THE DESIGNER SERIES IS OUR IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO A WORLD FILLED WITH AMBIGUITY and intrigue. FASHION so often leads with imagery and stories of fantastic spectacle and luxurious exclusivity. The reality is all too real, reflecting an industry that employs workers from BANGLADESH to Savile Row. THe FASHION industry in the Pacific Northwest can often feel IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE STARTING OUT. The following Northwest designers represent the COMBINED WISDOM AND DECADES OF experience that give us RARE GLIMPSES INTO THEIR WORLD — from the PITFALLS of insolvency to the heights of their successes — IN ORDER to STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKE an INDELIBLE MARK ON THE INTERNATIONAL FASHION STAGE. Tap the images to see their stories.
Akrofi Adjumani
Womenswear
Joy Egbejimba
Handbags & Accessories
Suk Chai
Ungendered Fashion
Stacy Flynn
Textile Innovation
Hollis Hamilton
Bridal and Event Wear
Angeline Oei
Sustainable Fashion
Kelly Su
Women’s Seperates
Luis Velez
Footwear & Apparel
Elisa Yip
Luxury Knitwear
Go inside the designer’s studio with Sunny Kay Designs.
The Designer Series interview with Kelly Su Part 1. View the rest here.
Lisa Marie Couture showcase for Ion Fashion Show and Ruby Room Gala, 2019.
“BOLD” | Jersey Virago Couture Collection 002
“HAVING THOSE EPIPHANIES IN LIFE AND ACTUALLY LEARNING FROM THEM AND BECOMING WISER AND MORE GRATEFUL AND MORE GIVING, MORE OPEN. THAT’S REALLY LIFE.”
“I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IN THE NEXT 20-25 YEARS, THE WORLD IS GOING TO DESIGN WASTE OUT OF THE EQUATION BECAUSE WE NOW KNOW THAT IT’S NOT NECESSARY.”
Guillermo Bravo Capitol Hill studio.
Kelly Su pictured in Cami&Tank showroom.
A.Oei Studio AW18 Initial Sketches and Textile Swatches.
“IT’S THIS IDEA OF ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BECOME PART OF THE DESIGN. . .OWNING LESS, BUT CREATING MORE WITH IT.”
“STARTING OUT WE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE ME ALONE WALKING DOWN THIS PATH.”