Interview with AlbertMing

Friday, January 27, 2012

Last week we introduced you to the Berkeley-based menswear line AlbertMing, and co-founder Albert Shyy was kind enough to answer a few questions about his work.

How did the idea for AlbertMing first come to life?

We actually first came up the concept when Ming came out to visit me in Singapore, where I was working at the time. Wearing nicer clothing for work or play was challenging there because of the weather there: hot, humid, and often rainy. At the same time, we realized that a lot of the slimmer fitted suits that people in Asia and Europe liked to wear were a lot harder to find in the US, and it was personally very frustrating to go to retail and department stores and not find the styles I was looking for, at a price more affordable than than the $2000+ suits from Europe that sometimes had the style I liked. We thought there was a great opportunity to do something a little bit differentiated in tailored apparel and make clothing that would hopefully resonate with young guys who are looking to dress up.

The core concepts behind AlbertMing seem to be tailoring, functionality, and affordability. How do you find that perfect balance, and have you ever been forced to sacrifice one aspect for another?

Fortunately we haven't yet, although we're always trying to improve on each of these aspects. It requires some patience, as we have to look for the right partners who can offer what we're looking for in terms of quality and performance - for example, when we both went to Shanghai looking for tailors last year, we spoke with over a hundred, made samples at around a dozen, and ended up with a couple of tailors that we were happy with, but this process continually evolves and we need to invest a lot into our relationship to ensure that the quality and output remains consistently high. In a sense, we've had to make some sacrifices on speed to market by making sure we have the right product, but I think that's a trade-off I'm more comfortable making.

Could you please give us a rundown of what a typical day as the manager of a fashion start-up looks like?

Given our current size and scale as a very young start-up, it's probably more diverse than ideal but I have my hand in almost every part of the business. Ming and I split up our responsibilities so he would focus on web development and managing our supply chain, while I work on general business administration and marketing & sales, but given how often we talk we've both very up-to-date on the various parts of the business and do a lot of planning together.

Thus, my day-to-day varies a lot but broadly speaking involves significant amounts of communication and coordination with the people on my marketing team, with our various business partners and potential partners, answering inquiries from potential customers, and planning for / executing on the different projects we've got going on to help build our brand and expand our business. We've got some great undergrads from Berkeley who are working for us, mostly in marketing, it's been a fun team to work together with.

Last Friday Night

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Cal students are notorious for their high stress levels and nonexistent abnormal sleep cycles - after all, we're not called the best public university in the nation for nothing. But as most of you have probably realized, the first couple weeks of each semester are blissfully free of the problem sets and midterms that are sure to plague us in the near future. So the question is, what are we supposed to do with all of this spare time? Lucky for you, I've rounded up the best of what's happening in Berkeley right now:

L@TE: Friday Nights at BAM/PFA - This Friday, January 27, the BAM/PFA (2626 Bancroft Way) will be holding an evening soiree in honor of none other than the incredibly luminous, perfectly curvaceous, and extremely unattainable...moon. Contemplate this cosmic wonder while listening Tana Sprague play songs from her upcoming album Nine Chains to the Moon, as well as the soundtrack to her short film about the moon. Guests will also go home with a free tote bag designed by Dustin Wengreen in commemoration of Land and Sea’s first collaboration with BAM/PFA.

L@TE ADMISSION: $7, free for UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff and BAM/PFA members.

Image courtesy of The Telegraph.

Andy Warhol: Polaroids - Ever been obsessed with Edie Sedgwick, The Factory, or Campbell tomato soup cans? If the answer is yes, then I highly suggest you check out the opening of Andy Warhol: Polaroids at the Berkeley Art Museum (2626 Bancroft Way). Hosted by the BAM/PFA Student Committee , this event is promising to have it all: gallery chat with Director Larry Rinder, and Co-Curators Stephanie Cannizzo and Fabian Leyva- Barraganwho, a screening of Warhol's VINYL, a photobooth, and free Cheeseboard! Just be sure to come dressed in your best Studio 54 attire and get ready to boogie down.

Free admission.

Join BARE Magazine!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Interested in becoming a part of BARE Magazine? Well, here's your chance! We are currently accepting applications for the following teams:

Please follow the links to each team's respective application. If you would like more information on BARE, we will be tabling tomorrow (January 26th) from 1 - 4 p.m. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have, as well as give you an inside look at what it's like putting together UC Berkeley's premier fashion and lifestyle magazine!

Deadline for applications is February 2nd, 11:59 p.m.

The Perfect Men's Blazer

Saturday, January 21, 2012

"Hugo Boss meets North Face."

Who could ignore a mission statement like that? While my love of North Face has been well-documented, I have to say I had my doubts about the style potential of such a combination. But AlbertMing, the new menswear line founded by Albert Shyy (currently a Haas MBA student) and Ming Chang (a fellow UC Berkeley grad), manages to bring the best of both worlds in a collection that is refreshingly modern. Tailored to create a sharp, James Bond-esque silhoutte, the initial collection of suits and a dress shirt already have a lot going for them in the aesthetic department, but the real kicker is that they're also water and stain repellent. (Good news for those clumsy gentlemen who survive on emergency coffee runs to Peet's!)

Continuing the work they've already done, the duo have now set their sights on something a bit more ambitious: creating the perfect men's blazer. Impossible? I would say yes, but if AlbertMing can make Hugo Boss + North Face work, then anything is possible. The blazer itself will be made from stain-proof nanotech wool, have a fine Bemberg lining (more breathable than your run-of-the-mill polyester), and of course possess a sleek, modern feel. If you would like to contribute to their project, head over to Kickstarter and pledge to be a backer. As Albert himself mentioned, this is a blazer that will look great in every Berkeley wardrobe!

Help AlbertMing make the perfect blazer by clicking here.

For more information on AlbertMing, check out their website here.


Aimee Shimizu
BARE Blog Editor

My Feelings on the Shoo In Shoe

Sunday, December 18, 2011

My sister is an avid online shopper, and from time to time I'll receive a Facebook message from her with a list of links to clothes that she's currently obsessing over. Apparently getting a second opinion is "absolutely necessary", but honestly I think she just asks for my advice so she can do the opposite of whatever I tell her. Still, I dutifully click through all most of the links, and I have to say it's a good way to waste 10 minutes. Especially when you get gems such as these:

No, no, not the shoes. I'm talking about the description next to the shoes. Call me cruel, but this sugar-coated confection of exclamation marks! and super bubbly adjectives is perhaps one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read.

First, there's the issue of the "sassy cutouts". I honestly didn't even know that cutouts could be sassy, but if what this person says is true, then I will personally congratulate him/her on finding the first cutout that can "tell that b**** to back off of my boyfriend" in a friendly yet menacing tone. So fun, right? And if they have sassy cutouts, then maybe we can get shoes with other types of cutouts, too - inexplicable melancholy cutouts, enjoys long walks on the beach cutouts, raging 'til dawn cutouts...the possibilities are endless!

This next gripe is actually just a personal opinion, but the day I see harem pants die will be the happiest of my career as a blogger. These baggy, parachute-esque pants have been the bane of my existence since 2007, during the peak of my obsession with the uber-hipster website Lookbook. A trip to the mall was incomplete unless I tried on a pair at Urban Outfitters, and let me tell you, my shapeless ass was not happy. And now this writer has the nerve to remind me of my total lack of hipster cred, as if not understanding Instagram and disliking Animal Collective were not enough to place me staunchly in the un-cool camp. Well, Shoo In Shoe, you and your awesome harem pants can just [censored material]!

The final straw? "Couture compliments!" According to Wikipedia (the most trusted source on the internet), couture is strictly defined by the French Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris as companies that "design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings, have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen people full-time, and present a collection each season (i.e., twice a year) comprising at least thirty-five runs/exits with outfits for both daytime wear and evening wear." I am fairly certain that leopard print shoes, even ones with a couple of sassy cutouts, do not quality as "couture", and I am not afraid to call you out on it. In fact, I'll even bet that Juicy Couture has more couture potential than these shoes. Yeah, I went there. I think you're going to need some aloe vera, because you just got burned!

Ok, ok, I'm being pretty harsh. And the shoes are pretty cute. But c'mon, who else thinks we can lay off the sugariness just a teensy-weensy bit? Anybody? Hello??


Aimee Shimizu
Blog Editor