Fuse Independent Designer Series
Felix Fotographic Media’s first Fuse fashion show, on Oct. 15, featuring independent designers, was at home at the outdoor monthly FAB street market. The market, at the downtown Los Angeles campus of SCI Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture), is where independent artists, clothing and accessories designers sell their wares. Fuse and FAB Market are in association with Selah Artistic Giving Center, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to empower artists through business and charity.
Visitors of the street fair enjoyed food and drink while they cheered on the 10 labels that took to the runway to the tune of live music by local bands. Environmentally friendly designs were key, such as Annatarian’s “ecocouture” empire-waist dresses made from recycled 1960s muumuus, vintage kimonos and remnant fabrics and Ecoist handbags which were made from recycled candy wrappers and snack bags.
Designers created ambience for their runway show through clever props. Nondi Luxe Swim had cabana chairs for a tropical-island mood. Models wearing Twospace’s easy dresses and tops in eye-catching colors walked between rows of cheery flower boxes.
Jaire created a backdrop of scantily clad male models in loincloths for Egyptian-inspired creations. Infantry USA set the tone for an orange and camouflage army-themed line with a fellow in a gas mask opening its portion of the show.
Meacute;lida Olaechea, a former patternmaker for Warnaco Swimwear Group and designer for OnGossamer and Cosabella, styled her sexy and sophisticated lingerie line, Epifaniacute;a Europa, with jeans because “they are too pretty to cover up.”
Shoppers at the market got a taste of FAB’s staple vendors when Spectr’s original screen-printed dresses and T-shirts and PSA Designs’ micro-mini skirts and hoodies with Virgin Mary patches were shown across the runway. “A musician can make CDs and never perform live. Through a fashion show, the designer can do a live rendition,” said Idrissa Morhouse, designer of Spectr.
Samareh Taghiband’s 1920s- and ’30s-inspired Samareh Collection offered gowns in warm colors and floral designs with hand-beaded details.
XR Collection by Richard Bowman showed the broadest range of looks with men’s hot pants, men’s pinstripe suiting, a women’s bright pink unitard, sleek and shiny evening dresses, revealing graphic-printed swimwear, and a women’s bubble skirt and jacket set.
Jewelry for the shows was provided by Tracer Mcwain Designs, Minx and Three Rexes. —Rhea Cortado
