Ten Minutes with Audrey and Roni of Generation Love
February 16, 2010
When is a basic anything but? When it’s an eco-friendly tee from Generation Love, the NYC-based t-shirt line by designers Audrey Bressa-Valcourt and Roni Hirshberg. With a philosophy that comfortable can also be chic and exponentially sexy, the designing duo’s line of 100% organic cotton t-shirts can hold their own on their own or peeking out from under a cardie or structured jacket. According to their website Audrey and Roni love Paris, room service, sunny days, and making a difference, just to name a few things. Like I said, what’s not to love about Generation Love?
Oligoville: In five words or less, Generation Love is. . .
Audrey & Roni: Chic, cool, comfortable, off-beat, eco-friendly.
Oligoville: How would you describe your ideal customer?
Audrey & Roni: Someone who can appreciate that our product is made in New York City, who pays attention to detail, and who likes to be comfortable but jazzed up.
Oligoville: How’d you end up as designers?
Audrey & Roni: We literally decided in one day we would start a t-shirt line, and we did! We have always had entrepreneurial spirits with a desire to create. One day we were listening to music and having fun, and it dawned on us to put that energy into a clothing line as a way to share our point of view and spread the love!
Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?
Audrey & Roni: We started two years ago from scratch while working full time. We literally went from store to store to show the line with a suitcase and a pair of heels.
Oligoville: Why t-shirts?
Audrey & Roni: We LOVE t-shirts! That is who we are, what we wear every day, and what we feel the most sexy and cool in.
Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?
Audrey & Roni: Music, people in the street, cities, and our friend Gio.
Oligoville: What’s 24 hours like in your life?
Audrey & Roni: Craziness. There is always something to do and usually not enough time in the day to do it all.
Oligoville: What’s in your closet? What are you wearing right now?
Audrey & Roni: In our closets there are lot of jackets and blazers. We pretty much wear one of our tees with some sort of jacket all the time. Right now Audrey is wearing one of our old-school hoodies that we made. Maybe it will make a come back.
Oligoville: Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.
Audrey & Roni: The list of set backs is wayyy too long to start! In any business you have to be prepared for the unexpected, and in this industry there is a lot of unexpected! We have to remind ourselves that if we would have given up at the first bump in the road we would have stopped a long time ago. We have learned there is always a solution to everything.
Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?
Audrey & Roni: Having clients contact us to tell us how much they love the brand and want to support us.
Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.
Audrey & Roni: We are launching our online store this week, so hopefully it will be established and well known at that point!
Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Audrey & Roni: Don’t take anything personally.
Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?
Audrey & Roni: Passion Pit, La Roux, Brahms, Empire of the Sun…
Oligoville: Any last words?
Audrey & Roni: LOVE IS FANTASTICO!
Giveaway #22 – Winner Sara M. from Cleveland, OH
November 30, 2009
How to Win:
- Log In or Register if you haven’t already!
- Leave us a comment on this posting below.
Oligoville has partnered with Stone and Honey, to bring you another great giveaway! Enter for your chance to win a Hadley Necklace from Stone and Honey.
Hadley necklace features a hand cut silver feather riveted to a slab of brilliant brazilian agate. Choose between a deep purple or jade green stone measuring about 3 by 1.75 inches at widest points. Sterling silver feather has a brushed finish. 16 inches of sterling silver chain, closes with a toggle clasp.
Please note: each of our agate necklaces are handmade and one of a kind. because no two stones are exactly alike, the agate used for each necklace will vary slightly from one pictured.
Care: silver can be cleaned with any standard silver cleaner, or silver polishing cloth. Our agate necklaces should not be worn in chlorinated swimming pools, as chlorine may damage or discolor the stone.
A Little About Stone and Honey
Stone and Honey is the latest project from Smallthings jewelry designer Teresa Robinson. Hand-cut sterling silver combined with brazilian agate, crystals, feathers, and other ephemera, make for a collection that is modern, ethereal, and truly one of a kind.
Registration for this giveaway closes on Monday Dec 07, 2009 at 12:00 AM (CST). The winner will be randomly selected and announced in our next round of newsletters along with information to our next great giveaway. Please note, you must be living within the United States to qualify for this giveaway.
For designers who would like to participate in our Oligo Giveaway events, please email product information to our fashion editor at 
.
Fashion By The Rules: 2 Green or Not 2 Be
November 30, 2009
FASHION BY THE RULES
TO GREEN or NOT TO GREEN !!
Given that this is one of the hottest topics around, It comes as no shock that “Being Green” can also apply to what we wear.
I believe that one of the most common misconceptions is that “going green” will only apply to cotton items where the reality is that the whole idea encompasses cotton , silk and baby alpaca. One must keep in mind that the articles of clothing must be manufactured in an environmentally sound way whether or not the material is sustainable. Simple terms, no chemical wastes and eco friendly whether or not the raw material was made from recycled material.
OK so now I hope you have a rough idea of “What makes it green” so we can move onto how can you spend your green to own it!!
The internet is brimming with opportunities to learn about it and purchase it. Take for example, SHOPWIKI which provides an entire explanation of the concept as well as a reasonably thorough brand listing. If you are into the celebrity of the going green, then the perfect brand for you is ERDUN which is a socially conscious clothing company started by Bono and his wife Ali. You will find all classifications of apparel and accessories including jewelry I have featured a collection of jewelry which I am responsible for which is made primarily of sustainable materials as well as many other items which I found while researching the idea of “Eco-friendly” apparel… so now it is your decision “to be green or not to be green!!!!”
