Christy Plott Redd is the Vice President & Creative Director of American Tanning and Leather.
American Tanning and Leather Company (website) is the United States’ foremost tanner of reptile leathers. Located in Griffin, Georgia, they are a stone’s throw away from the source of the finest raw material in the world for precious leathers – Louisiana alligator.
Owned and operated by the Plott family, American Tanning and Leather Company has 4 generations of experience.
American Tanning and Leather Dye Drums
American Tanning and Leather Company supplies top fashion houses in New York, Paris, and Milan with the most exquisite alligator and crocodile leather. The Plott family’s 26 year tenure in the fashion business continues today because of their top quality, premium service, and keen eye for developing trends in exotic leather before anyone else.
American Tanning and Leather Skin Stretching Boards
Every single skin tanned by American Tanning and Leather Company is hand-selected directly from Louisiana’s alligator fishermen. They are proud to be the ONLY tanner of exotic leather to work directly with the trapper, ensuring the very best quality and best connection to its precious raw material.
American Tanning and Leather Company is committed to producing the world’s finest exotic leathers. It is proud to produce 100% of line of leathers in the U.S.A.
American Tanning and Leather Finished Skins
ADDRESSING THE QUEEN
CLINT: As one of your loyal subjects, is there any protocol I should know when addressing the Queen of Gator? Any traditions or national holidays I need to observe?
HRH: The only protocol required when addressing Moi is to be polite and kind. Bad manners are a huge no-no and major faux pas in my book. I love being around people that are energetic, funny, and smart, and I appreciate friends that are genuine and honest. Frenemies are not something I tolerate. Either I like you or I don’t. Halloween is my favorite holiday because I love to dress up, but my friends like to toast the anniversary of my 21st Birthday with a glass of bubbly, which comes on March 12th, each and every year.
CLINT: Why should I buy alligator skin products, what are your favorite alligator skin products on the market now, or in your personal collection?
HRH: American alligators can only be found in the Southeastern coastal areas of the USA. A proper Southern Belle always supports her hometown, so I like to think of myself as a patron of the South when I look at my closet full of alligator bags. My favorite alligator products on the market right now are the beautiful coats and skirts that my friends at J. Mendel have done. I love everyone that works there. They are not only talented designers, but also wonderful people, full of charm and charisma. I only want to surround myself with positive people that enrich my life, so working with the team at J. Mendel is always a treat. I also adore the Ralph Lauren Ricky bag that was in the Spring 2012 ad campaign. The bag is made in an exclusive color and finish called Tarnished Platinum. It is simply divine- pure heaven.
Ralph Lauren Ricky Bag
As far as my personal products go, I love my Alexandra Knight Mercury bag and my Jada Loveless Isabel Clutch. I have a few jackets and shoes, too, but the bags are my real treasures. My newest addition to my collection will be delivered this fall – a custom made, one of a kind alligator motorcycle jacket. I’m ready for cold weather so I can wear it!
Alexandra Knight Mercury Bag
CLINT: When you decide to “Hold Court” where can we find you?
HRH: As a member of Delta’s elite Diamond Medallion club, I travel all the time. When I travel, I like to stay at cool hotels and go to great restaurants and bars. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Standard in NYC’s meatpacking district is one of my favorite places to stay. My friends and I have been known to shut down Le Bain or the Soho House, and we sometimes end up at The Jane late night.
Los Angeles is also a great city. I love to lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel by the pool; two weeks ago, I overheard a lady who appeared to be well into her 80’s tell her friends that “Elvis popped [her] cherry”. I used to live in Marina del Rey, so I frequented places like Gjelina on Abbott Kinney, and nothing is better than a cold beer and a burger at the Hinano in Venice Beach.
In Milan, I like to hang out at the Bulgari on the patio, and in Bologna, I love S-wine Bar and 4 Viale Masini.
You can find me at the Hotel Crillion bar in Paris having champagne or La Rôtisserie du Beaujolais for dinner. My new Parisian obsession is Chez Fernand; the food is amazing. Brasserie Lipp is also wonderful, and when I feel a little homesick I visit Ralph Lauren’s fabulous burger restaurant on Saint-Germain.
The real truth? I love to be on the go, but honestly, there’s no place like home. Georgia is ALWAYS on my mind. My family owns an estate in South Georgia, and that is my sanctuary on the weekends. It’s a place where I can relax and unwind. When I go to the city, my favorite restaurants in Atlanta are JCT Kitchen, The Varsity, and Chops. I enjoy a good glass of wine at the St. Regis bar from time to time, and I have also been spotted at Blake’s chatting it up with Atlanta’s chicest gay men.
CLINT: What is the Royal Opinion of ‘Honey Boo Boo Child’?
HRH: I love Honey Boo Boo! She’s little girl with a huge personality , and in my book, she is adorable and hilarious. I hear so many people saying mean things about Alana and her family, and I think anyone who criticizes a 6 year old is a jerk. Don’t hate; appreciate! Honey Boo Boo seems to have a loving family, and although they aren’t the Trumps or the Vanderbilts, they are certainly more successful and well known that most of the people talking trash on them. They are famous for being outlandish, and that’s more than most people can say they’ve accomplished. I’m sure she goes home and does her homework like all the other kids in her class. People need to give her a break, and not take the TV show too seriously. It’s meant to be funny, and it is! I’m PRO Honey Boo Boo. I would love to meet her, and take her out for ice cream with sprinkles.
CLINT: Do you have any advice for designers starting in the fashion or accessory business?
HRH: Marry a billionaire! (Not joking.) This business is expensive. So if you want to be a high end fashion designer, you better have a boatload of cash or a major sugar daddy that will support you. I recently started helping one of my clients build a luxury brand, and even as a seasoned insider, I had no idea of the challenges involved in getting a luxury brand off the ground. The biggest challenge is manufacturing. Every detail of every product made in my business must be perfect, otherwise it’s impossible to compete. New designers need a clear and precise vision and business plan for their company, and a unique product that has a specific target market. Niche is better when it comes to luxury; small quantities with high margins are the way to go. I like to tell people that want to start in the alligator bag business that they should go on a fabulous vacation, a huge shopping spree, and maybe take $100K and burn it. If they can’t afford to do all that, then the alligator bag business should be avoided. Most people can’t make it, so I try to scare people out of their wits before I let them buy skins from me.
Jada Loveless Isabel Clutch
CLINT: Any Life advice, Truisms, or Famous Quotes from Her Majesty the Queen of Gator?
HRH: Even before I held the title of the Queen of Alligator, I always wanted to shine…. I even asked my Godmother once if I ’sparkled.’ If you want to be fabulous, surround yourself with people you love and live your life like today is your last. Don’t work another second in a job you hate. Make things happen in your life; good fortune isn’t by chance. Don’t accept a first offer, and remember that ‘NO’ is a starting point for negotiations. Always keep it classy; always keep it real. If you abide by these little words of wisdom, you, too, can sparkle like me.
Remember shopping? The thrill of finding the perfectly fitting dress, or just the right accessory to set your look off - adding a kick to your step? Have you forgotten the smell of brand new shoes?
Fashion Over Atlanta invites you back with four evenings of events in boutiques all over the city – celebrating shopping and fashion. This is not just wine and cheese my dear – there are rumors flying about designer trunk shows, personal styling experiences, trend reports, musical performances, bourbon tastings – and that glorious feeling of going home with new clothes
you can be excited about!
Remember shopping? The thrill of finding the perfectly fitting dress, or just the right accessory to set your look off - adding a kick to your step? Have you forgotten the smell of brand new shoes?
Fashion Over Atlanta invites you back with four evenings of events in boutiques all over the city – celebrating shopping and fashion. This is not just wine and cheese my dear – there are rumors flying about designer trunk shows, personal styling experiences, trend reports, musical performances, bourbon tastings – and that glorious feeling of going home with new clothes you can be excited about!
In today’s society one has to search long and hard for a true original, a person who posses authentic uniqueness. Inspired by seeing a couple of instances such as the AJC my style segment on Eula Adams
I have decided to upload pictures of my favorite truly unique friend and tarot reader who specializes in astrology Sherri Cash!
Here Sherri Cash shows off her fifty dollar pasta salad. I asked her for the recipe and she said you take fifty dollars to the supermarket and listen to the universe, but be sure to buy pasta as well.
THE $50 PAST SALAD CASH-ROLL BALLAD
by Sherri Cash
Once she had money
now she don’t.
What most folks don’t know
is give up, she won’t.
Once rich
now poor.
One thing she’s not
is a drag or a bore.
Once she got spunky
and created something funky,
Just like “The Jerk”
she didn’t have to work.
Just kept makin’ pasta salad
to create this little ballad,
next thing you know
she had a “BIG CASH-ROLL” When pressed for a recipe she offered up this version:
SHERRI CASH’S $50.00 PASTA SALAD CASH-ROLL
3 color pasta
shell pasta
bow-tie pasta
6 hard boiled eggs
hellman’s mayonaise
grey poupon mustard
horseradish
creamy cucumber dressing
peppercorn ranch dressing
vinegar
olive juice
pickle juice
tobasco
green olives chopped
black olives chopped
jalapeno chopped
feta cheese
cheddar cheese with peppers
monteray jack cheese
parmesian cheese
tomatoes diced
carrots shaved
cucumbers diced
broccoli floretts
artichokes diced
avocado
bacon bits
pepper
lemon pepper
crushed pepper
fresh dill weed
fresh cilantro
Another find. Anna Korte Vintage Jewelry ( WEBSITE ).
Anna cuts up gloves to make shredded earrings and necklaces, so pretty.
Bio from Site:
Based out of Portland, or, Anna vintage jewelry is a limited edition jewelry line that is made from authentic vintage materials. with the exception of the ear wires and some of the clasps, every single piece anna uses in her designs is entirely, 100% vintage.
Anna hunts through antique stores and estate sales for special pieces, although the majority of her finds come from old costume jewelry warehouses where she can uncover small runs of vintage dead-stock chains and baubles to incorporate into her work. Anna also uses leather in her designs that is recycled from antique leather gloves, an old and luxuriously tactile accessory, transformed into designs that are current and wearable.
Its that time of year again when comic book characters and movie science fiction heroes jump from the screen and page for a vacation at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. That’s right Guys and Gals its DRAGONCON! ( WEBSITE ) Here are some Pictures from check in!
CARMEN SANDIEGO FOUND! and she likes Dr. Pepper cause it matches her outfit.
Early Jewelry ( WEBSITE ) line from Kansas was by far my favorite find at the Las Vegas Pool Tradeshow ( WEBSITE ) inside Magic ( WEBSITE ).
Biography from website:
Kylie Earlene Grater’s farm beginnings in Riley, Kansas lend a unique aesthetic to her original pieces. Growing up in the rural Midwest, she was able to look out onto the Plains, their vast horizons, and crops that rotated with the seasons.
The simplicity of rural life, the changing of the weather, and the cycles of planting, and harvesting have all influenced Grater’s approach to creating jewelry. Her close contact with these organic influences, in part, determines her materials: feather, cow bone, and leather, to name a few.
Grater’s later influences stem from substantial time spent studying and working abroad. She studied the professional side of craftmaking in England during college for a year and spent time in Africa, working with an HIV/AIDS project. These cultures, combined with her own upbringing in small-town America, have helped to determine the way that Grater builds her designs.
In addition to creating jewelry out of new materials, Grater invents pieces by reconstructing cast-outs and vintage jewelry. Inspiration for this line of jewelry comes from a dictate out of her rural past: one must make use of every little thing! This reuse results in unique and eclectic pieces that are expressive of both the old and the new.
Grater resides in Lawrence, Kansas where all the pieces are handmade.
Early Jewelry also has a wonderful blog ( WEBSITE )
Here she tells us how she goes about making vintage cuff link rings through pictures…
Pecan Pie Couture’s Spring 2009 season of shirts LEGENDARY has a new video out on you-tube. We were inspired by southern folklore and legends for this line of shirts.
To set the mood we asked our friends Martina Williams AKA Martina Diamante ( WEBSITE ) and Erich Luedkte of the Lasch (no longer playing after “the Lasch Show Ever” and but currently forming a new band), to rework a traditional Appalachian folk tune we found on the library of congress website.
Martina scored and played the violin.
Erich was in charge of recording and styling the score.
We are so happy to have such great friends as these, enjoy the video and go to Pecan Pie Couture ( WEBSITE) to find out where you can pick up these shirts in Spring 2009.
Here’s what happening at the AmericasMart (WEBSITE) Premiere show.
If you are looking for the perfect pair of Organic jeans to go with your Pecan Pie Couture (WEBSITE) shirt look no further than STS Blue a new line of organic jeans by the west coast staple in reasonably priced premium denim. STS (WEBSITE).
Also if you are looking to go swanky green next season check out Nugaard Designs (WEBSITE) jewelry made from beautiful golden Brazilian grass.
Also check out Mark Edge’s (WEBSITE) new Eco Vintage line. The Atlanta native is hitting LasVegas with his new line next week and will be Joined by Pecan Pie Couture for the Magic Tradeshow (WEBSITE).
