Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein

With jobs as architects, doctors, scientists, mathematicians, musicians, computer programmers and more, my customers are exceptional. I would like to highlight one, Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development Corporation and the designer of the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet.

Mitch serves on the Board of Directors of the Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI) founded by his wife Freada Kapor Klein. Through SMASH, LPFI's Summer Math and Science Honors Academy, students attend a 3-year summer enrichment program focusing on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. In addition to summer STEM training on campus at UC Berkeley, SMASH scholars receive year-round academic support, including SAT preparation, college counseling, financial aid workshops, and more.

The results are exceptional - 94% of participants stay in SMASH, 100% graduate high school, 100% are accepted into 4-year colleges, and an average of 90+% enroll in college.

After an eight-year track record on the Berkeley campus, SMASH added a second campus at Stanford this summer serving over 160 scholars in total. LPFI plans to scale to Southern California campuses and the East Coast starting in 2012. The next step is to go national!

In Mitch's own words, "When I was in high school, a summer math and science program set me on the course of my life. Today, I invest in SMASH so that students not normally afforded access to such programs can have that same opportunity. Every year I see our scholars' lives transformed as I talk with them and attend their classes. SMASH proves that the dream of a highly educated, diverse workforce in this country can be a reality."

Mitch and Freada's mission is close to my heart. As you know, math and technology are integral to my design process, and I value education. An unexpected joy in my career has been sharing my love of math with students around the country as a guest lecturer.

I plan to support Mitch and Freada's mission, and invite you to do the same. For the month of September, I will donate 5% of all online store sales to the SMASH program. By shopping in my online store, you will help raise money for SMASH. To learn more about the SMASH initiative, visit the Level Playing Field Institute, or make a donation directly (click on "Give Now").

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Pipeline

New Fashions

My Fall 2011 Collection features a sampling of some of my favorite new techniques along with some classic styles. I think you'll love my new silk "tie shirts" inspired by neck tie weaving; my cotton "fancies;" and my large-scale, colorful engineered screen prints.

Here are some of my favorites.

I love the look and feel of "Pipeline." This silk-cotton shirt has just the right amount of shine and texture. It uses my new "tie shirt" technique. The grid of intersecting lines in black, beige, silver, khaki and cognac create a warm fall palette.

"Rhomboid" also takes special advantage of my new silk tie weaving technique. The outside of the shirt is silver and black, with a pattern of interconnecting, dimensional-looking shapes, or rhomboids, and a subtle stripe. If you look at the inside of the fabric, you will notice that it has a colorful stripe! Using special weaves, I was able to create this fabric with a distinct front and back. And for you pocket lovers, the shirt has a pocket.

Rhomboid

"Polychrome" in 100% cotton, is a dynamic, engineered print. While this looks like a digital print with an unlimited palette, it's actually a screen print!

Through my new partnership with brothers Abe and Bill Chang, I have access to my own screen printing and weaving mills and factories in China. All of my screen prints are printed by hand in China by highly skilled printers. Here is a screen printing video I took when I was in China. The range of color in "Polychrome," with depth and shades of blue, khaki and grey from white to black, is amazing!

Polychrome

Another one of my new "silk tie" shirts, "Louver Plaid" has an iridescent, copper-colored cast. For those of you who are fond of solids, this shirt is a luxurious choice, rich with texture and subtle shifts in color.

Louver Plaid

I hope you will check out the new fancy silk wovens, dynamic prints and solids in my online store. You're sure to find something you love.

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Prism

In addition to my men's fashion line, I love designing carpet. I've been working with Tandus for years to create carpet for corporate, healthcare and education settings. We recently launched "Prism" to coordinate with two of my successful designs, "Haiku" and "Tanka," all three of which are available in the same 12-color palette.

Here I am with "Prism" at Neocon, a trade show for commercial interiors.

Jhane at Neocon

"Prism" was inspired by a digital print and corresponding sweater from my men's line. You may remember the sweater from my Spring 2009 collection. My fashion designs are often the catalyst for my carpet patterns. Translating a woven or printed fabric from fashion into a tufted carpet can present technical challenges. Luckily for me, my custom software has a variety of tools that allow me to create and modify patterns to meet the technical requirements of different types of textiles.

While my carpet is designed for and sold to corporations, hospitals and universities, I use it at home in my entertainment and exercise rooms. It's low pile, which makes it easy to clean, and it comes with a special, patented waterproof backing. This is great for when my dogs have accidents -- spills will not penetrate! To see my carpet and even order it for your home or office, send me an email at jhane@jhanebarnes.com, and I will put you in touch with the Tandus sales contact for your area.

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CFDA Auction Winner

After the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan earlier this year, I participated in a Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) charity auction to help raise funds for Japan. I'm delighted to tell you that Richard Noll, CEO of Hanesbrands Inc., won the auction. As you may recall, the auction prize was a custom outfit that I would design just for the winner. Recently, Richard visited my studio, where we started work on his custom outfits. Once they are done, we'll have photos and more details.

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Tidbits

I've been invited to be the Keynote Speaker at NeoCon East on November 3rd! This is quite an honor for me. NeoCon is a huge show devoted to commercial interiors (carpet, chairs, furniture, ceilings, stone and tile, wall treatments, corporate art, and much more--if it's used in a building, it is represented at NeoCon).

The show occupies 185,000 square feet of exhibit space, with 250 exhibiting manufacturers. 7,500 people are expected to attend, including architects, interior designers, facility managers, real estate executives, purchasing managers, federal government procurement officers, space planners, and dealers.

And I get to speak to them all!