Garrigue & Jarossay: Rising Star
By Mari Davis
[Photo below: From Garrigue & Jarossay Spring 2004 collection. Photo courtesy of Garrigue & Jarossay.]

DALLAS, June 8, 2004/ FW/ --- Born in Iran and raised in Europe and the U.S., Amis Garrigue has a unique perspective in fashion. Combining Persian tradition with French elegance and American modernity, she founded her eponymous line ‘Amis,’ a collection of handbags made from antique tapestries.

The line was so unique and innovative, that she won the FGI Rising Star Award 2004 for accessories.

But that was not the first time that Amis’ entrepreneurial spirit had been recognized. As a teen-ager in Dallas, she was part of an underground fashion movement, wherein she designed handbags and accessories, which she sold in turn to family and friends.

Though she wanted to continue designing, life’s twists and turns brought her to New York where she became a fashion stylist and there, she eventually met French photographer Guillaume Garrigue, who would be her partner in life.

Dividing her time between Paris and Dallas, Amis found herself gravitating to her first love – fashion designing.

“Paris and Dallas are so different that in a roundabout way, both cities inspired me to go back to fashion designing,” say Amis. “When I’m in Paris, I’m so immersed in fashion, it’s everywhere! And when I’m in Dallas, though there is no fashion scene to speak of, yet the ladies dress up.”

And that was when she founded “Amis,” a limited edition handbag company. Wanting to expand her horizon, she teamed up with Eric Jarossay, a former designer for Yves Saint Laurent and Paris-based designer Andrew Gn to launch Garrigue & Jarossay, handbags made of the finest leather, satins and silks, which are covered with the most exquisite embroideries made exclusively in Europe.

The response to Garrigue & Jarossay is so phenomenal that pieces were being sold during trunk shows, even before the items reach the store shelves.

“The secret is in the workmanship,” commented Amis. “We use French artisans to execute the embroideries in the designs.”

It is not just the fashionistas who had recognized Garrigue & Jarossay’s unique designs and quality workmanship. Women’s Wear Daily, Dallas Morning News, Texas Monthly and Celebrated Living have all written editorials about the handbag line.

But Amis has not been spoilt with the immediate success of the brand. She is already making plans for the future, such as partnering with designers both in New York and Paris to show Garrigue & Jarossay on the runway.

When asked whom she has in mind, she immediately replied, “I’m still looking. The bags have couture elements in them and I need to find the right designer. Also, it has to be a designer who does not have an accessories line yet or else, the handbags might be seen as competition,” added Amis with a smile.

With a good head on her shoulders and acute business instinct plus a flair for design, Amis has what it takes to succeed in the very competitive world of fashion. No wonder, FGI called her a ‘rising star.’

Spring 2004 Photo courtesy of Garrigue & Jarossay

Spring 2006 Photo courtesy of Garrigue & Jarossay

Web Site: www.garriguejarossay.com

PARIS Address:
154 Avenue de Wagram
75017 Paris
FRANCE
Tel: +33 6 13 62 16 42

DALLAS Address
1319 Crampton St.
Dallas, TX 75207
Tel: (214) 905-3957

NEW YORK SHOWROOM:
Sola Showroom
162 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1009
New York, NY 10010
Tel: (212) 620-0988
Fax: (212) 620-0566