Trend Watching at DesignerCon

DesignerCon 2016 in Pasadena, Calif.

Estevan Ramos | Thursday, November 24, 2016

The rainy Sunday didn’t stop the thousands of attendees at the two-day DesignerCon annual design and art convention held at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif. The event showcased more than 350 vendors and custom-design shops in the collectible toy and designer goods in the pop, urban and underground world.

It’s a feast for the eyes in the world of creative sculpture, animation, toys, apparel and art from fine to urban and everything in between. This has become a great meeting place for manufacturers, distributors, retailers and artists to collaborate.

This convention really helps bring back the feeling of self expression, humor and fun, retro mixed with future, mind expanding ideas in the form of art which is much needed in today’s world climate.

And with art and fashion at the core of the event, the expression of individual style was paramount. DesignerCon has become an arena where self-expression and fashion has no boundaries. If anything, it’s a perfect forum to try an experimental, creative, individual, kooky, out-there, fashion moment. Enjoy!

ANIMAL INSTINCTS: Animals become the subject matter in art: Paul Frank is pictured with his unicorn whale and signature Julius the Monkey; and Brooke Weston’s taxidermy sceneries. Plus, creative placement of animals in paintings, plushes and hybrid sculptures. The fashionistas had their own way of expressing themselves in the animal theme.

THE BAGS: Attendees proudly displayed their self expression on their messenger bags, tote and backpacks throughout the show. They all had a fun, quirky, playful feel to them. Most complimented the owners’ looks with everyone showing their own individual style.

TRANSFORMERS: Unique is all I can say in some of the art expression here. Taking old athletic and trainer shoes and making in to amazing masks and head gear from “Freehand Profit,” fusing fashion illustration to compliment high-top basketball trainers by “Sole Fatale” or wearing the complete look that looked like the old school “Transformers” TV series. The look takes a previous century into the future.

BAD GIRLS: This art and fashion trend has a tough girl, powerhouse feel to it. Tough rockers, goth and punk, childlike bad girls carried on throughout the art shown and the fashion of the attendees.

BLACK, WHITE & RED: The black, white and red color theme was popular in the 80s “industrial revolution”-era. Think of it as New Wave revisited. Bold graphics and an air of punk was evident throughout the trend. Stripes, optic patterns and bold character art. Black, white and red is a color combo that stands on its own!

ANIMATED SWEATERS: Bold, statement, patterned and graphic sweaters had a feel of being an art piece in themselves—often paired with bold leggings and bottoms.

CONVERSATIONAL MATTERS: Crazy, kooky, colorful, goofy are some words to describe the trend. From fabric prints, plush animals and paintings, the artists and fashionistas really were having fun with themselves and their ideas!

WARRIORS AND HEROES: Warriors and heroes were ready to conquer the world. Dressed for protection, the art and fashions felt like you were walking in some futuristic land. “The Mighty Luchador” booth had character dolls, tees and stickers themed from Mexican wrestlers that became one of my favorite heroes of the show.

NOSTALGIC STYLE: A stylish sense of nostalgia was apparent throughout the show in the art, apparel and sculptures. Themes from different eras were inspired by vintage movie poster art and vinyl LP covers to fashion girls of the 60s. Nostalgic fashions went from 60s retro and 70s disco to high school drafting teacher and library chic!