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Nancy Friedman's avatar

What a wonderful piece! My one big fashion love affair was with a local (Bay Area) brand, Babette, that sadly closed up shop in 2016 after 48 years in business and without ever selling out to a bigger company. My affair started with a casual flirtation -- shopping for bargains at the San Francisco outlet store -- but I eventually became so smitten that I offered to work in one of the Babette shops when the manager took a vacation. I earned $25 an hour, a generous wage back then, but I probably would have done it for free. I got to know the designer/owner, Babette Pinsky, and started writing for her. (The Babette Gazette was our short-lived newsletter.) I even ghost-wrote the text for the company's 40th-anniversary hardcover book. The clothes? Think Issey Miyake, but American. Lots of creative pleating. The factory in Oakland had a giant pleating machine that I was told was essentially the same equipment used in ancient Egypt. Other garments were pleated by hand. Everyone earned a living wage. I still own many of the pieces I bought over the years, and (incredibly) am still collecting specimens on eBay and in consignment shops. I'll probably never experience that kind of brand love again.

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Otter Tedesco's avatar

I had to Google you because after reading your article I was SURE you are a Scorpio. I am one week shy of being a year younger than you (and I used to be a redhead but am gracefully graying). That passion,, when finding something new, more than one color of the same item....it all sounded so familiar. 😁 I truly enjoyed this piece! I hope you are much relieved of your migraine. Dark, quiet room, chilled aloe pack over eyes and rest.

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