L.A. Fashion Week Spring '03: L.A. Independent Designers
Los Angeles Independent Designers (LAID) presented its fashion exhibition Nov. 3 at the Inshallah Gallery on Main Street in downtown Los Angeles. The show featured five designers: Carol Ai, dbWARE by Donny Barrios, dc, Sakalis and W.I.E. Producer Tu Tran of Millhouse PR created a fashion installation with spotlights and live models. The mix of trendy and bizarre fashion made the show part contemporary, part conceptual, starting with Ai’s candy-colored satin jumper with Peter Pan collar and satin halter tuxedo vest worn with high-back, sit-low boy shorts, eerily reminiscent of Shirley Temple (the models were even sucking on Tootsie Roll pops). Last season, designer Ghia C. Fam introduced fashion lovers to W.I.E.’s brand of Asian gangster chic. In his latest collection, the designer fused ’80s pop trends with military looks. A sap-green stretch-chiffon military-style dress worn with neon yellow fishnet stockings and bamboo head visor, and a jungle green stretchchiffon parachute top and bottom, recalled the over-the-top postpunk styles worn by Cindy Lauper and Bjork. Other memorable pieces included a men’s ruched shirt paired with tan trousers with vinyl waistband by dbWARE by Donny Barrios, a black cheerleader skirt made with Italian wool by dc’s Kim Bui and a blue daisy-printed silk dress with silk flower trimmings by Sakalis. —Claudia Figueroa
