My Music Video: Monty Warren & the Friggin Whatevers - "Raise the Bar" ("Far Out Close U...

Interview with Author Jennifer K. Jordan: “I wanted to give a snapshot of fathers’ wisdom from across the world.”

Between the fantasy of writing a book and the doing of actually getting the book made can be a long, exhausting process that yields more rewards than it does frustration in the end. Here is one author's moving story of how it happened for her: Jennifer K. Jordan Interview re "Fathers' Wisdom."

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
For more information, please visit our Fathers' Wisdom Media Kit.

What began as a simple tribute to honor the wisdom and love of her father became a life-altering journey for Jennifer K. Jordan, author of Fathers’ Wisdom. Recently Jordan sat down with journalist/blogger Marlan Warren to reveal her 14-year process to gather insights from fathers she believes (according to the book’s back cover) “represent humanity at its best.”

Q: Did any of the interviews surprise you?

A: All of the interviews did that. Every time I interviewed a father, I was so impressed and moved that I thought I could never meet another such fine human being. I was in awe of all the fathers and their love for their children, and their dedication to helping their families no matter what.

Writer Beware®: The Blog: Getting Out of Your Book Contract (Maybe)

When I have more time to post about this, I will. In the meantime, for all you "indie authors" out there, I beg of you to look before you leap into the arms of a "Vanity Publisher." Know the difference between Self-Publishing and signing up with a possibly heartless Vanity Press that will gladly take thousands of dollars from you and leave you with a highly unmarketable book.

Check out this info if you dare:


Writer Beware®: The Blog: Getting Out of Your Book Contract (Maybe)

Machos Tacos in Los Feliz: Lovely Back Garden Patio Photos & Yelp Review

Machos Tacos: Los Feliz, California

I've recently become addicted to the "secret" back garden patio of Machos Tacos, the fast food mecca in my Los Feliz neighborhood. Unlike its neighboring Overpriced Mediocre Hipster Eateries, this modest enterprise hits the mark every time for quality service and low-cost (actually healthy--no lard & not afraid of veggies) yummy South-of-the-Border treats.

No frills in the front. A sign in the window warns "CHIPS ARE NOT FREE!" (Well, they are if they come with a dish and it's not takeout). Friendly guy takes your order through a narrow window in what appears to be a kitchen made for two people--or maybe 1.5? When your order's ready, someone shouts it out (e.g., "Carnitas Tacos! Ready!")

This is a place where nobody knows your name. But they will smile at you anyway, and if there's time, they may even briefly chat or go an extra mile.

Last week I stopped by for their delicious carnitas tacos (love the roasted jalopeno peppers on the side!), and took some photos of this Urban Oasis they've got going on in the back. All photos by Marlan Warren, copyright protected.

My YELP Review:

I am definitely a fan.

I was here one afternoon eating and there was only one other table with customers (outdoor seating only). Must have been kind of quiet because the man who took my order came over and asked, "More chips?" I said yes. And expressed surprise that he goes an extra mile.

"Well, what we can do, we do," he said.

One day a woman on the street stopped me while I was waiting for my food and she said that she'd never eaten here but she had a friend who said the food was so great "He said he was going to name his first child after it."

I did complain recently when the service and the food fell below par when the owner was not around, and guess what? Both the service and the food rate 5 stars now.

There is nothing better than fast service with a friendly smile, paired with mouthwatering carne asada tacos (my favorite) , hot off the grill but not greasy and heaped with fresh guacamole, cilantro, onions, lime...and the best salsa this side of Tijuana. I'm very grateful that Machos Tacos works so hard at pleasing their loyal customers.

May they continue to live long and prosper!


#MachosTacos #LosFeliz #GreatMexicanFoodinL.A.

You have to be THIS smart to read this book: "The Frugal Editor" by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Summary: What sets THE FRUGAL EDITOR apart from the pack of standard grammar/style reference books already available is the ease and simplicity with which it presents a ton of well-organized information. With humor and high intelligence, Howard-Johnson covers an impressive variety of topics vital to every author's survival in 18 chapters, seven appendices and one very accessible index that can help a harried do-it-yourself editor quickly find an answer to a pressing editorial question.

***

I received a complimentary e-book of THE FRUGAL EDITOR from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. A version might be posted on Carolyn Howard-Johnson's blog The New Book Review.

*** 

The Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your bestseller. 

·  Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

·  Series: HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for Writers

·  Paperback: 288 pages

·  Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2d Edition) (4/3/15)

·  ISBN-13: 978-1505712117

·Available on Amazon     

Book Review by Marlan Warren

THE FRUGAL EDITOR fell into my lap like the proverbial manna from heaven. I received the e-book from author Carolyn Howard-Johnson, in exchange for an honest review.

Like most writers and editors, I worry a lot about punctuation, grammar, style and elusive typos. Author and seasoned publicist/journalist, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, offers a Table of Contents that is in itself a work of art with such promising and funny titles such as:

• "Getting Cute with Caps"
• "Effusive Italics"
• "Quotationl Marks for the Two-Dumb Reader"
• "Ellipsis Dots Gone Wild"
• "What About Those Double Adjectives?"

What I found inside this comprehensive handbook is a well organized wealth of information that covers the most common editing questions that may still niggle even the most seasoned of editors.

WRESTLING WITH THE DEVIL: Book Review

Title: Wrestling with the Devil
Authors: Antonio Russo and Tonya Russo Hamilton
Publisher: Gemelli Press
Date of Pub.: April 15, 2012
Genre: Memoir / Italian American / Italian Immigrant
ISBN 978-0982-102398 (Hard Cover)
ASIN: B008EWZ0TW (Kindle)

I had an outlet for my demons.
--Antonio Russo

Be not fooled by the staring young boy on the cover or the word "wrestling" in the title of Wrestling with the Devil (A Story of Sacrifice, Survival and Triumph from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame) by Antonio Russo as told to his daughter, Tonya Russo Hamilton. This is a memoir with something for everyone, Italian Wrestler or not.

Wrestling with the Devil takes us along the simple-but-not-easy path that Russo took to Honor and the fulfillment of his Destiny. If filmmaker Martin Scorcese had not made a film about a raging bull of a boxer who cannot love, and made this story instead, it would have given American audiences a rare "insider" view of one determined man's journey from Italian boyhood to an Italian "American Graffiti-meets-Rebel Without a Cause" immigrant adolescence in Portland, Oregon to a miraculous college wrestling scholarship and finally, to a successful coaching career and induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

We are treated to a slice-of-Italian-American-Life in the 50s and 60s with all the warmth and family confusion, goodwill, great food and "immigrant drive for success" that such a cultural experience often entails.

CMC's Veteran Hair Etcetra and Hip Twist Salon to Combine Beauty Forces

CMC's Veteran Hair Etcetra and Hip Twist Salon to Combine Beauty Forces

For the past 50 years, visitors entering the Fashion District's California Market Center (CMC) may not have realized that a beauty salon is on the second floor, quietly servicing industry celebrities who slip in and out, and anyone else in need of beautifying. Expert stylist Connie Moran was there two years after it opened, and took it over from the second owner 38 years ago, renaming it Hair Shop Etcetra. This month Moran announced the sad news that the high-end salon will close its doors forever on June 31. And the glad news that it will reopen July 1 in the Twist by Oliver salon located downstairs in the outer lobby of the CMC.

Pro Golfers' AssoPGA Tour Style Report's Dads & Grads Gift Guide features Alial Fital Pop Art Polos: "Hip and sophisticated."

This month the unique boutique brand Alial Fital--the innovative golf apparel line for the "Stand Apart Gentleman"--found itself at the top of the list in the PGA Tour Style Insider "Dads and Grads Gift Guide." The guide suggests 15 gift ideas for the well-dressed golfer, including designs by Stance, ECCO J. Lindsberg, Dunny, Puma, Devereux and QED.

"I suggested Alial Fital's pop art collection because it is hip enough for the grad and sophisticated enough for the dad," said Greg Monteforte who helms the PGA Tour Style Report. "Alial Fital styles cross demographic lines thanks to their clean aesthetics, unique details and contemporary fits."

Pop art and golf may not be the first association that pops into most people's minds, but this has not been the case with Alial Fital's "artisanal designer," Gibran Hamdan who has always felt drawn to that artistic movement of the mid to late 1950s with its bold colors, distinct shapes and playful themes.

"SILENCE REVIEW": Quick, lively & poignant read about Teen Queen's Royal Hunt for Biological Father (Lakeview Novel Series Sequel)

     Like all the Lakeview novels, Silence emphasizes the vital importance of family and "extended family" connections. This quick, lively and poignant read explores that special longing felt by many adopted children: to know their biological parents. This novelette sequel to Hush brings back Blakely Henry, now a graduate of Lakeview Academy who juggles her new life as queen of a fictional Mediterranean country with college and her hunky fiancé. Her adoptive American parents are on hand to help out, and it's touching how supportive they are of Blakely's deep need to meet her biological father.

     Author Stacey R. Campbell has meticulously crafted characters who come to life on the page so well that you feel you know them. She keeps the tone light, and is unafraid of tackling painful memories or events that ensue as Blakely's search intensifies. Details such as the excellent pasta dishes the castle cook can whip up for her pleasure enhance the pleasures of this story which has one foot in "fairy tale" and the other in "reality."

     What makes this journey so much fun is how much everyone involved cares. Blakely's whole family plus her fiancé accompany her on this tough journey which leads them through some beautiful parts of France. As always, Campbell writes multiple points of view, and tips us off to the Truth before the heroine discovers it--building suspense about what will happen after all the cards are on the table.

     Silence is glamorous fun (how much easier our lives would be if we all had our own "royal stylist"), and at the same time, it is down to earth about skeletons in family closets and how they choose to handle them. This is one of those sequels you can read without reading the novel that it follows (Hush), although it will make you want to go back and read the full story of how the adopted Blakely Henry came to find out she is the only surviving blood relative of an assassinated monarchy that now needs her help.

Title: Silence (Novella 1, Lakeview Novel Series)

Author: Stacey R. Campbell

Publisher: Green Darner Press (May 28, 2015)

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

ASIN: B00YGCAR1K

Amazon Kindle Only   55 pages       $.99

Available at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YGCAR1K

Website: http///www.staceyrcampbell.com

Alial Fital Golf Apparel Will Donate Portion of Sales to Folds of Honor Military Scholarship Fund (Memorial Day Weekend)

Gibran Hamdan, CEO and designer of the popular golf apparel line, Alial Fital (AF), has announced that AF will donate 10 percent of all proceeds from sales to the Folds of Honor Foundation, now through the Memorial Day Weekend (ending after Sun., May 24).

“This is Alial Fital’s way of honoring our servicemen and women,” said Hamdan, whose “stand apart” menswear is manufactured in Los Angeles, and displayed online or at its showroom in Seattle.

Folds of Honor cites that of the one million-plus veterans who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, nearly nine out of 10 do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance. The non-profit provides annual educational scholarships to the military families of those who have been killed or disabled while in active duty. These help support private education tuition, tutoring and educational summer camps for children K-12, as well as higher education tuition assistance for spouses and children. Since its founding in 2007, the organization has awarded over 7,500 scholarships, including over 2,000 in 2014 alone.

Folds of Honor hosts an annual invitational golf tournament at the Patriot Golf Club in Owasso, Oklahoma on Memorial Day. The Patriot was voted “Best Private New Club” by “Golfweek” in 2011.

Gibran Hamdan entered the design world of golf style in 2010 after an illustrious six-year career as an NFL Quarterback. Alial Fital will be featured along with other selected labels in the upcoming June Grads/Dads issue of Greg Monteforte’s “Style Insider” column on the PGA Tour website.

Alial Fital Website: http://www.alialfital.com

Alial Fital Press Kit: http://alialfitalpresskit.blogspot.com

Facebook: Alial Fital

Twitter: @alialfital

Folds of Honor Website

https://www.foldsofhonor.org/

The Patriot Club

http://thepatriotgolfclub.com/

PGA Tour

http://www.pgatour.com

Greg Monteforte

Twitter: @GolfThreadsBlog


#alialfital
#gibranhamdan
#memorialdaydonations
#foldsofhonor
#militaryscholarships
#patriotgolfclub

“ARRGH!" IS A TRUE TREASURE: 5 NOT-EASY LIFE LESSONS ON THE HIGH SEAS

Title: Arrgh!
Author: Stacey R. Campbell
Publisher: Green Darner Press
Date of Release: Nov. 1, 2014)
Genre: Middle Grade / Adventure
Publisher: Green Darner Press (November 1, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0988478442
Hard Cover * Paperback (282 pages)
http://www.amazon.com/Arrgh-Stacey-R-Campbell/dp/0988478447
Kindle (284 pages)
ASIN: B00MX7ATRM
http://www.amazon.com/ARRGH-Stacey-R-Campbell-ebook/dp/B00MX7ATRM

Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.

--Goethe

BOOK REVIEW BY MARLAN WARREN

Stacey R. Campbell's charming kidnapped-by-pirates/coming-of-age voyage, Arrgh!, is greater than the sum of its title.

This tale of a runaway orphan who finds himself forced onto a cargo ship by pirates posing as midshipmen takes off like a cannon shot, gathering momentum with inventive action until its gratifying conclusion.

Campbell deftly melds fantasy with reality; excitement with education; and classical storytelling with contemporary sensibility.

Thirteen year old Christopher has escaped an orphanage in the hope of finding family members. Ironically, after being nabbed off the street by two pirate thugs, he is passed off to the ship's captain as one of the pirate's relatives. The pirates threaten him with death if he does not pretend to be mute. Thus Christopher enters a world of repressed silence...broken only during moments when he can communicate with Leo the Attack-for-Hire Mouse who comes to his assistance as a kind of life coach. The trained and certified Leo sets about teaching him Five Life Lessons.

Thus begins Christopher's path to strength and growth.

Here, as in Peter Pan, there is a dividing line between adult and non-adult perceptions. When Christopher is befriended by the Captain's 12-year old daughter Lucy, she can also understand all the talking animals who come their way because she is not an adult. Later, when the duo find themselves stranded on an island with only animals for company, they treat it as a paradise where they can do whatever they need to do without adult interference.

The contemporary aspect of the story can best be seen in the bond that grows between Christopher and the spunky Lucy, which is born out of respect and caring. Unlike Peter Pan's Wendy, Lucy reveals herself to be more Tomboy than Housekeeper--and Christopher admires her pluck.

One major plot point stresses the value of reading, especially during a time when so many sailors were illiterate. Lucy first cracks the mystery of Christopher through observation. She sees that he can read books in her father's library. The clue of his literacy leads her to the truth.

Young readers will be enthralled by the vivid imagery that makes up the swashbuckling action sequences, as well as the evocative sights and smells of this time period. A Glossary of Nautical Terms opens the book, and lessons in how to deal with a vintage ship in a storm are believably depicted.

The story is constantly moving, venues shifting. There is little chance for reader claustrophobia as Christopher's odyssey whisks him from Norway to the Caribbean Islands. Dialogue is witty and snappy, especially in the animal's speech (there's a blushing bat who talks Rastafarian). All the "good guys" are complex and believable. The villains are nasty and often funny, in the grand "Arrgh" tradition.

There is violence, as well as dark moments, not unlike Treasure Island or Oliver Twist. However, victories are mostly achieved through The Power of the Plan. Of all the lessons, how to create and carry out a plan stands out as the most significant. Christopher, Lucy and Leo hop from Plan A to Plan B to Plan C--adapting as their fates shift--until the pirates are finally vanquished without (more) bloodshed.

When Fate determines Christopher must say good-bye to Lucy and stay on the island by himself to battle the pirates with animal assistance,  it pushes him towards his final growth spurt. Afterward, he voices his newfound truth: "I was never alone."

Ultimately Arrgh! gives young readers a close look at what makes "extended family" and the definition of "family." Perhaps these are enough spoilers for one review. How does it end?

Here's a hint: It involves Lesson Number Five. And it brought tears to my eyes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stacey R. Campbell lives in the San Juan Islands with her husband and three daughters. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and a dyslexic writer that believes there is no such thing as a bad reader. She's the author of the young adult books Hush, Whisper and the highly acclaimed middle grade swashbuckling book Arrgh!

When not at her desk writing she can be found hiking, sailing, or skiing. She enjoys chocolate in any shape or size, too many cups of coffee and laughing (often too loudly, as her daughters say) with her friends and family.

Stacey is available for classroom visits via Skype and loves working with writers and readers of any age; especially those with learning disabilities like her own.

Learn more about Stacey R. Campbell and her up coming releases by visiting her website at http://www.staceyrcampbell.com.

WHY I LOVE PR.COM - Press Release for Golf Threads - Gibran Hamdan Interview now up and running!

I just want to take a moment to be grateful for the amazing services of PR.com. This FREE press release distribution website (free has its limitations--photos, links, etc. do have fees) has been coming through for me with flying colors for years. Their Customer Service and Editorial Assistance has been quick and sympathetic to my needs. And they are very picky about what is NEWS. If it ain't news, it won't be found on their pages for media pickup. THANK YOU!

My press release to get the word out re the fantastic Golf Threads interview with the unique golf apparel designer, Gibran Hamdan, is up today at PR.com and already picked up by relevant newswires, including the BBC Record. Check it out! #ilovepr.com #alialfital #golfthreadsblog #golfstylerocks #pr.com

Golf Threads Interview: Alial Fital’s "Artisanal Fashion Designer" Gibran Hamdan: "I Want to be True to Myself"

CALLING ALL GOLFERS! Golf Threads Interview with Alial Fital's "Artisanal Fashion Designer" Gibran Hamdan: "I WANT TO BE TRUE TO MYSELF"

This week, Greg Monteforte's Golf Threads Blog features an interview with Seattle-based Alial Fital menswear designer Gibran Hamdan. The former NFL football player discusses his “American Made Artisanal Fashion” approach and his philosophy behind AF’s “Stand Apart Movement.” Reprinted here with Monteforte's permission. For more Golf Threads, check out: 

http://golf-threads.com/2015/26/alial-fital-gibran-hamdan-standing-apart/

Even before starting GolfThreads, I had been a fan of Gibran Hamdan and his creative work at Alial Fital.

Hamdan’s story is as unique as his designs. After a six-year career as an NFL quarterback, including a stint with my beloved Washington Redskins, Gibran traded his shoulder pads and helmet for a sewing needle and fabric. He taught himself how to make patterns and then how to sew using his wife Jenny’s sewing machine. Making his own dress shirts, Gibran’s friends started requesting the carefully designed and custom-made polos for themselves, which led him to start Alial Fital in 2010.

GolfThreads: You essentially traded a playbook for a sketchpad. How does an NFL quarterback transition to a fashion designer?

Gibran Hamdan: I was in such a fortunate position after my career ended to have freedom. I wasn’t set for life, but there was enough cash available to have a runway to explore what I wanted to do. Although I considered many avenues I leaned on what I felt were my best skills and talents. I felt like I had a unique design perspective. I am creative and am drawn to the artistic side of things.

A key motivation was to never be defined by any one thing in my life. One of the things I am most proud of 5 years into Alial Fital, most people I meet don’t know that I ever played in the NFL. It’s most likely because I had such an unheralded career. But to be known for doing something else well brings me joy.

GT: At a time when professionals and amateurs alike are turning to day-glow colors and aggressive patterns in an effort to stand out, you’ve started the Stand Apart Movement. What’s the difference between standing out and standing apart?

GH: This is a great question. Our Stand Apart movement is less about the brand & the products we are producing & more about our fans & customers.

As you mentioned there is an angle where brands are designing to stand out. Doing so puts the focus on the product. How can we make something that will stand out? Set us apart and thus increase profits.

Our Stand Apart movement aims to have men confidently & independently decide what THEY want to wear. How THEY want to dress. If that’s wearing Alial Fital, then great – if not that’s fine too. It’s not about control, marketing, or the bottom line. It’s about conveying a message that I believe in. First I want to be an authentic person who is true to myself. I enjoy hanging out with authentic people. I want to drive potential customers & anyone that sees our brand to be authentic to themselves and their own style.

The Stand Apart movement is a success anytime a gentleman thinks about their personal style choices, decides how to move forward with putting his wardrobe together, and finally doesn’t care what anyone in the outside world thinks.

GT: You’ve said that 7 out of 10 men won’t wear your clothes, and but the other 3 will buy everything you do. What’s the profile of an Alial Fital customer? Why do your designs speak to them?

GH: You’re right – that was a statement that I heard from one of our few wholesale accounts. We’re not for everyone – that is ok with me. The goal is to be respected by all that see the brand and loved by a loyal few who wear the brand.

I think the Stand Apart movement is a direct tie in to who the Alial Fital customer is. First – it’s not easy to find us. We are the smallest of small. AF gentlemen find us in the search for what can’t be found with the mass-produced and imported garments on the market. The desire to search for UNIQUE is a big 1st step in identifying our loyal Ambassador.

The Alial Fital man appreciates the American Made aspect of our brand. Once again they appreciate that it is and always has been authentic to how we do things. The company is built to make 100 of each style in Los Angeles – not 10,000 of each style in China. They like that and appreciate it.

The Alial Fital man is honest – he appreciates the transparency & small business qualities of my brand. The fact that my Instagram feed is littered with pictures of my son Pendleton and my wife Jenny resonates with him. I know this because trust me I’ve heard from plenty of gents that complain about seeing my family on the AF Instagram account – it’s crazy.

GT: You take a lot of pride in the fact that Alial Fital apparel is made in the U.S. and offered at the same price point as imported apparel from other brands. What benefits will customers see in American made apparel?

GH: Let me first say – there are plenty of brands that produce terrific apparel overseas. IMHO – High quality garments have less to do with the location of production. High quality garments are a result of using the best materials and diligent hands.

First our American Made garments have to abide by US laws and I can guarantee you a 12 year old is not sewing them in a sweatshop.

Domestic production allows me to design in smaller batches with shorter lead times. The result is the freedom to produce more unique styles. Customers love that only 100 people in the world will ever own one of our limited edition designs. I couldn’t do that producing overseas.

GT: Bo Van Pelt has worn Alial Fital for several years on the PGA Tour. Last year you added Tour player Jim Renner to the team. How do their personal styles mesh with your design philosophies?
GH: With regards to BVP – our style resonated with him from day 1. He was first an AF customer and the sponsorship followed. He loves the American Made aspect – that has always meant a lot with him. As I think about it he may be the epitome of the Stand Apart movement. When we first started working together past images of him on the course conveyed a subdued style.

At some point he came into his own and stated defining his own style. Making his own mind up about what he liked. It just so happens that we were the brand that captured his eye when he was ready to make the move. I will always be grateful for that.

A perfect example is in our 1st year together I helped pick out his outfit for every round. As our relationship grew I realized it was a detriment to his style expression and I started doing less and less of it. Today, for the most part he is matching his tournament attire together on his own.

Jim is drawn to brand for other reasons. I think he loves our fit. He loves the performance aspect of things. He’s less keen on some of our more innovative styles and more apt to stick to our tamer designs. Again, Jim is a true reflection of the Stand Apart movement. We check the boxes that matter to Jim and that’s why he wears us.

GT: You recently converted an old dentist office into an ultra-chic showroom. What can customers expect when they make an appointment to visit the showroom?
GH: First to be offered something to drink. I’m focused on making their life easier and giving them the direction and support they need to find their own style. I’m proud of the space and so far everyone that has visited ends up making another trip. I take it as a sign we are doing something right.

GT: Unlike most apparel brands, you are constantly releasing new pieces throughout the year. How important is it to offer fresh designs throughout the year, rather than just in the spring and fall?
GH: I call it Artisanal fashion. Staying true to our limited edition nature is paramount to everything we do. I have fun designing – it’s one of the favorite aspects of my job. The intention is to design on a whim, free from traditional apparel market norms. I’ve never been to a trade show and not because there wouldn’t be value in the exposure. It doesn’t fit our production model to focus on the mass wholesale market.

I guard our model and “Artisanal” American Made aspect of the brand tightly. An added bonus to this model is that it enables me to innovate with less pressure. I enjoy being the tip of the spear. Trust me I’ve had tons of misses with our designs. Many of which may prove to have been ahead of their time and not suitable for today’s market.

If I adopted the traditional model of a few collections a year – produced in large quantities AF may not have survived those mistakes. This is a large issue in the apparel business. Many terrific designers in the apparel industry feel the pressure of the bottom line. Make no mistake I grapple with it as well. My model reduces the pressure significantly. The design can come first. I can take the risk.

Many must play it safe when designing. Hence you see a lot of the same old same old – because it’s more apt to sell quickly.

GT: Your two newest collections are the Pop Art and the Masters Collections. Where did you pull inspiration from for these collections?

GH: The Pop Art series was in fact inspired by my favorite Art genre. The Pop Art movement has always resonated with me. It always has been a source of inspiration for me. This was the first time specific pieces by prominent artists served as inspiration.

The Masters collection is a grouping of many different thoughts I’ve collected in the past months. I am proud of our product pages and how thorough we dive into the inspiration for each design.

GT: Recently, you expanded your product line to include pants, which have a very modern silhouette and an effortless look that can go just about anywhere. Talk a little bit about the pants and the design process.

GH: Much like the process that led me to our dress polo shirt, the pants were born out of necessity. I was a Bonobos customer for a long time before making the Alial Fital pant. Their Straight fit was good around the thighs but too baggy past the knee. Their Slim fit was too tight in the thigh but just right past the knee. I wanted a better fitting pant for me – so I made them. This initial pattern is for men that have the same problem I do. They want room in the thigh and a trimmer fit past the knee.

So far the response has been solid. Those that buy them and like the fit end up buying a bunch. Those that don’t like the fit return them for a full refund. That’s how we roll.

It’s a constant process to find new and innovative fabrics for American Made production. A weakness of my model is new products are always difficult because sourcing can be an issue. There are so few of us producing garments here. Many sourcing options just exist close to countries that have a high volume of production these days.

GT: You have built a loyal customer base by sending hand-written thank you notes with every order, rewarding your best customers with watches and soliciting feedback on new designs. How has engaging with your customers and rewarding them helped to build the Alial Fital brand?
GH: Authenticity has been the key to engaging our customers and growing the brand. I’ve always written the thank you notes. I am not the first to do it and won’t be the last. I don’t have a better explanation other than – it’s just what I do.

It’s so difficult for a small business to earn a new customer. To pull someone away from a Nike, Adidas, or Peter Millar is no small feat. Those are behemoth brands. They couldn’t write handwritten thank you cards if they wanted to.

If someone is willing to give me a shot, I am truly humbled and honored. I need to thank them and let them know how important that order was.

When it’s boiled down it’s pretty simple. My job & our brand depends on a small amount of customers compared to our competition. When a customer supports us – they are putting food on my family’s table. That deserves the best I can give them. That deserves the best product I can produce. That deserves responding to their emails quickly and taking care of them.

It just so happens out of this necessity I experience a huge value add to my brand. There is such a low expectancy with regards to service these days. It should come as no surprise that Humans appreciate a kind and understanding business. The key is the authenticity of it. People realize it’s not an act. It’s just in the Alial Fital DNA.

With regards to the Alial Fital Ambassadors Club and how I rewarded our Top 11 customers dedication last year with American Made watches – when certain customers own over 40 – 50 of a brands designs, or pump you up to everyone they know, or send your son a gift for his birthday don’t you think they deserve something awesome? I do.

Those that know us well understand we are a big family. I deliver value to our Ambassadors and they deliver value back to me. That’s Alial Fital in a nutshell. We’re just trading value back and forth.

Alial Fital Website: http://www.alialfital.com
Twitter: +Gibran Hamdan
Contact: Gibran@alialfital.com

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books' Kiddies Strike Poses with I AM NOT SELLING MY TOOTH!

KIDS STRIKE POSES AT THE 2015 L.A. FESTIVAL OF BOOKS!

This past weekend at the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the USC Campus, adults and kids had the time of their lives learning and seeing and doing and playing and listening to fun stuff that ignites our imaginations while directly speaking to our common experiences.