Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 6524 |
| Work Detail | Nannette Keller always knew that she would be a designer. This passion and enthusiasm for fashion design has never wavered for the Michigan native. Her ultimate dream of owning her own design company was realized with her creation of the Nannette Keller Collection. Growing up, Keller says she was an anomaly among her peers in that she wanted to be a fashion designer. At age 5, she began to sew on a crank-up machine and was soon designing her own Barbie patterns. “My dolls were the best dressed in our neighborhood,” she said. Although her parents were supportive of her ambition, Keller said they tried to steer her into more conventional career choices. Working as a secretary, she knew she had to go to New York to realize her dream. “I started saving money when I was in tenth grade, and saved every penny I earned,” said Keller. “I got accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York when I was 17.” While there Keller juggled work and classes, and created outrageous costumes using plastic shields and lights. “Back then, New York was a dangerous place, and I had to stay in a dorm,” Keller said. In 1976, Keller left New York and relocated in Los Angeles. She landed a job creating uniforms for the House of Uniforms, and two years later, landed a designing job with Hocus-Pocus. In 1982, she became the principle designer and merchandiser for RM Corp. It was then that she married her husband, restaurateur and entrepreneur Roger Keller. It was her quest to bring comfort into women’s designs, and her vivid dreams of patterns and fabrics, that led her to designing for Gramicci. “I was the vice president of design and merchandising, and I did all the men’s, women’s and kids,” Keller said. “After eight years of doing that, I started my own company. I had a showroom in LA, and in New York, and I had 13 sales reps across the country. We used to big the shows like in New York and in Vegas. I had 80 sewers working for me, back when everyone was still doing the manufacturing here.” Nannette Keller labels have since been found in large department stores such as Nordstrom and J.Jill on the East Coast. “My million dollar jacket was sold at Nordstrom for eight years. It was one of the best-selling jackets in the catalog,” she said. After moving to Tehachapi, Keller opened a boutique at 116 S. Robinson St., across from City Hall. “She came to the Apple Festival and saw our cute town,” said Michelle Vance, economic development coordinator for the City of Tehachapi. “She was getting ready to open up a boutique, and she chose us because of our many events and activities we have in town. I sold her on our little town. She took a risk on Tehachapi, and we are very pleased.” Keller said she also picked Tehachapi because it is close to Los Angeles. She is currently working for a big catalog in San Francisco. “I’m always working and making stuff,” she said. Many of her garments feature handcrafted, unique buttons Keller designed herself. “All of her designs are one-of-a-kind, and she is famous for her silver-toned buttons on her jackets and blouses,” said Julie Fuller, sales associate and marketing assistant. “All of her fabrics are natural fibers, which is very different from the norm.” Keller has a lot of sizes, including plus sizes. According to Fuller, everything in the store is machine washable and preshrunk. “We carry merchandise for all seasons, so our fall and winter fashions are already on the floor,” Fuller said. |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Textile |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.tehachapinews.com/lifestyle/fashion-clothing-designer-relocates-to-tehachapi/article_1a26ae64-73b0-11e6-be8f-27b0567d160b.html |
