Lady’s Image boutique in Wilmington selected to participate in ‘I Am Ming Wang’ fashion campaign
32 years ago, two sisters opened Lady’s Image here in Wilmington Delaware. The boutique has since become a local treasure, and has been voted “Best in Delaware” for 18 years in a row. They have recently received national recognition by being selected to participate in this year’s I Am Ming Wang campaign.
For knitwear brand Ming Wang, the hallmark of good business is more than the bottom line. It’s about a connection and building a relationship – with buyers, with stores, with customers, with every level of interaction with the company.
This family owned and operated business prides itself in creating high-quality women’s separates that are stylish, functional, and built to last. More importantly, the company specifically caters it garments for everyday women with busy lifestyles. “To this day real women continue to serve as the inspiration behind my collections,” says designer Ming Wang. “Whether it is the busy mother, the doting grandmother, or the savvy business woman, [the line] is designed with each of these women in mind.”
But in spite of the brand’s focus on creating clothes for a range of sizes, the company was frustrated having to adhere to industry standards asking for pieces to be photographed primarily on younger, skinny models with unrealistic and uncommon body types. Tired of perpetuating a disconnect between marketing demands and their actual customer, the “I AM…Ming Wang” look book was born.
Each season, Ming Wang selects 15 to 20 women from across the country to be highlighted in “I AM…Ming Wang.” The women featured are a mix of store owners and managers, buyers, customers, and a few are even members of the Ming Wang corporate team. Each is selected for a different reason. Retailers are selected based on varied criteria including how well the collection does in their store, their passion for the brand, their understanding that the product fills in a need in their community, and also their availability on the given dates.
This season Ming Wang selected Lady’s Image, a local boutique in Wilmington, Delaware.
Jane Strobel and Janice Venema, co-owners and buyers at Lady’s Image women were flown to Ming Wang’s Dallas, Texas headquarters and given a VIP three-day experience. For the shoot, each woman has a designated time slot to get one-on-one time with hair and make-up stylists, a professional photographer, an on-site masseuse, and pick the outfit she would like to wear from the upcoming season. Whether styling with her own accessories or pairing with other pieces in her closet, every woman is photographed wearing Ming Wang her way; the way that makes the product her own. At the end of the shoot, the women pose together in the impactful group photo that defines “I AM…Ming Wang” – and the outfits are theirs to keep, two months before the styles will be found in stores.
You can help this local boutique, and get some Ming Wang goodies for yourself too!
Ming Wang will be hosting a facebook contest from July 16th to August 10th, asking fans to vote for their favorite “Ming Wang” Cover and Lady’s Image needs local support. The store cover with the most votes will receive exclusive Ming Wang “swag bags” to give to each person that voted for them– voting happens at facebook.com/mingwangknits.
- Delaware’s New Law- Governor Signs “Employment First” Bill
- UD Fall 2012 Certificate Program Information Session Today!