by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
There’s at least one hanging in almost every woman’s closet.
While the origination of the most basic must-have garment isn’t clear, fashion historians credit designer Coco Chanel with popularizing the “Little Black Dress” when it was shown in one of her fashion layouts in a 1926 edition of American “Vogue” magazine. Dress it up or dress it down, the LBD can go from the office to cocktails to evening wear.
Entrepreneur Brandon Shalton has opened a showroom and dress factory at the Landing to specialize in making the LBD one at a time and each one patterned to perfectly fit its wearer.
Shalton, a self-described “dot-com survivor,” earned a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. About 18 months ago, he said, the idea for a custom-fitted garment he could sell on the Internet came to him in a dream.
“I was inspired by Oprah,” said Shalton. “Her body weight keeps changing and I thought it would be nice if she could have a dress that would always look the same.”
His first attempt at using off-the-shelf computer software to customize a dress pattern wasn’t very successful, so he put his training to use and developed a system that works.
As for the name of the company, Shalton said he considered something simple and to the point, but his research indicated women want to buy fashions from companies with “designer-sounding” names. His wife is from Turkey, so eventually, “Kara Bazma,” Turkish for “black fabric,” went online.
The process begins when a customer goes to www.karabazma.com and registers. Then a kit complete with online video instructions is used to measure the customer’s figure. The data is converted by the software into a pattern that allows a Kara Bazma LBD to be one-of-a-kind, said Shalton.
“The standard sizes are proportional and very few women are a perfect size 2 or 10 or 22,” he said. “We make a pattern that fits each customer’s unique figure. We like to say we make only one size of dress: yours.”
Marketing on the Internet allows for a “level playing field,” and also allows Kara Bazma to offer “custom-made dresses at off-the-rack prices,” said Shalton. The company’s LBD retails for $135, including shipping, and has a money-back satisfaction guarantee.
He purchases fabrics from markets in New York City and Los Angeles. Currently, Kara Bazma has two dress designs with five more in development. Shalton said while black is the only color presently offered, he’s considering adding more fabric choices. A black-and-teal combination is in the works and possibly school colors for Florida-Georgia weekend and the Gator Bowl game.
One of the most frequently asked questions from customers is whether their dress is made in America or somewhere else.
“We can’t make these dresses overseas. Every one is different and we sell direct to the consumer, which allows us to keep the price low. A business like this also helps our economy because it keeps the work and the dollars in the USA,” said Shalton.
“Visit us on the Internet or come and shop in our store at the Landing,” he added. “Meet the people who will make your dress.”
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