“Indoors, outdoors, Wear-ME-Anywhere pajamas!”
Posted by michellemoquin on May 13th, 2008
Some of you may or may not know that I have been in the fashion business for about 20 years now, designing everything from men’s clothing to women’s lingerie. My latest venture was women’s pajamas which I designed for about 5 years. I had the good fortune of having two of my best selling pajamas featured in the Oscar gift bags in 2004. That coup boosted my sales allowing me to seek manufacturing overseas. Yep, I outsourced. I didn’t want to but I needed to, to be price competitive.
I also took my first trip to Vietnam on United Airlines Inaugural flight in search of a manufacturing contractor. It was the first time in 30 years since the Vietnam war ( the Vietnamese call it the American war), that an American airline flew direct to Vietnam. And since San Francisco is the sister city to Vietnam, the flight left from there. It was a huge celebratory event that the City of San Francisco was sponsoring and I was one of 30 or so delegates representing San Francisco. Most of the other delegates were Vietnamese living in San Francisco and whom had not seen their home country since they escaped during war times. And a handful of people working for the city which included some very interesting people who had at one time worked in the White House for the Clinton administration. It was one of my most memorable travels and certainly one of my most successful business moves.
While I was in Vietnam, everything fell into place. It was all very serendipitous. I was interviewed the day I arrived, “A famous clothing designer flies in for America.” I was featured in their most popular newspaper, Tuôi tré, the very next day. During my stay I met with whom you could call the Victoria Secret of Asia, a major Vietnamese/Japanese lingerie company. We had several meeting that led to a 5-year licensing contract with them. As proud as I was that I single handedly negotiated a contract, it took a year to complete and sign and even longer for them to get any of my samples made. Unfortunately it is pretty much dead in the water now – The ball is in their court, but I considered it a wonderful experience and I learned a ton.
So I am off to bigger and better things…something new. Who knows what but definitely something in the creative realm.
So why am I telling you all of this? Well….I am selling off my pajama samples and my last production. There isn’t a ton left thankfully but enough to fit a small room and quite frankly I am ready to purge…you know with the move and all. So I am letting my beautiful designs go for a very reasonable price – all are available for less than wholesale and some items as low as $20! My good friend Rita is throwing a pajama party for me this afternoon at her house for about 30 or so women. It should be a fun and successful event.
I usually don’t tout myself or my ’wears’ but I thought you, my dear readers would love a heads up on my big sale. So…if any of you love pajamas you would probably love a pair of mine. Blog me if you are interested. You can view some of the styles at my pajama website. And if for some reason, you have a difficult time blogging me, try emailing me. My email address is on this blog or go to my website and you”ll find my email there too.
Doug, Al, ZL: Thanks for the interesting comments yesterday – Doug you really jumped on the research. – good info. Thanks.
Enjoy the day!
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle ?
For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:
or click here: “A Day in the life of…”
All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008
May 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
hey michelle- I’d be interested in checking them out. D.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Hi Michelle,
I scanned the website, which ones would be the same cut as my olive green and hot pink pair?? I freakin’ love those even though I’ve never worn them to bed, hahaha! I did do a remodel to the pants, the large was nice and long but too big/high waisted, they are perfecto now. I’d do that remodel again to another lighter fabric summer pair.
I send my pair to the dry cleaners so they last, hahaha…I know this special pair wasn’t a big seller, people have no idea how cool olive green and hot pink/maroon look together, but olive (green) and maroon (all reds) are my fave colors anyway…
Any nibbles on the house? Waiting on a new front door, outside fixture, etc…before roll the broker opening next Th.
Ciao, Zen Lill
May 14th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Michelle, I have not had any new problems opening your blog. If I do, I will be sure to let you know.
HOWIE