If you are press, please RSVP at press@harlemsfashionrow.com with your name press affiliation.

]]> http://harlemsfashionrow.com/hfr-conversations-with-steven-kolb-ceo-of-the-cfda/feed/ 0 http://harlemsfashionrow.com/loissamuels/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=loissamuels http://harlemsfashionrow.com/loissamuels/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:31:26 +0000 Brandice http://harlemsfashionrow.com/?p=6254 [...]]]> I first met Lois Samuels at Carribean Fashion Week and fell in love with her collection, The Vessel by Lois, because she lives it. There is no better brand ambassador for The Vessel than Lois. With fashion week coming in a week Lois took to time for a Q&A session with us.

Lois, where are you from? Where did you grow up? 

I am from St. Elizabeth Jamaica and grew up in the town of Santa Cruz.

When did you know you wanted to be a fashion designer? 

Since I was about 14. I used to do a lot of sketching and wanted to be involved in some area of fashion.

We know that you are a gorgeous model as well. How did your modeling career come about? 

Thank you.  I was discovered by a scout at 14 in Jamaica and a few years later was introduced to agencies in Europe and the United States. I was first represented by Bethann Management in NYC.

Who is your customer? 

The woman who wears the Vessel. by lois loves comfort, simplicity and classic timeless pieces. She could be 27 or 67 and knows she’s investing in something worthwhile.

How did you get your training in fashion design?

I experienced fashion design. Having the wonderful opportunity to work with so many talented designers helped…  I always observed. Also did a bit of studying in London with patternmaking and learned much with an Italian menswear tailor in NYC.

What do you think aspiring designers should know about this business? 

First they must believe in their product and their dreams. It is not an easy business, there are so many designers out there and they  will have to face huge competition. It is also a costly endeavour, from production to marketing and presenting the work. Having an investor would be good.

It is important to have great PR but most importantly an incredible product.

Best to start small. A Collection doesn’t have to have 60 pieces.

I feel each day I learn something more. The business has changed drastically over the last few years, especially with all the economy has experienced, so one has to be open to hatching up new ways to approach the business.

 You’ve been covered in Women’s Wear Daily twice, what do you think has attributed to this success?

Yes, so happy for this.  I feel it is a combination of things, firstly from having been in the industry for many years as a model to always envisioning being in this publication … plus the industry is always looking for something new … the time was just right .

I hope to see my Collection on those pages again and again.

Finish this sentence, If I was not working in fashion I would be….

an artist.

1 word to live by. 

LOVE

For more information on Ana Kata email Uchea at info@anakatany.com.

I first met Beagy Zielinski at Trump Soho attending the wedding of a mutual friend and noticed her impeccable sense of style.  We scheduled a coffee meeting that transitioned into a day of hanging out, shopping, talking, and visiting the fashion playhouse better known as her  showroom L’Armoire Du Styliste . After months of traveling, I finally nailed this native German down for a Q&A session with HFR.

What do you think the difference in style is in the United States vs. Europe?

There are so many I wouldn’t know where to start. It is a different way of life, a different way of thinking.

How did you get your big break styling?

I don’t know what the exact job was that I would say was my big break, it seemed to all happen at once. I think the first time I worked with photographer Sandra Weimar on German Vogue.com was my first major shoot.

Can you give us some suggestions for someone who is trying to get into the fashion industry?

For someone who is trying to get into the industry I would suggest testing and interning as much as you can while you can. The truth is that that is the best way into most major companies and publications, for free…from there work your way up.

How did you meet Tyra Banks?

Her assistant booked me to work with her and Andre Leon Talley on a shoot. She selected me out of several stylists that were presented to her for the shoot.

You recently used LaQuan Smith’s line “LQS” in a shoot with Tyra Banks, how did you come about making the choice to use his pieces?

I actually had used LaQuan’s pieces loooong before that shoot, while he was still in school. When I worked with Tyra on that particular shoot she brought up his name because she liked his work and I said, great I know him. And the rest is history.

What other celebrities have you styled?

Alan Cumming, Stockard Channing, Kelly Rowland, Carson Kressley, Andrew Keegan, Jason O’Mara, Niel Gaiman, Eve Salvail…

What magazines have rented from your showroom L’Armoire Du Styliste?

Just off the top of my head we have been contacted by celeb stylists of Rhianna, Fergie, Lady Gaga to editorial stylists working for Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, Elle…ect the list goes on and on. I get tons of requests from stylist around the world from Paris to Japan regularly which is why I have my inventory available online.

Okay this is a total shameless plug but what do you think about the work of  HFR?

I think the work that HFR does is priceless and much needed in the industry. I think it is important work and I  can’t wait to see what you do this fashion week.

One of my highlights from the HFR Memphis event on Saturday was seeing London-based illustrator Kristen Keys stalking the crowd for interesting looks to sketch.  All of them were done in 2 minutes. Check out the results!

To see more of her work visit www.bykriskeys.com.

On Saturday January 7, 2012 Harlem’s Fashion Row presented a fashion art exhibition in Memphis, TN. The event was at capacity attracting over 200 guests and was covered by Fox news, the Commercial Appeal, RSVP Magazine, and 1340 AM. Designers Sammy B., Bethune Bros, Imani Lia, and LaQuan Smith were featured. I’m so thankful to each of them for sending down a few pieces of their collections.  Each room in the venue represented a different year for Harlem’s Fashion Row.  The 2007 room represented what happens when an idea comes to life.  The 2009 room was inspired by the piano player that opened the show at Harlem Stage. The 2010 room was inspired by the main room at the Studio Museum and the 2011 room was a runway show inspired by the show at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

I never intended on doing this type of event in Memphis, but after a brief meeting with a few fashion heads in Memphis they convinced me that I must go all the way with this event.  So, we spent 10 sleepless nights planning and was able to produce an event that Memphis has never seen. We had 2 goals: 1) for people to leave inspired 2) for people to understand the story of HFR. The goals were accomplished and I can only say that this is just the beginning. I’m already starting to think about the next city HFR will hit!

Brandice

Photos by Darius B. Williams

I must have been hiding under a rock, because I recently found out that the dress Michelle Obama wore in the first family photo is from Byron Lars.

His collection is absolutely stunning. This is an African American designer that many do not recognize, but he has been in this business for years. Lars greatest accomplishment is not giving up. In 1991, Lars introduced his first collection it was wildly successful being sold in stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Henri Bendel. In fact, Saks Fifth Avenue threw a huge party for the designer with expectations that sales would hit 1 million dollars. Lars, was well on his way to becoming a huge success.

What went wrong? Lars signed a licesing deal with a company that made the unauthorized decision to sell his high end collection to discounters. This killed it for him. Sales begin to sink and he left the business for a while to work for Mattel. What I love is that Lars did not stay away from the business. He came back with the Beauty Mark line and I had a chance to see his Fall ’11 presentation which was beyond amazing. The decision not to give up, has landed one of his pieces on Mrs. Obama. The sky is the limit for Mr. Lars and HFR wishes him the very best!

See his Spring ’12 collection video and photos below. To shop Byron Lars, click here.

June Ambrose’s new VH1 reality show, Styled by June, is coming soon (Feb 27) and we can not wait! In the meantime, you can hear her words of encouragement while accepting the HFR visionary award. Her authenticity and love for the next generation comes through so clearly in this clip.

Enjoy!

Brandice