Eight Rising Atlanta Artists Showcase Custom-Designed Denim Jacket Collection

Fourth of November Jeans

Custom designed Fourth of November Denim Jacket by Alea Hurst

Custom designed Fourth of November Denim Jacket by Miloh Smith

Maxim Beeching-designed Fourth of November Denim Jacket

Custom designed Fourth of November Denim Jacket by Alfred Conteh

Footaction and Brooklyn-based denim company, Fourth of November recently hosted a private showcase in Atlanta bringing together local personalities and eight of the city’s rising artists to celebrate the recent arrival of Fourth of November apparel to Footaction stores (February 2016). 

On display during the invite-only event were the one-of-a-kind customized denim creations by eight Atlanta artists: Alea Hurst, Miloh Smith, Maxim Beeching, Monica Tooke, Nicole Kutz, Alfred Conteh, Markeidic Walker and Saviour Sanquiche. Each artists’ design represented their individual style and was inspired by Footaction’s “Own It” mantra, which is all about spotlighting and encouraging individuality and originality.  The designs expressed the artists’ unique artistic expression, and told the story of how they each own their creativity and head-to-style.

Atlanta marked the second stop on Fourth of November’s Artist Series collaboration with Footaction, where the two brands have visited local markets to shine a spotlight on emerging local artists through their denim customization. The kick-off of the series was celebrated in New York City in February, and will next stop in L.A., then culminate, in New York City, where it all began.

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Viktor & Rolf Couture Spring 2016

“Fashion artists,” Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren created a collection to make Picasso proud. And Matisse. And possibly maybe Modigliani. This may be Viktor & Rolf's most artistically literal and referential collection to date. The all-white couture assemblages embraced the cubist art movement in the form of wearable art. Once again, Viktor & Rolf got a chance to showoff their ridiculous sculptural skills. It's really mind-blowing. (And mesmerizing!) Towards the end of the collection, the models were consumed by the clothing, covering the faces and towering over their head. Moda Operandi will be carrying a capsule collection of these pieces, though I am pretty sure they'll be modified but nonetheless fabulous.

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Project Runway "Wearable Art" Challenge

How fabulous is the Guggenheim? Of course it is, designed by the masterful Frank Lloyd Wright, the space is as magnificent as the masterpieces it houses. So it was quite appropriate that the Guggenheim would serve as the source of inspiration for

Project Runway's

"wearable art" challenge. The popular HP + Intel fabric challenge was integrated, heightening the level of creativity from the designers. Naturally, some did better with it than others. They are still working in teams and the only contribution "teams" are making to Project Runway at this point in the competition is making drama. One team member designed the art look while the other made a commercial counterpart.

Daniel was hit this week. He needed that because the last few challenges were (big) misses for him. [But] for me, he's done. Go home.

AUF!

I want to see nothing else from Daniel.

Layana was Daniel's team partner. She created this mess of a dress. The symbolism here, artistically speaking, is that the dress captured Layana's inexperience and lack of art / cultural references due to the fact that she's like 12. This isn't art. She created crap wrapped in tulle. Layana, you do not know better than Tim Gunn or the judges, acknowledge that missy.

And while you're at it Layana, learn from Michelle. Yes I know the dress is weird, but this was NOT the ready-to-wear look, Michelle's partner Stanley was working on that design. Michelle successfully created an artfully cohesive gown made out of leather and painted bubble wrap!

Patricia: EDIT! Too much is too much... I loved the bold graphic patterns she created and there are aspects of the dress that I appreciate, like the silhouette when I squint my eyes. But to say that the chiffon head piece made the model androgynous tells me that you are clueless! The model looks like abstract-expressionist tragic bride.

Richard went home, yay! Too bad he didn't go packing the challenge before this one because Samantha would have soared at the Guggenheim. Richard became such a pain in the ass about everything and everyone that it just consumed him and his abilities. His emotions overshadowed good design and behavior!

Stanley took the well-deserved win and $10K!! [I hope he gives Michelle a little bit of that cash!] The dress is hot. I love the shape, pleating, structure and styling. I was not a fan of the print, however.

We are down to 5 designers.... I'm pretty good at nailing the top three but I must admit, I'm having a little trouble this time around.

Who do you think will make the top list??

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Project Graffiti - Project Runway

The

Project Runway All Stars

took to the streets with their host

Carolyn Murphy

for last week's challenge. They learned about graffiti and I learned a new art term: aerosol art. I can't wait to impress all of my snooty, intellectual, politically correct friends with this term ... aerosol art ... look ma I'm pretentious! 

The designers were given all the tools they needed including the windiest day in NYC, which they didn't need, to create a

graffiti

aerosol art pattern/print. The Project Runway challenge was to produce a wearable art piece.

Andrae is communicating with the Mother Planet. They're saying "make it work!" and he's replying, "huh?"

Winner and loser, hmmm...

The Bottom 3:

I'm with judge

Georgina Chapman

about there being two dresses here. The top is the beginning of a beautiful and chic outfit and the bottom is a fail, especially with that eyesore of a hemline. To make matters worse (not pictured)

Laura Kathleen

added a trim of piano fringe to the back which was awful. She tried to hard to be different and to be creative. I knew Laura would be safe and I'm glad. Not ready to see her go.

A halter, mermaid gown... so original and innovative... said no one, ever!

Kayne

dear, the judges are beginning to question your taste level.

Suede cut out circles. Suede made a girlie dress. Suede Suede go away...."

Suede

out."

The Top 3:

The most significant advice/criticism from one of the judges was

Ivy's

bad color choice of white for the bottom of the skirt. The guest judge suggested she use a color like red [I thought yellow]. Either one, even orange, would have been a better choice.

This was a smart and sassy look from

Anthony Ryan

. The judges complimented the scale, proportion and wearability. It's a good dress, I like it too, though I hate the pompadour hairdo. It's distracting, dated and overdone. Yet not surprising. Have you noticed the designer's hair style? Yuck.

The clear winner was this creation by

Emilio Sosa

. It was sophisticated and artful. Emilio allowed himself to be inspired by graffiti rather than to try and replicate an art form that he's not a master of and it worked. The only minor issue the judges had was with the belt. They felt it seemed unresolved. No big deal. Easy fix.

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