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Models
are people and at the same time they are commodities. They are
the seductive objects whose looks, bodies and charisma push the
glossy product that populates the fashion industry. Sometimes
in this tough business, the fact of the model's humanity gets
lost in the shuffle. Models are hired, fired and retired in the
eternal cycle that searches mercilessly for the next and the newest.
Feelings, emotions, care, concern...well that is not necessarily
the priority. Which is where Clear Model Management comes in.
By shrewdly focusing on the emotional aspect of her business,
Clear's owner Ingrid (everybody know her by her first name) has
built an amazing company where integrity, commitment and honesty
are not just convenient buzzwords but are the everyday terms under
which she does business. And the policy is paying off beautifully
for all her models from legends like Ryan Locke (he of Gucci,
Nautica & DKNY fame) to current Gucci icon JR.
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| MODELS.com's
Wayne Sterling caught up with Ingrid one hectic Friday afternoon
at Clear's lower Broadway offices and by conversation's end needless
to say, this particular's agencies assets shone with crystal clarity. |
MDC:
What was your first entry into the fashion business Ingrid?
Ingrid: I was a stylist for 12 years. I assisted a lot of
the big stylists . I assisted Patti Wilson for instance. I still
have the steam marks on me. (LOL) I was lugging the bags, working
14-25 hour days depending on what the project was. Then that evolved
into working on independent films and videos. Then I made the move
to NY. |
MDC:
So I presume you were working out of LA ?
Ingrid: Yes. I had been in school and I loved working with
children, that was really my intended direction. I dealt a lot with
physically disabled children. My heart became too emotionally attached,
especially in certain individual cases where you put in a lot of
effort and then they would go home for the weekend and somehow the family
would "re-baby" them. It was very frustrating and heartbreaking. |
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MDC:
So what was it that triggered the switch to the modeling
industry?
Ingrid: Well
now after I arrived in New York I assisted a friend of mine
to open a Men's Division of Women Management. So I came
in and nine months later Paul Rowland, the owner of Women,
made me the Director Of The Men's Board. Now I didn't want
to be the Director of any board and I was kind of in shock.
I mean I was like "I don't know if this is what I want to
do and I don't know what I'm doing!" And Paul said "You
do know what you're doing honey. You have an eye. That's
the first step." And that gave me the security and I learnt
and I didn't even think, I just threw myself into it. Maybe
what made it easier was the fact that it was a small boutique
when it began and I zeroed in on the fact that I had a responsibility
to these kids. They were looking to me to fulfill their
careers, to maintain that balance in their bank accounts
so they would be able to provide for themselves and their
families.
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MDC:
So for the record, the Men's division of Women was called...
Ingrid: Sky...Women decided eventually not to have a Men's
Division anymore and after Sky I became partners with Chris Forberg
(current Director of IMG's Men's Board). So now I've been in the
industry for two and a half years. Chris & I became partners and
we headed up DNA's Men's Division. And I brought 25 of my guys there.
I left DNA after a very successful year to open up my own company.
I started with only three guys. And here's the thing...Feb 28th
was my sixth year anniversary in NY. And marks the third year anniversary
of Clear. |
MDC:
Did you have a "Clear Model Look" in mind when you opened the agency?
Ingrid: No. Not at all. Like I said. I had three models.At
that point I really came into a funk as to what I wanted to do with
my life. And these three models said, "Ingrid, We believe in you.
We can do this! We're going to do this" I had no intention of opening
up my own agency. |
MDC:
Who were these three models?
Ingrid: Ryan Locke, Mike Campbell and Jason Fedele.. |
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MDC:
OK Ingrid. Just your average everyday male model legends !
Ingrid: (LOL)And I worked out of my bedroom. And I
mean it's one of those stories where I picked a name and my
sister who's a lawyer said we have to go through about 10
names and I said No. I want this name! I will get this name.
And she called back to say..."You got the name!" And it was
through my disappointment, my frustration, my angst with what
I had been through in the past where I just wanted everything
to be "clear". I don't want any illusions, I don't want any
BS. I want clarity. I want to assist the client in a very
direct manner. If I were the client I wouldn't want all the
power playing. I would want someone who was just...very direct
and honest and give me what I wanted and didn't try to throw
every single guy on the board at every single casting that
they're not right for. And I think this is where my styling
background and that eye helped. It was a very easy way for
me to gain respect from the clients. And that is truly what
I do, which is why I only have 60 guys on the board! I then
found this space and it needed everything redone, the lighting,
the floors were ridiculous. And the boys built it! There would
be a group of us here until twelve midnight every night working
to make this happen!
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MDC:
What's your secret to commanding such a deep loyalty ?
Ingrid: I think because I was always very very direct in
our relationships in a very honest manner, rather than the authoritarian
thing of "You have to do this and that!" My position was "Guys,
you want me to do this. It's because of you and your conviction
that I'm going "OK". I think it's that universal power, that spirituality
of earnestly and honestly putting the best intentions out there,
of not being afraid. I realized that I had to do something different.
So I did choose to be very " nose to the grindstone". In total tunnel
vision. Because of my styling, I am a creative soul so I needed
that expression and I needed space and I needed this creative bubble
and I love the fact that dogs and skateboards whiz back and forth
and we can do photo-shoots in here, and we have access to the film
industry. We have an amazing relationship with Susan Batson. We
are on the same floor. So kids with the acting ability have an outlet.
But that's the thing. They do need to expand as individuals. We
are dealing with young men. All these experiences right now are
going to mould them. It is a little bit of everything that's involved
here.
MDC: What is the most inspiring thing about being in this
business for you?
Ingrid: For me the most passionate aspects of it, the very
"Jerry Maguire" moments are when you take something from nothing, It's
when you believe in a model who might have had every negative distraction
in life .. you might have had your family issues, you might have
had your personal issues. It's when they are able to transform themselves and
then they finally take off. The thing is, an emotionally sound mind
and body makes for a spectacular individual in front the camera.
So why wouldn't you put that time and effort into that model? Models
are human beings. They are not disposable.I've had models here who
have been in situations that were horrible and I'm so proud of them,
that they can go through what they've gone through and transcended
it.The wonderful thing about keeping it small is that the Ryan Locke's are
here for them to see as an example. And of course they're in awe.
But there's no ego. It's like "Welcome aboard buddy!" At this agency
you see kids high fiving each others for getting campaigns because
they've been there. They know the struggle and everybody wants it
for everybody else.
Next page: Part 2. Ingrid discusses the art of putting a new male
model on the map, the value of editorials in building careers, upcoming market
trends and the future of Clear... |
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