Information about my design background, experience and training with Saga Furs, teaching and development of the Fur New York program at The High School of Fashion Industries, and details regarding the future of my contemporary luxury womenswear brand specializing in leather and fur || R A E A N A

2. R A E A N A
A CONTEMPORARY LUXURY WOMENSWEAR BRAND
SPECIALIZING IN LEATHER AND FUR.
.
I STARTED MY BRAND IN 2010 WHILE I WAS STILL A STUDENT
IN THE BFA PROGRAM AT PARSONS SCHOOL FOR DESIGN.
I LAUNCHED THE BRAND WITH MY SENIOR THESIS COLLECTION, 6 LOOKS
INSPIRED BY THE COLOR COMPLEXITIES OF A BISMUTH GEODE.
THE COLLECTION FEATURES DEGRADE MINK PIECES, CREATED THROUGH A
PARTNERSHIP WITH SAGA FURS AND THE HONG KONG FUR FEDRATION.
I WON THE SAGA FURS DESIGN COMPETITION IN 2009
, WHICH ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE SAGA FURS
DESIGN CENTRE IN DENMARK. SAGA FURS IS A COMPANY
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE USE AND SALES OF FUR,
AND INNOVATIVE FUR TECHNIQUES.
THEY TRAIN FURRIERS AND DESIGNERS, ESTABLISHED AND
EMERGING ALIKE. SAGA FURS WORKS WITH SOME OF THE WORLDS
LEADING HOUSES USING FUR LIKE FENDI, BURBERRY, GUCCI AND CHANEL.
(AT JONEVON FURS STUDIO)

3. DEGRADE MINK JACKETS FROM THE BISMUTH COLLECTION

4. MINK JACKETS FROM THE BISMUTH COLLECTION ON DISPLAY
IN HONG KONG AT THE ANNUAL HONG KONG FUR FEDERATION TRADE SHOW
(LEFT) LEATHER JACKET FROM THE BISMUTH COLLECTION (RIGHT).

5. MINK DEGRADE ZIP FRONT JACKET IN THE WINDOW AT SAKS 5TH AVENUE. BUYERS SELECTED THE PIECE
TO BE A PART OF THE “OMBRE” STORY IN THE 5TH AVENUE WINDOW..

6. STRETCH LEATHER ETHOS DRESS WITH BLUE RUBBER ACCENT ZIPPER

7. KNIT DRESS AND LAMBSKIN LEATHER JACKET
WITH RUBBER ACCENT ZIPPERS.

8. STRETCH LEATHER JOGGERS WITH KNIT BANDAGE TOP

9. LAMBSKIN PENCIL SKIRT WITH BLUE RUBBER ACCENT
ZIPPER AND WOOL KNIT TOP

10. A PHOTO OF ME AT THE SAGA FURS DESIGN CENTRE IN APRIL OF 2015.
I WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A TUTORS SEMINAR.
THE FIRST FUR PIECE I DESIGNED, WHICH WON 1ST PLACE IN THE
SAGA FURS DESIGN COMPETITION IN 2009.

13. WORKING WITH A STUDENT FROM THE FUR NEW YORK PROGRAM.
I AM TEACHING HER HOW TO PROPERLY HANDLE THE SKIN AND BLADE
WHILE CUTTING STRIPS FOR A PATTERN.
IN 2013 I WAS OFFERED A POSITION TEACHING DESIGN
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL OF FASHION INDUSTRIES.
IN ADDITION TO TEACHING DESIGN, I INITIATED A FUR PROGRAM
AT THE SCHOOL WITH THE SUPPORT OF FICA,
GREATER FUR NEW YORK, AND SAGA FURS.
THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO TEACH YOUNG DESIGNERS
HOW TO WORK WITH FUR. THE AVERAGE AGE OF A FURRIER IS
ABOUT 75 YEARS OLD. I PARTNERED WITH JOHN PETKANAS,
THE PRESIDENT OF FUR NEW YORK TO INITIATE CLASSES FOR THE
STUDENTS TWO DAYS A WEEK WITH WORLD RENOWNED
FURRIER JERRY SORBARA. IN ADDITION TO WORKSHOP/CLASS
TIME THE STUDENTS ALSO INTERN WITH A FURRIER. INTERNSHIP SITES
INCLUDE OSCAR DE LA RENTA, J MENDEL, AND OTHER LOCAL
FURRIERS. I WAS INVITED BACK TO THE SAGA FURS DESIGN CENTRE IN
APRIL OF 2015 TO LEARN NEW FUR TECHNIQUES.
UPON MY RETURN FROM SAGA FURS I MADE THE DECISION TO
RESIGN FROM TEACHING FULL TIME, AND FOCUS ON THE BRAND FULL TIME.
I REMAIN AN ACTIVE ADVISOR FOR THE FUR PROGRAM.

15. APPLYING INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES AT SAGA FURS
TO MAKE THE FUR A LIGHTER AND MORE VERSATILE MATERIAL
TO WORK WITH, AND WEAR.

16. A R T H R O P O D A 16

18. ARTHROPODA 16 IS A FALL WINTER FUR COLLECTION THAT WILL CONSIST OF 8 LOOKS + ACCESSORIES INSPIRED BY
ARTHROPODS, PARTICULARLY BEETLES. THE DESIGN ELEMENTS ARE INSPIRED BY THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
OF BEETLES THAT ARE UNIQUE IN COLOR AND COMPOSITION. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE EARLY STAGES OF PRODUCTION- FINALIZING
AND PERFECTING THE FIT OF EACH LOOK IN MUSLIN (PROTOTYPE FABRIC). THE GOAL IS TO GO INTO PRODUCTION IN FULL FABRIC BY
NOVEMBER, AND CONCLUDE BY LATE JANUARY TO BEGIN SHOWING THE COLLECTION TO BUYERS. THE SAMPLES ARE BEING PRODUCED
PARTIALLY BY JONEVON FURS OF NO UP FRONT COST TO MY BUSINESS. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING PRODUCTION
OF ALL NON FUR AREAS OF THE COLLECTION. I NEED ASSISTANCE WITH FUND RAISING TO DEFRAY THE COST OF PRODUCTION AND
MARKETING OF THE COLLECTION IN THE EARLY STAGES. I AM ALSO SEEKING FINANCIAL MENTORSHIP.
I AM PROJECTING THE FOLLOWING
FUND RAISING GOALS:
ROUND 1 OF FUND RAISING (COVERS PRODUCTION OF SAMPLES, AND MARKETING OF THE COLLECTION)
$25,000
ROUND 2 OF FUND RAISING (COVERS PRODUCTION OF THE COLLECTION ONCE ORDERS ARE PLACED)
(TBD)
ROUND 3 OF FUND RAISING
(TBD)

21. SKI MASK WITH FELTED FUR AND FRINGE FROM THE COLLECTION.

24. ONE OF THE TECHNIQUES I CREATED USES FOX FUR AND LEATHER WITH GLASS BEADS COLLAGED IN THE FORM OF AN ARTHROPOD.

25. RETAILERS OF INTEREST:
KIRNA ZABETE- NEW YORK
JEFFREY- NEW YORK
BERGDORF GOODMAN- NEW YORK
OWEN- NEW YORK
ROAM- NEW YORK
HARVEY NICHOLS- LONDON
IKRAM- CHICAGO
MODAOPERONDI.COM

27. TOILE IN PROCESS

28. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MY STORY, AND IN MY WORK.
PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH, AND KEEP UP WITH THE PROCESS
AS I DEVELOP THE ARTHROPODA 16 COLLECTION.
RAEANA@RAEANA.COM
@BEHINDTHELABEL
#ARTHROPODA16