Listed below is a partial listing of designers confirmed and registered for fashion week (FEB 2013). Bios provided by the designers are in their original text and not edited by DC Fashion Week. Designers for the next fashion week (SEP 2013) will be posted during the month of August.
Artemis- Couture
Carola Andrade is the Owner and Designer of Artemis-Couture. Originally from Bolivia, Ms. Andrade’s designs are for the professional female executive by day, and the vibrant, fun yet elegant commander of young urban nightlife. Drawing from her South American heritage for stunning colors and dramatic movement of her worn designs, Artemis Couture has already developed a following of clients who are delighted by the difference a couture (custom fitted and designed) garment brings to their appearance and presentation. Artemis Couture is committed to custom manufacturing of each garment, with all design, sewing and assembly complete in the United States
Boutte’
Boutte’ discovered her flair and potential as a fashion stylist and retail pioneer after creating garments for herself, friends and family. Armed with the philosophy that women should look and feel beautiful, she created a clothing line (Waisted Candy) by Boutte’. Boutte’s customers are women that range between the age of 18 – 40 who are stylish, bold, & sexy. Boutte’s signature style is marked by bold color and prints. She has found a unique niche in this rapidly growing market with her signature patterns and designs. Boutte’s path to success has been blazed by entrepreneurial instinct and fashion industry experience.
Using his two oldest sons’ names, Corey and Jordan, Ean Williams came up with Corjor as his label’s name. After landing in the pages of Upscale Magazine (Feb 2004) and the front page of the Gazette, Ean Williams wants to go one step further and enable the world to see the great designing talent that is here in the nation’s capitol by producing & sponsoring DC Fashion Week. He is dedicated to helping other aspiring designers show their collections and build their businesses. He is also an advisory board member for the Black Fashion Designers Association, Inc., In 2003 Ean Williams won the “INDIE Best Menswear Designer” award in New York . Corjor International has three brands, Corjor Sport, Corjor Menswear and available by special order –Corjor Couture.
Das Man
das Man will be the most-comfortable, the most fashionable and the most eco- friendly underwear you’ll ever own. We are not another run-of-the-mill apparel maker that pushes poorly-designed,
cheaply-made clothing through the big-box stores. What goes into the making every pair of das Man? 1. Organic Cotton – sustainably grown cotton used for our fabrics is free of
Pesticides and insecticides. 2. Organic Dyes – no harsh and harmful chemicals in the dyes used for coloring. 3. And absolutely no sweatshops or child labor involved with the factories
that make our products. By keeping things simple, we’ve created something great.
Estella Couture
Estella Couture is a fashion house that uses ethnic, exotic fabrics and materials from around the works to create couture and ready-to- wear garments that meet the tastes of modern day fashionistas. In the past couple of years, the designs created by the Creative Director – Ms. Estella Ogbonna has graced runways around the globe. In addition to winning International fashion awards and nominations in various other sectors not only garment creation, but includes awards and recognitions, and nominations in movie costuming, wardrobe, community development efforts and volunteer activities. Of note recently is the environmentally friendly way that the business modality has changed, leading to the creation of eco-friendly collections and designs that would be launched this year. More prominent in their recent shows are ‘Restylecled’ collections. Expansion activities has been going on internationally in the past year, leading to the implementation of ethical responsible ways of producing garments, under the fair-trade principles. This ethical responsible way of production has led to Estella Couture working with local women groups in Ghana, to make their clothes, and at the same time, empowering the women economically.
Firefly Designs Africa * Asia
Ellen London’s life has never been confined to creative or geographical boundaries. Her work reflects the spirit for the textiles and craftsmanship of the cultures and countries where she has lived for the past three decades – Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Lesotho, Bangladesh, France, Thailand – combined with a genuine respect for age and size that do not fit the standard prototype. Working alongside (and continually training) a small group of older women sewers and tailors in Thailand, Firefly Designs heeds the words of a favorite customer; “Do not wear Ellen’s designs if you do not want to be noticed!” With a mélange of respect and renewal of traditional and tribal designs, an individual keen sense of color and her own textile creations, designs are unique and memorable.
Firefly Designs Africa * Asia has shown in NYC, Thailand, Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China. Ellen has also presented individual showcases of her work. Partake in the personality of our world through our designs, a cultural kaleidoscope – Firefly Designs Africa * Asia – the difference.
Heritage Collection by Ashraf Valliani
The name behind the brand “Heritage Collection” is the designer Ashraf Valliani. Born and raised in Karachi, Ashraf always found herself passionate about designing from a very early age. Her friends & family used to admire her designs and she used to design for them as a hobby in Pakistan. Even though Ashraf’s background is in Finance and Marketing but her true passion was always fashion designing. She decided to convert her hobby into a full fledged business 5 years ago & rest is all history! Up till now she has designed clothes for all occasion ranging from weddings to parties to professional events for a wide clientele.
Heritage Collection caters to the woman of today. The design philosophy is to provide a one stop wardrobe solution to the modern woman of today who has a strong sense of style & who wants to look different from the rest of the crowd! The designs are one of a kind using techniques of hand embroideries with digital & block prints to create statement pieces that can be worn again & again and always remain in style. We excel is providing extremely fashion forward pret & formal wear with a presence of traditional elements to bring modernity to entire philosophy.
Irina Levkovich
The idea of creating clothes from the nature-born fibers, like silk and wool, is an extension of my philosophy: to share with others the energy that I draw from the beauty of the world. I always try to bring attention to the recklessness of our consumerist society. My motto is simple: Do No Harm. My creations combine several equally important for me concepts: on one hand clothes must look beautiful, feminine and elegant, and on the other, they must be comfortable to wear and produced with eco-friendly technology.
By combining these seemingly contradicting concepts, I try to create a unique, one of a kind product. I make women make a step towards the harmony with the world, the step that they make without sacrificing their comfort or elegance. There is no negative energy in my creations: eco-fur doesn’t require slaughtering an animal – it is still roaming around and will make many other people happy, beautiful and warm throughout its life. People, who choose to respect other living beings.
It is a simply achievable pleasure, to feel that you are in a harmonious balance with your environment. And all you have to do for it, is to have in your wardrobe something, that keeps the warmth of caring hands and the beauty of the nature.
ITES International
Grenadian born Sequoia M David of ITES International studied Fashion Buying and Merchandising at Fashion Institute of Technoligy in New York. There she was led to design her first collection, Moda Mutes; an edgy futuristic line of club wear inspired by the punk rock scene
of the East Village. Over time as her influences changed, Sequoia softened her edges returning to her roots as she journeyed to self. She ended up in Jamaica where she established the ITES International label and her signature look of African inspired clothing, suitable for contemporary urban lifestyles.
ITES has dressed notables from Stevie Wonder to Iyanla Vanzant, actor Avery Brooks and Reggae singers Bunny Wailer and Rita Marley to name a few. Your wardrobe is not complete without an ITES original.
Kammaze
KAMmaze Fashions, Inc. has quickly become synonymous for its bold elegance and sophistication.Founder, KHALEELAH’s, design experience is vast from producing apparel for professional athletes to the full development and production of children’s wear, ladies evening wear, business wear and lingerie. KAMmaze is involved in every aspect of clothing design and production serving unique and original fashions since 1985. KAMmaze Fashions, Inc. now answers the cries of the small business designers and
the new young designers by offering small line productions, samples production and patternmaking.
In 1992, KAMmaze Fashions changed the face of lingerie with an innovative product called, Rippurr Lingerie, “the lingerie you rip away!” RIPpurr Lingerie has been featured in fashion shows from DCFashionWeek, to MD, VA & Atlanta Showcases; New York’s Culture Fashion Week &WICKED Fashion Show; Las Vegas International Lingerie Show, and Pittsburgh Fashion Week 2012. In 2013, KAMmaze Fashions, Inc. will grow again, launching our new line Royal Kurves featuring ladies fine suits, our Little Kulure Dress (not just Black anymore) and KAMs Throw-Ons. With RIPpurr Lingerie gracing such publications as BODY Magazine, TEEZE Magazine, and the Lifestyles of
TRIBLIVE, it has become an excellent gift for weddings, birthdays & holidays; and it’s the only patent approved lingerie of its type.
Keepeekee Inc
Keepeekee is derived from the Swahili word “Kipekee” meaning unique. Keepeekee Inc. is based right here in the DC region, in Maryland. The designers (Ramou, Fatou, Makuta
& Minnie) behind the brand all have a passion for fashion and share a deep love for our African culture. We have also been influenced by so many other cultures from around the
world and that is reflected in our designs. Keepeekee designs unique handmade accessories and clothes that are ethnically inspired by a mixture of African, Indian and European styles
with an edge. We do not follow trends are we wants our clothes and accessories to be timeless.
Pickup any Keepeekee handmade leather clutch accented with kente cloth or a necklace accented with various gemstones and pair it up with your favorite jeans or
black cocktail dress and you will be sure to turn heads when you walk into a room. Every Keepeekee piece it designed to make a statement and give you an extra boost of confidence.
Ultimately, we want to create clothes and accessories that simple “make you feel and look great”. The richness in the cultures that inspire us is reflected in the bold colors and choice in
fabrics that can be seen in our designs. While Keepeekee is still a very young company, our long term goal is to make Keepeekee a lifestyle brand, making everything from accessories
to home décor. Watch out for Keepeekee as this is just the beginning.
Kourtney Jaeson Collection
Octavia Wyche is a self-taught seamstress and fashion designer from Delaware. She was inspired to start sewing after watching her grandmother and aunt sew tailored suits, beautiful wedding gowns, and amazing costumes; they were both professionals of the craft. Octavia started off making pillows and other household items at 11 years old and by the age of 16 she started making tops and dresses; eventually developing a garment collection at the age of 20, entitled ‘The Kourtney Jaeson Collection’ (that now houses JUSTIN‘S HEART for men and LOVE BABY the maternity line)- which has a growing fan base who flocks to her line because of its variety and uniqueness. Octavia Wyche has gained local success as a fashion designer by showcasing her garments on runways at various shows along the east coast. The majority of her items are made of 100% recycled / recyclable materials. She hopes to eventually expand her line to other areas and amongst other industries as well.
Khanh Pham
Born in Vietnam, Khanh Pham graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA degree in Fashion Design. She started out as a colorist for Robert Talbott Ties Company, then spent the next 20 years working in the fashion industry as textile and clothing designer. In 1998, she launched her own company and sold her clothes to high end boutiques across the country. Khanh recently moved to the DC area and is working as a free lance designer.
For this Fall 2013, Khanh incorporated the traditional quality of the Vietnamese Ao Dai with Western modern refinement. She was breath taken and inspired by its simplicity and the hidden soul of its culture.
Mikki Taylor Made Designs
Mikki Taylor |Taylor Made Designs is a Eclectic, Funky but Chic collection that can be worn by those wishing to express the Artful Side of Life. Mikki has been in the field of Graphic Design for over 20 years. She began teaching Fashion Illustration at Howard University in 2008 which reignited her passion to create Fashion.
Ms. Taylor photographs and Illustrates to design and create digital fabrics . Her initial line of Tote Bags were created in 2010. She began expanding her line in 2012 to include clothing—with Resort Wear. However, the Tote Bags are her signature mainstay. The collection included a mix of eco-sustainable items that were created from recycled, vintage apparel , hand tye dyed, fabrics and her custom fabric prints. Mikki is Inspired by Nature—Extreme saturation of color, the expression of movement , and resort destinations. This is reflected in this years’ Resort
Collection—Deco Peach | Fruit & Flowers.
Olga De Nogga
Brand DeNoGGa was created in 2005 by a designer Olga De NoGGa. Olga DeNoGGa was graduated from Lvov National Art Academy, design faculty, chair of a costume modeling. She tried hard to improve her professional skill and achieved fashion industry`s awards, such as International and Ukrainian exhibitions, competitions and Fashion Festivals:
Shafaq Saeed
In 2008, following a life-long passion for fashion designing and a way to channel her creative energy, Shafaq created a line that embodies her vision of style while exquisitely showcasing her traditional Eastern influences. After tremendous success at the Fashion Industry Gallery in Dallas, the line was expanded to include additional pieces, such as shorts and jackets, from the initial focus on cocktail dresses. All pieces are created from luxurious fabrics such as pure silks and adorned with intricate hand-made details such as embellishments and embroidery to give them a one of a kind look and feel.
“Fashion for me is exhibiting confidence through clothes. I try to portray an elegant, modern, vibrant woman, who is not afraid to stand-out and be praised for her timeless style.” -Shafaq
Simply L3ve
Made-to-Order Eco-Chic Womenswear and Accessories designed for the flawless romantic who radiates with modern confidence, and believes that she deserves her happily ever after. Michelle Gibson, the designer and owner behind the eco-chic womenswear brand Simply L3ve, LLC., is a twenty-one year old optimist and entrepreneur. She is a graduating Fashion Merchandising senior at Howard University, and the Marketing Director of the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce and DC Fashion Incubator. Simply L3ve’s aesthetic embraces feminine silhouettes refreshed by elements of vibrant color and details inspired by the beauty of nature reinterpreted as an everyday staple, enlivened by every young woman’s own personal style. The collections include items made from repurpose materials and quality eco-friendly hand-dyed and custom printed fabrics, and are handmade in the Washington Metropolitan area with the principles of demi-couture (made-to-order), to encourage quality and slow fashion over mass-produced disposable fashion.
Semoner Designs
Mayietta Moore an aspiring fashion designer with a flair for West African Couture is the creative star behind SEMONER DESIGNS. And while she strives to incorporate her Liberian ancestry and culture into
each article of clothing she designs her use of high-end African fabrics keeps her creations firmly within a western aesthetic. The vision of being a designer was truly directed from the Almighty God. Mayietta
decided to take on the challenge igniting gracefulness and boldness in each of her designs. Her goal is to implement quality African fabrics as part of everyday contemporary and formal wear.
Professionally trained as an analytical chemist inspires her meticulous attention to quality and detail in every design and garment she creates. Her seamless use of quality African fabrics as part of everyday
contemporary and/or formal wear works on and off the runway as she interweaves time and tradition into every piece. Mayietta’s future plans are getting her fashion design into retail boutiques and stores.
Ms. Moore knows that the fashion world requires hard work, discipline, perseverance, and passion. It is her commitment to design as well as her work ethics and vision that sets her apart. She resides in the
greater Philadelphia region.
University of Taste
University of Taste is a lifestyle streetwear brand that sets the standard of what Taste is through redefining it in our society. Founded at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, we make it our mission to look closer into what Taste really is and bring it to the select few who make it their own. Through music, entertainment, community outreach, and style we can create a unique culture defined by what really represents us and not by others who tell us. Currently, University of Taste is sold on Karmaloop Kazbah the number one online streetwear site and is expanding to other locations from D.C. to Atlanta GA with plans to also create collegiate streetwear collections for University bookstores. Uoftaste has been featured in HBCUBuzz, The Dope Delivery, and recently on the cover of December/January Issue of Liveband Magazine as a featured article. This will be the brands second year in D.C. Fashion week and in hopes to continue to redefine what streetwear is in D.C.
Michael Spikes I, the designer and owner behind the fast rising brand University of Taste LLC., is a twenty year old photographer,documentary filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He is currently a Marketing Major at Morgan State University and has held countless positions including Entrepreneur Society President, Morgan State University Student Regent, Spokesman Newspaper Graphic Designer, and Engaging Young Entrepreneurs For Change Board Member. Along with working beside a strong team called Team Taste, Michael has created a strong brand that gives strongly back to the community while becoming “Morgan’s Pride & Joy”.