We we were first introduced to the ladies at Marie Saeki PR during Alice Ritter's wild and crazy presentation, on the first day of New York Fashion Week. Among the chaos, Yurika Nakazono and Marie Saeki, ushered us backstage, made sure we got interviews with everyone from hair to makeup to models. When Ritter was barraged with journalists, taking notes and pictures, Yurika and Marie held our elbows, gave us a glass of champagne, and put us in front of the designer for our two minute moment of privacy. Needless to say, they have been one of our favorite showrooms ever since. One random afternoon, we popped in to pull some sunglasses for a shoot we had neither story boarded nor booked models for. Marie, the showrooms founder and former Accessories lady for Elle, sat down with us for a chat about the showroom and its recent projects. The showroom has an international roster of clients, they represent everything from sportswear to cameras, from ready-to-wear to eyeglasses. In spite of this, their team is small, and their relationships with the people they work with, close. We think people like Marie and Yurika, who do a great deal for their designers (among them, Alice Ritter, Petit Bateau, Theo, Falke, Selima Optique, Michel Perry, and Anne et Valentin) and the press, are a pivotal part of the fashion industry and, therefore, worthy of their own interview (if short). Afterall, Everybody Is A Star today on Coutorture.




What attitude or personality best describes Marie Saeki PR and the lines that you represent?
Our team is an international mix of open-minded and positive people, with a strong fashionable attitude and a sense of humor. The lines we represent reflect the personality of our office.


What are some of the differences between working with the larger publications versus smaller ones or websites?
The differences are similar yet respective to the scale of the media company. For example, the monthly and seasonally printed publications have to forecast what is going to happen months in advance, and we have to wait to see if our products have been selected for editorials. Websites are very exciting because the Internet is able to instantly broadcast something new and there is an instant result to show our clients.


What is your average day at the showroom like?
Answering a very, very large amount of emails and writing an even bigger amount to our clients, editors, stylists, and journalists. We are in constant communication because new ideas are always being brainstormed and pitched. Samples and products are sent out daily for photo shoots and other product placements. Depending on the season, fashion shows and events are planned and executed. There really is no average day because each day presents new tasks and requests. Our biggest daily issue is deciding where we should order lunch.


What is the most stressful part of your job?
Worrying about not having results to show our clients.


And, your favorite part of your job?
Pitching, it's like a game. It is always fun to find the right angle when introducing a new concept or fashion happening.

This Spring and Fall 08 the West Coast is turning out a slew of Southwestern prints. At a Fall preview today (aka-when the press visit the showroom to see the collections up close and personal. This happens after fashion week and the trade shows. The rotation is thus, first it's the spectacle, then the peddling, then the news-making) we noticed not one, but three different collections with Southwestern prints. It's not exclusively West Coast, the trend is also emerging from streetwear sources. The origin of the trend, that is, can be said to be derived from the 'laid back' designers. The Southwestern print works well for both seasons. In the summer it's a replacement for the bohemia we've grown so tired of, and, in the winter, Southwestern prints remind us of cozy log cabins and getaway trips to upstate New York. Get your ponchos, your cardigans, your high tops and mini-skirts while they're hot.