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LASplash.com: New York Events BK Fashion Weekend By Lisa Martinez As a recently transplanted Brooklynite and resident Fashionista, I was thrilled to learn about BK Fashion Weekend. The inaugural three-day extravaganza showcased local design and musical talents with runway presentations and live performances from May 5th through May 7th. With the Tobacco Warehouse at Empire Fulton Street Ferry Park serving as the venue, there was no backdrop more picturesque than the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground. BK Fashion Weekend featured a diversified lineup of women's and men's ready-to-wear collections, as well as accessories, and a line of reworked vintage.
Project Runway Finalist Zulema Griffin headlined the premiere night with strong showings from menswear designer Nana Boateng, and veteran Simon Duncan. The second night showcased Roger Gary, Sixxfoota, Nativo, MyrJan, Cotrice Couture, Rock Smith, Duroseau Couture, and Habana Outpost Recycled Reject Shop (H.O.R.R.S.) The grand finale featured Nature vs. Future, Jewel Shannon, Tyeknow, Harriet Alter Ego, Get Money Girls, Khalil, Vaine, and Vaella. Participants were selected by a jury of top stylists and fashion executives. During intermission, local musicians performed and held the crowd's attention while assistants prepped the main stage for each new presentation.
Billed as a groundbreaking lifestyle event for both up-and-coming and veteran designers, the 1st Annual BK Fashion Weekend officially kicked off its opening with a May 4th gala on the eve of Friday's runway presentations. Supported by the DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) Business Improvement District, local businesses rallied around the event with neighborhood restaurants, bars, and lounges hosting after-parties and special events in conjunction with the inaugural fe'te.
Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President who was on hand for the opening night festivities said, 'I cant wait for Fashion Weekend to hit the runway, because the fashion world will discover that the next generation of top designers is living and working in Brooklyn, solidifying our status as the creative capital of New York City' Our designers' styles are as diverse as Brooklynites themselves and their commitment to our borough adds so much color, flair, and character to our unique fabric of life. Whatever your size or style, when you wear Brooklyn, you look Fabulous!'
Stand-out pieces for me were veteran designer Simon Duncan Couture's champagne strapless gown with feather detail at hem with satin collar, a black dress and waistcoat with leather paneling, and a stunning ruffle lace blouse paired with a high-waisted skirt. His influences ranged from Victorian, theatrical, with the occasional hint of dominatrix. Menswear designer Nana Boateng, who is costumer for the upcoming Spiderman sequel, blended Spring/Summer with Autumn/Winter looks for his presentation. Not one to shy away from unconventional colors, patterns, or embellishments, he featured vivid hues such as mauve, kelly green, aqua, and salmon. Textures and prints included velvet, fur accents, a tropical Hawaiian print, glen plaid, and hounds tooth. The muse of a flamenco dancer for Zulema Griffin's abbreviated collection was beautifully illustrated from the matador style pants, cropped jackets, and romantic design elements such as ruffles, rosettes, and paillettes.
Roger Gary found inspiration in the beauty of Guyana's rainforests and Anguilla's sandy beaches for his sexy resort collection. The tropical palette was punctuated with pink, orange, emerald green, and lavender. Sixxfoota was a highlight for me with a very wearable presentation which included an ostrich stamped jacket, a metallic kidskin hand painted blazer, a leather beaded bustier, a leopard Italian rabbit reversible cropped coat, and a maxi-length fur coat. The Nativo menswear collection featured herringbone tweeds, pinstripes, and patchwork denim. The MyrJan presentation was a lovely 'after five' assortment of cocktail addresses and eveningwear. Employing sumptuous fabrics like silk, chiffon, and lace, the presentation was a spectrum of color, from the softest white and daffodil to vivid marigold and red, and the classically sophisticated espresso and black. Duroseau Couture was playful and feminine with polka dots and (one of my favorites) an exquisite pink basket-weave silk taffeta cocktail dress. The H.O.R.R.S. recycled vintage line provided the piece de resistance, a quilted blanket fashioned into an 18th century-style strapless gown.
Models strutted out on the catwalk to a soundtrack as diverse and eclectic as the fashions presented. With everything from LL Cool J and Missy Elliot to Echo & The Bunnymen and Depeche Mode. In some cases, designers showed amalgamated collections, bridging seasons, with an overlapping of winter and summer wares, while others were more abbreviated; a precursor if you will to whet our appetites for what is to come in the months ahead. Hair and makeup looks varied in kind with everything from the theatrical (with Victorian pieces), to vampy (with sex-kitten ensembles), and a sun-kissed glow (for swimwear).
The BK Style Foundation is a non-profit organization created to nurture the talent of Brooklyn youth who desire a career in the fashion industry. The show's producers hope to present additional seasonal events to coincide with Olympus Fashion Week. BK Fashion Weekend is meant to be a vehicle to create revenue, building an industry that will have serious impact on Brooklyn's cultural and economic future. The Foundation hopes to nurture a successful, indigenous fashion industry in Brooklyn, one that gives rise to a new group of entrepreneurs, and most importantly, generates job opportunities.
For more information, please visit www.bkfashionwkend.com Published May 23, 2006 © Copyright 2003-2004 by LA Splash.com |
