More News About BIC and Kazue

This is reprinted from the Yahoo Group "The Japan Connection."


Posted on April 23:

This is the part of an email from Kazue's sister, Matsumi, that Denise Travers chose to share:

"Sorry for my late reply. I really appreciate your warm and gentle thoughts for us, and I cannot find words to apologize to the people who trusted Kazu and BIC. All I can do for them is to tell what I know without lies and hiding, but I'm sorry that I do not know how Kazu has managed her business. Both dealing and accounting are completely under her control, and nobody in BIC knows the details. I have nothing to hide, and I don't ask you to hide. I easily can imagine what happens on the discussion boards in internet all over the world., it's completely same as happening in Japan. Of course we know it, but no one can stop it."

 Denise says:

I don't believe BIC will re-open, I am not sure how it will be handled but will
let you know when I know anything.  I will not hold back anything...
It is heartbreaking to imagine what they are going through. I wish I could be
with them.
Rob had posted that I was in Japan. I was supposed to be but I was here because
my Mom had a heart attack and I was with her.  I have not been in Japan since the day of the earthquake.  I am hoping to find out more details about Kazue's disappearance and will share  when I know anything. Right now all I care about is Kazue's safe return and her families welfare.
Denise

Posted on April 22 by Denise:

Unfortunately I haven't heard anything new. But I need to give more of an explanation on some things. First off all the positive comments about Kazue are totally right on.  Thank you for sharing what we all know. That Kazue is an honest, incredibly hard workingwoman who loves her family and her business and has always done right by everyone.

If she is guilty of anything it is of being "generous to a fault" About Kazue and BIC. I am going to be very open and I truly hope Kazue or her family would not mind. This is probably been the most difficult time in Kazue's life right now. 9 years ago Kazue started BIC from nothing and all alone and eventually ended up with 7 employees including family.
Over the last few years Japan was in a horrible economy, (as bad if not worse than the U.S.)
BIC struggled but Kazue just worked harder to stay afloat. Over a year ago her son was struggling with medical problems and after many Doctors and hospital stays and medicines he was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome as one of his problems.
This is very rare in Japan so Kazue had little support. She of course chose more time with her son and less on the business. So BIC struggled and Kazue fell behind more and more.
Kazue's sister Jimmy (who is a true gem herself) stepped up and tried to help Kazue
with the ever mounting emails (at 1 point when I visited the number was over
4000.) One comment was that BIC was turned over to a family member when Kazue's son was suffering but this is not true. Jimmy and her other sister worked more to try to
help but they were already full time. Then 6 weeks ago the Earthquake and Tsunami happened. Many areas were spared a lot of damage including where Kazue's family and BIC were located. But the devastation was and is so large that it has destroyed many lives and businesses. BIC was one. It was fragile and there was no way to save it. It is our complete hope that Kazue had a "meltdown" and ran away from everything and she is safe. But no one has heard a word for 12 days now. Kazue is an amazing Mother and that is the hardest part to imagine her being gone from her children so long.

One comment has been that they kept the business running after she disappeared.
OF Course they did! They were trying to keep it going for Kazue. Wouldn't any family try to do that for a struggling family member?? There was nothing sinister. They weren't trying
to walk away with anyone's money. I know this family, all of them are honest hardworking and kind people. Any other assumption is ridiculously ignorant.

For those who have pre-orders and deposits. If you paid by credit card contact your cc company. Paypal's limitations are 45 days I believe, so I am not sure on this. Of course eventually all will be settled but right now all is on hold depending on Kazue's situation.  Many of us are have money involved but please keep this in perspective.  Nothing is more important right now than Kazue's safety and the survival of her family. BLUE said it perfectly  -  It is very sad when a $500.00 doll deposit is more important than a human life. Thank you for BLUE for writing what most of us were thinking.

I will post when I know more but will not be active on the boards for now. Kazue
is very special and it is awful to read negative about her.
Please pray and think good thoughts for Kazue and her family.

Come Home Kazue.
Denise

__________________

I haven't seen these negative posts anywhere. All I've seen is wishes for Kazue's well-being. I add mine, again.

For those who have outstanding deposits and did not know Kazue personally, I certainly understand your feelings. Don't let others minimize what you feel or put you down for being concerned about your money.  It's a loss and you need to do anything you can to recover your money.

Gustav Klimt Barbie ~ Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a painting by Gustav Klimt completed in 1907. According to press reports it was sold for US$135 million to Ronald Lauder for his Neue Galerie in New York City in June 2006, which made it at that time the most expensive painting ever sold.^[1] It has been on display at the gallery since July 2006. Update on ownership of painting-click here.

There is no question that I will buy this doll. She is much more than a representation of a famous painting.  A must read:  the story behind the painting is very interesting and an important part of history. 

This homage to Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is part of The Museum Collection which is one of three Barbie Collector series inspired by some of the world's most iconic masterpieces.

They are the Barbie Art Van Gogh Doll:

 

 

Barbie Art Van Gogh Doll

Van Gogh would cut off his other ear if he saw this doll who looks like she came straight from the set of Jersey Girls.
Not all doll collectors studied art history so it won't seem such a sacrilege to have used the wonderful, emotive brushwork and colors of Van Gogh on a flirty blonde Barbie dress. I do like the dress and the way the black organic motif winds up and over her shoulder.

Starry Night (June, 1889) by Vincent Van Gogh;  Museum of Modern Art NYC

and the Barbie Art Leonardo Da Vinci Doll:

Barbie Art Leonardo Da Vinci Doll

This doll looks very little like the portrait in every way imaginable but the colors are similarly muddy and subdued.  Restored - not so muddy.

Mona Lisa or La Gioconda (1503-1505/07) by Leonardo Da Vinci; Louvre, Paris, France

Dolls are due July, 2011. MSRP $39.99 each

Designer Ties One On or An Ungapotchked Outfit

"Exquisite"~ A New Monogram Doll ~ An MFD LE300 Exclusive ~ $175.00

In the new design tradition (don't ask)  of Tricks of the Trade Eugenia, Regal Solstice Anja, Out of the Blue Kyori and Fire Within Jordan, Integrity Toys has released a new Monogram doll called Exquisite. Sigh. 
 On Wednesday, April 20, a lottery was announced to generate excitement and sales of this doll.

Integrity Promotional Photo

 MFD  has had gorgeous exclusives from the very start of the Fashion Royalty line:

Soir De Paris LE 200 $35.00

Paradise Veronique LE 750 $35.00

Girl of the Moment Veronique LE 1000 $72.00

Overachiever Eugenia LE 450 $139.99

Marg Matsui, the owner of My Favourite Doll aka MFD has hosted several Wu conventions and is an established and important dealer.

To my knowledge, with an exclusive, the dealer arranges for the creation of and pays for the item up front. I wonder how much of the design process is shared. I think perhaps only the concept is discussed.


For the sake of Marg Matsui, I hope the dolls sell out quickly. From the comments on the W Club board, the chances of that happening quickly appear slim. But only a very small percentage of the membership actually posts so one doesn't really know what most of the W Club thinks. The rest of the dolls will be available to the collecting public after the lottery winners take theirs.

I didn't want to post large pictures of the following because one can get lost in the details. In every case below the doll fashion is either overly designed or overwhelms the doll itself. In the last case, the draping is exceedingly poor.  Dolls aren't human and can't move on a runway. The clothes have to look good on the doll with zero motion. A real model can prance and walk down a runway in such a way as to make an outrageous fashion look amazing. Dolls can't.

Several years ago I was going crazy because every Tonner Tyler Boutique item coming out had bows and ribbons. Good grief. Now they're ruffle crazy.

A Day of Ennui with Ellowyne: The Sequel

I am happy to report that Wilde Imagination is going to hold another Day of Ennui with Ellowyne. I had such a great time last year and the dolls were delightful. Robert Tonner did a bit in which he played Ello's therapist. He cracks me up every time.
It was like a mini convention complete with raffles, door prizes and competition dolls.
Last year there was a gorgeous Ellowyne and a lovely companion doll, Amber, available as well.  I'm not sure if Prudence was a centerpiece.

2010 A Day of Ennui Souvenir Doll

2010 A Day of Ennui Companion Doll

2010 A Day of Ennui

If you cannot attend but would like to pre-purchase the doll and any other table favors we might get, contact me as I will be dragging my husband along and he doesn't want the doll. ;-)  I can't imagine why.

 __________

The info for this event follows.

Ellowyne Disenchantment  (Click here to Register)

DATE: Saturday, August 13, 2011
TIME: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Wiltwyck Country Club, Kingston, NY
COST: $225

Limited to 150 Guests

Includes an exclusive Ellowyne, a fabulous lunch, a smile (possibly), poetry, brooding, whipped cream, therapist visit, tea and possibly a bit of Ennui.

__________

On the Friday night prior to the luncheon there will be a wine, cheese and scone event with Evangeline Ghastly at the Tonner Company Store. The details for that portion haven't been figured out yet but you can be sure it will be worth spending the weekend in the area to attend both.

__________

Did I mention that each table got a trough of whipped cream to go along with dessert? Well it wasn't actually a trough but it was a very large, trough-shaped serving piece.

BIC Co. Ltd. - Update

Denise Travers posted this information on the doll blogs.

I'm so sorry, This should have been posted here last night.
I want to share this news without rumor or speculation.
BIC has shut down & stopped business but most important of all is that
this is to confirm that Kazue went missing as of April 11 & not even her family
or friends know her whereabouts. She has not been heard from.
All that is happening is a tragedy. Please don't assume the worst about her
business practices. Remember this is a very DEAR woman many of us have known &
loved(& TRUSTED) for the last 9 years.
I will give details tomorrow after I speak to her family.
Denise

It is extremely disturbing to hear that Kazue is missing. She was OK after the tsunami and earthquake. She opened a Facebook account and was friending people. I'm stunned.

A Kentourage for Ken by Pat Henry, Editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly

Article reprinted by permission of the author, Pat Henry. I have added the pictures below.

A Kentourage for Ken

 As we continue to celebrate Ken’s birthday as well as his reunion with Barbie in 2011, it is fun to look back at Ken through the years and his many styles of dress. Certainly, his place as Barbie’s consort meant a lot of coordinating looks. “Dreamboat” by itself is just a few pieces of sportswear, but putting Barbie and Ken in the roadster while Babs is in “Open Road” becomes an entire narrative.

Certainly, the matching cheerleader/football player is a classic, as is the costume party pairing of “Pierrot” and “Pierrette”, along with the fantasy driven costumes for the Little Theatre, like “Cinderella” and “The Prince”. But to me, the realistic and well made details of “The Yachtsman” or “Rally Day” reminds me of my own father’s wardrobe. The smell of after shave and soap, along with the classic lines of a striped tee shirt, or a driving cap and a Macintosh raincoat, combine to form a tiny time capsule of early sixties high style, when men (and women) still dressed for work and play with a certain sensibility.

Of course, Ken continued to stay abreast of the fashion times. After disappearing for a while during the sixties, Ken made the first of many comebacks with a brand new look. Now, he was “buff” and fit, ready to hit the beaches of Malibu as a blond, or take up extreme grooming with newly rooted hair and sideburns. His clothes stayed apace with Barbie’s; the prints became louder, the pant legs wider. Ken sported turtlenecks more often than ties, and left best bud Allan behind for Brad, a much hipper dude of color. Ken embraced rock and disco, sports cars and guitars.

At this time, I remember more of my male friends actually being allowed their own Ken dolls. Whether they wore their mothers down, or they just swiped their sister’s dolls, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to play “Barbies” with the neighborhood girls. (That may have been due to our stealing their G.I. Joes, but that’s another story for another time.) These dolls were no longer just Barbie and Ken, they were secret agents, astronauts, and rock stars, reflecting our growing interest in pop culture and the adult world around us.

Depending on your age, you probably have your favorite Ken. Mine was the first “Talking” Ken. I thought he was just dreamy. His dazzling smile and his groovy short-sleeved Nehru jacket was just fabulous! But there are so many other Kens for different times and different generations that must be represented, so I recently flew to Los Angeles and headed to El Segundo for a special photo shoot featuring the entire “Kentourage”.

Not only was it a thrill to work in Mattel’s photo studios, but also everyone had a favorite Ken and a story to go with it. Paul Jordan shot an amazing group photo that will become a centerfold spread in our special issue of FDQ, and the soundstage set looked like something from the MGM lot. Mary Jordan did the styling, placing each Ken perfectly on set, looking as though they were talking and interacting with each other. Lars Auvinen is the secret star of these shoots. He designs the sets, and molds and paints tiny pieces of wood and foam into the astounding miniature world that Ken resides in.

In an era where everyone assumes “it’s Photoshoppped”, it is truly a treat to see a full scale set with tiny phones, working doors and a boom camera hanging over the dolls’ heads as if they are actors ready to go on set. Make sure you get to see this amazing photograph in FDQ and on the Barbie Collector site. It’s part of Ken’s history and something to cherish.
___

Pat Henry is the publisher and editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly. She is a former fashion stylist and Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology in the Photography Department. Pat lives in NYC with her husband Hal and their fox terrier, Bo, and a large assortment of fashion dolls and action figures.