coming into town, and since she’s the original AuH2O, she’ll be on the runway modeling for the fashion show on June 11th, at 9pm. See the flier for details:

Show details again:

When: Thursday, June 11th, 9pm
Where: Crowe’s Nest, 1804 2nd Ave b/t 93 & 94th Streets

This bar sponsors my soccer team, so the owner’s awesome and is offering $4 domestic drafts and well drinks- just for us! Plus, they have a full dinner menu and bar menu, and the food is really great. Check out their site: crowesnestnyc.com

$4 drinks! Come celebrate!

Featuring models:
Abby Phon
Alice Dunoyer
Amy Goldwater
Dana Varon
Erica Swallow
Fernando Contreras
Joel Mercedes
Jessica Diane
Kaymen Asher
Kristin Koch
Leah King
Leanne Linsky
Malorie Leogrande
Marie Asinovski
Maya Macdonald
Michelle Mantia
Nicole Rock
Rachel Kay
Rachel McKinney

This show will also feature some of my favorite designers, who will all be selling their pieces at my new shop! First, there’s SammyB Designs, “a contemporary line of clothing that “can only be described as urban chic, fun, funky-fresh and unmistakably New York.” Here are some photos, or check out her myspace for more:

Also, we’ll be showing former AuH2O intern Nandi Duszynski’s handmade pieces from reused fabrics. Nandi was a stellar intern and is an even better designer. Here are some of her looks:

Dana Tarasavage

Jean Goto

Rebecca Lesesne, designer of RebeccaSL, also makes gorgeous pieces out of entirely recycled materials. Here are photos from our collaborative Fashion Week Fashion Show:

Marianna Barksdale and Sue Ryoo backstage

Jenica Vaid in RebeccaSL (note that amazing hairpiece!)

Nouveau Riche, by Michael DiPietro, “aims to dress the subverts of society and smash the boundary between art and life”. Check his site for more: www.michaeldipietrodesign.com

Utility Jeans by Nouveau Riche

Tunic shirt and Striped Jeans by Nouveau Riche

And of course, AuH2O’s new neighbor will be showing as well: Teich Handbags by Allison Teich McGowan. “Clean design, exceptional quality, and a respect for the environment are the foundation of the TEICH design philosophy.” See her website for more: www.teichhandbags.com

Hudson Clutch in red

Rockaway Tote in dark brown

And if a Thursday night fashion show isn’t enough AuH2O for you, come by the new shop the next day for a store opening party. There will be cookies, cupcakes, and other baked goods by various friends and my friend Jeanne’s new catering business, A Small Affair. The party will also feature the String Fingers Band with their “unique and versatile blend of Roots, Rock, and Americana music with a twist and a vibe all their own.” The SFB’s music reflects, but is not limited to “blues, bluegrass, folk, rock, jazz, soul, funk, and reggae.”

Hope to see you at one of these opening events!

Check out this HUGE new store! I’ve been busy moving in for the past two weeks, but I’m finally all set up. Well, almost, but at least it functions as a store now. I’m moooore than thrilled about it. In my old store, I could comfortably fit 100 dresses, and if I wanted to really pack the racks- 150. NOW I have three times the rack space, so can fit three times as many dresses/shirts/skirts. Plus, I have about double the square footage, so way more people can come in and shop. Before I could only hold about 2-3 people, but now 10-12 people can shop around without it being too crowded. It’s AMAZING! Here’s photos so you can see how enormous the New AuH2O is.

Left side of store: AuH2O clothing first, then dresses, bags on the shelf, jewelry area, belts, SALE rack in the back ($10 items and under,) scarf bin

back of the store: A REAL dressing room!

Right side of the store, including my desk (with my sewing machine and serger, of course) and the exposed brick wall, clothing rack for tops and skirts, shelf for vintage bags and shoes on the floor

Here’s the full view of the store from the front door. Nice hardwood floors, plumbing pipes for clothing racks, a real dressing room, and THREE TIMES as much rack space! And below is the outside of the shop. Gone is the blue and orange, the new sign is now gold… like… Goldwater!

To see more photos of the set up, check out my flickr album. As for what’s happening to the old store, Allison Teich McGowan is opening up her eco-friendly handbag shop, Teich, in the next few weeks. We’ll be having a big store opening (and re-opening party) on Friday, June 12th (catered by friends and asmallaffair.com, with my musician friends and a big sale) and AuH2O will be having a fashion show on June 11th (9pm at Crowe’s Nest on the Upper East Side.) More info on that in the next week.

In the meantime, stop in and see the new gigantic store! Also, with so much more rack space, I’m on the market for more consignment designers, contact me if you have clothes you don’t wear and want to sell!

Here’s photos of AuH2O at the Swap-a-Palooza. Apologies for the delay in posting, I’ve been awfully busy opening up the new shop! Anyway, NYU hosted a Swap-a-Palooza on Sunday, April 26th. People traded in old clothes for new clothes, learned how to sew, silk screen, and alter clothing with the help of several talented designers and friends of mine- Kae Burke and Tara McNamarus of Make Fun! and Tiffany Threadgould of Replayground. AuH2O hosted the fashion show at 5pm, and here’s some photos below. See more in my flickr album:

Marie Asinovski in an NYU Football dress (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

June Lei also in an NYU Football dress (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Leanne Linsky (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Jean Goto (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Abby Phon (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Sarah Hyde (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Rachel Trachtenburg

Kate Perkins

Nicole Rock

Lindsey Blank

Abby Phon (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Sarah Hyde (photo credit: Taryn Rosenberg)

Nicole Rock, Lindsey Blank, Erica Swallow, Leanne Linsky, Sarah Hyde

me, Abby, Rachel, Erica, Sarah, Nicole, Marie, June, Jean, Kate, Lindsey, Leanne after the show. What a success! It went very smoothly much thanks to photographer Taryn Rosenberg and my new intern Alice Dunoyer, here all the way from France. Unfortunately we didn’t take any good photos of the two of us, so those will have to wait until the next show. Thanks ladies! (photo credit- Taryn Rosenberg)

Abby Phon and me after the show. Abby’s a friend who’s an eco-activist- she’s produced and acted in a pilot called “Life Without Green” that will be premiering in the NYC TV festival in September (and I MIGHT be dressing her cast and crew…) Check out her production company: www.acesdeuce.com to find out more about the pilot and watch the trailer, or join her facebook group to stay updated with future events. I’m very excited to be collaborating with her!

In honor of Earth Week, AuH2O is hosting the fashion show at NYU’s Swap-a-Palooza on Sunday, April 26th. The swap is being put on by Earth Matters, NYU’s Outreach and Sustainable Issues Club, and will go from 2-6, so come anytime to swap your clothes, but make sure you’re there before 5 to see the Fashion Show:

From NYU’s website: The Swap-a-Palooza is a clothing swap and series of do-it-yourself workshops which feature creative reuse through the recycling of used clothing. Bring a bag of old clothing and get ready to swap and alter with the help of local artists. We will feature many do-it-yourself stations run by local artists and a recycled clothing fashion show. The idea of the swap-a-palooza is to celebrate community creativity while allowing the NYU community to put their personal touch on a stand against consumerism.

It’s a great way to get some new clothes for free in this recession! Get rid of clothes you don’t wear and go home with as much as you can carry! Plus, several of my friends, and former roommates from the artist collective Boring, Inc where I used to live in will be there running workshops. Kae Burke and Tara McNamarus of Make Fun! and Tiffany Threadgould of Replayground will be there teaching crafts. Come check it out!

The fashion show will feature AuH2O models:
Abby Phon
Carmen Ongsiako
Erica Swallow
Jean Goto
Jill Filipovic
Kate Perkins
Leanne Linsky
Lindsey Blank
Marie Asinovski
Rachel Kay
Sarah Hyde
and Earth Matters volunteers, DJ’ed by my friend Peter Bornstein. Hope to see you there!

Happy Earth Week! This is obviously a very busy week for AuH2O, being an eco-friendly store and all. I’ve donated my pieces to several eco-fashion shows at various colleges, spoke at NYU’s Green Series about opening up an eco-friendly business, am hosting a fashion show at NYU’s Swap-a-Palooza this Sunday, and am featured in the Earth Week Edition Time Out New York as a “green single.” And I would just like to clarify that I DID NOT say I was humble. They added that in. Also, I’m not thrilled with the picture of me. I don’t know how I’m supposed to pick up guys with that wet-dog hair and strained smile, but I’m not really looking, despite the fact that I’m listed in a personals ad. Any press is good press? Here’s a screen shot of the article, or read it online here: http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/dating-in-nyc

Anyway, if that’s not enough to keep me busy, I’m MOVING MY STORE in a week!!! I rarely, if EVER, use more than one exclamation point, so that’s how excited I am. I’m moving right next door to the old Amarcord, which just closed, so I’ll have the exact same address/location and same phone number, but a bigger space. Can’t wait! Good thing I have interns to help me out with all that. Also, a friend of mine and awesome eco-friedly handbag designer Allison Teich McGowan is moving in to the old AuH2O. 7th Street between first and second is going to be the eco-fashion CAPITOL. Anyway, Happy Earth Week, and come to the Swap-a-Palooza on Sunday at 5 if you’d like to trade in your old clothes and go home with a new wardrobe for FREE.

Amarcord’s Vintage Outlet, the store next door to me has closed, and I want to move in there. My super nice landlord said he’d allow me to break my lease and swap stores ASAP if I could find someone to take over my space, so I know this doesn’t seem like the best time to start up a business, but my landlord is offering great rent- $2,200. Stores in the East Village usually range from $2,500-$4,000 (even in this economy- check Craigslist!) so it’s a pretty good deal for a prime location. Plus, my landlord’s willing to negotiate if he really likes you. If you or anyone you know is interested in opening up a shop, please pass on my contact and the Craigslist posting: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/off/1113032235.html. Thanks!

And also, on an unrelated note, if you’re planning on seeing the date rape comedy “Observe and Report,” do yourself a favor and read this first: http://jezebel.com/5204177/is-date-rape-funny-seth-rogen-explains-it-all-for-you. No, date rape is not fucking funny.

AuH2O is technically closed on Mondays; we’re officially open Tuesday-Sunday. However, I often go into the store anyway just to catch up on email and custom orders, in theory, that is. But this Monday, I had a pretty eventful day off (day on, perhaps?) First, I went to Matthew Cerrone’s MetsBlog.com Opening day party at Public House since Zoe Rice, blogger extraordinaire of Pick Me Up some Mets asked me to make her a dress out of her “Shea 08″ giveaway shirt. Here’s some photos from off of her blog and facebook:

Taryn Cooper, Zoe Rice, Corey Kanterman, Anthony Onyrscuk, Will, Matthew Cerrone, me

with Zoe Rice in our AuH2O Mets dresses. If you like the neckline in Zoe’s dress, she’s got a patent on it, just ask me for a “Zoe,” haha. I charge $25/hour, so this only cost $35. My dress will be available online soon for $40.

Corey Kanterman in a tie out of Mets baseball cards from the ‘86 World Series. These will also be available online shortly.

And we won! 2-1! Much thanks to Zoe for her shout-out to me and AuH2O on Pick Me Up Some Mets. Then, after leaving the party, I went to a photoshoot for TimeOut NY at their 10th avenue office. And I’m not telling what that’s for… but it might be a personals ad. Maybe. Pick up a copy of their Earth Week issue to find out, or else, duh, I’ll post the link here when it comes out online. I may not exactly be excited for this press, though. We’ll see.

After the photoshoot, I went to my friend and AuH2O model Lindsey Blank’s apartment to host a craft night! Lindsey and I have been talking about how much I’d like to do something like this for awhile, and Lindsey’s been to several other craft nights, so she offered to provide the space, snacks and drinks, and I taught a group of her friends how to sew their own recycled bags using old material and vintage scraps and trim.

Sewing and cutting

Some almost finished projects

It was way big fun. If anyone would like me to host a craft night where I can show how to make your own recycled bag (no real sewing knowledge needed- I can teach!) or another fun craft, let me know! I’m definitely interested in doing more of these.

And of course, Happy Passover!

APRIL FOOLS!

Do not even pretend like I didn’t get you. You even believed that I used that emoticon seriously. So no, AuH2O is not closing. In fact, AuH2O is SO NOT closing, it’s going to be on CNN in a few days! Click here to see why, and if you can, watch or set set your DVRs to any and all of the three times below. I will be on for a split second (I think a minute or two) between these half-hour segments:

Saturday, April 4^th on CNN between 7-7:30am EST
Saturday, April 4^th on Headline News between 1:30-2pm EST
Sunday, April 5^th on Headline News between 10:30-11am EST.

It’s going to be airing during two different segments (and I don’t know which is airing on what day or time,) “Make up Your Own Major in College and Then Do What You Want To For Your Career” and “I Have Interns Now and am on CNN, So I guess It Worked Out.” No, April Fools again. I’m hilarious today. It’ll be a part of the series “How We Got Started” and “Business Success.”

All joking aside, I really do think my business has been successful. For two and a half years, including this recession, I’ve been in the black every month- albeit sometimes just barely. In February I don’t think I ordered a drink other than a PBR, but I walk into my store every day and know it’s my own, and damn do I love that. Though a TON of stores in my neighborhood really ARE closing, even ones that have been here for years. The shop next to AuH2O, Amarcord’s Vintage Outlet, is closing its doors after ten years. Ten Years! Here’s some photos of a few stores in my area that have been forced to close due to this recession:

Amarcord, next to AuH2O                                     Love Saves the Day, corner of 7th and 2nd

Bakhor on 9th Street between 1st and 2nd          Forty Fifty Sixty, on 7th between 1st and 2nd

I’m working incredibly hard so that this doesn’t happen to AuH2O. I have very reasonable prices and loyal customers, and lately I’ve been expanding my fashion show participation beyond New York (Kean University, Tufts, Stanford and some high schools.) Also, I’ve started a little public speaking. I still have a WisCONsin accent and talk a mile a minute, but apparently organizations/museums/clubs want to hear me talk. In February, I spoke at the International Convention for BBYO (B’nai Brith Youth Organization) on a Successful Jewish Women panel. I talked to 400 teenage girls about using art and clothing as activism- it was nerve-wracking but felt awesome. I showed this painting I made depicting me getting Plan B after a condom broke, and after I spoke the organizer announced to the girls that pre-marital sex was not condoned by BBYO and they were not allowed to engage in such activity during the convention. OOPS.

SELF PORTRAIT: DO YOU CARRY EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION HERE?

But I was talking about using clothing and art as activism! The personal is political! Anyway, lesson learned. I think the girls liked me though, I mean, I had a bunch of new Facebook friends the next day… and I met a few students interested in working for AuH2O, and ended up hiring an intern for the summer!

Then, a few weeks ago, I spoke to the students in the Brooklyn Museum’s after school program about eco-friendly clothing:

Students with their own recycled designs

With Ariel Greenberg, Brooklyn Museum educator and friend, and student

In the upcoming month, I will be speaking in NYU’s Earth Matters Green House series and to NYU’s Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity. I’m speaking to a frat! A co-ed business frat, but still, never imagined I’d be doing that in my life. So, if you or your organization or someone you know would like me to come in and speak about eco-friendly, feminist fashion, or opening a business, let me know. My speaking fees start at $500. April Fools again, obviously.

Awhile ago, my friend and filmmaker Jesse Ash of Greener Media shot a video of one of the AuH2Obama fashion shows for CNN’s iReport competition. The competition was basically over who was doing the coolest thing to campaign for a candidate, and the video that won would get to be on Anderson Cooper. Our video showed how I was hosting Obama-themed fashion shows to raise money and get people wearing Obama clothing and earrings. You can watch that video here, on my YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psTUmZPfS1M. We were chosen as a semi-finalist, in the top 20 of thousands of submissions, but we didn’t we win the competition in the end. Nonetheless, one of the CNN judges took a particular liking to it… and was interested in my story… and… she just called me to tell me that she wants to do a story on me and AuH2O! Lord give me strength! CNN, man. If only I could speak eloquently in front of a camera… Luckily, I have until March 11 to practice. Here’s where I need your help:

They’re going to be doing an interview with me at the store from 9-12, and at around noon when I open up shop, they were hoping they could shoot me interacting with my customers and neighbors stopping in and shopping. So, if you’re free Wednesday, March 11, at around noon or 12:30, please come by the store and pretend to buy things! Or come talk about how much you love the store, or me, or eco-fashion, or feminist clothing, or the East Village. They want people all over the country to get a feel for the neighborhood. People all over the country! Sweet Jesus. If you’ve seen or participated in a fashion show, you could talk about that, or you don’t have to say anything, you could just have your pretty face on national television.

Also, if you knew me back when I used to wear pants made out of upholstery fabric and road construction signs, and happen to have any pictures of that, can you pleasity please mail or scan and email them to me? They want to show some photos of me as a recycled fashion designer growing up, even pre-sewing machine. Or if you have some photos of me in ridiculous homemade outfits from high school and college, pre-digital cameras and pre-facebook, can you send me those? It would be much, much appreciated. Email me if you have anything! kate -at- auh2odesigns -dot- com.

I only know that they’re filming on March 11; I have no idea when it’ll be on TV, but I’ll be sure to let you know about the air date when I know it. And since this has been a very selfish post and request, I will also add that my good friend Pat Reis has just had a piece in the New York Times. Swing for the fences, baby.