Clothing designer Maria Pinto in her studio on 135 N. Jefferson St. in Chicago. (Bonnie Trafelet/Chicago Tribune)
By Wendy Donahue | All of the praise for Michelle Obama’s grape and tomato-colored sheaths couldn’t bear enough fruit to spare their Chicago-based designer — Maria Pinto — from the recession’s blight.
Pinto, whose work has been worn not only by the country’s first lady but also queen-of-talk Oprah Winfrey, will open her West Loop boutique for five final days starting Tuesday. Her daywear, eveningwear, wraps and one-of-a-kind accessories will be sold for 50 percent to 70 percent off their original prices.
In January, Pinto arrived at the decision to close her shop and cease wholesale operations, she said Thursday. A fashion designer for 20 years who previously worked for Geoffrey Beene, Pinto launched her own line in 1991. Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York and Takashimaya in New York, as well as high-end boutiques across the country, carried her pieces.
Beloved for her sumptuous fabrics and fits that flattered every figure, she opened her own store in late summer 2008, as the economy was shifting under her heels.
Her boutique wasn’t the problem, she said.
“In the general scheme of things, our store was doing very well. But our other retailers are paring down their open-to-buys and looking to build sales through trunk shows,” she said. “It’s difficult because it makes your forecasted cash flow challenging. You’re waiting for the show to happen, waiting for things to happen. Before, the stores were committed to larger inventories.”
Any avid shopper can see the shift, she said.
Reassurance comes from Marsha Brenner, executive director of the Apparel Industry Board Inc., a delegate agency of the city of Chicago that assists the design and manufacturing community.
“I don’t think it means anything for Chicago fashion. It was here before Maria and it will be here after Maria. It’s just the saddest thing I can think of, but the industry is tough and will rally. We’re seeing some nice signs as the economy improves. We have a loan program for designers to get money to produce their product to fulfill purchase orders, and there’s been much more activity on that recently.”
Pinto’s clothes required an investment, Brenner said. “At the price point she’s into, her consumers are fewer and fewer. I have no explanation other than the economic downturn.”
There are reports that Pinto’s business, Lola Black LLC, will seek bankruptcy protection. But Pinto said Thursday she’s “not quite sure” it will.
In any case, she hopes the Maria Pinto brand will rise again in some form.
Opportunities are presenting themselves in other cities, she said, but she does not intend to leave Chicago or work in fashion again immediately. She plans to paint this summer, another artistic pursuit she has long loved.
“You have to stop what you’re doing,” she said, “to see the next stage.”
The Maria Pinto boutique at 133 N. Jefferson St. will be open for its final sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through March 20; no exchanges or refunds.
Where is hope? Ask President Obama…can’t even save his wife’s clothier…sad commentary on our economy…
the sad commentary belongs to the republican administration who led this country into this recession. No to the party of No!
I’m surprised Mrs. Obama didn’t keep the lady onhand with like a $1 million retainer
Wake up cjr. So in 4 years is will be Bush’s faulty. Why not go back and blame it on all previous Presidents? Both Conservatives and Liberals or is the truth to inconvenient for you. As soon as we all admit we all had a hand in this the better. How’s that 780 Billion Dollar Stimulus working for us?? Good time to start a business 2008….. not!!!
Obama is the reverse Midus. Everything around him is crashing. That’s why many Democrats won’t be seen with him anymore, such as in Missouri earlier this week.
Well welcome to the same place that the majority of Obama supporters have ended up. The unemployment line. Get used to it!
I guess she got the change she voted for. Good for her.
Now all she has left is hope, and that may be gone soon
if the democrats have their way
I hear that Maria Pinto called the White House asking for a bailout and they said that they could not help because it is Bush’s fault that she has to go out of Business. Then she called Michelle’s private # and found out that the # has been CHANGED.. Now she gets the Change…
If I voted for a president who, for 8 years, continuously led this country into the gutter of financial failure, I, too, would blame the black man. I would be ashamed of myself for what was white instead of voting for what was right.
The party of”NO” Saved our butts because without them Obama would have a free reign to really screw things up. The spending is out of control as is the printing of money which will lead to higher prices, it is called inflation. Bad timing for Maria, too bad.
According to Gallup, Obama entered the presidency with a net approval rating (percent approve minus percent disapprove) of 56 percent. This past weekend, he was at just +1 percent.
A staggering 55 point decline in 14 months. Think about this.
No president has fallen so far so fast since polling began. But then again, no president has demonstrated the level of arrogance, incompetence and deceit that Obama does.
Or is his astounding 55 point drop in 14 months Bush’s fault too?
LOL
The fact is, Obama is collapsing. He’s like a 10-year-kid who finds himself in the deep end of the pool and is now flailing and splashing around looking for anything to grab onto to save him.
We have got to find a way to get this clown out of office sooner than 2012.
All you Bush-bashers get a life. You have no idea how she ran her business. Maybe she was paying out of sight rent, maybe she was spending all the revenue irresponsibly, maybe she’s just unskilled as a business person, maybe her business model was flawed. In fact, if she could see this coming, she should have switched focus or diversified into different client markets, geographic markets, etc – anything a smart business person would have foreseen and done. As a luxury good, you are always at risk unless you do some strategic planning. Is that Bush’s fault? No, it’s hers and hers alone.
Maybe if she had some bridge lines, or even stooped to carry clothes for people who are bigger than size 6, she might have a chance. Perhaps she will show up on HSN/QVC….
Unfortunately, the price-point for Ms. Pinto’s very fine clothes placed her at great risk during last year’s downturn. The story accurately reports that department stores are keeping very low inventories and that is putting tremendous stress on small designer’s like Ms. Pinto. It’s a shame.
Attention Republicans: You only make yourselves look feeble and ignorant by blaming every little thing on President Obama. Wake up.
Can I get a ‘who cares’? I can’t bear to read one word of this waste of bytes after the headline. Outstanding paper, Trib.
Those strange Mrs Obama dresses with the belts at basically breast level, that was pretty brutal stuff. I hope this is the end of the breast belt for women’s dresses.
Hideous outfits. Truly ugly.
It’s too bad for her and her employees most of all. The downturn has been on for at least a year, and yet she didn’t come out with a line that people can ACTUALLY AFFORD? People need/want new clothes all the time, it’s her fault she ran it into the ground by not responding to the economic REALITY. I blame her, totally. Obama or Bush had nothing to do with it. Well maybe she expected Michelle Obama to step up to the plate and endorse her clothes, but c’mon is that going to cause people who simply can’t AFFORD the stuff buy it? Most importantly, when did a president or first lady EVER endorse a product publicly? Uhm I would think NEVER. If it hadn’t been this recession then another one would knock her out.
Hmm, Mr. Chips…you’re letting some chips fall where they may. Please note the Gallup Poll Obama approval ratings as of today.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/gallup-daily-obama-job-approval.aspx
He had a 70% approval rating in February of 2009, and is now at 46%, with 45% disapproving. Yup, it’s a big fall in support and he needs to shape up. Maybe it’s that one percent difference you heard somewhere and extrapolated incorrectly.
In contrast Ronald Reagan, also feeling the effects of a rough economy his first year, averaged only 53% approval his entire presidency, never going above 60%, yet he is revered by the right.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/11887/ronald-reagan-from-peoples-perspective-gallup-poll-review.aspx
Love a good back and forth in the blogosphere, but appreciate it if folks got their facts straight. The info is out there; all you have to do is look it up, or fact check anything that doesn’t look quite right.
The economy grew by 4.5 trillion dollars under President Bush. Under Obama the economy is sinking faster than a brick with an anvil tied to it. Hope??? Hope doesn’t get you any thing. Hope is a lottery ticket. Obama is a lottery ticket seller. Hope is gone. Change??? LOL!!!!!
I’m sorry but Michele’s clothes are hidious anyway so I can see why she’s going out of business. overpriced ugly clothes!
Time for her to take her place in a corporate cubicle like the rest of us. She can start out fetching coffee
Who would care?
Who does the design work for presidential? brother George, who lives in a grass hut?
Maybe a gardener.
Attention all who keep using Republican or Democrat in relation to the blame of the United States demise. You are such complete fools its funny.. Ive never heard more of a dog chasin its tail. .Has nothing to do with Dem/Rep. Its politicians!! It doesnt matter if its moe larry or curly or whatever party you are. Oh and Glen. you need economics class. Get out of American idol and understand that “growth” as you say was due to a credit orgy that nobody can pay back. And contrary to what anyone says never will be. We are bankrupt. Hit the books!!
“It’s just the saddest thing I can think of”
I can think of sadder things like Haiti, Chile, Turkey, etc.
“…Pinto’s clothes required an investment, Brenner said.”
No, they didn’t.
They did however require a large expense. which is increasingly difficult to justify, regardless of the quality of the product.
Investments are designed to create value in some way. I understand that buying a fine outfit can boost self esteem and increase emotional good will. It is also true that depending on your occupation, something like the quality of your clothes can make a difference to potential clients. But generally speaking an expensive outfit is an extravegance, not an investment.
It has become common to refer to a large expense (say buying a car) as an investment. But the reality is, buying a vintage Ferarri is an investment. Buying a Camry is an expense.
Perhaps Michelle can grow her own fabrics in the White House garden. And the Oval Office curtains can be converted into a very stylish sleeveless number.
Lexi G bragged about saving HartMarx…why not Pinto, too?
Huh I guess making ugly dresses for ugly women isnt as profitable as one might think
As the story mentions, the retailers were buying less product from her and running leaner inventories. In 2009, a well-known finance company called CIT Financial for all intents and purposes went bankrupt and allowed to reorganize. Many of its loans helped clothing retailers. The Obama administration decided to do little to save this company from going under. Without the financial juice to finance in-stock inventories, the clothing retailers were forced to cut back inventories and shut many stores.
Another reason that Maria may be forced to go out of business is that most banks no longer lend money to small businesses, which have long been the job creators in this country. Obama has paid lip service only to doing something about small business loans, but so far, all the bailouts have helped only big banks and big corporations to re-start or find the financing they need to continue to operate, while they take market share from once thriving small businesses.
Is it any wonder that as small businesses continue to fail and lay off their workers, why employees in large companies only shrug as they go about their day?(…until their employer decides to do the inevitable down-sizing to get more for less out of their own work staffs?)
As long as the problem doesn’t affect those who work for large companies, it is only a point of small talk. I wonder if Michelle Obama will put the pinch on her husband to do something now for small businesses? If so, it will be another instance of too little…too late!
Michelle Pinto is a cutie!
‘Linsey | March 12, 2010 4:17 PM | Reply
Attention Republicans: You only make yourselves look feeble and ignorant by blaming every little thing on President Obama. Wake up.”
ATTENTION LINSEY – WAKE UP. YOU, OBAMA AND ALL OF THE DEMS MAKE YOURSELVES LOOK FEEBLE AND IGNORANT BY BLAMING EVERYTHING ON BUSH. GET OVER IT. IT IS TIME FOR OBAMA TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF HIS PRESIDENCY. GO FISH ON THAT BUSH CARD…IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PLAYED.
Don’t feel too bad for Maria Pinto.
THIS ISN’T THE FIRST IME SHE’S GONE OUT OF BUSINESS!
I wonder how many vendors she’s going to stick with open unpaid invoices this time. Every time we called her for payment she was on vacation in some exotic place or out shopping with our money.
I guess you can’t blame George Bush for her 1998 to 2001 failure.
Shoes on the symbol of the friend. Shoes of the most common is used to symbolize the opposite sex, or a symbol of marriage. As the saying goes: “Marriage is like shoes, only he knew not fit together.” So no matter what kind of shoes, must take into account its comfort. If the frequent need for some, regardless of their awkward or even painful first step, then chances are your bad luck also quietly come. Therefore, if indeed necessary for occupation and sacrifice ourselves in the foot comfort, so even if you are immediately replaced by non-professional time to the right shoes, so that my luck will not slip. At the same time period in the career-related accessories to wear the town of evil (shoes).