Gen Art Sets Plans for S.F., N.Y. Shows
Elena Manferdini, Allison Nelson, Samuel Taylor, Lesley Tenaka and Thu Vu will be the featured designers at Gen Art San Francisco’s “Inspiration” fashion show, to be held April 29 at San Francisco City Hall.
The biannual show generally features emerging designers from Northern California, but this time, organizers included Los Angeles–based Manferdini, an architect– turned–apparel designer who specializes in clad-cut dresses.
Manferdini’s line is Atelier Manferdini, which was the same name of her Los Angeles architecture firm. The designer is known for creating unique forms with the help of computer-aided design. She showed her collection at last year’s Showdown fashion show, held at the Schindler House in Los Angeles.
Also taking to the runway are Tenaka and Vu’s Tongue Cut Sparrow; Nelson’s Red Threds; and Teshub Distinguished Sportswear from Taylor, a former major league baseball player. Accessories lines Fluidance by Josie Adele, Mona Milkface and Tivi will also be featured.
Separately, New York–based Gen Art announced the finalists for its Styles 2005 competition. Among them is Pasadena, Calif.–based Rodarte, which was nominated in the eveningwear and ready-to-wear categories, and Los Angeles–based Terence Luk, who was nominated for Perrier’s “Bubbling Under” award. The event, sponsored by American Express’ IN:NYC card, is scheduled for May 17 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
The competition has been narrowed down to 30 finalists, who will compete for more than $35,000 in prizes. Perrier is once again giving its “Bubbling Under” Award for the best design concept inspired by the theme “Natural.”
The winner will receive an award and a $10,000 grant.American Express will present the IN:NYC Card Design Vision Awards for eveningwear and accessories. The credit card company will also commission three accessories designers to create “an accessory that will bring to life the IN:NYC Card.”
Project Global Trade Show, the New York–based contemporary streetwear event, will present the Design Vision Award for menswear. The winner will receive complimentary booths at the upcoming Project shows in New York and Las Vegas.
The other finalists include:
bull; Minneapolis-based Joynoelle, New York–based Karolina Zmarlak, Satilde;o Paulo, Brazil–based Neon and Brooklyn, N.Y.–based Stella Rey for the IN:NYC Card Design Vision Award for eveningwear
bull; Australia-based Damselfly and New York–based Berrymatch LLC, BYLU, Kristen Lee and Lulu Frost for the IN:NYC Card Design Vision Award for accessories
bull; Barcelona, Spain–based The Avant, Brooklyn-based Yukihiro Murata, and New York–based House of Beckerman and Laila Azhar for the Express Design Vision Award for ready-to-wear
bull; London-based Omar Kashoura; Austin, Texas–based Tomer; and New York–based Brian Wood Exclusive Inc., Kapadia and Plan B Jeans for the Project Global Trade Show Design Vision Award for menswear
bull; Tokyo-based Anrealage, Paris-based Antonio Chae Kyuin, Brooklyn-based Joelle Jean Fontaine, Elmhurst, N.Y.–based Sung Yong Jung, and New York–based House of Beckerman for the Gen Art Design Vision Award for avant-garde
bull; Daufuskie Island, S.C.–based Ashley Reid, Astoria, N.Y.–based Galina Monaco, Las Vegas–based Patricia Samaniego and Lansdowne, Pa.–based Reuben Amollo for the Perrier “Bubbling Under” Award
—Robert McAllister
