Fabdesigns, Inc.A California Apparel Corporation. |
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The Art of Knits, Haute Off The Loom! From a small B2B private label design firm in the 1980's, an innovative designers and a textile engineer have created a unique American Knitwear corporation focused on great design! In the early 80's the principal owners had individually created knitwear for some of the most prominent labels in the US, Europe, Canada, Australia and more.
ABOVE: Bruce Huffa, CEO of Concetta Bruce, and Concetta Huffa, President of Fabdesigns, Inc. Bruce Huffa is a creative British Textile Designer who has a way of coaxing some of the most intricate fabrics from a hunk of complex metal known as a knitting machine. His innovations to knitwear production give the fabrics and garments a unique specialness in this generic market of sameness. Concetta is a former textile professor and senior product development exec who designs with an innate passion for mixing color, textures and detail. Her lifstyle insights are the key to "it" factor of the luscious fabrics and wearability. Her achievments span apparel, consumer products and even the automotive aftermarket. Their consumate goal has always been affordable style that packs well and travels well. Comfortable styles with an element of sophistication are the cornerstones of everything they touch. From the beginning sketches to the finished product, they constantly have their customer's needs in mind. The flavor of their designs is a distinctly unique blend of Italian styling, British quality, and unique California fiber artistry. In 1988 the pair joined creative forces in the Olympic & Robertson area of West Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, designing knitwear for some of the most notable labels on 5 continents in the International fashion industry. Their collaborative synthesis of art, chemistry, innovation, and color is a sensory experience. ABOVE: Banana Republic Backdrop for "Cashmere Me" commercal - The Huffas created this 27'X33' cut and sew backdrop in a week. It took 5 people to carry this 300 pound tapestry through the sewing machinery. ABOVE: A small sampling of their 80's and 90's consulting work. Employees at the corporate offices and factory are mentored on best practices, benchmarks and the highest quality standards In rebellion to the watered-down creations and disposable clothing flooding the apparel market from over-seas in the wake of NAFTA and the WTO inclusion of China, the company changed direction. Marketing directly to the consumers who were demanding newness and the high energy of originality, the company incorporated as Fabdesigns, Inc. and threw open the doors of their design studios to individual clients. In 2001 their one-time B2B design firm went corporate, launching a Childrens accessory line - Loomdoodles, a men's upscale golf line - Bevivino, and a luxury ladies line - Concetta Bruce. The original Fabdesigns' design studio evolved from a private label oriented knit wear company to a highly customized atelier studio which served the Southern California elite, celebrities and demanding studio clientelle by private appointment only. Hand beading, custom dye treatments, pewter clasps, leather labels, pearls, beach glass, and semiprecious stones adorned the one of a kind creations. A few pieces from the collection are shown below. ABOVE: A few pieces from their made to wear customized Missy line launched in 2001. the line was direct marketed to upscle consumers in the entertainment industry, celerities, and couture market. In 2003 Fabdesigns, Inc. launched a boutique and gallery in a Tudor building on Ventura Boulevard in Encino for Concetta Bruce. But the small studio could not contain the wealth of creativity as well as the rapidly expanding wholesale business.
ABOVE: The original retail boutique and design studio in Encino on Ventura Boulevard. It was quickly clear that not just Southern California wanted specialty knitwear. Post 911, rather than wither as many other companies did after the national tradgedy, the Fabdesigns, Inc. board of directors regrouped. They transformed the stagnant direct market business model into a retail/wholesale entity. The product was completely changed to the more viable contemporary market. New yarns, cuts and colors were implemented. Before long Concetta Bruce was a notable wholesale art-to-wear company which served better specialty stores across the USA and in internationally known resort locations. The missy customer wanted to look younger. She didn't want her to look like she was wearing 'her mothers sweaters.' The entirely new contemporary line was launched in 2003. Also in 2003, the company went completely wholesale, selling exclusively to high end specialty stores across the country. The add ti on of 5 independent sales reps in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas has been doubling sales every year.
ABOVE: Business is brisk at the Atlanta Americas Mart showroom - Whaley & Associates At the heart of the rapidly growing company is still the same original team which designs and engineers the extraordinarily beautiful fabrics. The design house is still completely vertical. Employees are trained from the ground up. Nothing is mass produced. And only the finest yarns are used.
Put something on. Feel how it raises your spirit. Let it illuminate your soul. You immediately get it! Every collection has certain energy to it, defying age and trend. Every piece is handcrafted in house. Snuggled in chunky, textured cashmere or draped in nearly naked knits, clients want that artsy edge and above all, want to look great. In the clothes of Concetta Bruce one finds enticing images, motifs and richly textured patterns complimented by unusual blends of soft, luxurious yarns such as Italian extra-fine viscose, soft merinos, mercerized cotton, decadent rayon boucle, lurex and other fibers. They adeptly combine the age-old methods of quality and design with state of the art textile technology. High tech CAD and sophisticated European looms can be seen in use at the rear of the studio. The pair is constantly innovating and exploring modern fabrics and ancient techniques. One of their favorite creative processes involves both high-tech knit techniques with ago-old hand dye processes. Shibori is an ancient Japanese art form of transforming fabrics into wearable art. The main techniques Bruce and Concetta utilize are Arashi Shibori, or pole wrapping, and Mokume Shibori, a stitching technique. Their approach to Shibori is unique to most fiber artists in that they also create the raw fabrics. Often a mixture of modern surface textures, the couture pieces have a very one of a kind feel. Frequently a drapey knit is paired with Shibori to achieve dramatic one of a kind wearable art. Today, due to the rapid growth of the wholesale business there is only time to produce about 25 pieces per year of this type of special art. Hand-sewn metal charms, semi-precious stones, beads, crystals, shell buttons, pewter clasps, and beach glass are frequently applied for additional customizing. We design and create unique one-of-a-kind knitwear for boutiques that you absolutely won't find anywhere else.It's like having your own personal design house! Concetta Bruce E-mail: bruce.huffa@concettabruce.com Concetta - Designer / Fiber artist
   On-line orders welcome
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