The M641 Bloggy Boutique

Fulfilling for us...

2009-11-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

In light of this thankful season we pass on to you our heartfelt feelings of gratitude with this, our fun little list of things we are giving thanks for this year:

Gifts to share. We're so happy our passion for creating memorable fashion is able to be shared with you. No matter what your gift...singing, art, teaching, writing, etc. you should nuture it and share it with the world. Take it from us, we at M641 are having a blast sharing our talent with you.
The fingerless glove trend. These babies keep your hands warm while leaving your digits free to, well, dial digits or type whilst working remotely. And speaking of gifts, our friend over at Bonne Vie made this cozy pair she calls 'ninjamittens' by hand, (pun intended) for us to stay toasty warm this season. She knew we'd need our fingers free to do our design work I guess! Thank you sweet Birdie! Contact her @Birdiee on Twitter if you want to purchase a pair.

Reusable bags for grocery shopping. These just make it so stylish to shop! (not the ones the grocer puts your items in, the ones you take with you to the market.) These are especially useful for toting around those Black Friday deals!

Healthful choices. Speaking of the market and Thanksgiving time. Tofurkey. Yep...that's TOFU 'turkey'. We're a vegetarian company friends and we're thankful for Tofurkey.

Culture. Being a multi-cultural brand, we are so very proud of our roots. We feel blessed to live in a country that respects, honors and celebrates other ethnicities.

Technology. It is imperative in running any business to have the latest tools. In the fashion biz, technology really helps us extend our reach. And from concept, creation to completeness, thru delivery and promotion, technology is vital to our success. Where would we be without it?
Hydration. Late nights and the constant need for creativity, means you gotta really dig deep. So with a little help from our friends - Mr. Coffee and Mrs. Wine, we're usually tip top any time of day! Thanks to the Folgers Company and Middle Sister Wines (Merlot) specifically.Fashionistas, fashion related blogs, stylists and other designers. We love seeing how others take on trends and we continually feel inspired by each of you to keep on doing what we do. Thank you!

Pretty heads. Crowns and coronets haven't been seen much since the 18th century. So we're thankful for the hair adornment trend. These pair so well with M641 so I guess we are biased. Much of our SS '10 Collection was stylized with byMaryJane for example. Thanks Mary Jane!

Of course we cannot end this list without mentioning that we are sincerely grateful for health, wellness, all that is divine, our families and you our fashiony friends. See how full we already are this Thanksgiving?

What's important to you? What fads or style items are you thankful for? Comment here and you could WIN a Tofurkey! (We're kidding.) But please do share if you feel so inclined. As for Giveaways, have you entered ours? (see previous post) For now, have a terrific, safe and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

In fashion and friendship,

M641 Feast of Fashion Giveaway

2009-11-14T06:08:00.000-08:00

This time of year inspires us to reflect and give thanks for our many blessings. Here at M641 we have much to be thankful for! As a way of showing our appreciation to our Twitter followers, Facebook Fans and the masses of M641 groupies, we're giving away an Impish Whisper Jumper which has been a best seller for just about a year now. And, it was featured on iVillage.

(The Impish Whisper Jumper shown here with model's own hoodie.)This particular M641 design has a boat neck, is done in baby cord and has printed poplin at the pleating. Embroidery detail is found at the upper chest. It runs in sizes S - XL. We love it paired with knee high boots and some fingerless gloves!

Think you'd like one of these for yourself or to give as a gift? Well we can make that happen! We're GIVING away this stylish dress to one fashionable and THANKFUL person. And with so many ways to enter, you've got a pretty great shot. To enter, please visit: www.M641.com and then come back here to comment about two of your favorite M641 designs from our Collections listed there. You must also tell us how you'd stylize your new Impish Whisper Jumper.

Contest ends on Thanksgiving Day at 11PM EST. Winners will be contacted via email so be sure to include that! Extra entries will be credited for the following and you must comment here that you've done so:

Become a Fan of M641 on Facebook
Become a Follower of M641 on Twitter
Follow this M641 Bloggy Boutique
Share/mention this giveaway on Twitter (use @M641 please)
Share/mention this giveaway on FB (please link to the M641 Fan page please)
Dedicate your own blog post to this giveaway for 3 extra entries
Make a purchase on SmashingDarling (between now and 11/21 ) for 6 extra entries

Remember, leave a valid email address for winning notification purposes. And, leave one comment for each entry. We'll be emailing the winner regarding preferred size. Good luck friends!

You Never Forget Your First

2009-11-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

When you are an independent label, recalling your first order is much like remembering your first love. The nervous butterflies and excitement are tied to entirely different biological reasons of course, (thank goodness) but nonetheless, it's hard to forget the fondness you have for that special someone.

For us, our first fashiony relationship began with Sarah Watkins, owner of Cara mel Boutique in Washington, DC. A friend of a friend, knew of this adorable store and thought M641 would be a perfect fit. So our blind date, so to speak, ensued! The friend was right. It was love at first site. Caramel is a 'delicious' shop on the very hip U-street in DC that offers "unique clothing and accessories for men and women, featuring international, national and local designers."

M641 as displayed at Caramel in DC.

While reminiscing we thought we'd check in with Sarah. Here is where we share our intimate interview:

How long has Caramel been around?

Caramel opened in May 2006.

Give us a little history about the boutique? Like, where did the name for the store come from?

My grandparents owned and operated local grocery stores for over 40 years, and I grew up working in them. My grandparents were extremely hard working and excellent role models. From a young age I always wanted to start my own business and follow in their footsteps.

My grandfather loved candy, and he always had a bowl of caramels next to his favorite chair. Hence, the name.

Speaking of history, do you recall the first item you ever sold?

Yes, it was a belt and the customer still shops at Caramel!

So what kind of items can we find at Caramel?

Caramel carries casual pieces for men and women. Many styles transition easily from work to play. We also carry a number of accessories – belts, jewelry, cufflinks, and bags (for both men and women).

What are some of your favorite products at Caramel?

I love the eco-friendly lines made from organic cotton and bamboo, and it is great to have a number of different local designers represented in the store. Of course, I can’t wait for the Madras 641 spring collection to get here – the pieces are adorable and different from anything you will find in other stores!

Your favorite part about being a store owner?

I enjoy finding interesting collections that people haven’t heard of before, and watching the fashion trends change from season to season. I absolutely love all of the wonderful people I have met through owning the store and being a part of the U Street community. That is probably the most rewarding part. I am so appreciative of all the support I have received from my family, friends and loyal customers.

See, now you understand why we're so smitten! The feeling is very mutual. Thank you Sarah, for your continued interest in the M641 brand.

If you're interested in finding out more about Caramel and the other great items they carry, email Sarah: contact@caramelfashion.com.

Luvin on some Blog Lovin'

2009-10-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

So excited to be finding such great new (to us) Fashion Blogs out there thanks to Blog Lovin'. What a great resource to follow your faves. If you're there and would like us to follow you, please just let us know. And look for us there too if you would! xo

In Fashion and Friendship

2009-10-15T14:13:00.001-07:00

Anyone who's ever received an email from us here at M641 knows we always close with "In fashion and friendship", but there's much more to that sentiment than you may realize. Our label was genuinely and lovingly created out of a dear friendship. The M641 designs come to you through our own ever-changing roles as wives, mothers, fashionistas and friends. We derive our inspiration each season from the support system we have found, not only in each other, but from you. For your friendship and support thus far, we thank you. We're looking forward to a rewarding (and might we say, good looking) relationship together!

In fashion and friendship,

M641

Attn: Retailers/Boutiques ~ M641 SPRING 2010 Ordering Details

2009-10-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

We're so excited to be currently showing our Spring '10 Ornamental Reverie and Memorable Escape Collections. If you're a retailer and would like accompanying Linesheets, please contact us: Info@madras641.com. Some pertenent ordering information is included in the image above.

FALLing for You

2009-10-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

You know we luv you, right? Well in case you needed reminding, that's where this post comes in. We paired our Spring '09 Acquired Domicile Tunic with fun additions like: Necklush, and 80%20 boots, as well as kitschy knee highs. So we've put the whole ensem together for you...including our favorite makeup looks. Love what you see? You can find everything on Indie shopping sites like: Moxsie.com and/or Modcloth.com and/or SmashingDarling.com/store/M641. While on SmashingDarling please note the deep discounts as we make way for our Spring 2010! Till then, we remain smitten!
FALLing For You by M641 on

Just Messing Around

2009-10-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

We love transitioning our Spring/Summer '09 pieces into Fall. After all being frugal and fabulous is part of our mantra. Here we've paired some fave indie finds with our Simple Chic dress from Summer '09. We'd go a step further and layer it up with that ole faithful standby jean jacket. You know you have one! And, while you're at it, transition not only your wardrobe, but your thinking. Be daring, confident and strong this season!
Never Mess with a Muse by M641 on Polyvore.com

Welcome Fashiony Friends!

2008-11-05T07:10:00.001-08:00

As M641 (Madras641) Clothing moves into taking SPRING '09 and SUMMER '09 Wholesale Orders, we decided to reach out to you loyal Indie customers with a personal blog. Subu and I understand that everyone wants to look fabulous and all, but with our economy in shambles, who has the money to splurge on inflated designer duds found in department stores? Ok well some people can, but we're talking to you..the "better-with-your-budget" ones.

Here (in time, in due time) you will be able to find some exclusive or limited run M641 designs not available in the market and/or drastically marked downed items. Think of this Bloggy Boutique as a pseudo on-line Sample Sale at times. As we list designs, under each item you'll see a brief description, sizes available and price. You would simply email us your desired design and size. Any other questions, just email us at info@madras641.com, we're cool like that!

Stop by often and check for some upcoming giveaways and contests too. And feel free to let us know what you'd like to see us post about. Most importantly, remember fashion should be personal and memorable. Thanks for stopping in today!

In fashion and friendship,

M641 Clothing Co-Founders
Subu and Ina