Vintage Skirt With Swarovski Crystals and baby hem.

One of my favorite jobs was as a manager of product development at Anne Klein from 1999 to 2001, back when Anne Klein was considered high end brand. Some of the samples I developed were so exquisite that they posed pricing challenges and were canceled. However, thanks to my employee discount, I was able to acquire some incredible pieces that I still cherish.
This crinkled silk-cotton skirt is from 1999, sewn in a New York sample room under my direction. The fabric was sent out for Swarovski crystal embellishments. I learned invaluable lessons from the highly skilled tailors there, who crafted everything by hand or with a straight stitch machine-no special equipment, just mastery. The skirt has French seams and a fine hemline ranging from 1/16” to 1/8”.
Recently, I decided to give it a modern update by shortening the lining to reveal about 6 inches of transparent fabric. While using a hem rolling foot for this project, I struggled to achieve the perfection of the original craftsmanship. The closest I came was through a technique I’ll share in the this video.
Anne Klein may no longer be the luxury brand it once was, and I’m sure they no longer have a sample room. But I’m grateful for that experience and the timeless fashion pieces it left me with.
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