design:retail - March 2016 - (Page 32)

perspectives 032 Colorfully Exotic ROBERTA FREYMANN OWNER, ROBERTA ROLLER RABBIT "The...story began with a discarded scrap of fabric found in Jaipur, India." - ROBERTA FREYMANN W d:r: What aspects of retail design do you adhere to when planning a new location? Freymann: We try to always find a space where we can tell our story and showcase our collections appropriately. We have a wide assortment of products, as well as seasonal and core prints, and need to make sure that we can always tell each product story clearly and cohesively. It is important to tie in the hand-made factor that is key to our products, into the store. For this reason we always try to feature the amazing hand-drawn stencil art of artists Lisa Wassong and Dominique Lange. Their work, which is ethnically inspired and whimsical, helps transport customers into our world. It also makes each store unique, which is essential to us. ITH COLLECTIONS OF colorful hand block printed clothing, accessories and home décor items, Roberta Roller Rabbit brings to life the feel of island living and exotic travel. With a background in the fashion and clothing retail business, designer and owner Roberta Freymann was inspired by her world travels to create the line, which is available in several specialty boutiques across the United States, and in 16 standalone Roberta Roller Rabbit stores. design:retail: How did you become interested in fashion and design? Freymann: I have always been passionate about travel and fashion; I credit my mother, a muse to the French designer Jacques Fath, for her exotic flair and love of discovery. But it wasn't until I traveled to North Africa for a family vacation that I discovered the true depth of my love and affinity for global style. I remember my first trip to the souks and markets of Morocco, where I collected as much as the donkeys could carry! Returning home with all my treasures, the dream of one day opening up my own bazaar was born. d:r: Where did you get the inspiration for creating Roberta Roller Rabbit? Freymann: The Roberta Roller Rabbit story began with a discarded scrap of fabric found in Jaipur, India. It featured a mythical rabbit, which became the inspiration for a unique range of enchanting hand block prints. d:r: How did you grow your idea into a fullfledged line of clothing and home décor? Freymann: In 1996, I was able to launch my own company, Roberta Freymann. I opened in an MARCH 2016 DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM Upper East Side brownstone pioneering both a craze for pashmina scarves and exotic one-of-akind accessories. I quickly gained an avid following, and the brand rapidly began to outgrow its bohemian beginnings. We were continuously expanding our offering of travel-inspired women's ready-to-wear, outerwear, jewelry and accessories. In 2003, Roberta Roller Rabbit was born and it is now the brand under which we continue to grow our exciting line of travel-inspired and handcrafted leisurewear, home goods and accessories. d:r: How are your boutiques an expression of the brand? Freymann: All our stores embody the exotic, travelinspired ethos of the brand. Upon entering any of our locations, customers are immersed in a delightful world of colors, prints and textures. GLOBALSHOP.ORG d:r: How do your travels inform your designs, in both the collection and the boutiques? Freymann: I continue to travel every single year to more than 10 countries, where I find inspiration and manufacture our products in partnership with local artisans. Over the years, I have developed longstanding relationships with knitters in northern Argentina, hand block printers and jewelers in India, cashmere purveyors in Nepal, as well as a wide array of craftsmen from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Peru. People and processes around the globe inspire both our collections and our boutiques. - Michelle M. Havich BEFORE STARTING HER EPONYMOUS COMPANY IN 1996, ROBERTA FREYMANN HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN FASHION, HEADING UP A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR KNITWEAR BUSINESS WITH CLIENTS SUCH AS BERGDORF GOODMAN, NEIMAN MARCUS, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, BARNEYS AND HARVEY NICHOLS, AND DESIGNING WITH BILL BLASS. SHE ALSO WORKED WITH ANN TAYLOR AND LAURA ASHLEY. Photo by NEIL ROBERT DAVENPORT http://www.DESIGNRETAILONLINE.COM http://www.GLOBALSHOP.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of design:retail - March 2016

design:retail - March 2016
Contents
Editor's Note
GlobalShop Talk
On Trend
We Love This!
Designer Picks
Clicks & Mortar
Postcard
Perspectives
Have You Heard?
The Visual Eye
Searching for Steve Jobs
GlobalShop 2016
Chelsea Collective
Primark
Marqt
Ports 1961
Art Van Furniture
Ted Baker
Design Leaders Listing
Products
Backstory

design:retail - March 2016