Phoenix Fashion Week’s emerging designers were announced at the Emerging Designer Experiment, all of whom will have the opportunity to launch their brand at the 8th annual Phoenix Fashion Week on October 3-6, 2012
In shelter of the Founder’s Room in the Musical Instruments Museum’s sleek, architecturally modern structure, Phoenix Fashion Week hosted its annual event, Emerging Designer Experiment, sponsored by Balluun.com, Focal Point Salon and Zappos.com.
The event, created by Phoenix Fashion Week’s (PHXFW) executive director, Brian Hill, showcased a select group of up-and-coming designers ― all of which were discovered during PHXFW’s seven-city domestic tour, including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Flagstaff and Tucson, Ariz.
These designers will not only have the opportunity to launch their brand at the eighth annual Phoenix Fashion Week on October 3-6, 2012, but also compete for a $10,000 prize package of goods and services to help further launch their brand.
Past winners Joanna de’Shay of Black Russian Label (2009) and Jeanne Hankerson of SJ Couture (2010) were special guest speakers, offering encouraging words and insight into their own ups and downs of their respective fashion journey.
Fashion lovers in attendance were able to vote for the best brand in each of in the following categories: “Best Design,” Coolest Brand Message,” “I Would Buy Them Tonight,” and “Most Likely To Succeed.” The official results will be posted up on the Phoenix Fashion Week website within the next few days, which you can check out here: phoenixfashionweek.com
Emerging designers competing for “Designer of the Year 2012”:
Bri Seeley
Bri Seeley Designs
briseeley.com
“Quality, classic fashion. Contemporary and unique garments created with great care and attention.” – Bri Seeley Designs
Seeley discovered her niche for fashion at a young age. While obtaining her master’s diploma in fashion design from Accademia Italiana in Florence, Italy, she developed a love for historic fashion and draws upon this for inspiration. Seeley’s creations are described as intriguing, wearable, sassy and versatile.
Khanh Nguyen
ENVY by Khanh
envybykhanh.com
“Make them feel it.” – ENVY by Khanh
Equipped with a bachelor of fine arts from the Herberger Institute for Design & the Arts at Arizona State University, and a love for fashion, drawing and sketching, Nguyen plans to showcase his unique style through his fashion line. Simplicity, elegance and asymmetry define the brand.
EYE Thread
eyethread.com (website coming soon)
JHaus
Premium Denim Inspired by American Roots
jhausbrand.com
JHause is an authentic brand that represents strength and durability. The brand’s main focus is on its denim line and denim couture.
Living Dreams
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” – Living Dreams
Living Dreams is all about inspiring people to chase after their dream ― and make dreams reality. The brand is notorious for its novelty t-shirts with positive quotes/messages, funny sayings, cool photos and palm trees.
Ofra Aricha
Ofra Style
ofrastyle.com
Ofra’s brand is all about contemporary clothes that promote a woman’s sense of style and self. Originally from Israel, Aricha studied fashion and has degrees in art and photography. Her experience in the industry is as extensive as 20 years.
Paulie Gibbson
Paulie Gibson Design
pauliegibson.com
“Bottom line, be who you are and love every minute of it!” – Paulie Gibbson
After completing his degree in design/product development from Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, Gibbson spent time studying design, art and the history of costume in Paris, France. He has acquired 12 years experience working in the fashion industry. Gibbson’s inspiration for his brand is a contradiction between masculine and feminine.
Samantha Patterson
“…to make what is traditional malleable by infusing classic rhythm with subtle innovations.” – Samantha Patterson
Upon graduating from FIDM in Los Angeles, Patterson immediately began working on her very own clothing line. Patterson’s brand aims to provide fashion-forward garments with modest silhouettes.
Brooke Alicia
Sew Twisted Designs
sewtwisteddesigns.com
Sew Twisted mission statement: To provide the everyday mother, businesswoman, student, homemaker, and indeed every woman, with dramatic and unique apparel for their everyday lives. Sew Twisted has clothes for every possible occasion, as well as an assortment of hats and hair accessories.
Shawl Dawls
“Shawl Dawls is versatile fashion for the everyday woman that is Comfortable. Classy. Convertible.” – Shawl Dawls
Shawl Dawls offers a large assortment of fashionable shawls in a variety of colors and patterns, all suited for the modern day, stylish woman. Shawl Dawls’ mission is, “to invite and inspire women of all ages to be creative with their fashion through versatile and modern pieces that exude sophisticated confidence and effortless beauty.”
Suzanne Lay
“Bright colors. Bold looks. Enviable style.” – Suzanne Lay Designs
Based in St. Louis, Lay finds her brand’s inspiration by the power and emotion of music. Lay’s line first launched in 2009 and has been described as chic, effortless, sexy and alluring.
