DC Fashion Week is the largest exhibition of fashion apparel in the District of Columbia. The designers of DC Fashion Week are an eclectic group of designing talent who come from around the globe. From the high fashion capitol of New York City, to the exotic coasts of New Zealand, to the exquisite city life of Belgium, they taking the nation's capital by storm.

Tony Joshua Sanna ( Sardinia, Italy)

Designer Tony Joshua Sanna is from Sardinia, Italy. He started designing clothing over ten years ago initially as hobby. To develop his talent, he took fashion courses in his hometown. As his hobby grew into a passion, his talent was quickly recognized and embraced. At the advice of his instructor, the designer displayed his small collection at the Sardinian Fair. It was there that a local modeling agency discovered Sanna and invited him to showcase his collection with one of the most well known   designers in Sardinia. Over the years he grew in popularity as his designs were featured on television, music videos, and in various catwalks in Milan, Rome and Turin.  His collection is made of fabrics that are hand made in Sardinia. Silk, Organza, Shangton and IUTA, a fabric that is natural and woven by hand are his favorites to use to design his collection. The designer will debut his collection in the United States at DC Fashion Week.

 

Millazo ( Miami, FL - USA)

A new designer with a new look! Fashion design has been Nicole’s life-long passion.  She grew up in New York and held support roles in many local fashion shows as well as New York Fashion Week. Just over a year ago, Nicole was one of many college students at the International Academy of Design and Technology with a burning desire to show the world her creative designs.

 

Milazzo’s fun and not so obviously sexy look is perfect for women who like to dress up, but still be comfortable. The selection of customers Milazzo caters to are a diversity of women with different wants and needs. The women’s ages in this group range any where from early twenties to early thirties. The Milazzo collection is priced at the designer level and is for classy, up-scale women who like to glamorize their look with some excitement. You might find these women living in metropolitan communities. This collection is for a market filled with pleasure and savviness.

 

Last year, Nicole began setting up her company and putting together a business plan. She spent many long nights researching trends, sketching, constructing design patterns, sewing garments, and directing photo shoots.  It helps that she is also a licensed cosmetologist.  One of her biggest challenges was finding dependable models and experienced backstage help.  She learned to always have a backup plan. In March 2007, Nicole launched the Milazzo Signature Collection and released her website, showcasing some of her designs; soon after she was invited by the Tampa Fashion Movement to present her designs at an exclusive debut fashion show.  It became standing room only as excited guests packed in to see the show. It far exceeded expectations and she knew she was on her way. In the fall, she was invited by the Fashion Movement to present her collection at the Downtown Live Fashion show, which was one of Tampa’s largest fashion events ever held at the Tampa Convention Center. On February 23, 2008 her designs will be presented at the Imagine Fashion Show at the Hard Rock in Orlando.  On December 31st, Nicole was invited to showcase her designs in DC.

 

 

Tsyndyma (Siberia - Africa)

Tsyndyma was born in Siberia.  After studying in Moscow, and receiving a degree in Engineering, she acquired a love for Fashion. Infusing mathematics and geometrical precision into her designs, the couture fashion designer, Tsyndyma, was born. After maintaining a celebrity clientele in Moscow and Paris, she relocated to Washington, DC in 1999. Believing in the use of luxurious fabrics, and capturing the unique and simple essence of a woman, Tsyndyma realized that her core value was beauty.    Her philosophy is: “Anything can make you beautiful, as it makes you happy”.

 

 

V & Z ( Ukraine)

Tetyana Zemskova and Olena Vorozhbyt are among the leading designers of    Ukraine. The style of their tandem is faultlessly recognizable in the Ukrainian Fashion field. It is built on contrasts: intellectuality and severity with a keen sense of humor. There is a preciseness of the silhouettes and patterns, with love to details and little parts. They are known for their classic textiles with newfangled fashions. They work with contrasts of colors and tones, heat and chillness, risk and official styles, trying to combine the uncombined. Since 1997 designers are working under their own brand «V&Z», when they began to show two designer’s season collections every year within Ukrainian Fashion Week. They are not just participants of the most sounding fashion festivals in Europe, but also act as judges of national competitions. Their clients are the elite of Ukrainian society. Many politicians, businessmen, artists are dressed gorgeously by them. “High spirit creation” – is the basis of their art concept.

 

 

Poustovit ( Ukraine)

The name of Liliya Poustovit had become known long before the notion of   contemporary national fashion as such came into being. Her author collections first saw the light abroad, not on the Ukrainian fashion stage.  Her experience includes over ten years of laborious efforts, both professional and creative development.

 

The Ukrainian Eksta Fashion Center was Liliya’s first job, where she broke professional ground.  In 1994, the first show of her author collection took place at the Easter Wind Exhibition ( Toulouse, France). In two years, the designer got Gold Button Grand Prix in Vogue Festival ( Vilnius, Lithuania).  In 1996, she also participated in Salon du prêt-a-porter feminine ( Paris, France) and Daniel Hechter Fashion House offered her work of a designer of prêt-a-porter feminine collection.

 

Shortly thereafter, she came back to Ukraine full of desire to develop the national fashion.  As a result of her hard work, in 2004, Poustovit became the president of Ukrainian Fashion Syndicate, which eventually transformed into Ukrainian Fashion Council. Currently, Liliya shows her collections twice a year for TM Poustovit at Ukrainian Fashion Week and Russian Fashion Week.  She also develops a separate line for ATELIER 1 concept (POUSTOVIT for Atelier 1). The clothes designed by Poustovit are sold in 9 boutiques. But this past autumn, sale of the fabrics designed by her in the world’s most notorious concept-store Dover Street Market ( London, Great Britain and Tokyo, Japan) is her greatest pride and boast.

 

 

Karavanska ( Ukraine)

Oksana Karavanska is one of the most famous, creative and called-for Ukrainian designers. Oksana Karavanska is a member the expert committee of the Fashion Council of Ukraine. In 1997 Oksana Karavanska opened the first Ukrainian author’s boutique and registered Trade Mark Oksana Karavanska.  Since 1998 she has regulary participated in the Ukrainian Fashion Week.  In 2002 Oksana Karavanska won Grand Prix at Crystal Silhouette Competition for the best dress of the year, and was called the best designer of the year according to Ukrainian Centre of Fashion Development. Since 2002 she has begun to conduct annual author’s shows pret-a-porter and haute couture in Ukraine.  In 2003 Oksana Karavanska made several fashion show collections for winter 2004 in the USA ( New York, Chicago, Washington, Denver) and in Canada ( Toronto).

 

In 2004 Oksana Karavanska opened her boutique in Kiev. In 2005 Oksana

Karavanska presented the fur collection at the MIFUR ( Milan). The same year she   created the collection Haute Couture especially for the Eurovision-2005 in Kiev.  In 2005, she created and registered industrial Trademark OK’ by oksanakaravanska. In 2006, she created and registered two Trademarks OKIDS’  by oksanakaravanska and OK’ by oksanakaravanska for men.

 

 

Aleksey ( Ukraine)

The way to the top of the Ukrainian fashion was very fast for Aleksey, which started with the unforgettable show at the Art-fashion festival. Since that time he has a monopoly for unordinary creative ideas. Mass-media calls him as king of avant-guard, infant terrible of Ukrainian Fashion. Show business stars and crowds of clients see him as a leading fashion designer of the craziest ideas. He is the only one who isn’t afraid to be risky, who creates his collections ahead of time, and suggests the wildest ideas and then realizes them.

 

Aleksey’s avant-guard feeling of fashion always attracts crowds of people. He was among fashion-designers of the first Fashion Seasons that later became Ukrainian Fashion Weak. Since then he presents two annual shows. Admirers of Aleksey fashion are interesting and unusual persons. They like to be the top-society persons.

 

His last spring-summer collection devotes to the baron Munchausen, who is the famous hero of fairy-tales and the biggest liar in the world literature. That was Munchausen who influences collection by rococo elements – fluffy skirts in style of Cristian Dior`new look, Gobelin camisole, couture sportive lace jackets, Japanese style silk embroidery. It is a huge mixture of sport, casual and couture style – says master of fashion – I mix eclecticism as the main season trend and irony as my   only possible attitude towards both: fashion and myself.

 

Aleksey is a famous Ukrainian designer, who is a director of the brightest shows. He was director of Black Pearl beauty contest, Kyiv catwalk fashion festival and numerous fashion shows of famous Ukrainian designers. The most disputable project of Aleksey is Fashion Aid (http://www.antiaids.org/en/), consisting of three Fashion AID unique social collections devoted to the fight against AIDS. Fashion shows   gathered 35 famous Ukrainian designers. At the first show Alexey Zalevskiy presented his collection dedicated to people living with HIV/AIDS. Five of 50 models, who were on the podium, were HIV positive.

In the second show 30 leading Ukrainian designers demonstrated joint collection “FASHION AID” consisting only from red clothes. The last one was Love Fashion Aid with collections of wedding dresses. The result of these two shows were the biggest in Ukrainian history charitable auctions where $770,000 USD was raised for the needs of HIV positive orphans and their foster families.

 

Burenina ( Ukraine)

Elena Burenina is one of the most famous and titled young fashion designers in Ukraine. In 2006 she won the Grandprix in designing competition "Fashion seasons - Look in the future" with collection "OWL" which was highly estimated by fashion expert Alison Moloney ( London). In 2007 she showed two seasonal collections on Ukrainian Fashion Week, which met a wide recognition in the world. Photos of Burenina’s collections were on the first pages in the Italian, French, Japanese,   Korean, Dutch, Brazilian, Danish, and Spanish newspapers and websites. In October of the same year she took part in Italian and Bosnian fashion events as a special guest.

 

Elena Burenina’s new collection represents a combination of modern minimalism with Eastern coloring. Collection is built on contrasts – as in colors in forms, a form of cocoon is combined with a form of trapezium. Color combinations are very complicated and interesting. Materials used are: cashmere, alpaca, wool, silk, polished cotton. Accessories are made of polymers and metal. The image of women in collection is very striking, vivid and sensible.

 

 

Divaista ( Charlottesville, VA – USA)

Divaista Fashions by A. Renee ( Charlottesville, VA – USA)

April Clark, known in the design world as A. Renee, has become one of the brightest young stars to come out of the fashion scene.  A combination of the words Diva and Fashionista formulate the trade name Divaista, pronounced DEE-VA-EAST-TA.   Divaista Fashions is a Woman’s Ready to Wear clothing line. The designs are best described as the “new-fangled” Metropolitan Couture full of modern style, traditional glamour, and lots of magnetism.  Divaista Fashions is set to launch numerous collections of sophistication and feminine power, mirroring A. Renee’s own charismatic style. The collections blend whimsical prints with well-built silhouettes that point the direction to fashion's future with a clear point of view. All collections feature attention to detail and construction with fresh designs that allows a woman’ s inner celebrity to shine through. Simply put Divaista Fashions are designs that ignite every woman’s “sass-i-tude”. A. Renee is a based in Charlottesville, Virginia where she is highly sought after as a fashion designer, event planner and business woman.

 

 

Ray Vincente ( Cleveland, Ohio - USA)

Ray Brown, the designer of Ray Vincente, has been designing since 1983 as a freelance designer for public and private individuals.  After a self imposed 7 year hiatus he returned to fashion in 2001 working as the sole designer for Song and Style of Trenton, NJ and re-launched his own collection of specialty women’s wear and men’s wear in November of 2006.  He has a degree in Fashion Merchandising from ICS of PA, and has completed course work in fashion design, illustration, and production at FIT of NYC, NY.

 

 

Renee Francis ( Washington, DC – USA)

Renee enjoys designing clothing and outerwear for women & children who are on the go, utilizing interesting colors, textures and shapes to build an exciting piece of work. Starting at an early age, Renee used her Barbie Doll in elementary school to set it off her fashion designing. She began crocheting after learning the craft as a means to keep her busy, naturally taking these skills to the next level. Renee France Designs specializes in Special Occasion, Active wear & Outerwear for all sizes.

 

 

House of Leevean ( Liberia - Africa)

House of Leevean is a chic, classic, ethnic, sexy, and trendy couture line for women, targeting College students and professional women who have embraced global style.  House of Leevean offers garments for every occasion (cocktail dresses, business casual, evening elegant, sport wear, party outfits etc.).

 

The designer Leevean Fleming was born and raised in Grand Bassa County, Liberia. She attended and completed high school in Monrovia, Liberia. In 1997 she relocated to the United States of America, when she enrolled in J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia studying fashion merchandizing. In 2004 she transferred to American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia where she studied fashion design and merchandizing. Her interest in fashion started during    her early teens. While other children her age were out playing, she was at home designing clothes for her Barbie dolls. She hosted a Barbie doll fashion show twice a year, which all the children in her community looked forward to attending. In 2002 she won the “Most creative” contest in her art class and also for “ Best Art Imitation” where she imitated Vincent Van Gogh “Sunflower” art.

 

In 2007 House of Leevean was introduced for the first time at Liberia Fashion Week in Philadelphia.

 

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Favala ( Lynn, Massachusetts, - USA)

Alicia Sanchez, designer of FAVALA, was born in Lynn, Mass, with family ties to the Dominican Republic where she gets most of her inspirations from. Alicia’s ideas come from her life experience in living if different places and passion for cultures. She expresses her couture funk from street inspirations such as New York Graphite lifestyles, Punk Rock. Te FAV collection is inspired from the Caribbean lifestyle with vibrant colors and exotic shapes. The designs may all look very simple but it’s about the fabric and the colors that bring your style out. FAVALA is created for every single person including men very soon. FAVALA’s couture line will leave you looking posh without breaking your pocket because you should be able to look good without spending a fortune and rock clothing that is original. Each piece is made by hand, not manufactured, to fit your liking and size. Every piece is original which means there hardly duplicates so you got to get it while it lasts.

 

Alicia never went to fashion school, nor does she design by the book but by her own ideas; she designs for people and for the passion. She keeps it real in everything that she does because to her if you are wearing FAVALA and representing personal style then you don’t care about what people think because this may or not be in the fashion trends; it’s okay because ultimately it’s all about “FAVALA” Peace.

 

Glamfurs – ( Atlanta, GA – USA)

Tanya Seals - Designer/Owner of GLAMFURS states that it's never too late to live your dreams. Tanya is a 46 yr old woman from Atlanta GA that had enough with her career with Smith Barney, where she had her stock broker's license and worked as a Registered Sales Assistant and decided to live her dreams of owning her own company that utilizes all of her fashion, artistic and business skills. She quit corporate America last year to start GLAMFURS a few months ago. She came up with the concept, the jacket designs, the company name and the design of the website. She decided to name the fur jackets to make women feel glamorous, like Blue Diamond, Snow Bunny, The Empress and The Tigress. Tanya wanted to take an old favorite and give it a new, chic and hip twist and really update the fur jacket. Now the young will like them as well. Through her business background, Tanya was able to finance her company and truly be her own boss.                
 

 

Yodit ( Ethiopia - Africa)

Yodit’s interest for fashion came at a young age; growing up in Addis Ababa, Yodit and her sisters all had the same kind of clothes, but she always wanted to dress differently and had a passion for clothing so he slowly started to tweak his clothes.  After high school, Yodit studied pattern making in Addis, at St. Anna’s School.  Soon after coming to the US, to promote his work, she did several fashion shows beginning with his first, through her job, and then followed by others such as the ESA Fashion Show at Virginia Commonwealth University and a fundraiser for Aids Awareness in DC.
 

The designer’s dream was to study her craft at FIT in New York so she decided to pursue it and moved to New York.  Working as a full-time technical designer by day and a full-time student by night Yodit received her bachelor’s degree. After graduating, she freelanced for high end designers such as Ralph Lauren while creating her own label and in Sept. '07 made her fashion show debut in Ethiopia.  

Yodit loves to create, and her passion is mostly for evening and sportswear. She gets most of his inspiration from fabric and color while maintaining her love for natural fabrics.  Yodit’s designs are best described as modern yet classic while simple and elegant. She continuously looks forward to expanding her knowledge to further gain experience in this creative field of fashion design.

    

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