Strange Fruit Vintage Presents: Everyday People





Petey is the spitting image of her mother.
How dope is this flyer!



 The weekend is here and while I'm looking forward to some rest (finally! this has been a crazy busy week), I'm also looking forward to The Everyday People Fall and Winter Fashion Show, produced and hosted by Shalishah "Petey" Franklin, owner of Strange Fruit Productions. One of the hardest working women I know, I was able to get her to take a few moments away from her work (the show is tonight at AIM Co-Op Studios (287 Madison Ave.) and give the NDLoop readers a little more insight into Strange Fruit Vintage.

Tell us a little about SFV.
Strange Fruit Vintage is an online urban vintage clothing boutique that specializes in offering quality clothes and accessories from the 1980s to the present. Since launching in the spring of 2010, SFV has held three pop-up shops in Memphis and has been featured in various publications including the Memphis Flyer, and on the popular ilovememphisblog.com. SFV was also featured on “Flipside Memphis,” a documentary produced by the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau in partnership with Live from Memphis that highlighted all things unique to Memphis.

Vintage (in the fashion world) is classified as anything over 10 yrs old. What made you choose the 80s-90s as Strange Fruit's niche?
I am a 80s baby and I am consistently inspired by hip hop, art and popular culture from this time-period. I began throwing events under the moniker Strange Fruit Productions a few years ago and at one event in particular, I projected the movie Breakin’ on the wall to play silently during the party.  Some of my younger crowd marveled at the movie…just stared and watched it. It was at that time that I had an epiphany…there is a new generation or two, who have only heard about the 1980s. So, I decided to begin SFV to introduce the original clothes to younger generations and to re-introduce the original clothes to people who already know and love the era. 

What was your inspiration behind hosting an "every day people" fashion show (which I hear is sold out, by the way. Kudos! That's a huge accomplishment).
Thank you. The Everyday People Fall and Winter Fashion Show is indeed sold out and that is a huge honor and accomplishment for me. I’m humbled by it honestly.  Selecting “everyday people” for the fashion show all goes back to Strange Fruit Productions, my original party company. Being an artist, living in Memphis, not necessarily fitting comfortably into the club scene or typical entertainment experience here, I created SFP to offer an artistic experience where people could just be themselves. I’m a firm believer in diversity on so many levels and I think we as a society have to get to a point where we appreciate people not for their similarities but for their differences.

How did you select your models?
My models in the upcoming show are dancers, artists, rappers, social workers, epidemiologists, actors and many other things. They are tall, short, thin, curvy, various races, various ages….they are me…they are you.  And that’s the point. They are everyday people and damn beautiful for it. Some of them I’ve known. Some of them I’ve met randomly over the past month and awkwardly asked them to model in my show.  Some of them responded to a model call a month ago.

I know that you're a big proponent of individual style; are the model's looks a collaborative effort or where there certain looks already set but you needed the right person to rock them?
For the most part, the person makes the clothes and not vice versa. I have over 400 vintage pieces in the SFV studio and I gathered my 25 models and began styling their outfits for the show based around who they are as people. Some of my girls are really really sassy and you will know exactly why they are wearing the items they are!

What can those lucky enough to score a seat expect from the show?
This is a culmination of what intense creativity, love, and faith look like in action. 70 straight up and down fabulous looks, 25 beautifully diverse models, 5 performances including beatboxers and violinists, in an artistic and collaborative space, set to great 80s and 90s music on a fantastically warm night in downtown Memphis. For those who will be there, thank you in advance. For those who didn’t score a ticket to this show, I hope that you join us for the pop up shop immediately to follow and open to the public, 8-10p.  And most importantly, I hope you all stay “NDLoop” with SFV….there’s so much more.

Where can people shop & find out more Strange Fruit Vintage?
Each week we offer the “seven on sale” on www.strangefruitvintage.com featuring hot and rare finds for men and women.  We also do events in the Memphis area and will be expanding to other cities very soon.  Follow us on twitter @iamstrangefruit. Grow where you’re planted.

It's always a pleasure talking to someone so dedicated to their craft. She's proof positive that hardwork really pays off!

So dear readers, who scored tickets to the Fashion Show? Who's going to shop? Comment below and keep us NDLoop!

ATL: Come enjoy a Taste

Elite Marketing Group & Justin’s Restaurant present Taste, a relaxing evening set for Atlanta’s professionals.

Each and every Friday, come chill with Atlanta’s elite while enjoying infinite wine refills, 5 star meals and good music.

DJ Ace will be on the 1s & 2s spinning old school, hip-hop, and R&B. Enjoy drink specials  and complimentary hors d’oeuvres from 5p-7p.

Every week, the specialized taste menu is created by Diddy's personal chef, Jay.

To RSVP: email Events @MyModelTalk.com, or click here to contact Atlanta’s InCrowd.

Weekend Style: SVF Pop Up Shop & Style Junkie Casting Call

Hey peeps, what's on your agenda for this weekend? If you have nothing planned but are looking to get out, here are two options for you:

Strange Fruit Vintage is premiering their pop up shop at tonight from 6p-10p at Odessa (2613 Broad Ave Memphis, TN).

 If you love 80s and 90s apparel  and are looking to expand your collection, this is the place for you to be tonight. There will be live spinning by DJ Homework, and also an 80s inspired photobooth so that you can snap some cool pics with your friends.

 The pics are only $5 bucks, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Odessa's Building Fund.

Tomorrow, Style Junkie is hosting a casting call from 6p-9p at their store to find true fashionistas for an upcoming commercial shoot for their brand. If you feel that you have the look and style that MUST be seen, be sure to go down and show your face.

There will also be an exclusive Meet & Greet with upcoming R&B Artist Porcelan Chalet during the call (I heard her sing a capella the other day and the girl can SING. She has the talent, personality, and look so make sure you watch out for her).

Be sure to dress chic and bring a pic!

So readers, what else is going on this weekend? Will be going to the events listed above? Comment below and keep us NDLoop!

How Do You Network?

Last week I attended Women ‘n’ Wine, a social networking event hosted by Author Nancy Nichols (Secrets of the Ultimate Husband Hunter). Sponsored in part by VIP Memphis, Women ‘n’ Wine is an opportunity for professional women of all backgrounds and ages to come together to enjoy good food, conversation, and make possible business relationships as well. Admission was only a $1 (to cover your nametag; food & wine was not included).

I met photographers, independent consultants (Style Junkie’s Andrea Jones was in attendance), nurses, real estate agents, jewelry designers, etc. The cool thing about it was that we were in an intimate setting (this meet-up was at Amerigo’s) so everyone was able to sip some wine and enjoy themselves as if they were meeting with friends.

I have to say, I hope more networking events of this nature take place because it’s a great opportunity to meet fabulous people. Believe it or not, I’m a naturally shy person but this setting eased my nervousness a bit. If you wanna find out more, visit their website http://www.meetup.com/Women-n-Wine/ . I hope to see some of you guys next time!

So readers, have any of you ever attended Women ‘n’ Wine or any events similar? What do you look to come out with when you attend? For male readers, do you guys have something similar (Men ‘n’ Food? Lol). If so, comment below and keep us NDLoop!

Eye-Con Couture Casting Call

Last week, Eye-Con Couture (a chic, trendy boutique in Midtown Memphis) hosted a casting call for “Eye-Candies”. In celebration of their 5th Year Anniversary, Eye-Con Couture was in search of an eclectic group of girls interested in becoming a part of the Eye-Con brand.

I sat down with the owner, Tanyel Hobson-Walton, to get more details behind the campaign and it sounds like an opportunity of a lifetime for all participants. A statuesque beauty, Tanyel has been involved with the modeling industry since she was 14, so she understands the work that goes into having a successful modeling career. She’s done runway, print, and has experience in theater, so she knows it’s about more than just taking cute photos.

Looking for the total package (beauty, brains, & personality), but not from the typical “model”, her goal is to select a diverse group of girls who, with a little touch of glamour and training, can transform into an “Eye-Con”. Not only will those selected as Eye-Candies be part of Eye-Con’s personal brand, but this is the chance to be seen on a global scale, with a calendar, online and print exposure. With her vast knowledge of the industry, the models involved would be wise to soak up any and all knowledge that comes their way.

Photography Ziggy Mack was on deck to snap a few photos at the call:








The chosen Eye-Candies will be revealed this Saturday, June 26 at their Shopping Party Event (visit their website for more store information http://www.eye-concouture.com/). Swing by to see who was chosen, and check out their fabulous collections!

To our female readers: are you an “Eye-Con”? What qualities do you think you should have to be one? Comment below and keep us NDLOOP! ~KT

Spotlight: BG Magazine Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary

If you’ve ever been in the company of Tameiko Yancey, then you know that she is quite the firecracker. Beautiful with a fun, outgoing personality, Tameiko is extremely ambitious and business savvy, so it makes perfect sense that she decided to publish a magazine that's reflective of her character: BG Magazine. Celebrating their one year anniversary, BG Magazine is for the “Bad Girl” in all women. Chock full of tips on health & beauty, fashion, and relationships, BG Magazine also highlights local success stories of our fellow Memphians.

Run entirely by a team of minority women (can you say ultimate Girl Power?), BG Magazine is building quite the buzz, with no signs of stopping. Their mission is to empower all women everywhere, and by not limiting themselves to a specific market or sector, they are quickly expanding their readership, while helping other "Bad Girls" do the same with their own networks.

It makes me happy (and quite proud) to see strong, confident women taking on media, offering a quality product and proving the naysayers wrong. I salute Ms. Yancey for providing people with a magazine that is not only fun to read, but also electing to build a team like the one she has. It's an inspiration for any woman that's pursuing her goals. With hard work, dedication, and a good team, anything is possible!

Pick up a copy whenever you’re out around town, and you can also visit them online at http://www.bgmemphis.com/ to view a virtual issue of the Anniversary Issue.

Are you a Bad Girl? Do you know any that need mentioning? Comment below and keep us NDLOOP! ~KT