Designing clothing is not a simple task and designing clothing that is equally suitable for size 0 to size 24, is even more difficult. Yet one designer seems to do it, not only with incredible ease, but with amazing style as well. Her name is Jean Bice and the name of her company is Quacker Factory.
Once upon a time, Bice was a well to do wife; not a rich one, but one that didn’t have to worry where her next meal was coming from. Then, the unthinkable happened. Her husband died and left her the sole supporter of her family. Remembering her husband’s support of her crafty nature, she decided to put what she knew to work and opened a retail store to sell her one-of-kind creations. Although she did all right that way, she knew she wasn’t going to reach the audience that she truly wanted to touch.
A little more than 10 years ago, when QVC began a nation wide search for new product lines, Jean decided to give it a shot. With barely two cents to rub together, this self-made woman put every ounce of her considerable talent and charm to work on her own behalf.
The rest, as they say, is history. Her line – – Quacker Factory – – is one of the most successful and sought after lines of clothing on QVC. And Jean has more than a loyal following; she has devoted supporters, life long customers, and more friends than she could ever want in ten lifetimes. As one of the network’s favorite guests, many customers tune in even when they cannot afford to purchase, just to spend time with Jean.
Jeanne Bice is a breath of fresh air. Her homespun humor, enchanting wit, and positive attitude make her delightful to watch. She is funny, vivacious, and larger than life. While her sparkly, whimsical sweaters always draw rave reviews, it is Jean herself that draws in the audience. Her live shows are always packed to the rafters with not only women, but children and husbands as well; all of who appreciate the many life lessons that Jean is more than willing to share.
Self proclaimed “Quackers” can now be found every where in the world. You find them in airports, malls, and restaurants, cheerfully greeting each other with a happy quack, quack, quack. They are hard to ignore in their colorful outfits bedazzled with sequins or stunning appliques or in their sophisticated sweaters and jackets tastefully decorated with jewels or pearls.
Quacker Factory clothes strike a chord with people who lean toward the casual but like a little bit of unique embellishment for fun. From brightly colored sweaters to embellished denim, Jean offers a little bit of everything for everyone. Whether you are a size small or a size 3X, Bice’s clothing fits to a “T”. Quality takes no back seat either; from cotton to seersucker or satin to knit, everything is done first class all the way.
Jean is dedicated to changing the world “one smile at a time” and she dispenses her delightful humor with that in mind. Not being a tiny person herself, Jean proclaims “if you can’t lose it (weight), decorate it!” And decorate it she does with class and flair. Being a larger woman myself at a size 16/18, I appreciate the fact that with Jean’s line, I can easily find clothes that make me feel pretty, rather than the caftans and mumus that local department stores push my direction. Yet, my daughter who is not yet in her mid-30’s, and a tiny size 8, can also find something suited to her tastes.
Like me, Jean is a firm believer that there are angels among us and some of them are even human. She encourages her fans to let their friends pick them up when they are down and to return the favor whenever they get the opportunity. And she encourages everyone to take a leap of faith, being confident that you will grow your wings on the way down. She also encourages everyone to reach for the moon, stating “what’s the worse that could happen other than you would fall among the stars.”
Announcing herself to be far less than perfect, Jean is well known for giving from her heart and for laughing loudly and often. The tenets of her belief set her apart from hundreds of other clothing designers who may be every bit as talented, but who do not even begin to put the same careful thought and undeniable love into every single design.
Jean has appeared on Good Morning America and ABC News, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and other notable papers and magazines. From her home he in Boca Raton, Florida, Jean continues to build her mythical little cottage, nestled beside the beach; the magical place called “The Quacker Factory.
