Michi Designer Knitwear by Michele Walden: I was removed from @JustOff7thAve an @Meetup by due to my independent fashion "expertise

I get refused a lot from Fashion Tech and Blogging groups... Thereis A lot of BS going on in Social Media! I fill out the profiles and then ... Tha cannot be proved but to be removed for my "Expertise... ". the truth is Indie fashion is a cash cow for many and my blog and "internet presence questions the validity of a lot of the BS.

!t's not race... This is a sister... so am I!

What bothers me is that this came form Checking my web presence!

Come to think of it I have been removed from a lot of fashion groups and list even though I don't speak up about the incorrect things said... I have been so busy I have not been able to respond to the recommendation to help one of the BIGGEST names in Fashion Tech and I have not called a Fashioncamp in a couple years!

The irony of this is that I am feverishly trying to pull together a meeting to commemorate the First truly Black fashion event and the 50th Anniversary of "Black is Beautiful" on January 28th 2012

I am an independent designer.. and an indie advocate.. I am about what's real and that is SELLING apparrel... but I swear in meetup groups I seldom post or open my Notoriously BIG mouth.. it's NOT the venue... I share news and tidbits and ask an occassional question... But lately I have been really busy!

The irony of this is that I am feverishly trying to pull together a meeitng to commemorate The First truly Black fashion Event and the 50th Anniversary of "Black is Beautiful" on January 28th 2012

I almost let it pass till I thought

"wait a second... who decides who is an independent designer... and is everyone here an independent designer!"

So I posted to the facebook Group and decided to post to the blog... Social Media is not a personal Soroity Club!

I use social media to help other designers so It bothers me to see this trend! The top right red and whit dresses are my designs top

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my response

I hope you are an indie designer a well as every current member including yourself or what you did is AGAINST the law! It’s called discrimination
I have endured discrimination for many reason s in fashion but for ‘Expertise”

Please explain the reasoning behind this move and why you did not reach out to me discuss whatever concerns! The irony is that an I am an Independent designer with a backgroud training and expertise to PROVE IT ! When I tell a designer how to run a business they make money! ... I will not search your profile to see who you are or your qualifications and i certainly would not remove you from a social media group because of it! that would be censorship and definitely "some type of "ISM"!

Censorship comes in many forms, but respect is universal and quite Black & white! Please note I will also send this to the meetup organizers and I’ll be Blogging about this today… The fashion social media Sorority club has to stop!

I joined the original Meetup group members perfectly aware of their business, I did not see them as a competitor there were part of the fashion tech independent sector I am passionate about… in social media the sectors work together

I am connected to you via meetup as the organizer you had my email - should anyone have any questions It was a simple matter to contacting meI am an independent designer twice awarded the best my design serices fallwithin teh custom and as such private sect clientele...

Yes i am a resource and I have responded in Good faith to inquiries as to my support posted on my meetup profile which I accidentally saw!

I am an advocate for the independent. I run workshops with proven track record of getting independent designers SELLING

Yes I am an EXPERT on independent design… but trust me scissors to scissors and drape for drape I AM Independent designer!

However

I never posted on my Business or Fashion expertise out of respect for the group leaders!

But How Dare you nopt only Check my Background but decide my role in Your group without speaking to me How many other did you run a background check on! I would think were your concerns for your meber you would be pleased to have someone with my background… unfortunately To many “expertise” is seen as a threat

.. then you decided to remove me..

did I violate some rule…

Well every current member including yourself had better be an indie designer or what you did is AGAINST the law! It’s called discrimination

I realize that your membership precedes my stepping up as

Organizer of this meetup. In an effort to provide optimal

support to the MeetUp/JustOff7thAve membership I am enforcing

the membership restriction to Independent Designers Only. In

review of your profile I noticed that you have opted not to be

on our mailing list. You don't describe yourself as an

Independent Designer on any internet listing your found on.

Even on the membership profile you posted in this meetup you

describe yourself as a Brooklyn Based Indie Designer who runs a