Two New Signature Items
I love brands that have a signature product - a single item that puts them on the map, never leaves their collection, and is what all future products are based upon. Sometimes, companies call it their “hero” product. I think I am drawn to these types of products myself. I also listen to a lot of business podcasts and love learning about how companies were built and have come to appreciate the key role in hero products in long term success.We have a few lines at our stores based on this concept, and two of them are Parker Thatch and Frank & Eileen. A favorite at The Shoe Hive, Parker Thatch was built on the Mimi Bag. Everyone in our industry knows it for its quality, form, and function and, of course, its timelessness. Good design is just good design. Over at The Hive, we have Frank & Eileen. Based on the success of The Barry, the only style the company had for five years, they only introduce a new shirt when it has a purpose, and when they know they have perfected the fit.This spring, both brands have introduced new styles based on their signature designs. Both companies are also owned by women so, what’s not to love? Parker Thatch has just introduced the Baby Lee. It is a smaller version of the popular Lee Bag but with all the same great details. It is a crossbody, so it is hands-free or you can detach the strap for a clutch, which makes it perfect for travel. The inside has a nylon lining and pockets for your essentials and it is handmade in California.Frank & Eileen has introduced The Silvio shirt and I know it is going to be my favorite fit. Silvio Albini, the head of their mill in Italy, passed away last year and he was instrumental in helping Audrey, the founder of Frank & Eileen, start her business. The cut is very close to The Joedy — which is a Hive customer favorite — but with a little shorter length overall and a slightly longer hem in the back than in the front. It isn’t just a new cut; it is a new fabric called downy, which is a superfine poplin and a more substantial fabric. This fabric gives the shirt a silky feel while maintaining its beautiful structure. See why it is going to be my favorite? Both versions we have for spring are in my closet and already in high rotation — which is saying something because I haven’t been wearing many things that button in this casual covid era.
