Why I Invented A Glamorous Napkin
My name is Joanne Schiffres. I am an average middle-class housewife living on the Jersey Shore who, unlike The Real Housewives of NJ, cannot afford to wear designer labels regularly. However, I DO love to wear NICE clothes, and nothing upsets me more than getting dressed up for an evening meal and spilling something on my outfit! I always sit down to a meal with the best of intentions, but let's be honest - food has a mind of its own! More often than not, I think I got out of it unscathed, only to find a spot here or there, or wait for someone to point it out. So frustrating! And I am not the only one, this happens to my friends and their husbands all the time. These spills typically happen at the beginning of a meal, I now have to sit there for the rest of the evening self-conscious about the stain and how it affects my aesthetic.
But the real insult to injury is that I will have to make arrangements to get the garment to the dry cleaners in the hope they can get the stain out. This is not always the case - dry cleaners are not magicians. They have difficulties too and sometimes these methods leave stains of their own! This happened on a pair of expensive Banana Republic cargo pants and took a dry cleaner 4 times to get a stain out of a silk blouse. Sometimes the stains do not come out, depending on the combination of food vs fabric. And can we talk about the cost of dry cleaning? It is ridiculous! According to the internet, an average trip to a dry cleaner will cost all of us between $25-50.00! Of course, women's dry-cleaning costs are always higher than men's, it's like a female tax on goods- looking good that is.
I always found that traditional lap napkins supplied by a restaurant, whether cloth or paper, are ineffective because of the shape and design of our clothing, typically soft fabrics with V-shaped necklines. They are simply not adequate to do anything but hang there looking unattractive. Has this method really worked for anyone? Otherwise, you take your chances or strategize your meal to match a potential stain to the color of your outfit-crazy!
One evening, when dining with other couples, I was wearing a brand-new ivory blouse with soft ruffles down the front, which looked adorable. I thought I had ordered something light-colored because I was strategizing my meal when the server put down a huge bowl of calamari floating in what seemed like a sea of red sauce. My first thought was how in the world am I getting out of this meal without staining this blouse! IT WAS A REAL CONCERN!
Because the blouse was too soft to hold anything, I was fiddling with the cloth napkin so I could literally HOLD it to my chest. While doing this a vision of a product flashed in my mind. I actually said out loud "Wouldn't it be nice to have something attractive with weighted straps to throw over my shoulders and sit there just long enough to enjoy my meal in peace - yet look just as nice as the outfit I am already wearing." I am not kidding! Those were my exact words. Since then, it has taken me over 3 years and a lot of money to research, develop, and locally produce this fashion accessory into something I proudly wear EVERY TIME I dine out and eat or drink in my car. I have had servers and other women compliment what they initially think is my top, but come to find out is something OVER MY TOP! I designed them for both women and men in double-sided versions for versatility. I call them GlamKins and ManKins. This is a patented product that is currently being Made In America.
I truly feel that I solved a long-running problem that most people, not just women, can relate to. Nothing upsets me more than having to pay an extra cost to clean a dress or blouse before I deem it necessary. Let’s be honest, we are not digging ditches in our nice clothes; we can all get more than a couple of uses out of a garment before it needs cleaning. Laundered too often clothes get worn out before their time. I hate having to try to replace clothes because I can never guarantee I will find the same style, color, fit, cost, etc. I will hold onto something until it is out of style or no longer fits. My taste leans towards classic cuts and colors, things I can mix and match. If I find something that works for me and my existing wardrobe, I like to hang on to it for as long as possible. In that regard, I consider this a sustainable product because it reduces the number of replacement garments and laundering of the same.
This is an actual photo of a major mishap with a pork chop.
The products works!
I know what most of you are thinking because I have heard it all! I invented a bib, albeit fancy and pretty, it's still a bib or an adult bib, but you would be wrong. I invented a reconfigured, personalized, and glamorized napkin. A portable garment that is there when you need it, if you keep it close by: in your car, purse, or other means of carrying essentials. Designed in a way that will make you feel stylish while using it, and comforted knowing you can order whatever you want to eat regardless of what you are wearing at the time.
I recently exhibited my new product at a trade show and it received overwhelming positive reviews! There were a couple of hecklers but they were enormously outnumbered. Only proving that there is a real need in the marketplace.
It truly pains me to witness these spills and splashes time and time again, not only on me but other diners. This is why I tolerate the naysayers. For the past 3 and a half years of development, I have heard it all, but I can assure you the one thing we can all agree on is that we HAVE ALL BEEN THERE! Even if you are extremely careful, you have witnessed spills on others nearby or know someone who could use this product! Bon Appetite!
I would love to hear your thoughts and personal experiences on this matter, please share!
Please visit my website at www.Glamkins.com to see what all the fuss is about!
