Friday Feature…Designers of Fashion Week Cleveland.

As we approach the Final Runway for Fashion Week Cleveland we take a brief glimpse of selections the designers have posted online that may hint towards their runway collections.

 

Jamie Seel – Columbus, Ohio

Jamie Seel – Sneak Peak Via her Instagram

 

 

Jae Jarrell – Chicago, Illinois (native of Cleveland)

Jae Jarrell – Source: Facebook: Collections Album

Stephanie Nunn – Cleveland, Ohio

Knitwear Designer Stephanie Dunn in a photo showcasing her work for the Cleveland Plain Dealer

 

 

Jazmine Fischer – Akron, Ohio

Jazmine Fischer – Akron

Tina Hughes – Columbus, Ohio

Tina Marie – Spring 2014 Collection

Patrick T. Cooper – Atlanta, Georgia 

Patrick T. Cooper – SS2015

 

Berny Martin – Indianapolis, Indiana

 

 

Mallory Blaha – Bridal wear

Mallory Blaha

 

Pictures were not found for the following designers online – contact me if anyone has pictures and can update the post:
Mary Ann Carandang – Columbus, Ohio – Children’s Wear
Kelli Raes – Womenwear

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Wordless Wednesday…….Upcoming: Fashion Week Cleveland

OhioFashionista.com is continued proud blog media supporters of Fashion Week Cleveland…Join them this week for continued educational events and the Grand Finale on Saturday!

 

To follow them on social media, see the list below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandfashionweek 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLE_FashionWeek
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fashionweekclev 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/fashionweekcle 

 

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2014: Prom Dress and Accessories…Distribution Drive in Massillon

Are you still looking for that perfect and affordable ensemble for Prom for yourself or even for your daughter? Or are you finding yourself to have a closet full of dresses that need to be positively “re-homed”…look no further!  Kimberly Lehman of Love, Laughter and Elegance has an event this weekend on April 26th that fits your needs. She is taking donations and also appointments for those that are needing outfitted for their upcoming prom. (Sorry donations ended the 20th but stay tuned for future events)

When & Where:  Saturday, April 26th, 7-9pm at Shiloh Baptist Church at 1111 3rd St SE Massillon, Ohio

Find the event on Facebook, here: Love, Laughter & Elegance – Prom Dress Drive – April 26th  from 7-9pm

For more details contact Kimberly Lehman:  330-313-6030

 

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“Cleveland has no fashion industry.”

Recently at a fashion event a designer that showcased afterwards told me “Cleveland has no fashion industry.” I can honestly say after trying to in a few quick words prove the designer wrong that I have stewed on these words since. Sometimes vocally to other professionals that I know in fashion, and sometimes to myself especially when I see other local designers or small to large businesses trying to make it in the fashion industry. To me the fashion industry is all encompassing whether it’s from resale, design, boutique or even the farmer that has wool producing animals with a small shop to sell their goods (sometimes even handmade).

In the past I have researched quite extensively “where has our fashion industry gone” and I came up with – no where. It’s is still here and “loud and proud.” It may not be in the large garment factories we had at one point along the Erie shores but I spied years ago in downtown Akron a bridal garment operation that is ran by Vera Wang Luxe in Canal Place. There are many designers with shops throughout Cleveland also – just have to look for it (or search my blog many have been featured!). There are even some factories still that have made local press when their employees go on strike for better wages – such as the Hugo Boss factory in Brooklyn. Those are just a few quick examples – so instead of going to the Walmarts, Targets or even the mall to buy your clothing go to a local clothier or boutique. A short list if you are in Cleveland check out communities such as Coventry Village or in Akron their are also many areas including Hudson, Highland Square or just the various downtown Akron retailers.

But, we have lost a lot of our garment industry and for historical perspective I am including a timeline of sorts found on the Cleveland Retail Commissions webpage that lists many of the great textile businesses we have lost and what Cleveland neighborhood they were in. The fashion industry is not dead in Ohio or today more specifically the Northern Ohio area I specify. It is all in your own perspective and how you utilize it and take advantage of it.

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Good-bye, Parmatown Mall.

I just heard the news this evening of the demolishment of Parmatown Mall being underway – I don’t frequent Cleveland too often but especially my old stomping ground of Parma. One of the added perks of my mother being faculty I got to attend CCC for nearly free in my earlier years – of course between classes and anytime outside of classes I could easily be found roaming the halls of Parmatown Mall. It was a middle-class mall this was in the years about 1999-2002 I truly didn’t find it much different then the local mall Chapel Mall which was the closest to where I had been living. I was even quoted the youth shopping policy a few times till I showed them my ID that I can legitimately spend all my money and not be chased out the door.

The mall has a history dating back well before I was born even some before my parents which I know they read this maybe dinosaurs were still roaming a la Fred Flintstone, I kid.

The new “Shops at Parma” has began it’s development and this is just the next phase. The community was glad that Parmatown Mall will not suffer the fate of Randal Park mall on the East side of Cleveland or even Rolling Acres Mall in Akron. Below is an artist rendering of the Shops at Parmatown.

You can find more articles from the Cleveland.com website about the project. The Cleveland Memory project has many pictures of the former Parmatown Mall.

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Saturday, January 25th: Suicide Prevention Awareness Ball

Are you a suicide survivor? Sadly, many of us this day in age are survivors of suicide. Whether we have lost friends, family, or co-workers most Americans have lost someone close to them to a leading cause of death, suicide.

Allyn Lewis from Pretty Living PR is helping to raise awareness after losing her father to suicide at the age of 18. Allyn has pushed through this adversity and along with her talent team from Pretty Living PR is hosting an event this Saturday as a fundraiser for suicide prevention.

The event is in near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but as they say for Ohioians what is a good run for the border – especially for a good cause.

Visit La Nuit Noire’s website for more details. (Click Here)

Event details:

La Nuit Noire
Event benefit:  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Purchase tickets online at Eventbrite (click here).

Address:
Cefalo’s  –  428 Washington Ave, Carnegie PA 15106

When:
Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 7pm – 11pm.

Entertainment will be a fashion couture show by Tidal Cool Creations and there will be live music with several celebrity guests in attendance.

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WordPress won’t be the death of me…

Death by WordPress?

Every time I log in seems as though something has gone awry whether it’s lost blog posts, or just the template changing and the font is no longer in a logical sequence. Sadly, I wasn’t happy with Blogspot either or Blogger – so I’ll stick to WordPress and try to promise to post more and not let the technology get the best of me.

But, for those that follow regularly you know the Facebook page has been quiet busy as there are all sorts of local events going on such as prep for both Alternative Fashion Week, Fashion Week Cleveland and Great Lakes Fashion Week. It may be winter but as they say it is “haute” in the fashion industry!

Don’t forget to follow on Facebook – and stay tuned to this page for future articles and event promotions as winter blues and technology faux pas are pushed aside.

Also, OhioFashionista.com will be looking for correspondents again that would like to write articles in their region and have them published. Please email me for further details.

~ Nora

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Run for the border it’s sizzling…in Pittsburgh!!

Pretty Living PR features Pretty in Paradise on July 25th

The Pretty Living PR crew in Pittsburgh (that also work with many Ohio companies and help plan events) are sizzling after their launch party.  They have been in a fast forward movement and are sizzling with their upcoming summer soirée Pretty in Paradise.

Those that know Allyn and Charissa expect no less than a fun filled classy event that is not only star studded with local celebrities from Pittsburgh but also Ohio!

Tidal Cool Creations – Model: Arrey Blahnik Lee

Tidal Cool Creations by designer Andrea Howell of Cleveland Ohio will be featuring resort apparel on the runway and Paradise on the Rocks will be the featured drink – can’t go wrong here!

Join the Pretty Living PR team under the palm trees at the Cabana Bar in Wexford and enjoy the many looks from Tidal Cool Creations and a fun filled night of networking and partying.

Visiting Pretty Living PR online, here and also for tickets.

Visit Tidal Cool Creations the featured runway designer, here.

Tidal Cool Creations – Model :Arrey Blahnik Lee

Follow OhioFashionista.com on Facebook to stay updated on local events and designer news! Click here.  

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Fashion Week Cleveland – Runway Favorites

Another Fashion Week Cleveland has come to close and we sit back and ponder to our photographs from the evening. The Arcade is a beautiful venue with all it’s vintage glamour while the models walked the collections of local and national designers in the 9th Annual Fashion Week Cleveland.

There were beautiful looks going down the runway with designers showcasing between 10  and 20 looks. Sadly, though a beautiful venue it was also difficult to photograph as the lighting along the runway was difficult to work with as it was “shaded” due to lighting but got some great shots not of every look but here are my pics! Thank you to founder Donald Shingler for the opportunity to be able to go and talk to the designers and showcase their everyone the looks. I will be putting all the photographs up shortly on the Facebook page for OhioFashionista.com.  Click on each image to be directed to each designers home page.

Also you can check out the interview with designer Phoebe Kao from Bae Rae and Sorjet’s Jeuarlet McClanahan on Fashion Radio 1.

L.A. Gaitors – Leanne Hautala

Bae Rae – Phoebe Kao
Model: Abbey Kay

Lindsay Marie – Lindsay Adams
(Wedding dress – crochetted from rubber)

Art of Cloth – Rose Corrick 

Model: Katie Galaska

Sorjet – Soreyda Benedit Begley and Jeuarlet McClanahan

Modern Fashion – Amanda Renee

Jae Jarell Menswear

Lotty by Lotty Lewis

Models – contact me and I will post credit to your image.

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Friday Feature: Robert W. Walker

Last year while browsing through an arts and crafts show along the shores of Lake Anna in Barberton I came across an artist booth for Robert W. Walker.  At first glance the dramatic colors and images draw you in and you just stare in amazement and wonder.  After several minutes of staring I came across a wall of accessories – wallets, bracelets and other trinkets.  The first thing I look at in an accessory (or anything) is quality and than usually the design and I was so well impressed with the quality of the wallets that I had to then make the daunting task of which image I liked the best – took a few walks around the show to finally figure out which would be proudly mine.  I have to say to this day I am still impressed with how the wallet looks and withstood what I put it through and how well the image has kept it’s quality.

While I didn’t get to meet Robert at the show we have since exchanged via his facebook page messages and he is a very intriguing individual.  At the time of this blog he is in California, but is from the Northern Ohio area originally where he grew up.  In the last few months he ventured off on an amazing adventure towards California in his Winnebago and has been exposing the west coast to his amazing artwork.  You can read more about Robert, his adventures and his work on his website: RW2GALLERY

Robert’s work can be found on everything from original paintings, wallets, laptop bags, clocks, shower curtains, and much more.

Here are some of OhioFashionista.com favorites:

Mermaid Clutch Wallet (leather)  –  $50

Cuff Bracelets (leather) – $20

Shower curtains!!…

Shower Curtain – $49

Robert painting his Winnebago…

Images are from Robert’s etsy shop and from his facebook page.

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