Fashion PR News: Samantha Wasserman named PR Director at Alexis Bittar

Samantha Wasserman has recently been named Public Relations Director at Alexis Bittar. She was previously the Fashion & Events PR Manager at Shecky’s Media.

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About Alexis Bittar

Alexis Bittar launched his eponymous jewelry collections in the early ’90s, but the Brooklyn native’s artistic flair was evident long before then. As a child, Bittar accompanied his parents to flea markets, where they collected and sold antiques. At the tender age of 10, Bittar showed his entrepreneurial spirit by selling flowers from a hand-painted cart across the street from his house.

Fueled by his passion for antiques, including Art Deco Bakelite and turn-of-the-century Lalique glass, Bittar began designing Lucite and semi-precious jewelry and selling it on the streets of Soho in the early 1990s. Bittar’s bold designs quickly caught the eye of buyers from the Guggenheim Museum store and Henri Bendel, and he also developed strong relationships with the Museum of Modern Art and Saks Fifth Avenue. Today, Alexis Bittar jewelry is sold at hundreds of department stores and independent boutiques worldwide.

In 2004, Bittar opened his first flagship in New York’s Soho. The store’s design pays homage to two distinct aesthetics: modernism and Victorian. This translates into a Plexiglass wall, iridescent white spray-painted Victorian lion’s claw table and turn-of-the-century wallpaper – all of which serve as an ideal backdrop for Bittar’s whimsical Lucite and exquisite semi-precious pieces.

Over the years, Bittar has expanded his design repertoire to include furniture, home décor and for spring 2006, belts. In 2000, Burberry tapped him to design a limited-edition collection of Lucite bracelets, chokers and pins in the brand’s signature plaid.

Bittar’s jewelry is regularly featured in premier publications such as W, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, The New York Times and Italian Vogue. Bittar’s pieces are coveted by a discerning clientele, including Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Cameron Diaz and Naomi Watts. The jeweler won the Accessories Council’s “Rising Star” award in 2004 and became a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2005.

Fashion PR Pros: Interview with Janice McCafferty Communications

jmc.jpgI first noticed Janice McCafferty when, as myspace friends, I read her bulletins communicating recent media hits for clients. Impressed by her use of myspace as a PR communication tool, as well as her profile, I asked her to share a bit about her background and how she uses social networking in her work.

PR: What is your background?

JM: I have served as a publicist for the past 24 years. During this time, I represented numerous companies in the beauty, entertainment, health and fashion industries in addition to several hairdressers and charities. As a licensed cosmetologist in Illinois and working in several high end salons, I devoted a major portion of my career serving as a board of director for one of the industries largest hairdressing associations (Cosmetologist Chicago). After almost nine years on the board, I was elected president and served a 2 year term. I also have a background in the medical profession and business management.

PR:What is Janice McCafferty Communications all about?

JM: Janice McCafferty Communication is all about providing media exposure and brand recognition. No client wants to be the best kept secret. In stead, our clients thrive with press exposure.

PR:What makes Janice McCafferty Communications unique?

JM: JMC provides each client a one on one attention. Since we are a boutique agency, our clients are not lost within the confines of a huge firm. We provide the “big” results, but with a personal touch.

PR: What are Janice McCafferty Communications areas of expertise?

JM: JMC has a broad stream of experience in the fields of beauty, hair, nails, skin, makeup, health, education, entertainment, non-profit and fashion. With this extensive foundation, we are able to tailor a detailed and results driven PR campaign regardless of the client’s industry.

PR: Who is on the Janice McCafferty Communications client roster?

JM: Our clients include/ed: David Babaii for WildAid (with actress Kate Hudson), David Babaii (Celebrity Hairdresser) FHI Heat, Farouk Systems (Manufacturers of CHI and BioSilk), CHI Magazine, pHormulate, Pivot Point Beauty School’s Cares for Kids, ImagiNail, Zestra for Women, Jason Kearns (Salon Owner and Hairdresser), Metromamma, ProSilk, Hoss Sauce, Xenon, XenScience, Xenon Foundation, Vi3 (Recoding Group), MCA Records, Lil Fizz from B2K, Lord & Cliff and Sta-Dri Collar.
I have also served on the PR teams for NSYNC’s Challenge for the Children (3 years) and NBA Alls Star’s MidSummer Night’s Dream (2006).
Currently, I am speaking with Chicago Fashion Week about handling their PR needs for the Fall 2008 Collections.

PR: How do you leverage social media tools like myspace for your clients? What about agency promotion?

JM: We just started utilizing myspace for our agency. It has been welcomed with a great response. With millions of users on daily, it is amazing how you can reach new audiences and potential consumers with bulletins, blogs, comments, and messaging. First, it is important to create a solid friends list of companies and individuals with similar interest as your client. This will ensure your message is taken in by the user. We construct bulletins for our agency and client each time we achieve new press exposure. Myspace is so interactive and must take this into account before you consider a new posting. However, this can be extremely time-consuming to maintain and update regularly.

PR: How do you educate your clients about the importance of developing a presence online? Is this a challenge?

JM: We have taken many steps to educate and explain the importance of web exposure. However, this has been a challenge. Many simply do not understand this new media source. They are still from the old school of wanting their brand in print or on air.

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Independent Fashion Designer turns personal tragedy into Red-Hot PR Opportunity

gail1.jpgaha-globe-shirt-mnq0340-4.jpgSince her own heart surgery in 1996, Gail Schneider has been using her fashion talent to raise money for the American Heart Association. She has designed a special signature designer tank top and is currently offering them at a discounted cost, along with free shipping. 25% of total sales will be donated to the AHA.

In addition, Gail posed for the Go Red Mall campaign posters that are used to promote Wear Red Day, in the Prudential Center Mall in downtown Boston, which houses 20,000 employees as well as the mall and sees about 60,000 people a day. Nice awareness for Gail and the AHA.

Shirts can be purchased online for $59 (reg. $70) and if you purchase 2 shirts, you can get a third for free.