Sunset Gower Studios Archives - LAFashionsnob.com

JLMarks, Balthaczar & Joy Rich @ LA Fashion Weekend

Nov 14 2010

I had the pleasure of attending LA Fashion Weekend hosted by Mikey Koffman of the Gallery LA. The three designers that showcased their designs were JLMarks, Balthaczar and Joy Rich. I was pleased seeing that Jessica Marks was showing her line, as I’ve met her once before (when I first moved to Cali) in her boutique and noticed her unique style. She has had the store for six years and she designs almost everything. This was her first LAFW showing and her collection, “Boho-Disco Mix”, was inspired by her Mom’s modeling pictures from the 70’s. The nostalgic line was a mix of ‘Coachella-chic’ meets Studio 54. I LOVED the sequins (and it’s such a major trend at the moment) and just the way the dresses moved on the runway. Hop on over of the JLMarks Boutique on West Third and take home a piece of the 70’s. The collection retails for around $150-300. The next line, Balthaczar, created by Crayhton Bauxmont-Flynn and Matthias Bartz was also well executed. They get inspired by just about anything, from architecture to art and gardens. “The tactile environment we live in, using all of our sense from the moment we touch something, see something and how it is interpreted for us and makes us feel…” the designers added. Right now, their shoe line is all the rage. It takes two-three months to produce and are handled by seven people. As far as their apparel line, the red dress with the folded enveloped silk chiffon and the long-sleeved green dress with two-tiered skirt and cowl neckline. I also enjoyed every piece in their collection, especially white and yellow one-shoulder number and the finale wedding dress at the end. The model threw the bouquet and my friend, Nikki Brucato happily caught it. Balthaczar retails for $425-950 for shoes (depending on shoe style and material)and $290-3,200 for apparel. For more info, check out their site or contact them via email: contact@balthaczar.com. The last brand and the headliner of the show, was Joyrich. Joyrich was founded in 2007 and opened its flagship store on Melrose with their signature Japan/West Coast style. The name, Joyrich was conceived with the belief of “to simply be rich in joy.” The brand is heavily inspired by the ’80’s and ’90’s. Their presentation was indeed very fun and festive with an emphasis on denim, paisleys, florals(worn by both men and women), and Americana. “[This season] has an infusion of the ’60’s and ’70’s elements into the multi-faceted line. A tribute to freedom and decades of change, the looks are reminiscent of a time when fashion and music were the expressive voice of the youth movement…” explains Leah Schmidt-assistant director/conceptual designer. Their signature pieces from the collection are the star-studded motor jackets (lined with the Amercian flag print) for men and women, the paisley-printed pieces and the pastel floral denim pieces. The Joyrich brand is aimed to make high-end fashions with accessibility, retailing for $45 for tees and leggings and $125-225 for coats and jackets. Joyrich can be found online, as well as Karmaloop.com, Kitson, Patricia Field and Revolve Clothing.

Special Thanks: J, the designers and models, volunteers and staff, Andrea Hanks, Laura Medina for again, helping me with a spot on the media risers, Mike Vensel for loaning me the outfit I wore to the event, Mikey Koffman and Gallery LA.

**Photography by Andrea Hanks**

**Photos by ME**

Green Humanitarian Fashion Show- S/S11

Nov 13 2010

It was another successful LAFW for Ally Maize and the Green Youth Movement. They held their regular “Green Humanitarian Fashion Show” at the Sunset-Gower Studios during LA Fashion Weekend and featured: Kristinit, Jonano, KeoK jay, and Emily Factor.Before the show, guests were able to take a test-drive in the new Chevy Volt and feasted on delectable (my mouth is watering at even mentioning them) “AN’s Famous Garlic Noodles” by the renowned Beverly Hills restaurant- Crustacean.

I’ve known Kristinit’s designer Kristina Lenss for awhile. You can read about my first event with Kristina here. Her Spring 2011 collection was inspired by nature and women. She used only the best vintage silks, organic linens and African Wax Prints in the various dresses, skirts, tops and pants. My favorite piece was the “Goddess Dress”, made out of Matelasse Silk that has been hand dyed using low impact methods. I loved its simplicity and that it could be worn at work and then dressed up for a night on the town. The dress retails for about $365. For more information, check out the website. The next collection to grace the runway was the Cambodian brand, KeoK’jay. ‘KeoK’jay means ‘bright green’ or ‘fresh’ in Khmer-the Cambodian language. Their mission- ‘to provide jobs for and empower women with HIV in Phnom Penh, Cambodia through the production of uniquely designed, environmentally friendly clothing, thereby measurably advancing the emotional and physical health of our constituents, and the quality of life for themselves, their families and their extended communities.‘ Designer Rachel Faller was inspired by traffic. According to Faller, “[Traffic] is a central aspect of life that would stick out to anyone traveling to Cambodia…I wanted to represent the chaos and color of the scene that you are greeted by every day when you walk out of your house. At the same time, there’s still bits of country that clash and meld with the city life here.” For each season, they try to find an aspect of Cambodian life for inspiration. Their clothing retails for $12-28 for accessories, $32 for tees, $62-86 for pants/jackets and $64-130 for dresses. This show was their first launch in the U.S. market. They currently sell at six international boutiques and have two shops in Cambodia. The third designer was the Pittsburgh brand- Jonano. Always inspired by nature, designer-Bonnie Siefers uses Peace Silk, hemp, bamboo for her collections. Check out their site for more information. The last design to show was Emily Factor. Her collection was themed, “Sacred Spring” and was inspired by the coastal mountains in the Spring. According to Factor, “The abundance of wildflowers and native plants emits an offering of color and texture, which I translated into pattern. The rolling lines of the hillsides inspired silhouettes, lines and layers.” All the prints are her original artwork and produced digitally by inkjet or airdyed. The solid colors are either hand-dyed or natural shades of peace silk. The jewelry that accompanied the clothing were designed by Alex and Lee. They are all one-of-a-kind hand knotted necklaces, bracelets and belts with crystals and stones embedded in them. I loved her flowy dresses and the high-waisted pants with pleated detail. Check out Emily Factor’s website here.

Special Thanks: J, Mikey Koffman and Gallery LA, the designers, models, Chevy, Crustacean, the staff and volunteers, Andrea Hanks and the red carpet photographers, fellow TwoPointOhLA bloggers: Nikki Brucato and Joan Russell and many thanks to Laura Medina for helping me get a spot on the media riser.

The Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show

May 02 2010

“Going Green” has created quite a stir here in the Golden State. From cleaning products to recycling to fashion, sustainable living is becoming a way of life. Seventeen-year-old Ally Maize is a firm believer of that concept. She is the founder of GYM (Green Youth Movement), a non-profit organization comprised of a group of students who are concerned about our planet and educate youth all over the world the importance of living green.

The fashion show, which took place at the Sunset Gower Studios was produced by The Gallery LA and featured three eco-friendly designers showcasing their Fall 2010 collections: Emily Factor, Lizzie Parker and Puridee by Lindee Daniel. Before the show started, Ally presented LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the ‘2010 Green Youth Movement Humanitarian Award.’ He then spoke about the ‘Million Trees LA’ project (www.milliontrees.org).

The first designer featured on the runway was Emily Factor. Her collection, ‘Eco-Ornamental’ is her second collection since she graduated from Central St. Martins in 2008. She used vintage lace and kimonos, which inspired her to “envision the Parisian Oriental movement, where there’s a powerful fusion between very ornamental cultures.” She works solely with eco-friendly materials and techniques. Her materials include antique black lace and vintage lace table or bed linens that she hand paints with non-toxic fabric paint. Her short tailored jackets are made from either vintage kimonos, raw silk or lace. She also uses embroidered Indian textiles, a disassembled knit sweater and a lot of hand embellishments. Her own prints are done digitally on silk, using low-impact inks, thus avoiding harsh chemicals and water waste from screen printing. For more information, go to www.emilyfactor.com or info@emilyfactor.com.

Issaquah, Washington-based designer Lizzie Parker’s collection followed after Emily Factor. She featured fun, comfy-yet super fashionable pieces made from bamboo jersey. Check out www.lizzieparker.com for further information.

The last line to flow down the runway were amazingly gorgeous bridal gowns by Puridee, designed by Lindee Daniel. Lindee presented her first small collection in the Spring of 2009 via fashion sites such as: Eco-Fabulous and Eco-Stiletto. For the LAFW 2010 show, she presented two small collections. The first was inspired by fabric manipulation as she draped and the women of the Old Testament, while the second collection was inspired specially by four sisters who have distinct personalities. She only uses non-synthetic and peace silks, organic and recycled cottons for her designs. She sells directly to her clients and hopes to be in stores by 2011. To own a piece of “natural” beauty for a wedding or party, contact Lindee at enquire@puridee.com or (310)613-5747 or visit www.puridee.com.

Special Thanks: J, Sunset Gower Studios, Mikey Koffman of The Gallery LA, Jessica Lieu of Tyler Barnett PR, the crew of the The Green Youth Movement (www.greenyouthmovement.org), Ally Maize, Mayor Villaraigosa, the designers, models, Smashbox Cosmetics, Planet Salon, Coca Cola, Art Institute of California – Los Angeles, Apparel News, Frontiers Magazine, The Collective Magazine, Agave de Cortes and Fortune Vodka.

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