Incredible India @60!...

Ok so after a trip to the movies (Times Square...I highly recommend "Across the Universe"...), I walked over to Bryant Park (ahh...just a few weeks ago fashion's finest was showing here). I seem to have good timing because I ran into a celebration of Indian culture. It's called Incredible India @ 60!...cool, huh. I saw two shows (well three but one was repeated twice. I saw Bollywood Live, which are contemporary dances from Indian Films dancers (I saw them twice) and also saw some folk dancers.

So planned for Incredible India @60! are fashion shows (thus what brought the idea for this blog). While I missed the actual shows, Google lets me research these designers and tell you all about it. Being exposed to Indian culture at the Park like this started making me think of some of the Indian fashion designers that we may or may not know about. When I think of Indian fashion, I think of rich silks and beautiful jewels on the clothes (thanks to my podcast from ModTV..lol). These designers are great at what they do but unfortunately they aren't like Paris or New York where they have easy opportunity to get discovered. The clothes they make wouldn't really work in the Western world...we don't walk around in wearing a sari (unless that's part of our culture)...we don't cover ourselves as much so for them to try to make it big, it would be way too difficult only because it's not part of our culture (who would buy the clothes...we wouldn't wear it). People don't want to travel that far for India Fashion Week so that's another disadvantage. But hey somebody get me a plane ticket and I'm set...

Showing at Incredible India@ 60! are:

Rita Kumar:

She had shown her collection on Sunday Sept 23, 2007 (but haven't found any pictures). But from her website here's what I found from her newest and latest collection:

So I'm loving the bold colors and the details on the clothes. You could tell that a LOT of work goes into making these clothes.

Raghavendra Rathore:

"Born and brought up in the epicenter of heritage and tradition in the ancient city of Jodhpur, designer Raghavendra Rathore knows only too well the value of ‘Brand India’. His traditional upbringing and training of his craft at the Parsons School of Design in New York gave him the international edge, the experience and the insight to create the right mix of aesthetics, craft and heritage in the products that he designs that work globally." Ok so basically this guy mixes the best of both worlds (east and west). After studying at Parsons, he was chosen by Donna Karan as an assistant designer. From there he has worked with Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta.

I love how he designs clothes that we can wear but it still keeps the Indian feel with the embroidery and the detailing.

Wendell Rodricks:

Same as Rathore...cool..comfortable..chic...these are definitely dresses I'd wear to go out. From the Fall/Winter 2007 collection:

There are many other designers showing but not enough time for me to continue (class in the morning). Not only are the clothes cool (we've seen traditional, modern, and in between) but they still have their Indian vibe.

Don't you just love New York and how you can run into anything fashion!

Where Have All the Black Models Gone?!?!

The final lineup at Donna Karan show =(...

OMG! So as I picked up my copy of WWD Monday newspaper, I was EXTREMELY shocked to see that they have published what I was have been thinking these past year(s). Where have all the black models gone? WWD did bring to my attention that not only are black models MIA but so are black photographers, designers, editors, etc. Now as a black person, I noticed this from the very beginning. The runway is something that lacks personality...every girl looks the same. Back in the 90s, there was the "supermodel"...Naomi, Christy, Cindi, etc. We knew who they were...they were household names. But that's another topic for another time. What I did realize was that the number of Asian designers and models have risen. Designers such as old schoolers Vera Wang, Yeohlee Tang and newbies DooRi, Thakoon, Philip Lim have increased the number of Asians in the fashion industry. Also the number of Asian models have increased.

The fact that the fashion industry have taken note of this is surprising to me!

There was a panel held in the Bryant Park Hotel on Friday where Andre Leon Talley (THE Andre..*sigh*) spoke on this issue along with Naomi Campbell and other people. He asked that this issue be brought up to the CFDA (but this will be after the public hearing on Oct.15..at the New York Public Library..which I plan to attend).

If it's like this in the US, I can only imagine what it's like in Europe. From what I read...I would never make it as a model in Europe. *sigh*

Some one (I forgot where I read the article) claimed that maybe its not the industry maybe there are no black models. What??? Black models are everywhere...Eva Marcille, Dani (both from America's Next Top Model). Plus this is New York..you can definitely find black models. The question is, will the fashion industry accept them? The fact that there is such a small percentage of models out there representing us baffles me...especialy when black women purchase luxury goods just as much as our white counterparts.

I must applaud certain designers this season for their acceptance of us black women. The lovely Diane von Furstenberg, Tracey Reese (one of the few African American designers out there), and Heatherette. I would like to really thank Heatherette because after seeing full Frontal Fashion (ch. 22 NYC-TV) and their SS08 show...the first 10 models were black! THEY OPENED THE SHOW WITH BLACK WOMEN! THANK YOU! I knew I loved Heatherette for a reason other then they're quirky style =).

The top (and practically only) black models out there are:

Chanel Iman (kudos to Chanel for making the cover of Vogue in May 2007...only black model of 10 girls):

Alek Wek (now a published author):Liya Kebede (the first African American model to be the face of Estee Lauder):Naomi Campbell (countless covers, shows, and was part of the Supermodel reign):

Maybe after meeting with the head honchos, there will be some change...:-/

Anna Sui

NY Fashion Week.

That's all I have to say to get me excited. I've been happiest (literally) this past week than I have been in the past three months (sad, I know). I must confess, my goal for this season was to get inside the tents. But since I'm practically a nobody I got to stand outside the tents (like the other people, however, a lot of them wanted to see celebrities...I was looking forward to seeing all of the models, editors, and possibly designers..nerd I know). While I did get to work (well "intern": read work for free) with a PR company at the Carlos Campos an Thuy Shows (all fab by the way), I didn't get to go inside..they were all offsite.

I must say, all of my favorite designers in one arena got me all excited. My most fave shows this season must be: Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, and Anna Sui.

So...this is why I love Anna Sui:

1. Knows how to tell people off. According to WWD:

"Don't mess with Anna Sui. As her many fans and friends know, the designer is one tough chick, and she proved it at her show Monday by taking the law into her own hands. In each goodie bag, her guests found T-shirts emblazoned with "Forever Wanted: Don Cassidy & The Sundance Jin, Reward $21,000," around a caricature of Don and Jin Chang, the owners of retailer Forever 21, which Sui is suing for copyright infringement. The bottom of the T reads "'Thou shalt not steal'; Exodus 20:15," a reference to the Changs' devout Christianity and the "John 3:16" that is printed on every Forever 21 shopping bag. "I thought it would be funny," the designer said backstage after her show. "I can't really talk about it because I am in litigation, so that was my statement."In April, Sui filed a copyright lawsuit against the retailer alleging it has been making an ongoing practice of copying her designs since late 2005. Other brands that are similarly taking action against Forever 21 are Diane von Furstenberg and Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers line."

T-Shirt from Anna Sui goodie bags.

Now don't get me wrong...I love Forever 21 but I'm not down for their copying. I like the designer look for less but not when you copy down to a science. That's just not cool. Why, then, have a store if you can not create your own designs and products.

2. Her SS08 show was absolutely amazing. I love the 1970s/80s, punk rock, old school New York vibe. This is something that will never die. it might go away but I know the inspirations will definitely come back...who doesn't love New York in the 70s/80s. It was such a cool time (minus the drugs, etc..). The show opened with top model Agyness Deyn (who is very lovely for I met her outside the tents...so I guess this is a bit biased because I do LOVE this girl..)

Now...don't you just love Anna? :)