Atlanta Fashion Week Officially Announced

Atlanta Fashion Week (ATLFW) was officially announced with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, Invest Atlanta, RAGTRADE ATLANTA and more at the W Atlanta-Buckhead hotel. Atlanta Fashion Week will take place August 5 – 9, 2020 and will host a series of runway shows, fashion presentations, shops and industry talks. The city-wide event will feature a diverse group of local, national and global designers and talent.

Diversity and inclusion will play a major role in not only positioning Atlanta as a global fashion destination, but the success of Atlanta Fashion Week. With a highly acclaimed reputation and influence in pop culture, Atlanta is primed to intersect fashion, tech, music and visual arts on a national stage.

The Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment under the direction of Phillana Williams committed their support and resources to ensure the success of Atlanta Fashion Week. Williams also spoke to the positive impact fashion week will have on Atlanta’s economic growth including culture, commerce and jobs. Lonnie Soobar, director of small business development for Invest Atlanta shared additional insight about the many programs the agency provides to support local designers. Saboor also shared Invest Atlanta’s commitment to expanding their small business programs further. Philanthropic Educator and Founder of Fashionado.net, E. Vincent Martinez discussed how Atlanta Fashion Week will benefit fashion students with real life experience and how the platform will assist in retaining talent in the Atlanta market. Tracey Lloyd, district manager of JC Penny shared three key reasons why Atlanta is uniquely positioned to deliver on a fashion week; discussing how demand, supply and culture are closely aligned with our retail community. Robert Woolridge, general manager of W Atlanta-Buckhead shared his excitement around the launch of Atlanta Fashion Week and how his property is in full support.

Angela Watts, producer of Atlanta Fashion Week (centered) shares her vision about the upcoming show in 2020.

Atlanta Fashion Week is committed to evolving into a global fashion destination with the mission of celebrating diversity, innovation and creativity in fashion. Our primary goal is to create an interactive hub for fashion designers where trend-setting work is celebrated before it reaches a mainstream audience. Atlanta Fashion Week is the ultimate resource for fashion designers and represents fashion as a conduit for expression in technology, music and visual arts.

Visit ATLFW HERE & Join their mailing list.

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RAGTRADE ATLANTA + AIRBNB present A Night At The Museum

RAGTRADE ATLANTA will celebrate their fifth-year cultivating Atlanta’s fashion industry by hosting a celebratory event featuring independent designers, live music and more.

RAGTRADE ATLANTA, a fashion community committed to developing a sustainable fashion industry for the city of Atlanta, has partnered with Airbnb to produce A Night at the Fashion Museumon Saturday, October 27that the Margaret Mitchell House from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. RAGTRADE ATLANTA will also celebrate five years cultivating Atlanta’s fashion community.

Guests will experience three (3) curated fashion presentations featuring collections from independent designers Natt Taylor, a popular fashion label that has shown with RAGTRADE since 2014, ANINETEEN, a new emerging label that has generated major buzz since launching earlier this year and soon to be released luxury loungewear brand DAYO. In addition, hair for the presentation will be styled by RAGTRADE ATLANTA creative lead, Lisa Pope of Trade Secrets with Lisa and models will be provided by longtime partner MP Management-Atlanta. All parties involved with the presentation are Atlanta-based, strengthening the purpose of RAGTRADE ATLANTA.

Angela Watts, founder of RAGTRADE ATLANTA, is thrilled to celebrate another year of success. “I cannot believe we have reached our five-year milestone. Since launching in 2013, we have witnessed so much success with our past shows, the growth of our yearly programs, memberships and fashion designers who have chosen to show on our platform year and year. Our five-year celebration in partnership with Airbnb symbolizes growth for our fashion community in Atlanta with more to come. Five years is just the beginning.”

A Night at the Fashion Museum presented by Airbnb and RAGTRADE ATLANTA will take place on Saturday October 27that the Margaret Mitchell House, 979 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. **For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.ragtradeatlanta.com/calendar

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Cease & Desist S/S 19 "Black Hollywood" Collection

Cease & Desist unveiled their S/S 19 collection entitled “Black Hollywood” to a sold-out show this past Thursday in Atlanta, GA. Celebrities, social influencers, buyers and industry professionals converged inside one of Atlanta’s most unique industrial warehouse’s to preview the popular luxury brands newest collection.

“Black Hollywood” celebrates the growing influence of black celebrity and urban culture in fashion and other art forms around the globe. The collection featured a full assortment of vibrant hues, directional pleats and asymmetric accents, ill-fitting trousers, micro-miniskirts and more. A nonchalant aura paired with nostalgic pieces paced the bubble-wrapped catwalk, with ready-to-wear as the focal point.“It feels amazing to showcase my newest collection in Atlanta,” said Fred Foster, founder and creative director of Cease & Desist. “Atlanta continues to set international trends including fashion. Therefore, it was important for me to present this collection in Atlanta and highlight our cultural influence, which is often overlooked by the fashion industry.”

Established in 2012, Cease & Desist is a lifestyle brand inspired by the grittiness of street culture and the allure of high-end designer fashion. Since our inception, our minimalistic ideals combined with our fashion forward approach to streetwear have enabled us to carve a lane for ourselves. Focusing on extreme detail and superior workmanship, while creating trends through defiance has become the staple of self-dubbed “Runway Rebels”.

For more information about Cease & Desist, please visit:  https://www.ceasendesist.us

Photography: Dustin Sparks and Dennis Carter

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Cultivate - From Ideas to Action with Ragtrade Atlanta

Join the June Ragtrade Atlanta conversation, "When Style Meets Business" this Tuesday evening at Bloomingdales Lenox Square Mall. Learn about what it takes to work in the business of wardrobe. Doors open at 6 PM. 

Fashionado's E. Vincent Martinez moderates the discussion with this fabulous panel:

- Holly Katz Style
Wardrobe & Personal Stylist

- Emily Sistrunk
Photo Stylist & Founder of Pixhouse Studios

- Jaclyn Banner-Akeju
Costume Designer

RSVP HERE.

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Recap: Global Runway Fashion Presentation and Pop-up Experience hosted by InStyle Magazine Editor Kahlana Barfield

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) presented Global Runway 2018, a fashion presentation and retail pop-up experience on Wednesday, May 16. Hosted by InStyle Magazine’s Editor Kahlana Barfield, over 250 guests experienced a few of the retail offerings that represent ATL Skypointe, a program designed for guests to shop, dine and explore ATL. This year, guests also experienced an expanded industry-driven fashion experience, which included a silent auction to benefit Bert’s Big Adventure. Kennedy Morgan, founder of Love to the Moon and Bert’s Big Adventure special guest also experienced a full day of fashion which included hair, makeup, and styling by Global Runway's glam team. Kennedy also showcased her modeling skills in this year’s fashion presentation.

In its second year, Global Runway featured four U.S. retail brands: Spanx, ExOfficio, Brooks Brothers and Sean John, which is celebrating their 20th anniversary. Also bridging the gap between beauty and style, the event highlighted national brands MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, Bijoux Terner and XpresSpa via a pop-up shop.

“Each year, ATL serves over 103 million passengers, and many of them are unaware of our award-winning concessions program,” said Airport Concessions Marketing Manager Pamela Simmons. “In addition to being a global transportation hub, ATL is also a hub for quality global brands and Global Runway is designed to showcase these brands and raise the awareness of all that the world’s busiest airport has to offer.”

For more information about ATL Skypointe or to browse their 2018 lookbook, please visit: http://www.atl.com/atlskypointe/ .

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Global Runway 2108

For a second year in a row, Global Runway presented by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport  will bring together six social media influencers who are known for their style and presence in the global fashion community. This year, ATL has selected InStyle Magazine Editor-At-Large and Influencer Kahlana Barfield as their 2018 event host. Along with Barfield, influencers Shahad Alqaysi, Satchel Jester, Kara Chin, Jessica Camerata and Cari Root will join her on stage to reveal the newest styles offered at ATL.

This year, fashion presentation brands include Sean John, celebrating their 20th anniversary, Spanx, travel apparel ExOfficio and American brand Brook’s Brothers. Global Runway will also bridge the gap between beauty and style by hosting retail pop-ups featuring national brands Benefit Cosmetics, Michael Kors, ExOfficio, Bijoux Terner and Xpress Spa.

Global Runway 2018 Event Details:
WHO: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Presents Global Runway 2018
WHAT: Global Runway Fashion Presentation & Retail Pop-Up Experience
WHEN: May 16, 2018 1 - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Private Location

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Designer Kenya Freeman of Sylvia Mollie "Makes it Work" on Project Runway

Kenya Freeman, photo: Project Runway

She keeps two notebooks by her bed. As thoughts and ideas make their way into her dreams, she awakes, rolls over to jot them down and goes back to sleep – and possibly dream some more. By morning, as the alarm clock goes off and sleepy eyes open, she glances in her notebook and inspiration is born. Designer Kenya Freeman, of the label Sylvia Mollie, is literally living her dream. Kenya seeks inspiration from everything and everyone. If it’s not coming in her dreams then she finds it in nature, in her surroundings and on the street. Her mind is always wandering and conceptualizing.

Kenya didn’t know she was a designer right away. In the twelfth grade, she signed up for a fashion co-op class where she learned to create mood boards and studied merchandising. This came to Kenya with such ease that her mother enrolled her in fashion school. In her first year in college, she started sewing, watching her designs transform from sketches to garments. Everything felt so effortless. For the first time, Kenya felt like she had been given a gift. She felt like a designer. There is a lot to be said about a mother’s intuition.

Photos by Prince Williams/ATLpics.net courtesy of Ragtrade Atlanta.

Strong lines and architectural patterns are things Kenya embraces in her designs and textile choices. Other elements such as shape and texture – the feel and touch of fabric is very important to her – also play a part in the DNA makeup of the brand. Her aesthetic comes from the allure of the classic woman. So who is the Sylvia Mollie “woman?” Well, firstly, she has a name, Kenya calls her “Tony.” “This is a powerhouse of a woman whose classic looks must transition to evening. Everything she wears has to be bold, beautiful and make a statement,” adds Kenya. Flowing fabric and a feminine sensibility, with a conscious attention to silhouette, perfectly balance the brand’s timeless yet modern approach. Strength and femininity are harmoniously woven together within the Sylvia Mollie collections.

So while Kenya Freeman may be living her designer dreams, it is also fair to say that her future is now – and it’s unfolding on national television for the whole world to see. Her personal life and professional career was uprooted, tested and turned upside down – in the name of fashion– when she was selected as a cast member to the Emmy Award winning Project Runway on Lifetime TV. Kenya is featured on the sixteenth season of Project Runway and said this was the best experience ever. She believes that being on the show will elevate the Sylvia Mollie brand to the next level from the tremendous exposure she receives week after week and though it wasn’t always easy being on the show and working under so much pressure, she absolutely “made it work!” Speaking of “making it work” Tim Gunn is wonderful according to Kenya, going on to say that the warm and nurturing gentleman you see on tv is consistent off air as well. Of course, she was tight-lipped about Project Runway specifics, not able to discuss how far she got in the show or who were the celebrity judges. She wouldn’t even drop hints. This is how Kenya described her Project Runway experience: “It was so many things – it was great, it was emotionally draining, it was fantastic, it was exciting and stressful, I’ve never absorbed so much caffeine, I’ve never gotten up so early - it was a lot of things. A very unique experience like no other and just to say that I am now a part of the Project Runway family at this point is something few can say.”

Kenya Freeman and her label Sylvia Mollie may very well be on their way to designer stardom and making its way to a closet near you. Kenya aspires to see her brand carried in the high end markets such as Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf’s but for now, the most accessible place to shop Sylvia Mollie is online at http://www.sylviamollie.com/

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