The Trend Boutique Spotlights Rails! Win Your Very Own ‘Dana’ Shirt!

The creative mind behind the Rails Clothing Brand, Jeff Abrams, is responsible for the wonderful plaid shirts that celebs like Megan Fox and Jessica Alba can’t get enough of. The pieces are made from light to medium weight cotton gauze fabric and is an ultimate closet staple. With so many styles to choose from, our TTB shoppers are eager to get their hands on their very own button-up. Jeff sits down with The Trend Boutique and fills us in on the wonder that he calls, Rails.

Rails: Behind Hollywood’s Favorite Plaid Shirt

The Trend Boutique: What inspired you to create a clothing line?

Jeff Abrams: I grew up in Southern California, but also spent a couple years living in Europe in my young twenties.  It was really while travelling abroad that the collection began to take shape.  I wanted to create a line that blended the casual, comfortable feel of California living with a more fashion-focused, international appeal.

 TTB: Why call it Rails?

 J.A: Part of my inspiration for the collection came while travelling on the EuroRail to different countries, where I was able to appreciate not only different fashion sensibilities but also different cultures.  RAILS seemed like a great brand name to capture the early creative concept for the collection.

 TTB: What makes the Rails Brand unique?

J.A: We strive to continually make pieces that are versatile and comfortable, but still feminine and sexy (for the women’s collection of course! We’re also doing Men’s and Kid’s).  Each season we develop and introduce special fabrications and prints that make our collection fresh and relevant. We also listen to our customers.  Often we have customers request certain styles which can end up becoming part of our collection.  Many designers are extremely protective of their creative vision, but I think it’s important to balance your creative vision with your customers needs.

TTB: The styles of your collection at The Trend Boutique is very casual and laid back, what is your favorite piece and why?

J.A: It’s hard to pick a singular piece. I think our collection is less about making a statement with a single item or being flashy, and instead we try to offer styles that can be worn every day, both in a casual setting or dressed-up if paired with other stylized elements and accessories. Of course we have done very well with our shirting’s, and we plan to continue developing that genre, but we have also began to expand in other categories like jackets, skirts, pants, and blouses.

TTB: What is the hardest part about being a clothing designer?

J.A:  Being both a designer and owner of a company is incredibly rewarding but physically and emotionally challenging.   For any young designer the biggest obstacle is figuring out how to make your concepts become an actual collection.  It takes countless hours of sourcing materials, production visits, fittings, and management of many people to turn a concept into a fully developed line. As your business grows, the demand for new products, new ideas, new markets, and brand extensions require you to create collections more quickly and efficiently.  Sometimes you have to remind yourself to take breaks and appreciate all the other incredible things that are happening outside your world of design.

TTB: Where do you see the Rails Brand going in the future?

J.A: I plan to continue to make exciting new women’s collections and expand our line to include new categories, such as bottoms, jackets, blouses and dresses.  We are also developing our Men’s and “Little Rails” collection, as well as growing our retailers both domestically and internationally, particularly in Asia and Europe.  It’s important that while we are doing this, we stay true to our creative direction and stay focused on why we have been successful thus far.

TTB: What are you more excited to see, your clothing on a celeb or your clothing on the girl walking down the street?

J.A: It’s great to have such a strong celebrity following and it has certainly helped our brand grow, but it’s more exciting to see a girl walking down the street in our clothes.  That girl works extremely hard and needs to be discriminating in what she buys. And I really appreciate it when I know someone likes what we’ve done and wants to wear it.

 Here are some just for fun ☺:

TTB:  If we walked into your home and looked inside your refrigerator, what would we find?

J.A:  Not much more than water and some other items you’d need to check expiration date on.  I’m rarely home so I don’t get to enjoy many meals there.  Too many long hours at the office!

TTB: If you could drop everything and leave, where would you go right this moment?

J.A: I always love going back to Europe, particularly Italy, to relax, recharge, and become inspired.

TTB: If you had to watch one movie for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?

J.A:  My Spring look-book video at www.railsclothing.com.  Go check it out!

TTB: What advice would you give to an aspiring clothing designer? Something you wish someone would’ve told you.

 J.A:  When I started the collection I didn’t really have a mentor or anyone to guide me along the way.  I made a lot of mistakes early on, and it’s frustrating for a young designer trying to simultaneously be creative, physically make your collection, find stores who want to buy what your making, and generate awareness for your brand.  The most important thing is to believe you can do it.  That no matter what obstacles are put in front of you, you will find a way to overcome them and move forward.  You always have to be moving forward.

WIN the Rails Dana Button Down Shirt in Navy Plaid!!

Follow these steps to be eligible to win:

(1) You MUST live in the U.S.

(2) LIKE us on Facebook & LIKE Rails on Facebook

(3) SUBSCRIBE to our Blog *This is a 2-step process*  After entering your email address & clicking Subscribe Now, you MUST ALSO check your email to CONFIRM the subscription. The process is NOT COMPLETE until you do so & your name will NOT make it onto the list of possible winners!

STEP 1) STEP 2)

(4) Comment on this post by: Visiting ShopTheTrendBoutique.com and telling us which Rails item is your favorite! (Hint: Use The Search Tool) Leave a link to your choice in your comment.

(5) Do NOT enter under different aliases: If different aliases are used and numerous comments with the same shipping address are left, those comments will be deleted. As for the winner, if we find out an alias has been used, a new winner will be chosen. Play fair!

We will be accepting entries for this prize until Friday, March 23, 2012 9am (PST).

Good Luck! And may the most stylish fashionista win!