The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Ten Thursday. January 16, 1992 Feature alumn finds success in the fashion industry U. orders herself. Along with the help of her husband and youngest Steve Sessions Chronicle Feature Writer By son Mike, she was able to emerge. Eventually, as Coldesina Amidst the ultra competitive Designs began to grow, she called upon her children, three of whom field of fashion design, a were attending school in California, to come back and help University of Utah alumnus run the company. proves that the spirit of off. two daughters, Coldesina's dedication pays Mary Coldesina, owner and designer of Cathy and Chris, returned to Salt Coldesina Designs, a Salt Lake Lake in the capacity of City based company, has production management, while son Tony, a former U. student, developed what once was a garage operation into a took on the role of business manager and Mike continued as competitive fashion company. Coldesina graduated from the assistant. Together, U. with a degree in clothing Eroduction helped to secure the textile fashion design, a degree business and prepare it for one-pers- that has since been removed from the U.'s curriculum, and began designing her own style of clothing. She said she sold her designs locally until she moved to San Francisco with her husband David and family. "At this time I was involved in raising a family, so I didn't have the time to design," she added. Then in 1987, years after moving back to Salt Lake, Coldesina, at age 47, initiated her dream back into effect and began what is now known as Coldesina Designs. Coldesina Designs constructs a wide range of apparel using a that involves unique method stretch-lac- e trim to mending each of piececlothing. develop According to Coldesina, the - process proves to be very The designs are also labor-intensiv- e. the first of their kind in the country. The Coldesina line has been victoriously received throughout the world and seems to be growing regularly. Coldesina insists, however, that it was dedication that made it all possible. "I started by making a few pieces at a time and if they would sell, I J on would use that money to make a few more and so on. I was living off of reorders. When someone reorders, you know it is performing. Eventually I started adding more to my line." One year later, Coldesina decided to enter her line in a show room in Los Angeles. "That month, business took off for me," she said. During this time, she would produce, sew, dye and ship the broadening number of SnPV- expansion. Due to the rapid growth of the company, Coldesina Designs was forced to move into a warehouse where the company's success could be maintained. Currently, Coldesina employs over 30 sewers and one cutter, in addition to the work of her tiflllftli children. The Coldesina line is represented at stores all around the United States, such as Nordstrom, Maceys, Bullocks, Speigel, Ann Taylor and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as in Tokyo, Saudi Arabia and Puerto Vallarte, Mexico. "We are able to find unique ideas which establishes our reputation, so we can build from there. That is very important," I Tony Coldesina said. According to Tony Coldesina, business for Coldesina Designs is expected to grow at a rate of 116 percent per year for the next five These speculations are not taking into account the growth that Coldesina far-fetche- d, Designs has experienced in its relatively short existence. Cathy Coldesina said that while the work can be very time restrictive and stressful, working in a family atmosphere has its benefits. "Because we are, in a we seem to sense, work even harder than we would in other circumstances. And in self-employe- d, turn it results in a rewarding experience." University of Utah graduate Susan Howells is making it big in the fashion industry. dedication to those who want to start their own business, fashion or otherwise. "When you are young, no one wants to work with you. If you can survive that part, that is half the battle," she said. "I truly believe that Coldesina professes the importance of hard work and By M. Sean McBride Chronicle Feature Writer Sandwiched inconspicuously between the Huntsman Center and the Parking Services Building is what appears to be yet another empty army barrack on the south-eaend of campus. Actually, if you were to venture into Building 420, you would be surprised to see a room full of maps, skis and anything is possible if you work very hard and yourself." Though all manner of outdoor sporting equipment. It's like something out of a spy movie; a bland unnoticeable exterior that masks a room chock-fuof all sorts of ll equipment and information, And don't forget about Cho Cho, the friendly guard dog who will greet you at the door. Building 420 is the base of the Outdoor and Recreation and Rental Program, or ORRP as they affectionately call it. And the best thing about ORRP is that it exists solely for the recreational purposes of University of Utah students, staff and faculty. outdoor equipment at very "We rent Rob Jones, ORRP coordinator, said, reasonable price "The catch is that because our rates are so low, we can only rent to sttufests at the university or faculty and staff members who have purchased a Campus Recreation accurate picture of all the equipment that it has available. But perhaps a more enticing program offered by ORRP is the Common Adventure, which is basically "a whole bunch of people, coming together to share all of the costs and work of putting on an outing together," Adventure coordinator Brian Wilson saidL camplL ty Permit. So lor students, who only need their student ID to take advantage of the program, ORRP offers students the cheapest rental rates to be found in Salt Lake on crosscountry skis, snowboards, mountain bicycles, campina and bckpackin3 equipment as well as rafts, canoes and kayaks. You'll have to visit Building 420 to really get an most (popmmeimti os st high-quali- " years. The place io vent spurts , illBllilillilliSpl - "The goal is that the prorpram will not make any money on these trips," Jones said, "On a Cosuaon Adventure, were only here to facilitate these activities, to help arrange equipment and transportation, and to put people in touch with coordinators who can offer their knowledge and experience to the trip," It's obvious that thera isn't any money being mad by the program when you look at the estimated trip costs. believe, in of the n Coldesina line is distributed out of state, its clothing can be found at The Chalk Garden in Salt Lake City. QJ . ampins For example, five days camping in the high Uinta backcountry runs a whopping $25. A seven-da-y spring break river rafting trip runs only $125 and includes Some students may be concerned that for such a low price the trips can't possibly be well thought out Safety is always a major concern. But in the 18 years of organizing Common Adventure(s), the track record for safety is impressive. "There are risks, but there are always risks in all outdoor activities," Jones said- - "We do everything we can to minimize those risks and to explain that the risks are there. We give people as much information about the risks and then we allow them to make their choices. They are never forced to do something that they may not be comfortable doing." to be Additionally, trip coordinators are certified in CPR and first aid, as well asrequired be 18 years of age. "All of our volunteer coordinators love what there doing," Wilkinson said. "We don't just grab a volunteer and say, 'OK, you're going to take a group river raiting We re not going to let someone go out who isn't qudSed. And we always go out with two or three coordinators. Basically, the coordinator! acts mainly as a source of "And we're not here to tzzch cscple how to kayak or how to ski," Jones added. "Well do some iatreductorf meetings, but they're not professional lessens. We've been doing this for vesrs, so we can teach a bit Cut we're mostly here to get people interested." An example of the basic training can be experienced ca Saturday, Jan. 25 when Jones and Wilkinson end scr.a other volunteers who have been cross-countskims for tee 02EP" ca clavea ry pp