The time I shoot Rug-bags

About photo-shootings…A great photographer, Amarylis Cargning contacted me to make this dream happen! Her model and makeup artist did an amazing job! The pictures were supposed to be nude using just the RUG-bags to cover the body of the model. I think the results were very sexy and elegant at the same time, the pictures really highlights the quality of the bags and you can see how delicate and colorful they are. The rug fabric looks amazing and metal chain details are lighted up in a magnificent way. I just love when people is so kind to share their work with me. I still use the picture for my catalogues and publicity, because this shooting is one of the best I have collaborated to.

This collection of handbags are totally handmade with this beautiful rug fabric made of cotton, washable and durable, I made probably around 15 different bags, some of them I sold in markets here in Rome and other I still sell them online, you can see some of them here: https://it.dawanda.com/shop/j-somoza

The time I was being scammed by a “Neiman Marcus headhunter” guy

I generally get lots of collaboration requests through Facebook and emails thanks to all the sites supporting emerging designers in which I have signed in and shared my work.

Yes this actually happened! A guy name “Ronald” contacted me saying he was headhunter selecting new designers to incorporate some of their pieces for Neiman Marcus in a special project they were developing with Japanese business contacts. Certainly after reading this I went out of my mind, because that's like the golden opportunity for a designer, to have some of your garments displayed in a store as important as that one! And to finally start a production and open the door to new deals.

The worst about this thing is that I actually believed it so much that I wasn't able to think it could be a scam, I thought this was going to be my chance, but after some considerations of my family and friends, I started to doubt….

I especially had my friend in the States calling Neiman Marcus contact line to ask about my situation. To know if it was true that Ronald worked for them. Well…

They told me I was being scam. Can you believe it? Thanks God I never made the production of the 600 pieces they wanted to me to make with their Panamanian “manufacturer”. Thanks God I didn't pull out any money of my pocket for this… I just hope people like that get what they deserve in life, as for the emerging designers who are struggling with me. Keep going, just bear with it, someday we'll have our reward…