Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody and Douglas Shavel.
Cody and Douglas, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The Galante Studio was founded in 1930 by an Italian immigrant named Michael Galante and his wife Amanda. Michael and Amanda started out producing women’s clothing in their house in Hardinsburg, Kentucky, the house would become known as “Galante’s Studio”. Numerous local women would come by Galante’s Studio to help out in the sewing and production of garments. Eventually, Galante’s Studio would become known as Galante Studio and would branch out to produce more than just women’s garments. In 1949 Harold Chism and his wife Jean acquired Galante Studio looking to continue, as well as expand the Galante Studio’s product line and reach.
The Chisms set out to create luxury custom-made travel and baby gift items. In 1950, to broaden the marketing reach, Galante Studio entered into an agreement with Gloria Shavel Inc. to serve as it’s exclusive manufacturers representative. In addition, Gloria Shavel Inc. provided product design and development enabling Galante Studio to broaden its product mix. Upon the passing of the Chisms, The Galante Studio continued to be run and managed by the company’s senior personnel one of whom was Gloria Shavel. Tragedy struck the Galante Studio in January of 2009 when a fire destroyed the historic factory in Hardinsburg, Kentucky.
Wishing to continue on the tradition of The Galante Studio, Douglas Shavel, son of Gloria, acquired the assets of Galante Studio. After several years of getting back on track, Mr. Shavel and his family are pleased to continue the great tradition of providing high quality custom made baby and adult products under its two banners Galante Baby and Galante Studio. Today, the Galante Studio is the same family run business it was over 80 years ago!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to bringing back The Galante Studio has had some hiccups along the way. In 2010, right before the New York International Gift Show a fire destroyed our factory in Hardinsburg, KY. The next two years were spent trying to find a new factory, which would be able to make our items cost effectively and maintain the same high quality craftmanship, for which Galante has come to be known. As a result of the fire and complete loss of all of our fabrics and materials, we had to slim down our product offerings. We viewed the fire as an opportunity to start fresh, with a slim downed product line, as well as a brand new baby clothing line. Our brand new clothing line seeks to bring back the traditions of the past, with all organic pima cotton fabrics, and hand-made smocking on our infant items! We have managed to streamline our operations and have been able to make ourselves much more flexible and receptive to the wants and needs of our clients!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Galante Studio – what should we know?
The Galante Studio has been providing high quality, hand-made luxury travel items for over 80 years. We specialize in travel cosmetic and jewelry cases. Our baby line is well known for its long lasting crib puffs and other baby blankets, which customers keep well past infancy and then pass on to future generations. Our new baby clothing line is hand-made using all organic pima cotton from Peru! Your little one will be smartly dressed and incredibly comfortable. We are most proud of the fact that we produce quality items, which become family heirlooms and keepsakes. Every email we receive from a customer saying they wish to give our blanket to their children or grandchildren because they had one and loved it, fills us with an exceptional amount of pride.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
After the fire in our factory, there was some talk of just closing down the Galante Studio and not trying to rebuild the business. It had had a good run and those in charge were well into retirement age. What kept us going and made us wish to rebuild and get the business going again after the fire were, all of the emails from customers. Customers looking to replace their items they had purchased decades ago or those who wished for their children and grandchildren to have the same crib puffs, blankets or cosmetic cases that they themselves had used and come to love. If anyone has given us the most support and the will to bring Galante back from the fire, it was our customers who sought us out, whether by searching for us based solely on the label in their items or who still remembered us, their emails and calls, wishing and hoping for us to recover from the fire kept us going and made us fully committed to resurrecting the company.
Pricing:
- Hand-made organic pima clothing starting at $14
- Quilted blankets starting at $90
- Swaddling blankets $45
- Made to order cosmetic cases from $60
Contact Info:
- Address: 17871 Stonebridge Court, Boca Raton, FL 33498
- Website: www.galantebaby.com, www.thegalantestudio.com
- Phone: 305-600-3818
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/galante_baby, www.instagram.com/thegalante_studio
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/GalanteBaby, www.facebook.com/GalanteStudio
- Twitter: @GalanteStudio, @GalanteBaby
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