Wearable Art & All That Jazz!
Oh what a wonderful weave of intricately sewn creations presented at the Annual HGA (Handweavers Guild of America) Conference 2014, held at the RI Convention Center. The weeklong event was jam-packed with a myriad of classes and workshops with Expert Instructors educating on everything from the latest weaving techniques to strategies on selling your creations on E-Bay.
One such “expert” was our own Trade Secrets Director of Wardrobe Styling, Lisa Shorr of Shorr Style, delivered an interactive workshop demonstrating over 10 different ways to wear and tie a scarf! Lisa hand-selected a variety of beautiful scarves from HGA vendors some hand-woven on the vendor’s own loom others sourced from various exotic markets in India.
All That Jazz – Runway Show
Donahue Models had the esteemed honor of presenting the All that Jazz Runway Show. This was the signature event of the week! Over 800 guests ranging from weaving enthusiasts, textiles instructors to the Interim President of RISD were in the audience, all quietly marveling and calling out the various fabrics and weaves to their neighbor. “Look at that beautiful felted fabric piece!” “That gorgeous jacket has a beautiful honeycomb weave!” “That looks like dyed silk!” “You can’t even see the seam on that one!” The competition was fierce! Judges Brandon McDonald (Season 12 Finalist on Project Runway) and Noel Palomo-Lovinski (Author and Professor at Kent State University) selected the winning pieces! (Yemi – Please finish this! I don’t know the winning pieces!)
LFP – Runway Show
LFP – Lights, Fashion, Philanthropy – The new brain-child of Donahue Models, Yemi Sekoni and handbag designer Melinie Lee from ZARUSA, is a new venture that combines all the pizzazz of a fashion show with a philanthropic twist! Their mission is to help charitable organizations increase their fundraising efforts while promoting local clothing boutiques, artisans as well as up and coming fashion and accessory designers.
Rhode Island houses so many talented artists and designers! Three such designers strutted their hand-crafted wears.
ZARUSA
Designer Melinie Lee brings her South African roots to each luxuryious handbag she designs! All genuine leather and fur materials are humanely sourced and crafted in very distinctive styles that command attention! This is the bag for the metropolitan woman looking to add a statement element to her look! Melinie’s creativity continues with an alluring, sexy line of jewelry too.
Rimma Zaika-Veksler
Knitting is not just for scarves or grandmothers! Rimma Zaika-Veksler created a collection of hand-knit pieces in beautiful island tones that were so feminine and sexy! Beautiful sweaters were adorned either with matching handbags in the same theme or statement necklace! A truly comfort meets couture collection!
Restored By Design
What do you get when you combine the inspiration from lilies in your garden with repurposed materials? A light and airy collection that looked like delicate fairies flitting down the runway! Milky translucent sheer fabrics in muted tones adorned with delicate floral headpieces felt ethereal. Martha Jackson’s collection is eco-chic and fantastique!
