John Bartlett New York

Thrilled to be a part of the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Design Winners!!

2011-09-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

NEWS

2nd ANNUAL CFDA/LEXUS ECO-FASHION CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Lexus once again challenged emerging designers to develop proposals for a sustainable clothing or accessory line with the environment in mind. At an event at MILK Studios last night in New York, attended by many well-known designers and fashion insiders interested in supporting emerging and eco-friendly designers, the winners of the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge were revealed. The three winners of this year’s challenge are: Marcia Patmos from New York, NY; John Bartlett from New York, NY; and Johnson Hartig of Libertine from Los Angeles, Calif.

All submitted proposals for a clothing or accessory line that demonstrated a commitment to ecologically responsible design. The contest required that a minimum of 25 percent of the collection be produced in an environmentally-friendly manner. Many of the proposals included components such as recycled plastic, reclaimed wood, minimal packaging and non-chemically treated fabrics.

“Lexus partnered with the CFDA to create the Eco-Fashion Challenge as a platform to encourage and support sustainable lifestyles,” stated Brian Smith, vice president of marketing for Lexus. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate designers that share Lexus’ commitment to providing sustainable products without sacrificing style or luxury. We’re looking forward to February’s Fashion Week to see the winners’ work on the runway.”

“There is a movement within the fashion industry to create more sustainable and environmentally friendly clothing lines and accessories,” said Steven Kolb, CFDA CEO. “This competition allows us to highlight designers and their creative approaches to sustainability and in some ways become thought-leaders in the industry.”

The winners will each receive $25,000 to bring their collection to life and produce a fashion show during the February 2012 Fashion Week in New York. The proposals were selected by a panel of judges from the CFDA, Loomstate, Marie Claire and Parsons School of Design and were based on design credibility, business acumen and eco-commitment, with attention focused on eco-fabrics, materials, processes and packaging.

John Bartlett: Heart on His Sleeve

2011-09-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

John Bartlett: Heart on His Sleeve

The final episode of Six Feet Under

2011-08-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Last night john and re-watched the final episode of Six Feet Under...Wow, i wasnt prepared for the outpouring of emotion i experienced from watching this...I remember being moved but i was totally blown away this time around.
Such an incredible ending to a groundbreaking series.

if you get a chance try to see it..we are only here for a short time on this planet.

how do you want to be remembered?

Lights, Camera, Compassion: A Special Fundraiser for MFA's New Vegetarian Television Commercials

2011-08-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Lights, Camera, Compassion: A Special Fundraiser for MFA's New Vegetarian Television Commercials

Bank Street studio thinking about fall....

2011-08-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

First glance and fun day working on Fall 2012(already..and i am probably late!)

One of my favorite things about working in fashion is the beginning of a season where there are no limits and you get to start all over again. It is a blessing and a curse as it is also being able to think about what you are going to want to see and wear a year from now..

Thank You Keanan Duffty!!!!

2011-08-09T05:42:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2011

5 Minutes With John Bartlett

Apart from being a genuinely lovely guy, John Bartlett is an extremely talented designer and dedicated supporter of the North Shore Animal League. Bartlett launched his label in 1992 and his success earned him two CFDA awards and a Perry Ellis Men's Wear award. He then expanded into womenswear in 1997 using luxurious Italian fabrics echoing other American designers like Halston and Bill Blass with the use of clinging jersey dresses and sharp tailored jackets. In 2000, Bartlett dropped out of the fashion business for a short time, making a comeback in 2003 with a small collection of menswear, which he showed at the Harvard Club. Bartlett opened his first store in New York's West Village in 2007 and in 2008 he was appointed Liz Claiborne's Creative Director for their men's sportswear line. Bartlett continues to grow his signature menswear line and recently entered the e-commerce arena.

Q1. What was the first record that you bought and how did it change your life?

The first album I bought as a youth was BAD COMPANY and I think it was around 1973...I played it over and over again on my plastic record player in the basement. This was the first rock album I had and some of the songs are still on my favorite playlist on my iPod. This music changed my life in that I quickly started to listen to Led, Tull, and Fleetwood Mac. I thought I was totally groovy in my flared cords and David Cassidy haircut.

Q2. You are a big supporter of the North Shore Animal League. How did you get involved?

When I turned 40 I visited the North Shore Animal League looking for a rescue and I met my sweet boy Tiny Tim, who was a tripod. He had lost his leg in a car accident and rescued from another shelter where euthanasia is common and brought to North Shore. His leg was amputated on Xmas Eve and therefore he earned the name Tiny Tim after the Dicken's character. when I opened my store Tim became my unofficial logo and now I have launched a complete online collection with his image to help raise money for rescue dogs everywhere. Please check it out at www.johnbartlettny.com. I have done several adoption events at my store with North Shore and I am now starting a Tiny Tim rescue fund to help raise money for independent rescue groups who are pulling from the high risk municipal shelters.
Q3. You recently announced that you've become vegan and will no longer use leather in your collections. Would you agree that it is relatively easy for all designers to find credible, aesthetically pleasing alternatives to leather and fur and more of us should follow in the footsteps of designers like yourself and Stella McCartney?

I feel that the fashion community is caught up in the illusion of "luxury" and many designers feel the need to use fur and leather to speak to a more expensive customer. If you look at Stella's work, the quality is incredible and she is able to create high fashion without contributing to the suffering of animals. I chose to become vegan after the incredibly upsetting return of fur on many runways. I could not understand the disconnect and why people who say they love animals work in fur especially. I started to speak out against the fur industry and wanted to be very clear about my stance, so I discontinued using leather. I am not completely convinced about fake fur as it promotes the look of fur and may send the wrong message. I do think that faux leather shoes and belts are important especially for professional men and women who may not be able to wear canvas gym shoes to work. My feeling is that it is time for the fashion community to recognize their responsibility on a global level. Fur and leather manufacturing is very damaging to the environment and I applaud anyone in fashion who is seeking alternatives that better serve the animals, the earth and our industry's progress.

Q4. Online media and e-commerce have changed the way we receive information and shop. What in your opinion are the pros and cons of the online world?

I just launched my own online store as I mentioned above and I am blown away at the ease with which I can maintain it. I do feel that many people are drawn to the web and prefer shopping from home. I am excited by the future of online shopping as well as the future of social media and its effect on internet shopping and communication.

Q5. You often say that at Harvard you studied night clubbing whilst at Harvard. Can you share a fun 80's nightclubbing story?

Gosh, I don't have any particular story per se...while most of my fellow students were studying I gathered a great deal of my education from being out in the nightclub world. As a sociology major I realize now that the combination of my sociology background and being out in boston at the clubs was a great preparation for a career in fashion. One of my favorite clubs was called SPIT and on tuesday night it was a very cool mixed crowd new wave night. I liked to wear a mailbag as a skirt and lots of brooches and salvation army clothes...such a blast.

http://www.johnbartlettny.com/

http://www.animalleague.org/

Jenny and Isis, the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund's first unofficial donation!

2011-07-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

look at these gorgeous girls. apparently they became best mates and cage mates in a shelter in l.a. my friend zizi asked if anyone could help donate to getting them out before they didnt have anymore time. and although the tiny tim rescue fund is not up and running officially(still waiting for our non-profit status) i forwarded some money to help get these sweet angels out.

video of jenny and isis

Jennifer Rosen Bullies and Buddies Rescue Dedicated to rescuing,rehabilitating, and re-homing Bullies and their other Buddy Breeds Help me save a life by sharing with Facebook friends. bulliesandbuddies@gmail 310.462.8480

Thank you so much ourhenhouse.org

2011-07-11T10:42:00.001-07:00

Fashion Designer Devotes His Life to Animal Causes

Posted on 11. Jul, 2011 by Jasmin Singer in Grazing in the Grassroots, Media Mavens, Money Squawks, Oink, Moo, Woof, Video

Fashion designer extraordinaire John Bartlett, who was recently on our podcast discussing his newfound veganism, has now launched a new line of clothing that benefits independent rescue groups that are pulling animals from kill shelters throughout the country. The Tiny Tim Collection was named after John’s rescue dog who, sadly, passed away last fall from lymphoma.

After being involved in a car accident that caused him to tragically lose his leg on Christmas Eve 2002, the precious dog who would become known as Tiny Tim (after the inspiring Charles Dickens character) found his way to the North Shore Animal League, and eventually to John’s home and heart. As these little creatures frequently do, Tiny Tim inched his way into John’s world in capacities that John never thought possible, and now, Tiny Tim’s legacy lives on.

John founded The Tiny Tim Rescue Fund so that much-needed money and awareness can be raised about shelter dogs in life-threatening situations who are relying on our help. According to the website, “The money raised by the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund goes to providing these dogs with medical attention, foster parents and, eventually, a loving forever home — a place all pets deserve.”

The clothes that are part of the chic Tiny Tim collection feature the dog’s silhouette, and, in addition to supporting this vitally important cause (since a percentage of the sales from the collection are funneled into the Fund), also allow stylish wearers the added benefit of displaying their advocacy for all to see. I have no doubt that the striking design will spur conversations that will lead to opportunities to enlighten others to the plight of dogs in dire situations and the heroic work of those fighting to rescue them.

Let me just add that John Bartlett is one of my favorite activists ever. His love for Tiny Tim opened his eyes to issues affecting all animals — from shelter dogs, to animals exploited by the fur industry, to farmed animals. As he explained when we interviewed him, John intends to use his platform as a designer to change the world for animals, whether that means publicly boycotting fur and encouraging other designers to follow suit, to proclaiming in mainstream media that he “wants to be a 100% vegan designer,” to using his clothing line (and one might say life line) to speak up for dogs in shelters. John Barlett is as true blue as they come.

Check out John’s heartwarming video below for more about the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund.

TINY TIM RESCUE FUND from j bartlettny on Vimeo.

Thank You Julia Szabo and Dogster.com

2011-07-01T05:02:00.001-07:00

Fashion Designer Unleashes Stylish Rescue Fund for Dogs

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It’s no secret that this column is a big fan offashion designer John Bartlett for many reasons, chiefly his advocacy on behalf of shelter dogs in New York City and all over the country. (He’s also sexy and brilliant and kind and funny and – dang it – gay!)

John recently unveiled his newly revamped web site, and on it is a link to the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund. Since few express passion for animal rescue as eloquently as John Bartlett, I’ll just let his words do the talking here:

“When Tiny Tim entered my life he brought so much appreciation and love with him and taught me a great deal for the eight years that we shared together,” John says. “When he passed away, I wanted to honor him by creating the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, which will raise money to help those animals who do not have a home and need to be rescued from high risk city shelters.”

Tiny Tim’s sweet spirit lives on in the stylin’ T shirts and hoodies – for men, women, and kids – that bear his handsome tripod likeness. Ten percent of profits from sales of these glam garments are donated to the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, which also gratefully accepts donations of money.

As John recalls, “Tiny Tim, my beloved rescue dog and best friend, was named after the inspiring Charles Dickens character [in A Christmas Carol] after he lost his leg on Christmas Eve in the winter of 2002. Tim had been hit by a car and was pulled from a high-risk shelter. He was then brought toNorth Shore Animal League America, where his leg was amputated and where he was subsequently rehabilitated.

“Four months later, on my 40th birthday, I went to visit the NSAL to look for a rescue dog. Initially, I went looking for a smaller dog that could travel with me. When I went to the shelter, I saw Tim sitting calmly in his cage while the adjacent dogs were barking trying to get my attention When I first laid eyes on him, it was love at first hairy sight. Tiny Tim and I went on to spend 8 glorious years together. He quickly became my muse and eventually the official logo of my company. His three-legged silhouette has become synonymous with dog rescue and animal welfare.

“Sadly, after eight amazing years together, Tiny Tim was diagnosed with lymphoma in the fall of 2010. Three months later, he was put to rest with his family surrounding him. The day that Tim passed was a bleak and rainy day. Shortly after his passing that afternoon, the skies cleared and a rare, beautiful rainbow appeared over New York City. I know that Tim is up in doggie heaven looking over me and looking out for rescue dogs everywhere.

“Throughout his time on Earth, Tim left an indelible mark on his loving human and canine families, as well as anyone he came in contact with. Tim meant a lot of different things to different people. To me, he meant complete, unconditional love. Hearing the thump of his tail near me when I least expected it always reminded me of this fact. To the humans who knew him, he was a handsome, playful, gentle soul. To his canine siblings and fellow dog park attendees, he was the boss and definitely the alpha but was always a compassionate leader. To the animal rescue world, he has come to symbolize the importance and necessity of continuing the important work of rescue workers worldwide. To preserve and honor his legacy, I have decided to create the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund.

“The Tiny Tim Rescue Fund is dedicated to raising and distributing funds to independent rescue groups who are pulling directly from the high-risk shelters and saving the lives of countless dogs. The money raised by the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund goes to providing these dogs with medical attention, foster parents and, eventually, a loving forever home – a place all pets deserve.

“The Tiny Tim Rescue Fund is kindly sponsored on a corporate level by the Bon-Ton Stores where I design two menswear lines: ‘John Bartlett Consensus and ‘John Bartlett Statements.’ Together with the Bon-Ton Stores, I am also launching a line for pets entitled ‘John Bartlett Pet.’

“Each year, Bon-Ton has agreed to donate $25,000 to the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund in a declaration of their support for shelter pets everywhere and the ultimate goal of finding them all loving homes and families. Additionally, 10% of all profits from your purchases on this website will be donated to the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund.

“When you wear your Tiny Tim clothing, you are saying to your community and to the world at large, quite simply and quite powerfully, that animals, just like humans, have inalienable rights: rights that allow them to life, to happiness and to unconditional love. Together, we can and we will make a difference.

“I cannot tell you how much your support to the Tiny Tim Rescue Fund means to me and to all of the pets that will inevitably benefit from the monies generated by your kind generosity,” John concludes.

Please, Dogsters, help spread the word about this beautiful project – and remember that Tiny Tim Ts make wonderful gifts for any occasion! Get ’em for everyone on your list!

Saturday June 25...

2011-06-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

2011 June 24

Add Four Chic Legs To Your Life

COMMENTS|SHARE|PRINT

This cuteness could be your life.
Photo Via John BartlettView Gallery

If you are sticking around the Big Apple this weekend, we have something for you to do besides ride on a rainbow float. John Bartlett is hosting his annual summer adoption event with the North Shore Animal League at his store at 143 7th Avenue South at Charles Street on Saturday from 12-5pm. Bartlett found his very own beloved Tiny Tim and Millie through NSAL, and is a devoted friend and champion to his furry friends.

thank you paper and string!

2011-05-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

John Bartlett's West Village

John Bartlett	Menswear designer John Bartlett lives and works within three-square blocks of the West Village. Below, he shares his favorite spots so that you, too, will never have to stray too far from home.

8am: 'Snice

Every morning, I grab an iced coffee with almond milk (don’t snarl, it’s good!) and a bagel with tofu cream cheese (see above if you’re still snarling). Hey, vegans are people too!

'Snice

45 8th Ave. (nr. Horatio St.)
(212) 645-0310 ‎
No Website

11am: Geno's Barberia

I get my hair buzzed every two weeks and I like Geno’s because it is woody and cozy like a trattoria and the smell of old school barbers hangs in the air. It’s $30 and sometimes I do a shave, which is the best (public) male relaxation ritual I know.

Geno's Barberia

48 Greenwich Ave. (btwn. Perry & Charles Sts.)
(212) 929-9029
No Website

1pm: Village Natural

Every day for lunch, I grab a black bean burger with avocado (hold the tempeh bacon!) and wash it down with their organic root beer. It’s all plant-based and it’s all really good. I repeat, really good.

Village Natural

46 Greenwich Ave. (btwn. Perry & Charles Sts.) (212) 727-0968 ‎
http://villagenaturalnyc.com/

3pm: Partners & Crime

I love my Nook but I still buy books and when I do there’s no better store than this one. I head directly to the Scandinavian Mystery section -- I can’t get enough of those dark, scary stories set in those dark, scary northern climes. I blame Stieg Larsson for setting me on this road to crime.

Partners & Crime

44 Greenwich Ave. (btwn. Perry & Charles Sts.) (212) 243-0440
www.crimepays.com

6pm: Jivamukti Yoga

The café makes a mean $10 green juice and the gift shop has the only groovy yoga clothes in NY. Guaranteed you won’t see these anywhere else. Oh yeah, the yoga: I take open class with Narayani aka Nicole. She plays everything from Led Zeppelin to Krisna Das.

Jivamukti Yoga

841 Broadway (btwn. 13th & 14th Sts.)
(212) 353-0214
www.jivamuktiyoga.com

7:30pm: John Esty Framing

On the way home, I pick up my partner, John Esty, from his framing shop on Greenwich Ave. John has a great eye and his store was the thing that first (ok, second) thing that attracted me to him. It’s got the artisan flavor of someone who works with his hands, yet has the aesthetic sensitivity that allows him to deal with art. By the way, he gets those great looking aprons at Canvas, across the street from his shop.

John Esty Framing

44 Greenwich Ave. (btwn. Perry & Charles Sts.)
(212) 691-3753
No Website

Shameless Self Promotion

Last but not least, this is one of my favorite looks from my Spring/Summer '11 collection. Bright white pants are a summer staple and the dog print camouflage top (Look closely. It's inspired by my mutt muse, Tiny Tim) adds just enough edge.

John Bartlett

143 7th Ave. So. (@ Charles St.)
(212) 633-6867
http://www.johnbartlettny.com/

Thank you Advocate Magazine!!

2011-05-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

Because
THE HOTTEST ANTIFUR ACTIVIST BELONGS TO OUR TEAM
Known for his tailored homage to all things masculine, men’s fashion designer John Bartlett has become a vocal opponent to the growing use of fur in collections. “They don’t understand why fur isn’t fabulous,” Bartlett said of some colleagues at New York Fashion Week in February. “[Many] consider fur as fabric. There is this incredible disconnect.”

thank you advocate magazine!

may-dras

2011-05-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

thank you antenna mag!

2011-05-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.antennamag.com/online/2011/05/the-bon-ton-launches-its-first-private-labels/

Monday night May 9th...benefit for the ACC..please join me

2011-05-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Please join me, Cornelia Guest, Derek Lam and other groovy peeps to help raise money for our city's animal shelters which are in dire need of funds...

i love this pic from last week's bon ton presentation..

2011-05-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

the guys had been positioned for two hours and were pooped..the blonde young lady perked them back up a bit. the collection launches in july at all 280 bon ton stores and online...

thank you men's health for this great posting about the bon ton line!!

2011-04-29T18:37:00.001-07:00

April 29th, 2011

Looking Good, For Less

I’ve always been a fan of New York designerJohn Bartlett, which is why I was excited when John revealed his latest collection with Bon-Ton stores earlier this week. The Cincinnati native has a great sense of style: he designs real clothes for real men. Since designer prices are often not as democratic as their aesthetic, it was nice to see John’s signature look (masculine, well-tailored, and classic with a dash of fun) interpreted at very approachable prices.

Take a look at the John Bartlett for Bon-Ton collection: This is the way guys should dress, mixing plaid shirts with refined jackets and ties. Pops of color and mixed patterns. Preppy without being too precious. Rugged without being too rough-around-the edges. And unbelievably, aside from outerwear and suit separates, everything is under $100. Ridiculous.

Check it out at Bon-Ton stores starting this August.

thank you esquire.com!!!!!

2011-04-29T11:29:00.001-07:00

First Look: John Bartlett for the Bon-Ton, Fall 2011

April 29, 2011 at 12:29PM By Nic Screws

Ohio-bred designer John Bartlett is considered one of the token nice guys of men's wear. His collections, like the designer himself, add unexpected signs of cheer to the American sportswear landscape. Never without a smile (or a plaid shirt), Bartlett was on-hand this week at New York's Ace Hotel to present his latest collaboration with regional department store the Bon-Ton, which hits stores this fall. Like his eponymous collection and his collaboration with Claiborne, the new line combines elements of Ivy League pedigree with the masculine influences of military and working uniforms. Argyle and other collegiate pieces were shown paired with lumberjack plaid and accent colors like safety orange and purple. Highlights included the textural and richly colored outerwear and the fitted yet relaxed tailoring — all echoing Bartlett's celebrated, rugged take on the man's everyday wardrobe.

Available at the Bon-Ton starting August 2011.

thank you esquire.com.....

2011-04-29T11:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/mens-fashion/

I No Longer Steal from Nature

2011-04-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

I No Longer Steal from Nature

A Wonderful Article About The Bodhisattva by C. Clinton Sidle

2011-04-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Bodhisattva is a term Buddhists use to describe someone who is on the path to enlightenment but postpones the ultimate goal for the sake of helping others arrive there first. Bodhi generally means awakened, and Sattva most often means being, essence or spirit. I have also known Sattva to mean warrior. I like "awakened warrior" best.

What might this mean to us in our daily lives?

In his treatise A Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life, eighth century Buddhist master Shantideva said, "All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking pleasure for others." That, I believe, captures the essence of how this might matter to you and me.

My last post to this side shared the basic Buddhist view of how we naturally suffer. Each and every one of us has a hungry spirit that constantly searches for success, love, belonging, freedom or whatever it is we do to find meaning in our lives. That search is based on the idea that the self, or "I" really exists, and we cling to it out of hope and with fear of never being good enough. So we make up for that insecurity by constantly manipulating our situation to look good and not look bad, and burying ourselves in chasing after beauty, wealth, possessions and other ideas and beliefs we have been socialized to want.

But having more and consuming more is never, ever enough. So like a mirage that fades as we approach, the satisfaction of achieving life goals quickly disappears because that fear is never sated, and like a child chasing a rainbow, we are constantly disappointed. Still we run after these things as if they are real, and the more we do, the more we spin a web of an ever tighter cocoon -- a reality made of our projections, imaginations, hopes and fears -- that smothers the possibilities of a greater, fuller and happier life. You get stuck in a small world. But this is not who you are, it is just your idea of who you are -- an illusion based in fear.

So what? You may ask. In understanding the illusion, you develop an appreciation for all that appears to exist without clinging to it as if it were real. You suffer less. All the acquired trappings that society builds you up and tears you down with begin to loosen, and your world becomes more workable. You have plans but they are not solid and you do not follow them blindly. You adapt to shifting circumstances and are not hijacked by anger, pride or stress when things don't go your way.

You also stop blaming and playing victim because you see there are so many different versions of the truth and stop getting locked into right and wrong. Steadfast rules are often just babysitting you anyway. Instead, you gain a greater sense of freedom, creativity, responsibility and compassion because you can see more than one way to go and more than one point of view. You become more adaptive, and as I have argued before, this makes you not only happier but also more successful. You become an adult.

What we most need to know is that there is both a lesser and greater hungry spirit. Similar to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, there are both self-preservation and self-actualizing aspects of our being. The lesser spirit is made up of negative emotions of anger, desire, jealousy and so on that are based in fear and on getting or not getting what you want from the world. It is a selfishness that is designed to protect and project you. It is a necessary function rooted in our survival instinct, but most of the time we just get stuck there by our vanity.

The greater spirit is made up of positive emotions such as love, joy, devotion, gratitude and enthusiasm and is much more open, inclusive and outward-oriented. These broaden your view, connect you to others, extend you into the world and help you grow. It is more of a selflessness that is designed to help us adapt and is rooted in our evolutionary instinct.

In the Buddhist world, these positive emotions are generally known as Bodhicitta. Bodhicitta literally means "awakened heart or mind," but it is also known as loving kindness or basic goodness. Basic goodness is the highest expression of your hungry spirit and your most authentic self. It is the treasure of your existence but most often you are not even be aware of it. It is like having a gem in your pocket and mistaking it for an ordinary stone. The gem is not powerless, but failing to recognize it, makes it so. It is the inspiration and belief in that basic goodness that can transform your life, transmute your underlying fear, and give you confidence to be who you truly are.

Discovering and cultivating this basic goodness is the Way of the Bodhisattva, and awareness and compassion are the two primary practices of that way. They make up the two inseparable aspects of basic goodness -- inseparable in the sense that with awareness you become more compassionate and with compassion you become more aware. Together they loosen the grip of the lesser spirit, suspend your ideas about yourself and open you up to allow the greater spirit to shine through into the world.

They are like two edges of a sword that cut and slice away the cocoon of self-clinging. They are also like muscles. In exercising them, the path toward basic goodness models the desired result of basic goodness. In practicing basic goodness, you develop basic goodness. In the process, you turn agitation into peace of mind and low self esteem into confidence.

How do you work them?

Meditation, of course, is at the center of all Buddhist methods and there are plenty ways to learn it in today's world. Meditation slows down and even cuts the constant spinning mental chatter of your hungry spirit. In cultivating simple awareness, you learn to observe this chatter as a stream of thoughts and feelings that you just let pass by without grabbing, rejecting or reacting in any way. Just pay attention and relax in non-clinging. After a while the stream begins to slow down and gaps begin to appear. As you bring your awareness to them, the individual thoughts and feelings begin to pop like soap bubbles in the air. This brings a sense of relief like the silence that comes after dogs suddenly stop barking. It also gives perspective on the emptiness of the experiences you hold so solidly, and reveals a vast, vibrant and loving inner space. It's like a breath of fresh air. Coming back to that space time and again is the basic practice.

But if not meditation, anything you can do to cultivate awareness through making reflection a habit helps. Reflection expands awareness, unhooks you from the past and creates the possibilities of the future. Exercising, prayer, walking, journaling, volunteering -- anything that helps you break up the routine, step back, take stock and gain perspective will work. In my profession we call it retreat, renew and return -- retreat from the daily spin, renew by reflecting on what is really going on, and return with new insight and vigor. This trains the mind to be more aware. It sheds light on experience, and that light creates a sense of optimism that comes with insight.

There are two other essential ways for deepening this basic practice of awareness and compassion that we often conveniently choose to ignore. The ego is a tricky manipulator and will do almost anything to get off the hook.

The first is to follow and lean into your fear. When things go wrong, the first thing we want to do is retreat into our lesser spirit, hide behind our image, blame and play victim. We will take any exit we can from the squeeze. We escape through seeking pleasure, judging others, defending ourselves and blowing our view out of proportion. In doing so, we shut down and totally kill anything we have to learn from the moment.

You may feel criticized at work by one of your colleagues, for instance, so you go have a drink at lunch with your friends to cool down, then you defend yourself by rationalizing your colleague's ineptitude and finally vent how this job just sucks anyway and is not worth it. So you wall yourself off behind your self image to shield yourself from the misery.

When things fall apart or go wrong like this, instead of hiding, lean into it and investigate. At these moments you can come face to face with who you really are and find out what is really going on.

Fear and suffering often exist at the edge of your self-image. They are signs that your ego is under attack and can serve as points for breakthrough. So stay on that edge and do not concretize it by fantasizing, rationalizing, justifying, blaming, manipulating or doing whatever you tend to do to feel better about yourself. Instead, relax in the discomfort, uncertainty and fear, and just simply be aware without rejecting. As you do, eventually they pop like the soap bubbles, and just underneath you find a soft spot -- a tenderness.

That tenderness is your broken heart that comes from your broken image. In your suffering lies that jewel of your existence: your basic goodness. In discovering this, the drama collapses.

Your girlfriend may break up with you for instance. So the first thing you do is to launch into a self-defense and spin your truth out of proportion. If instead you just relax into the feelings of the melodrama, the façade begins to crumble because it is not real to begin with, and your soft, compassionate underbelly is revealed. With that softening you open, appreciate, forgive, adapt and learn. This is the way life becomes a good teacher. Your butt is kicked into being receptive if you stay with that broken heartedness, that groundlessness, that uncertainty. That is the path to awakening.

So lean into that discomfort, that discontent. Allow the quality of what you are feeling to penetrate your heart. Then the acquired you begins to fall apart and the greater, truly indestructible you begins to emerge.

The second essential way is to just give of yourself in some way to others. The Dalai Lama once said that there is an unwise selfishness and a wise selfishness. Unwise selfishness is when you only think of yourself and the result is self-absorption, confusion and suffering. Wise selfishness is to know it is in your best interest to be more selfless, and as a result, you experience happiness, joy and success.

I am sure you have heard of some of the following simple truths before: "If you want to be interesting be interested," "What you appreciate appreciates," "In giving you receive" and finally, "To get a smile give one away." In being more generous with our time, focus and attention, we begin to think bigger. A warmhearted feeling for others puts our mind at ease and we stop cultivating our own life pattern. Our sense of well being grows and that gives us strength for coping with whatever obstacles come our way.

Just a week ago, I was standing in a crowded bus. At a stop, a woman enters on crutches. A pale, frowning man absorbed in his thoughts and troubles, spots her predicament and spontaneously offers her his seat. She was delighted at the favor, and he glowed at the small difference he was just able to make.

Giving is not magic, but it can be magical.

The mistake that many of us make is to believe that simple awareness or reflection is enough to break out of our cocoon -- it is not. We also have to act. As the Buddhists say and as today's research in emotional intelligence shows, we just don't think our way into new behaviors, we also behave our way into new ways of thinking. Acting with kindness evokes feelings of kindness, expressing gratitude evokes feelings of gratitude and acting with confidence evokes feelings of confidence. We can rewire ourselves through our actions, and those actions can lead to changes in our being. As the poet John Dryden said, "We first make our habits, then our habits make us."

When you are generous, you are often the one who feels best. Your basic goodness shines through your self-clinging. You just don't drop your issues and hang-ups through simple awareness -- you also burn through them with your actions like the sun burning through the clouds. It is also like the butterfly emerging from the cocoon where everything opens: the impossible suddenly becomes possible. Your full beauty is revealed and you become a happier, freer and a more effective human being.

In these practices, we are simply discovering what is already there. We are riding that greater spirit to bring forth our highest qualities. There still remains a clinging on this path, but as these inner qualities grow, that clinging of the greater spirit also begins to fade away. In the end any sense of path is also discarded. Like a boat taking you to the other side of the river, it is left behind once you have arrived. The ultimate goal of course is non-attachment or total freedom. But even if you never achieve that, you become more sane, adaptive and well-adjusted on the path.

What might that ultimate freedom really be like? I do not really know personally, I have only tasted it here and there. But I bet the 18th century English poet William Blake did:

He who binds himself to joy Does the winged life destroy But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity's sun rise

In these two posts I have tried to share my understanding of the four noble truths of Buddhism. I believe this to be the Way of the Bodhisattva, and I hope you have found some practical wisdom in it.

being written up in the vegetarian star! i feel like i have "arrived"...

2011-03-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

http://vegetarianstar.com/2011/03/25/john-bartlett-thrilled-with-fur-free-runway-to-green-collection/

Runway To Green Promises No Fur...

2011-03-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

mandiberg/cc by 2.0

Last year, award-winning designer John Bartlett went vegan—and so did his celebrated collections, which no longer contain any animal skins.

So when Bartlett heard about the upcoming Runway to Green eco-fashion show, he also wanted to make sure that there would be no fur flying on the runway, considering how the fur industry wreaks havoc on the environment. Bartlett penned a letter to Salma Hayek, one of the hosts of the event, outlining how fur is loaded with toxic chemicals to keep it from rotting in people's closets and how fur farms have been fined millions of dollars by the Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous-waste violations.

Bartlett was thrilled to hear back almost immediately that there will be no fur at Runway to Green. Hayek herself shuns fur, as do designers Stella McCartney and Tommy Hilfiger, who will feature pieces in the show. Now that all the other designers have agreed to follow suit, Runway to Green will truly be both Earth-friendly and animal-friendly.

Thanks People Style Watch for this sweet piece....

2011-02-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/package/gallery/0,,20222041_20466466_20912719,00.html

Wonderful Piece from nbcnewyork.com

2011-02-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

John Bartlett: “I Want to Be a 100% Vegan Designer”

BUZZ UP!

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For award-winning clothing designer John Bartlett, eating vegan isn't enough. He wants to design vegan, too.

Bartlett said he will wait to present during Fashion Week until he’s established alternatives to all animal-derived elements within his work.

“Next time I show,” Bartlett told Niteside, “I want to show a fully vegan collection. I want to make sure there’s intention behind it. Over the past year, I have taken leather out of my collections, I will no longer [use] down and, hopefully by next fall, I will no longer [use] wool.

"I want to be a one-hundred-percent vegan designer.”

Bartlett was on hand Sunday night at a ‘Fashion + Animals’ presentation given by TheDiscerningBrute.com’s Joshua Katcher, held at Jivamukti Yoga Center near Union Square.

Bartlett applauded fellow ethical designer, Stella McCartney, but said he strives to go beyond even her level of compassionate luxury.

“Stella is an incredible example," he said. "She still does work with wool and alpacas. I’d like to go all the way.”

As for his Fashion Week plans, Bartlett will be out and about, but he won't be showing his collection.

“I’m going to shows to see my friends," he said. "(But) it’s a bit uncomfortable because I know they’re using fur and they know how I feel.

“They don’t understand why fur isn’t fabulous. [Many] consider fur as fabric. There is this incredible disconnect. It’s the same kind of disconnect as eating a hamburger.”

Now, Bartlett is making moves in line with his morals, and leading by positive example.

“I’m trying to find my voice," he said. "I’m really happy that I’m on that path now.”

BY // 2 HOURS AGO

This coming Sunday....

2011-02-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

I am very excited about this upcoming talk given by Joshua Katcher, who is a compassionate and inspiring fashion commentator and friend. I am also honored to be part of this event, which is being held at Jivamukti Yoga School. Should be a groovy crowd and it is being held in the Jivamuktea cafe.

Much love-jb

Fur Free Forever Please

2010-12-27T18:54:00.000-08:00

2010 was an incredibly interesting year and one that I will always remember as the year I woke up from a dream, of sorts. You see, earlier this year i decided to move towards a plant based diet and to move away from using leather in my main collection, John Bartlett. My boyfriend John Esty and I decided to stop wearing leather, even our shoes and belts, and have begun encouraging our friends to seek out alternatives to leather and other animal derived materials.

This journey was prompted, ironically, by all of the animal fur that has returned to the forefront of fashion this past year. The fall collections were dripping with fur from almost two-thirds of the designers showing in New York. I have learned that many of the younger designers are given free "fabric"(i.e. fur), funding for their shows and other swag like trips to visit the fur farms abroad. Designers who have never worked in fur are now using it with abandon. I asked one colleague, a fellow member of the C.F.D.A., why he used fur and he replied that he "could take it or leave it" but that he wasn't bothered about using fur because the animals are "humanely gassed". Does that sound strange to you? Am I the only one who thinks the fashion industry is light years behind other industries that have realized the unnecessary cruelty of using animals for selfish, outmoded ends.

When I realized how much work there is to be done in this fur-free arena, I met up with the Humane Society to see what i could do to help get the word out that the pitiless fur industry mistreats and kills more than 50 million animals a year. I joined the groovy team from the fur-free department at the Humane Society and spoke in front of a group of Parsons students about my feelings about fur. There is so much information to share about the dark side of the fur industry and any opportunity to get in front of students before they are brainwashed by the fur pushers is an opportunity to save lives.

If you are unclear as to what the fur industry looks like from behind the scenes please watch this video and visit the Humane Society's site:
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/fur_free/

There are so many wonderful options in the marketplace now and wearing fur and supporting the fur industry is unnecessary, cruel and out of touch with reality. It surprises me that there is not one high-profile editor who is willing to stand up for a fur-free industry. Why is everyone so afraid to say something about the atrocity of fur?

West Village Holiday

2010-12-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

some groovy scarves from my friend and artist alex stadler and candles(and incense) made by my friend eileen harcourts, both for jb!

a treasure trove of vintage-varsity inspired sweaters and the sweet holiday limited edition tiny tim angel tee!

a view from outside our store window. thank you so much chris keslar for making this window sing! love the quote in the window too

Thank You Vidoe Fashion for the great posting about our holiday party!!

2010-12-13T06:15:00.000-08:00

Please click here to see a great posting about our holiday party

Please join me next Thursday night....lovejb

2010-12-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

Alan Cumming and his Tiny Tim Tee

2010-12-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

Alan will be sporting his Tiny Tim tee on The Martha Stewart Show this Friday at 10am on the Hallmark channel!!!

THANKS ALAN!!!!!!

happy humble hopeful healthy hare krishna holidaze!

2010-12-01T05:48:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a wonderful December and a great holiday season. This time of year is always a mixed bag of emotions. I know many people feel their most lonely during this time of year and i encourage you to reach out to those people to let them know they are not alone. I am heading to the city shelters where many sweet dogs have been abandoned and hope to give them some love.

It has been a good year in many ways. I signed a wonderful agreement with the Bon Ton stores to design two brands for them which will be debuting in Fall 2011. They have about 280 stores throughout the midwest and east coast and are wonderful to work with. The store is doing great and i am excited about the product coming in for next spring.

I want to thank everyone for their support and for believing in me. Remember to take some time to yourself throughout this period and to take time to reflect on the many gifts God has given you.

My Sweet Tiny Tim

2010-11-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone..I have been out of touch for a bit. In early August my sweet boy Tiny Tim was diagnosed with lymphoma. Two weeks ago, October 27th, he passed on. Having decided against traditional and lengthy chemo treatments(Tim did one session and was quite unwell), I took the advice of my beloved John and our loving dogwalker Norma and chose to give him what time he had left a life full of great memories, love, and lots of steak dinners. After much research, I chose to seek out holistic and homeopathic remedies in conjunction with a lot of cuddling on the couch, tug-o-war, and a hands-on-tibetan healer. Whether the treatments were ultimately successful, I feel that I gave Tim the best I knew how. My job in the end was to be his "escort" and to make his transition dignified, loving, and sacred. Tim passed from this three-legged life, laying on his favorite blanket on his favorite bed that I brought along to the vet's from beneath my desk where it had sat for 8 years. Apparently later that day there was a gorgeous rainbow that filled the east village sky and I know that was not a coincidence. Tiny Tim's legacy will live on in the eyes of every sweet dog who needs a forever home and I know Tim will be up there helping guide me until we see each other again.

CORDUROY-Fabric of the kings(and queens!)

2010-10-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

the perfect black cord military weekend jacket

My new fave-The Miss Jean Brodie skirt

burgundy cord vest!

burg cord vest and jean.(and vegan wingtips!)

I love corduroy. All the cool seniors in high school wore them with their wallabees and mutton chops. over the years i have collected vintage levi's cords and am always on the hunt for the perfect pair. Corduroy is the perfect fall fabric. it is warm but not itchy and comes in great colors that mirror back the gorgeous palette of the falling leaves. For Fall 2010, I made up a bunch of corduroy, from the classic JB military jacket, to low cut slim jeans for men and women to a very super dressy shawl collar vest. My recent fav is the Miss Jean Brodie skirt in black cord. Perfectly a-line and below the knee, a length that feels right again.

Falling For Fall

2010-10-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

It finally is starting to feel like fall here in nyc...And since it is October now, we are selling tons of orange, my favorite color! Also we have introduced a small women's collection which we call our "sister fit". it is shrunken down for my girls but still has that great menswear feel and quality that so many women have been asking for. One of the best sellers thus far this season has been our super washed fleece hoodie with a tiny tim embroidery on the chest. love the one in orange, which we are featuring with forest green knickers.

For tailoring, i worked with an incredible maxi plaid that reminds me of my favorite seventies dudes. For my girls, we are doing shrunken merino v-necks, corduroy jeans, and a matching button shirt and bowtie.

And of course we continue to offer new versions of our tiny tim tee shirt, which we have for boys and girls.

Have a wonderful fall everyone! i am in the stores now on Fridays and have been trying to spend the weekends designing, spending time with our dogs and hanging with the hubbie! Life is short. Big love, JB

Thanks Sandy Ramirez and Modacycle!

2010-09-28T12:25:00.001-07:00

John Bartlett – Spring 2011 – New York

September 28, 2010 Browse, Spring 2011 New York, top stories No Comments

story by Michael Fragoso
portrait by Sandy Ramirez
lookbook photos provided by the designer

The John Bartlett presentation was held in a chic West Village townhouse filled with various tail wagging dogs, there to greet the masses at the door, which revealed a presentation of bright colors for his Spring 2011 collection. Looks ranged from extreme beach wear, tight speedos in khaki and olive green, to bright orange and pinks that screamed tropical. After the pool looks, Bartlett’s collection took a dressy yet casual turn with light blazers of denim and cotton with cargo shorts that looked simple, elegant, and ready for the Hamptons. The standouts from the collection were the shirts and pants printed with a camouflage pattern that upon closer inspection was revealed to be shapes of Bartlett’s own dog, Tiny Tim.

Bartlett himself explains the collection: “I looked to the late 1970’s for this collection, really with my favorite models from that era like Rick Edwards and Jeff Aquilon. We have the whole khaki story going on with a hint of safari. It’s a true throwback collection with a nod to today.”

A notable feature of the collection was the use of ultrasuede, a leather alternative, once made famous by Halston, that is now Bartlett’s material of choice after recently having gone vegan. The looks are strictly pre and post beachwear, for the type of man that jumps off his yacht into the cool blue followed by a dinner at the local crab shack back on the mainland. Barlett’s ultra masculine looks, with their almost tongue-in-cheek nod to the buff and broad shouldered tanned beach babes of yesterday year is sure to be a crowd pleaser from Ibiza to Miami come the warmer months next year.

Thanks Jack Mackenroth For This Sweet Piece On Logo Channel

2010-09-24T02:02:00.000-07:00

jb and fall fashion

Great Piece About My Women's Collection!!!!!!!

2010-09-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

LIAR LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE - FALL 2010

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 AT 11:26PM JASON JOBSON

CAMERON DIAZ IN FERRAGAMO FROM HARPERS BAZAARI swear it is true! The Fall 2010 designer collections were full of - trousers, many of them full leg indeed. While I've written about theCharlie Girl reference earlier this summer, I had to give a shout out to those beautiful pants that are in stores NOW! With so many to choose from, three stuck out in my mind as I watched the shows. So diplomatic I am - as here are looks from NY, Paris, & Milan!

John Bartlett is a tried and true New Yorker. With his downtown boutique, John has kept to his ideal of the men and women he designs for.JOHN BARTLETT - FALL 2010 Never one to follow a trend, John is more apt to reference a vintage issue of GQ from the 60's. Always rugged, with an upscale finish - his collections have a sexy edge. His trouser looks for the gals this fall were very Jodie Foster circa 1976. JODIE FOSTER BY TERRY O'NEILL - VIA GETTY IMAGESVests and all! The pants a bit more fitted than Foster wore promotingBugsy Malone.. but gave me the vibe. John also has a passion for pets - being a tireless crusader for the North Shore Animal League and pet adoption. He often hosts adoption days at his boutique in NYC. His logo even incorporates his charitable spirit and beautiful dog - Tiny Tim! To find out more about JB and his cause click Tiny Tim!

From Fashion's Night Out!!

2010-09-14T05:05:00.001-07:00

Dogs are Fashion Hounds in NYC

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This past Friday, Fashion’s Night Out (a.k.a. FNO) took over New York City, where the garment business is the second-biggest industry after finance. A thousand stores stayed open late across five boroughs. Payless provided free transportation to key shopping destinations on double-decker buses, plus photo opportunities with its star designers, Patricia Field, Lela Rose, Christian Siriano, and Isabel Toledo. And all over the city, hotels offered FNO packages to lure out-of-towners to sit, stay, and shop.

Dogs being creatures of timeless style, they managed to make cameo appearances at two swanky stores – and that’s not counting the numerous micro-dogs who accompanied their intrepid owners, toted along in designer carriers.

Downtown, on Seventh Avenue South – the further-North part of Seventh, in the heart of the famed garment district, is known as “Fashion Avenue” - the fabulous flagship store of designer John Bartlett is branded inside and out with the image of Bartlett’s dog, a mixed-breed named Tiny Tim.

This handsome mutt has quite a life story thus far: He landed at North Shore Animal League America, our country’s largest no-kill shelter, shortly before Christmas Eve eight years ago. After his right foreleg was amputated, he was aptly named after the sweet little boy in the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

From those humble beginnings, K9 Tiny Tim steadily rose to fame as the image representing Bartlett’s signature collection of handsome, tailored-yet-hip threads and accessories. “Tim is my true icon,” Bartlett explains, so the dog’s striking silhouette is branded on everything from T-shirts to jeans to underwear.

Here’s a helpful hint, shoppers: Renowned astrologer Susan Millerwarns that Mercury, which went direct today, will turn retrogradeagain in October and December; she offers starry style counsel by encouraging us all to purchase holiday gifts well in advance of the actual holiday, i.e. in the second half of September, the first week of October, or November 19-30 “for best results.” Well, what more stylish, thoughtful present for a well-dressed dog lover than something bearing the Tiny Tim Bartlett logo?

The tripod K9 image also appears on the shop’s glass door and on the shopping bags and gift boxes. “At first, you don’t notice that the logo is a three-legged dog – he just looks like a sweet dog,” Bartlett adds. “And I like clothing and fashion to have that element of surprise.”

To celebrate adopted mutts everywhere, Bartlett even designed a special “Fashion Hound” Tiny Tim T-shirt, sized for men and women, with proceeds from sales donated to North Shore.

With his distinctive walk, Tim cuts quite the dashing figure. Bartlett is quite easy on the eyes himself, so when the two appear together, heads turn. Duly inspired, the artist Richard Haines – a talented Southpaw whose chic, charming pencil sketches are irresistible eye candy to fashion followers - recently immortalized the pair in a sketch that depicts Tim and his designer Dad most fetchingly.

My dog Sheba was lucky to score a date with Tim one evening back in 2008, at North Shore’s DogCatemy Awards gala; photographic evidence of the evening is on Bartlett’s web site, where Tim has his very own page.

Behind The Scenes-Spring 2011!

2010-09-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

Some images from our recent Spring 2011 look book shoot!

Fashion's Night Out!!!!!

2010-09-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Hope to see you this Friday night at the store for Fashion's Night Out. Come see our new Fall 2010 men's(and women's!!!) collection and celebrate our third year of the store. Big love-jb

Latest North Shore Animal League Adoption Event...bless!

2010-08-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbYGOAVjoAE&feature=player_embedded#!

Watch this sweet you tube video...

Bartlett/Simons/Ward!

2010-08-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce a new collaboration with the esteemed Canadian retailer, La Maison Simons, which debuts this September! It is a mini-collection designed especially for Simons, who have a wonderful grouping of boutique luxury department stores in Montreal and Quebec City. The co-branded label will be introduced this fall and is a wonderful grouping of military-inspired outerwear, suitings, shirts and denim. The campaign was shot on none other than Tony Ward, who has been one of my style icons for years. If you are in that neck of the Canadian woods, please check out the offerings come fall. they are sexy, beautifully made and very well priced. lovejb.

Family Values

2010-08-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

I was so thrilled yesterday to see that love can conquer hatred and that the biased and unconstitutional Prop 8 was denounced in California. Same sex couples deserve the same rights as opposite sex couples and the concept of family has to move on, to progress, with the times. My concept of family is very different from what i grew up with and yet it is still as meaningful and as important and legitimate. Living in NYC, my family is a wonderful patchwork of friends, neighbors, business associates, gay, straight, human, non-human. It has nothing to do with pro-creation and everything to do with love and support and trying to live a life that values all lives, human and non-human alike. We are equal and part of the whole and to argue that one group deserves to have certain rights and that another does not is archaic. I feel that we are at a pivotal time in the history of both our country and our planet. While things feel very scary and precarious, I have glimpses of a new reality around the corner that transcends differences and embraces the idea that we are all part of the same living organism. My family may look quite different than yours but that is what makes life interesting. Diversity helps us to learn and to accept the parts of ourselves that may fly in the face of what many consider "traditional". I love my family, both my blood family and my partner and our hairy children!

Just in on Racked.com....

2010-07-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

http://ny.racked.com/archives/2010/07/28/dogooder_john_bartlettsage_advocate_and_animal_saver.php

North Shore Animal League Adoption Event this Saturday at the store!

2010-07-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, Tiny Tim and I are hosting another wonderful adoption event at my store this coming Saturday July 31st from noon-5. The North Shore is bringing their mobile unit full of adoptable mutt-igrees as well as a couple of puppy mill rescue pure breds(a shi tzu and a lhasa for example)...we hope to see you then..lovejb

ps-this gorg portrait is by my good friend Walter Briski!

Street Style with John Bartlett for Better TV

2010-07-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

Street Style with John Bartlett

Countdown to Capsule

2010-07-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well, what’s not to love about John

Bartlett? After all, he epitomizes

friendly neighbor, is a champion of

animal rights, a mindful vegan, yoga

enthusiast, winner of two CFDA awards

for his eponymous label, men’s wear

OG, hottie and oh yeah, Harvard alum

(undergraduate, thank you very much).

We’re more than excited to see what

John has in store with his collection

for S/S 2011. Expect colors inspired

by optimism, the Hare Krishna and

Eastern decorative arts coupled with

his signature breed of American

classic that includes military details

and fine tailoring across clothes

built for stylish men of all ages.

John will be providing the soundscape

for Tuesday night cocktails atop our

new home at 548 West 22nd Street - now

that’s a sunset cruise you’ll want to

take. Only at (capsule).

www.johnbartlettny.com

AmFar's Inspiration Gala - June 2010

2010-07-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

A JB Sateen Suit with Military Details used recently on the catwalk of the Inspiration Gala at
NYC's Public Library.

Gay New York Weighs in on Wooing LeBron James - Seen in Details

2010-07-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

BY LAURENCE LOWE

JUNE 24, 2010

At least half a dozen NBA teams are expected to come a-courting when LeBron James, a.k.a. The Greatest Basketball Player in the World, becomes a free agent at the stroke of midnight on July 1.

Although NBA rules prevent teams from making contact with LeBron before then, that hasn't stopped the fans from making special pleas. Last weekend his hometown of Akron, Ohio held the first "LeBron Appreciation Day." President Obama (apparently forgetting that Ohio is a swing state), has gone on the stump to tout the solid young core of his beloved Bulls.

Yet no one's shown a greater willingness to sacrifice their time, their livelihoods, even their dignity, to curry King James' favor than the long-suffering fans of the New York Knicks. Count among the supplicants Mayor Bloomberg ("As the good book says, lead us to the Promised Land—and that's a quote from the King James version!"), Police Commissioner Ray Kelly (who advocated the use of bribery), the general manager of Scores (lap dances for life), and, most creatively, Moishe's Movers, which set up a mobile storage container in the parking lot across from Madison Square Garden for fans to fill with tchotchkes and personal messages before delivering it to LeBron's palatial home.

Still, we couldn't help but notice that there's one enormously influential sector of NYC's population that has yet to be consulted: gay New York. "With teammates you have to be trustworthy," LeBron said soon after John Amaechi became the first former NBA player to come out of the closet in 2007, "and if you're gay and you're not admitting that you are, then you are not trustworthy." One thing LeBron can trust: The offers below are ready to be redeemed.

MICHAEL KOKELL, Commissioner, New York City Gay Basketball League
"Where else will pink #23 jerseys fly off the shelves? Come to New York and see your gay fan base explode! Sure, many of us are impressed by your play on the court, but who do you think is really buying all those shirtless photos of you online? Gay New Yorkers! So, at the risk of hearing my partner's father (and Cleveland resident) complain about NYC buying more championships, come to New York! Don't tell Derek Jeter I said this, but you'll have a great shot at unseating him as NYC's hottest athlete and, more importantly, inspiring an entire community of gay athletes."

SPLASH BAR
"As one of the NBA's top scoring players, we would like to offer you the opportunity to position your well aimed balls at some of the most enticing baskets in the USA."

NICO MUHLY, Composer
"What you clearly need in New York is appropriate music. It can follow you around: a leitmotif to be folded into any context. I'll write a brassy fanfare, a thundering bass line for the club, a subtle thing for the morning time, and something to be blasted during games. And if Jean-Georges' double-chicken extravaganza is too much, we'll take you on a sea urchin crawl."

JOHN BARTLETT, Menswear Designer
"Dear LeBron, please come to the coolest city in the world. As a men's designer, animal activist, and yoga freak, I can promise you three things that make the Manhattan man! I can hook you up with my tailor, who's made suits for two presidents and Michael Jackson. I can find the perfect shelter dog to keep you warm at night. And because New York can be a bit stressful, I can hook you up with the most smokin' hot yoga teacher around!"

TOM KELLEY, Director of Operations, Nickel Spa for Men
"To get LeBron James to come to NYC and join the Knicks, we have created the new LeBron James NBA-Style Sports Massage with Hot Pepper Oil and will offer him unlimited treatments for his entire life at the spa!"

JONATHAN ADLER, Interior Designer
"Dude, if you come to New York I will decorate your phat pad and make it insanely squishy for entertaining all the fab people you will meet here. You can't be a true metrosexual in Cleveland! Also, New York has a range of fab tattoo-removal facilities, should you ever choose to pull back a bit on the ink."

PARKE & RONEN, Menswear Designers
"NYC is fit for a king—just look at all the queens we have walking around! If you come here we can offer you a limited edition LeBron James bathing suit—with drop crotch to accommodate."

HARRY ALLEN, Interior Designer
"I've come to the honest conclusion that I just don't care if LeBron James moves to New York. I know very little about basketball, and I don't like team sports in general. I would certainly help him decorate his apartment, or supply any of my design services, but he would have to pay like everyone else. Besides, most of the people I want in New York are already here."

SideWalk CatWalk

2010-06-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

The "Sidewalk/Catwalk" project was just unveiled today on Broadway in the fashion district. The mannequins are designed by various American designers and will be outside on display through the summer.

To check out the John Bartlett Mannequin, it is located on Broadway between 40th and 39th Street.

At Home with John Bartlett - Vevant

2010-06-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

by Lauren David Peden

Designer John Bartlett has been putting his signature spin on menswear since launching his eponymous collection in 1992. The Cincinnati native – who studied menswear design at FIT after receiving a sociology degree from Harvard (you know how you do) – subsequently went on to win two CFDA awards, was named Creative Director of Byblos and Liz Claiborne’s men’s collection, and took a year-long sabbatical in 2002 to study Ashtangha yoga and Buddhism in Thailand and Cambodia (you know how you do) before relaunching his namesake line a year later, and introducing womenswear for fall 2010.

Three years ago, he opened a store in the West Village, just around the corner from the duplex apartment he shares with his partner, John Esty, and their three dogs, Huff (a Bernese Mountain Dog), Millie (Jack Russell/Chihuaha/Cujo) and Tiny Tim, the three-legged mutt – “I think he’s a Rottweiler/Shepherd/Pit Bull mix, but everybody has a different opinion” – who serves as the official John Bartlett logo (that’s Tim’s handsome visage on JB’s store window, shopping bags and t-shirts).

Vevant recently stopped by the duo’s chic lair, and the always-charming designer took a break from working on his spring 2011 collection, preparing his mannequin for Seventh Avenue’s upcoming Sidewalk Catwalk project and getting ready to accept the American Image Awards’ Designer of the Year prize, to give us a tour.

BOY MEETS BOY
When John [Esty] and I moved in here, he and I had both been through very rustic, Adirondack, Stickley – for me, Joseph Beuys-ian –periods, but when we moved, our aesthetic became a little bit more colorful and eclectic. And it’s definitely a combination of weird, early seventies Regency with a lot of handmade artisan details.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE
After living and working in Italy and traveling around the world for so many years, my goal when I turned 40, was I wanted to make my world smaller, not bigger. So I wanted to live in the West Village. I wanted to work in the West Village. I wanted to have a store in the West Village. And John Esty’s framing shop is right next door, and this place became available through his landlord. So he actually designed the whole space; it was a raw space. John recommended that they raise the ceilings, he created the wall dividers. They gave him free rein. He did work here every day; it was probably a six-month project. And once the architectural plans were finished, he designed my store, too. So he’s a man of many talents.

SITTING PRETTY
This chair [gestures to a green leather chair on a white circular base] is from a company called Espasso in Tribeca, which represents Brazilian furniture designers. I was able to go in and pick which acrylic material I wanted, and which leather color I wanted. So I was able to really personalize the chair. I love it. It’s on a swivel and it’s kind of a two-person chair or a human-and-a-dog chair. These shoes are ours. We wear the same size shoe and we do share. The horns were a Christmas gift from John and came from one of my favorite home stores, Mantiques on West 22nd. The owner finds a lot of industrial, really heavy, unwieldy objects. I’m drawn to anything that’s pointy or you can hurt yourself. Anything that you can, like, impale yourself on, I love. And we wanted to have more color so John designed these industrial rugs. He got to really use color blocking, with the fuchsia, the brown, the orange. They’re great for the work space and they’re great for the dogs.

LIVE TO WORK
My work, to John’s dismay, has slowly found its way into the the dining room area. This worktable used to be there [gestures to the adjoining room], and then one Thanksgiving we had a big dinner and we moved it here and it stayed. It’s an incredible worktable. It’s a reproduction of a bricklayer’s table from a company out of Atlanta called BoBo. I like the rustic feel.

CHIC HAPPENS
My style [as a designer] has evolved over the years, but it is always a personal reflection of where I am in my life. It’s very American. It’s very sensual and sexual. It’s moved away from being for, like, the fashionista kids and is much more reality-based, great clothes for guys. I get a lot of really cool, young families who live in the Village, and the wife is kind of pushing her husband to take a step forward. It’s a nice way to take a step forward without him feeling silly. And with the women’s collection, it’s pretty much the same idea. A lot of it is made in America. There’s a lot of tailoring, great cuts – something that you want to just throw on every day. And my woman is very strong and very independent.

TEXTILE TALK
Right now I’m working on spring ’11; I’m in the early throes. Basically I go through and see every vendor, every mill, and then I start putting down all my [fabric and inspiration] boards. It’s always like creating a meal where you have all these ingredients but you don’t know what it’s going to be like until the last minute. So I have an idea of what I want and then hopefully the pieces will start coming together. I always have loved camouflage and military’s always been a part of my inspiration, so I’ve developed a Tiny Tim camouflage, which is really cool [shows us a dog-print camo fabric]. Isn’t it sweet? I worked with a guy, Tom Cody, who’s got an amazing print studio, and he took my logo and color ways, and we played around. It took a while to get the right dimensions. I always circle around the same ideas. I think it’s what most designers do. One of my earliest shows was based on Hare Krishnas. I love orange and pinks, obviously, and I really get very inspired by Eastern dress, and a lot of dress that people in different spiritual movements wear. So the whole Hare Krishna thing I love. And my guy, you know, he loves military details. So I’m working on a combination of the two. We’ll see where that goes.

MIRROR MIRROR, ON THE WALL
John made that in, like, an hour [gestures to a geometric mirror]. I think it’s inspired by a designer he likes. It actually cracked a couple of places, but he just threw it together one day. I mean, I’m all thumbs. But he can make anything.

CERAMIC CHIC
This is kind of our ceramics setting. The [owl] is a ceramic porcelain piece, made by an artist named Jon Rappleye. He worked with John Esty in his frame shop, and he’s become an incredible artist on his own. He had gone out to Kohler – the porcelain/bathroom people – and they taught him how to work in porcelain. So while he was there doing that, he created these very eerie images. And I love John Derian’s work, but I loved these plates especially because it’s all different types of men from different cultures. And my friends have a company called Carter & Cunningham and create really interesting mirrors. They take antique, re-found mirrors, and develop really beautiful ceramic tiles that are inlaid into them. So they create all these different thematic mirrors; this is one is more Moorish.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I was up late last night trying to find a vegan cooking school because I’m trying to move towards veganism, and I know I’m going to end up eating salads and vegan cookies. The vegan thing is new and I’m trying to figure that out. What I’m finding that makes it even more important, is how the environment is so affected by factory farming and that the plot of land that it takes to feed one meat-eater could feed ten non-meat-eaters because it takes so much water and so much gas. I mean, half the fuel and half the water that we use in our country is to fuel the farm factories – and the methane gas that these cows are burping into the environment [contributes to global warming]. It’s so fascinating how this is all connected – the environment’s affected, animals’ lives are affected, our health is effected – all these things. I had no idea.

SO-FA, SO GOOD
John Esty designed the couches. The fabric is some kind of high-tech micro fabric that you can basically wipe down with Windex or whatever. We put this [inflatable air mattress] bed up about two months ago for a friend who was staying and I refuse to take it down, even though it kills the room, because the dogs are not allowed on the couches. So Tiny Tim and I lay on this when we watch TV. John’s like, “That is going down.” I’m, like, “Okay, then the dogs get to go on the couches.” He’s like, “No.” I’m like, “Okay, then it’s never going away.” It’s unsightly, but I love it.

NOW SHOWING
I’ve done two fashion shows here. Fashion shows are really crazy expensive and when I started doing shows again, I wanted something that was very personal. I wanted to invite people into my space and make it very intimate. The reason I had to stop having them here was because the guest list kept growing, and I kept insulting people who wanted to come so it just became harder to do. But I loved doing it here because the guys got dressed over at John’s [framing shop]. I love that kind of homegrown, grassroots approach – and especially in light of the economy, it made so much sense. So I loved doing them here. It just felt like home.

GOING TO THE DOGS
I do a lot of work with North Shore Animal League; they’re an amazing place. We do adoption events with them three or four times a year; they come to the store with a big mobile unit. I’m good friends now with a lot of people there so we’ll talk beforehand and they’ll be like, “Okay, are there any requests? Somebody looking for a certain type of dog?” And they’ll hand-pick the dogs and cats that they bring. More and more now, there are a lot of purebred dogs that have been rescued from the puppy mills, and there’s a lot of people who have a specific breed that they love. Like [men's fashion editor/consultant] Michael Macko got his gorgeous dachshund, Crystal [at a JB/North Shore event], so a lot of people are able to find a breed that they love there, rather than going to a pet store. When I turned 40, I wanted to get a dog so I went out there and that’s when I met Tiny Tim. And when I opened the store, we came up with this idea of doing the adoption events. It’s my favorite day in the store because you get to play with all these dogs and I get to see dogs – and cats – find homes. It’s a win-win.

Dressed for Success

2010-05-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

"Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. " -- Albert Einstein

I often ask myself what success means and am I truly successful? Throughout my career I have had many successes: great reviews, amazing selling seasons, numerous awards, and celebrity fans. To the outside looking in, this would feel like success. But from the inside looking out, I feel that I have yet to be truly successful.

For years I have been haunted by what the fashion critics have said of my work (good and not so good), and how retailers have embraced or not embraced my brand. I have defined my concept of success from the outside, how others have viewed me. This is a trap, and it is only in the past couple of years that I have begun to understand what true success means (to me at least).

Success is not only determined by milestones and bank accounts. It is not defined by how others perceive you because, believe me, people move on and find the next big thing quite willingly. And it is not even making your dreams come true, because even that can leave one asking “ok, what’s next?”

True success comes with maturity and appreciation for what one has in their lives. It comes with a sense of how our values shape our lives and how one lives each and every day. When you pursue “success” you rarely achieve it, for like everything in the material world, success is illusive, much like wealth, looks, and even that damn six pack that us gay guys worship as an ultimate trophy. The only thing one can count on is change and holding onto a concept of what success may mean today will hinder one’s growth and keep us locked in a definition of ourselves that disallows newness and expansion for tomorrow.

I remember my father's advice when I graduated from Harvard and wanted to pursue social work as a career. He said “John, if you do what you love, you will be able to effect more change than limiting yourself to traditional avenues of giving”. And he was right. Through my career and through my chosen field, I have had so many more opportunities to reach out to my community, whether that is the gay community, the west village community where I live, or the community of people, like myself, who are devoted to animal advocacy and ending the needless suffering of innocent animals.

I am heading to my 25th Harvard College Reunion in a couple of weeks and it will be interesting to see how "successful"I feel and how my classmates define success now, 25 years later. Conan O'Brien is one part of my graduating class and I would love to get his take on this elusive issue.

Style Guyde Interview with John Bartlett for Instinct Magazine

2010-05-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Written by Sean Krebs | Sunday, 25 April 2010

(Above: David Axell in a John Bartlett suit)

Within the first week of moving to New York City in the heat of the summer 16 years ago, I attended my first men’s fashion show. I wore a Jean Paul Gaultier cropped vest over a white linen tunic (both from his Spring 1994 collection) and a pair of high-waisted Dolce & Gabbana pants (from Filene’s Basement). Don’t laugh—it was 1994, after all—and my outfit was cool enough for Bill Cunningham (the man who single-handedly invented “Street Style” photography) to take my picture for The New York Times (sadly, it was the first—and only—time my picture would run in his “On The Street” column). The show was held in a raw, cavernous space (an empty warehouse?) in the far West Village on the edge of the now-fashionable Meatpacking District—and I was someone’s “plus one”. The show was John Bartlett.

I’ve attended many John Bartlett shows since—including one this past February for his Fall/Winter 2010 collection which was held during a major snowstorm (for that I wore a Ralph Lauren down-filled jacket and a Missoni cashmere hat). John (a Cincinnati native) has had a very interesting and exciting career since he graduated from Harvard in 1985—a career that has seen him launch his eponymous label in 1992 (after attending the Menswear program at the Fashion Institute of Technology), win two awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (the Perry Ellis Award for Best Newcomer in 1993 and the Best Menswear Designer of the Year in 1997), work as the Creative Director of (the Italian-based label) Byblos from 1998-2000, close his company in 2002 to take a sabbatical in Thailand and Cambodia (where he studied Ashtangha yoga and Buddhism), re-enter the industry at the end of 2003 and open his own store in the West Village in 2007.

Phew! Did you get all that? Well, it suffices to say that John is a super talented designer (and super charming too!)—and I am honored (and humbled) that he took the time out of his busy schedule to sit down and do “The Style Guyde Interview”:

What is your favorite piece from your Spring/Summer 2010 collection?
My favorite piece from Spring/Summer is my purple motorcycle belted jacket. It is cut from a glazed cotton linen. The purple is the perfect shade and you can wear it with navy, white and khaki! (See picture below)

What do you love most about designing men's wear?
What I love most about designing for men is that I am a man and I can relate to the pieces in a first person manner. Designing for women is more challenging because I have to rely on the women in my life to tell me what works and what doesn't. With men’s wear the experience is immediate and very personal.

Please describe "The John Bartlett Man."
The John Bartlett Man is ever evolving as I evolve. He is a smart dude, sexy but in a goofy sort of way, compassionate about the earth and animals, educated, and looks to his clothing to express himself not to define him.

What are the five items every man should own?
Every man should own a sexy pair of beaten up jeans, a gingham buttondown shirt, a denim blazer, a perfectly tailored navy pinstripe suit and a yoga mat!

What is the biggest mistake men make when getting dressed?
Men either wear clothing that is way too big for them or way too shrunken. When a man is swimming in his clothes, he looks out of touch with himself. When the clothes are too tight or shrunken he looks like he is trying to dress too young for his age or he looks like Pee Wee Herman, which is not a sexy look.

Who are your style icons?
My style icons are very random and kind of out there—UPS men, Hare Krishnas, Charlie Brown and Forrest Gump (I told you they were out there!).

Who or what has been your biggest influence?
My biggest influence has been my Dad, who passed away a year and a half ago. He inspired me to always be true to myself and to understand that if I am doing what I love, that I can contribute much more to society than if I were doing things only for the financial gain.

If you weren't a fashion designer, what would you be?
If I were not a fashion designer, I think I would be working with shelter dogs, teaching yoga or washing windows on the highest floors of the Empire State Building (I love heights!).

Let’s talk favorites:
Movie? Fassbinder's Querelle

Book? Dancer From The Dance by Andrew Holleran—a gay must read about NYC and Fire Island in the early ’70s.

Vacation spot? Parrot Cay

What's the one extravagance you can't live without?
I can’t live without my beloved dog walker. My hubby and I splurge for her to come walk our three dogs twice a day, which really adds up. But knowing that the dogs are happy and have “done their business” is money well spent.

What's on your current Playlist?
Vintage Led Zeppelin
Vampire Weekend
Philip Glass
Stevie Nicks

What astrological sign are you?
Aries with Sagittarius Rising

What's next for you and the John Bartlett brand?
I am re-launching women’s for Fall 2010, which will be tailor-made for all the cool lesbian girls that continually ask me to make my men’s wear in their sizes. Maybe a book, a reality show or another store... who knows!

Photography: Greg Vaughan

Styling: Antonio Branco @ De Facto

Model: David Axell @ Click Model Management

Check out http://www.johnbartlettny.com for more information.

Renewal

2010-05-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of months I have been experiencing a renewal like nothing I have experienced before. It has been extreme in its measures, but, it has been worth it and my whole core is vibrating at an entirely new level.

You see, after an incredible trip with my hubbie John Esty to Parrot Cay, an island resort off of Turks and Caicos, I felt the rumblings of an overhaul. For years I have been drawn to a more balanced spiritual life but have always gone in and out of it depending on my stress levels and attention span. When I finally got to decompress with my beloved in the holistic setting of Parrot Cay, I was able to jump start my yoga and meditation practice and felt inspired to start the journey of becoming vegan.

For those unaware of what being vegan entails, it is, simply put, not eating any animal products, including dairy. I had recently read Alicia Silverstone’s great book “The Kind Diet” and started to come to terms with the impact of meat eating on myself, on the animals who are being “factory farmed” and on the environment.

The personal renewal I have experienced through becoming vegan has been very powerful. I sleep better, feel better and am more connected to the world at large as well as to my inner world. With this change, I have also “renewed” my commitment to doing what I can to alleviate the suffering of others, which includes our beloved animal friends.

As a designer, I have always worked in leather and part of my identity in the fashion community has been associated with sexy leather styles. This part of my work no longer makes sense to me and I am foregoing further use of leather come September. The leather belts that I sell in my store and the leather styles I designed for my fall collection will be discontinued by then and I will seek out non-leather alternatives that resonate with my new found focus.

Becoming a vegan is obviously not for everyone and it is indeed extreme in its execution. For me, though, it feels right. My friends, who have seen me try on spiritual trends like hats, have been incredibly supportive hoping that this is not just another fad that I will abandon like last season’s must have! I promise to keep you posted…lovejb

The Elegance of Refusal

2010-04-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common - this is my symphony.” -- William Ellery Channing, 1906

I love this quote and feel that Dr. Channing’s idea is as relevant now as it was a hundred years ago. Elegance is, as Coco Chanel says, “refusal”. It is the act of saying no, of pulling back. And whether we are talking fashion or we are talking about how to carry oneself, it is all the same. Elegance is a natural state that all of us often forget as we try to fill our insatiable need for things to define ourselves.

In the design process, I often find myself guilty of “gilding the lily” and adding design details that become superfluous. My aim these days is to simplify the process and in doing so, maintain an elegance (and integrity) of design. This is not as easy as it sounds when many search for over-designed, over-logo driven items with which to adorn their image. Simple, elegant design is still as expensive, if not more, than something that has “bells and whistles” and yet many customers will balk at a higher price for a simple elegant piece. But thankfully not everyone equates high price with overly decorated fashion.

Recently, I met a customer who was shopping for his wedding day. The wedding was to take place in Malibu on the beach and he wanted to be elegant and understated. He ended up buying a very simple white linen vest and matching pair of shorts, to wear with a green oxford shirt and paisley tie. I was thrilled that he chose such a great look for his wedding day and was honored to be a part of his quest for an elegant but very stylish look. The fact that he chose a wedding ensemble that didn’t include a jacket was his own statement in the elegant act of “refusal”, refusal to go for the status quo, refusal to not let his special day go by in a rented, impersonal tux.

JB's Interview with Tim Groen

2010-04-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ever since he based a Spring/Summer presentation on Joseph Beuys’ near-death experience, I had been dying (no pun intended) to talk to John Bartlett. The menswear designer was also way ahead of the curve when he explored the shrunken suit silhouette, and while his contract with Liz Claiborne just ended, he has wasted no time (soft-)launching a women’s line “without the fuss”. To cut a long story short, there was plenty of creative stuff I would have loved to talk about with John, but here’s why I changed my mind:
Lately I was beginning to notice that John is putting a lot of energy behind a variety of causes, not the least of which is animal suffering. And I love talking about animal rights even more than I like talking about the influence of Joseph Beuys on fashion.
John, who told me that he’s always been interested in Native American rituals and Eastern philosophy, states that as much as fashion is important to him on a creative level, “Fashion alone can be very draining and superficial.” And so he turned his focus on charities, in order to keep himself connected to aspects of the world that have nothing to do with fashion, and where he can make a difference.
Recently John ditched all fitness activities in favor of yoga (Jivamukti, to be precise), and as with many serious yoga practicioners, the issue of vegetarianism and veganism came up. When a designer goes vegan, you can rest assured that it influences how they think about their profession.
It seemed only fair that I gave John a platform, however modest, to talk about some of those super important issues:

TG: So, let’s forget about fashion for a moment.
JB: Ha! thank you.

TG: We both have rescue dogs, so we clearly don’t have to convince each other. But would you mind explaining once again to people who may be considering getting a pet, why rescuing from a shelter is the way to go?
JB: The levels of cruelty and abuse at the puppy mills that supply the stores are obvious to everybody now. So please avoid pet stores at all costs. If you want to a specific breed, try the shelter anyway. So many pure-breds are being rescued from puppy mills, that it’s changing the face of shelter dogs. It used to be all unidentifiable mixed breeds, but that isn’t the case anymore.
The other thing you can do to avoid pet stores, is to check breed-specific rescue sites; there’s a site for every breed.
But I have to add that while for me personally rescue is the only way to go — I’ve only had rescue dogs as an adult — there’s nothing wrong with getting puppies from a responsible, recognized breeder who treats animals humanely.

TG: You actually facilitate pet adoption events in the West Village, right?
JB: Yes, We organize adoption events with the North Shore Animal League, where they park a big mobile unit full of dogs — most of whom had never walked on grass before they were rescued — and cats in front of our store for a day, and I promote it weeks in advance. We usually average about ten adoptions a day, which is really great for an off-site adoption van!

TG: That is fantastic. Now let’s talk a little bit about fur…
JB: Ah, fur! This past season was really, really crazy; fur was everywhere in New York for Fall/Winter 2010! Two thirds of the designers showed fur on the runway. Apparently the furriers are courting designers to push fur. They’re making all their samples, supporting shows, and create demand, so a lot of stores are asking for it. And because it’s making money, a lot of designers feel pressured to offer it — even those who aren’t sure they feel good about it.
I have always worked in leather, and when I was working in Italy, I would see all this fur that was treated as another ‘fabric’, and kind of an amazing one, actually — if you don’t consider where it’s coming from. So in 2000 I did one season where I worked with rabbit fur, and afterwards I felt so disgusted. I had felt pressured to use it. It just wasn’t me, so I stopped it right then.
A lot of my colleagues are pro-fur, and I’m trying to figure out a way that I impact the pro-fur phenomenon. I’m talking to a lot of designers, editors, fashion directors, asking them, “This is what’s going on. Are you aware?” And if they are, well, at least I tried to point it out.

TG: To me it’s a total clear cut issue; I dare anyone to come up with images of a “fur farm” – nice euphemism, by the way– with happy, well-treated animals. Or to convince me that trapping in the wild is a “green” thing to do.
Why do you think it is so hard for people to denounce this entire industry? Is it just money, or is it maybe something more primitive than that?
JB: I really wish that I knew. A lot of the powerful fashion editors ardently promote fur.
One of the designers I spoke to said, “But the animals are humanely gassed.” All I could think was: Humanely gassed? Doesn’t that argument sound a little Hitler to you?
And so what if some farmers are gassing? Most of the fur comes from China, which has a horrible track record when it comes to the treatment of animals. Just look at the videos PETA—which is a very controversial place—is showing on their site about the skinning of live animals for exotic skins, it drives me crazy!

TG: How does your pro-active stance on animal cruelty affect your collection?
JB: It’s actually more and more affected by it, to the point where I decided that I’m not going to work in leather anymore at all. I used it for fall, and I’ll sell the pieces I still have, but that’s it.
There are all these things that are coming up for me, such as vegetarianism and animal cruelty, partly because of yoga. And I’m trying to have real clarity about it in my own life, so I can speak about it without being hypocritical.
It means that I have to figure out synthetic or fabric shoe options for the runway, and that I may not be able to work with companies I’ve worked with in the past. I know it’s going to be challenging. I realize that when I make the change, lots of peeps will try to criticize and dissect what i am doing — but i think every bit helps.

TG: So, does that mean you’ll keep heading in that direction? Next stop: sustainability?
JB: The collection will not be sustainable as much as it will be as cruelty free as I can make it. Being sustainable is definitely the next frontier, but given my own journey, not using animals is more immediate. I think that producing collections that are compassionate and cruelty free, also helps reverse the effects of the meat industry’s devastating toll on the environment—which is bigger than i ever realized.

TG: Finally, what what would you say to young designers?
JB: Young designers should indeed look at the videos that PETA and the Humane Society—which is another amazing organization—show about how these animals are treated, and how they are killed. I think the more you can inform young designers about how these skins are brought to them, and about the alternatives, the better.
At Parsons, for example, they have PETA and fur industry representatives come in to talk to students. I would think that that would be enough to sway anybody’s opinion. So at the end of the day it’s irresponsible if you’re still going to use fur. Irresponsible and vain.

Shortly after our interview John had another successful North Shore Animal League adoption event in front of his store.

Links:
John Bartlett
This is John’s site. It shows the collections that are in store, and has a link on it to his blog. It also tells you about other (human-focused) charities that John is involved in, which we didn’t discuss, such as SAGE and The Trevor Project.
PETA. As John says, “a controversial place”. It is, however, also an eye opener, and full of current info on international animal rights.
North Shore Animal League. A favorite of John’s: the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world.
ASPCA. This is the organization that rescued my dog, Whiskey Groen, from a kill shelter in Tennesee, after which I found him on Petfinder.com , a directory of more than 13,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

JB on the Daily Front Row

2010-04-22T15:22:00.001-07:00

Check out the piece about the North Shore Animal League adoption event (starts at 1:21).

Social Media Convert

2010-04-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Social media is suddenly on everyone’s mind. From huge mega-corporations to grass roots charities, the concept of communicating via the Internet has become the obsession of both David and Goliath alike. Celebrities are tweeting and individuals can get a sense of a personal connection to their favorite idols. Facebook has become a given for anyone or any company who wants to reach out and communicate.

I, for one, was hesitant to join the world of social media. It felt impersonal and a bit one-sided, especially the twitter phenomenon. But, slowly and surely, I, too, have become a social media junkie, for better or for worse. As I gain followers on twitter and receive daily requests for friends on Facebook, I am becoming a total convert to the power of Internet communication.

My fear, though, is that like email, we can hide behind these new tools of communication to lash out in anger and to express things that we would never say given a face-to-face audience. I am guilty of posting very confrontational videos from PETA for example and feel that after posting them, although I do believe very much in their message, that it can be a cowardly mode of using the Internet to vent my frustrations. I also find that it is much easier to confront people’s views online through blogger comments and other means when I find someone who has different beliefs than I.

As I wade through the very confusing and complex world of social media opportunities I am committed more than ever to try to approach what I share and what I say with compassion for our differences. If I cannot say it to someone’s face, then I should not commit it to the World Wide Web. I have many times felt ashamed at something I posted or about something I commented on and realize that the new world of social media can turn into a dangerous realm for negative thoughts and cowardly attacks.

My own journey with the world of social media has been an interesting one. I have certainly developed a larger client base through Facebook and Twitter and am able to reach my target audience with regards to what I am working on or what is of interest to me. But in the end, it can feel empty and disconnected. I find myself obsessing about what someone has written about me on a blog and feel powerless about how to respond to negative comments that come with being in the public eye. It can be a very hurtful place. For example, I once was scrolling a blog about an event that I had attended and one person mentioned that I looked fat and that my clothes were too tight. Believe me, I lost about 20 pounds since! Ironically it took a faceless commentator to shame me into losing the extra pounds.

I know that this world of Internet communication is in its infancy and that like everything, it will develop, hopefully into a useful and affirming tool. It’s ironic that social media many times becomes anti-social and actually removes us from connecting with people in the here and now.

Grace On and Off the Runway

2010-04-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Writing for dot 429, this past week's theme was “Grace," I conjured the three sister goddesses (Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia) to inspire my sleep-deprived brain. These lovely ladies of Greek mythology are known as the “givers” of beauty, charm, wisdom, and love. Sounds like a perfect wife for many of my single lesbian gal-pals.

To me, grace is a wonderful attribute, and having just re-launched my women’s collection (for Fall 2010), I have added “grace” as the perfect buzzword to describe my ideal female customer. In the fashion biz, designers tend to promote power, sex, youth, and wealth as the ideal facets of their “woman”. To me, it is important to speak to a woman’s dignity, compassion and graciousness alongside their desire to look amazing in what they wear.

This past February, I staged a fashion show that re-introduced my “JB” woman alongside the “JB” man. I was excited to work with women again and endeavored to follow my heart and intuition and design for my fantasy customer, namely the lesbian woman. I have had many fierce women come into my shop in the West Village and ask why I didn’t make the clothes I made for men in their sizes. So I listened to them and sent out a collection of menswear inspired fall clothing (sans ruffles, beading, lace and all that cliché girly stuff) and presented it on a variety of gorgeous women (young and not so young, straight and gay, slim and curvy). You see, having followed the women’s fashion world for so long, and having designed for women throughout the late 90’s, I wanted to present women of diverse ages and diverse body shapes. When you put a garment on a 5’11 Amazon, of course it is going to look amazing. But when you put it on a woman with real curves and maturity to boot, you get an entirely different sensation.

I bring this up because one of the women who “graced” my runway is a very talented photographer and all-around stunning woman named Gigi Stoll. Gigi has modeled for much of her adult life but has made her name with her incredible work as a photographer (please check out her work at www.GigiStoll.com). To me, she embodies the grace that I would like to have associated with my foray back into women’s design. Not only does she look absolutely stunning, she also glows from the inside out.

And not only is Gigi graceful and gracious, she has the grace that I admire in anyone, male, female, or transgender. When Gigi is not working on the set photographing celebrities or traveling to shoot exotic destinations, she is doing God’s work here on earth; she is a Sage volunteer who serves as a “friendly visitor” to an elderly GBLQT New Yorker. I had actually seen her at a Sage meeting for friendly visitor volunteers and remember that I could not stop looking at her. So this posting goes out to Gigi, whose grace and gorgeousness sets the standard for all of us.

John Bartlett Denim Suit Featured in NY Times

2010-04-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

Check out this suit story from the NY Times.
John Bartlett denim suit featured in far right for $1040.

dot 429 Launches

2010-04-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

Please check out a new gay social media site called dot 429.