January 2010 Kneedler-Fauchere is no longer owned by the orignal family members. It was with mixed emotions that I heard from a reliable source that the pioneering showroom Kneedler-Fauchere founded by Dorothy Lawenda had changed hands. I first met Wendy Kneedler and Harry Lawenda at 19years old in San Francisco when my brother-in-law, Budji Layug, had a line of carved giant bamboo furniture distributed by Peter Rocchia, owner of Wicker Works, was represented by Kneedler-Fauchere.The Industry was a lot younger then and our best and brightest had not been ravaged by Aids.
Some of my favorite memories when several years later after being hired by Dorothy Lawenda to work at Kneedler-Fauchere was seeing Dorothy coming in everyday in a theme outfit or in the latest fashons and colors on a daily basis. She would visit each salesperson and employee everyday and take time to speak to and engage each one like family. Indeed, you were family according to Dorothy.
Designers would be greeted by Peggy at the front desk as you entered the showroom.
Dorothy had found Peggy at a beauty salon and every time she paged for a salesperson it sounded like she was calling for a "comb out".
As the day progressed you would hear Helen Miller,executive assistant and Dorothy's very distinct laughter. You just knew another story or joke had just been told.
Many times, Dorothy would ask Gerry Cablao to go shopping with her for the day.
When there was a storm, Dorothy would call from her home and send "the kids" home as she was concerned for their safety because many employees lived far away from the showroom.She would always remember her "boys" and would bear gifts of ties when returning from a trip.
You would see Harry Lawenda,Hugh MaKay,Ann Kneedler, and Wendy Kneedler on a daily basis in and out. All of us grew up with this cast of characters. Each one on their own was important but as a group was a force to be reckoned with and made an impact that shaped the face and thrust of our Industry in ways that we will only see after all are gone.
Don Vickers,Jim Metz,Regina Mirman,Bill Winters,Fritzi Coleman,Kathy Wells,Peggy Dickel,Helen Miller,Sophie Brill,Rikkie Friedman,Frank Austin,Franklin Coligano,Isabelle Hiel,David Repp,Bill Binaisz,Liz Layug,Lucy Morales,Gerry Cablao,Kimberly Sarreal,Corinna Perez,Steve Sparks,Julie De Witt, Bencie Bryant,Sean Gallagher, Mike Osterman,Susan Niece,Rae Cortina,Billy Bragg,Candy McNaughton,Diane Cote,Jesse Slover,Trish Bradley,Tom Schaub,Janelle Johansen,Debbie Renter,Rose Dedinko,Stephanie Despierto,Dominique Daniels,Wendy Kneedler,Ann Kneedler,Christian Kneedler,Wayne Padden,Kent Lawenda,Kevin Lawenda,Philip Younce,Ron Squires,Alex Bernal,Gay Unger,Augustus Higginson,Dan Witherspoon,Frank Zappa, Nick Walker,Mario Grimaldi,Casey Cibroski,Jacques Bouvier,Mark Groeninger,Christie McCrae,Bob Allred,Cliff Schmidt,Angela O'Riordan,Christine Vlachos,Sean McMahon,Jason Flemming,Thomas Lavin,Lee Winterstein,Victor Mendoza,Vanessa Layug,Sandy Torres,Dana Gaddis,Lynda Brenner,Valerie Finlayson,David Elpers,Pat Manginelli,Sal Navarro,Saul Navarro,Alma Berkus,Shane Brown,Dennis Takeda,Jimmy Kitazaki,to name a few have passed into and thru the doors of Kneedler-Fauchere.
Yes, it was a different era.....
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