What's In The Bag: Brands Featured in Grocery

Our mission for "Grocery" is to showcase brands/ designers/collections that are currently not sold or in stock in the greater Seattle area. It's a live tradeshow and fashion show all in one bag. Anyway...read a little bit about the designers for our first installment of Grocery!


Sofie Olgaard
"Designer Sofie Ølgaard grew up in Denmark. She draws inspiration from her Scandinavian roots where she creates a look based on the melancholic side of Scandinavian culture combined with playful esthetics. Her style is founded in simplicity and understated detail. Sofie Ølgaard earned her Bachelor of Arts in Womens Wear at the London College of Fashion in the UK. She received acclaim for her ability to turn the utilitarian style of men’s clothing into beautifully crafted clothing for women." (Read more here)

Jazmin Whitley
"Attracting clients like Christina Ricci, Aimee Teegarden, Blu Cantrell, Michelle Stafford, Victoria Justice, Mandy Jiroux, Chudney Ross to name a few. She has dressed countless others for red carpet events. Jazmin Whitley as been featured in: American Superstar Magazine, Portrait Magazine, San Diego Life & Fashion Magazine, Global Women Magazine" (read more here)


Abi Ferrin
"Over the last year, Abi has taken the fashion world by storm. Her collection features form flattering dresses, tops, skirts, pants, and jackets all made using the finest fabrications. It doesn’t stop there. Abi’s motto, Fashion with Freedom and Purpose,is the driving force behind her brand. Abi Ferrin empowers and employs women rescued from the sex trade in Nepal by incorporating their hand-made buttons into her designs. Abi Ferrin purchases the buttons at fair market value; thendonates an additional 600% of the asking price back to the organization." (Read more here)


Osborn Shoes
"Co-founder Aaron Osborn, whose family runs one of the largest orphanages in Guatemala, stumbled upon the idea for Osborn in 2007 when he met an out-of-work cobbler while doing charitable work in the country. He and co-founder, Carla Venticinque, were searching for a way to combine their artistic backgrounds with their desire to uplift their adopted homeland. This search led to Osborn Shoes. That first cobbler still works with them full time, as do a small driven team of 20 other gifted artisans. Nestled in the volcanic mountains outside Guatemala City, these artisans craft shoes in a time honored old-world manufacturing environment dedicated to integrity and quality." (Read more here)

Before Rachel Zoe: There Was Arianne Phillips

These days wardrobe stylists are just as famous, just as skinny, just as vain as their clients. In an industry where image is everything I guess there's a lot of pressure to be all of the above. However it wasn't always like this. Before celebrity stylists like Rachel Zoe, Mariel Haenn, Formichetti, Monica Rose graced the pages of US Weekly and sat front row at Fashion Week there was a woman by the name of Arianne Phillips- a true fashion historian, behind the seams/ scenes costume designer, and wardrobe era expert. I remember reading an article about her a few years back and was so taken by her approach to wardrobe styling and the industry in general. She's a woman who definitely does her homework. She takes it to the books, goes to the library, and digs through the archives! Below is some of her work that I'm sure you're familiar with. She also started her career as a wardrobe stylist because she had an affinity for treasure hunting/ thrift shopping.


Tank Girl

Walk The Line

People vs. Larry Flynt

Chanel Iman as Minnie Mouse

Hedwig and The Angry Inch

Gold Coast Trading Company S/S 2010: Ad Campaign Sneak Peek

Last week I got to help style/ assist my friend Emeka with his ad campaign for Gold Goast Trading Company. Bo Streeter flew down to shoot the campaign and Christine Hahn got to shoot some product for the line as well. The line has been receiving a lot of buzz and press, and who would have thought Emeka Alams would make it all happen in his 2 bedroom house in Shoreline, WA. If you get a chance pick up last month's issue of "Arise" magazine to see the write up.

The line has made a presence in New York, Chicago, London and is getting support from talent such as Afrikan Boy, M.I.A., and many more. Definitely a street brand to keep an eye out for. Many of the photos are still unreleased, but below is a sneak peek...


Cassi Go Home Duffel Bag- photo credit Christine Hahn


Sneak Peek 01- photo credit Bo Streeter


Sneak Peek 02- photo credit Bo Streeter

Fearless Femmes: Syreeta and Christine Collaboration

Sigh...I have such talented friends. Thanks to them I am always full of inspiration and ambition. I think it's important as an artist to surround yourself with people who share the same passion as you and are willing and open to share insight, collaborate, and help one another out.

Above is the dashing Syreeta in all her glory wearing a one of a kind design she created. These glasses are so wild and so absurd...so awesome! I might sound a little bias since Syreeta is one of my best friends, but her talent is inevitable.The photo was taken by one of my favorite photographers Christine Hahn. We met back in April and we hit it off! When it comes to classic fashion editorial...I vouch for Christine Hahn before anyone else.

To see more of Syreeta's creations through the eyes of Christine Hahn click here.

Stone Age Style By Jeremy Scott

Would you expect anything less from designer Jeremy Scott? Personally, I think fashion should be borderline crazy. It does not have to be this serious haute couture, all black, death personified, sullen thing. I guess every designer and every fashionista has their own opinion and style, but for me I like things with a dash of humor, a dollop of zaniness, and of course an array of delicious colors. Not that I would necessarily wear anything from Scott's Spring/ Summer 2010 line, but I thought it was fun and worth posting about.

Freetime Industries: Lazer Nature

Check out my friend Katie Bailey's work...Lazer Nature by Freetime Industries. Soooo cool. I was fortunate enough to style and help with the art direction for her look book. Photos by her boo, Kyle Johnson. =) The sunshine was perfect that day! To download the line sheet/ look book click the link. Lazer Nature Line Sheet.

Logan Neitzel on Project Runway Season 6

This season another Seattle native will take "Project Runway" by storm...the very talented Logan Neitzel; bartender by night and designer by day. Neitzel recently debuted his line at Seattle Fashion Week and wowed the crowd with his intricate cuts, and color schemes of black, gray, and subtle splashes of hot pink and teal, and his take on texture. I had the pleasure of working with this designer and must say he is anything but flamboyant and driven by attention, rather he is very serious about his work, shies away from the spotlight, and the kind of guy that wants his work to speak for itself. Watch him this season on Project Runway on Lifetime! To learn more about the designer visit www.loganneitzel.com.


Photo by Angela Dawn- SFW '09

Photo by Angela Dawn- SFW '09

Photo by Angela Dawn - SFW '09

Brian Lichtenberg vs. Christian Joy

I think a resourceful and tactful way to launch your career as a debut designer is by creating custom design pieces for musicians, artists, and notable celebrities. I am loving both Christian Joy and Brian Lichtenberg pieces. They are probably my two favorite designers right now as far as costume design goes. It's sparkly, colorful, and stretchy. Karen O. for Christian Joy! M.I.A. for Brian L. Pick your poison, but I love them both.


Brian Lichtenberg


Christian Joy

Thank You Thakoon

In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month I wanted to focus on Asian designers for the rest of May. Another favorite of mine (and Michelle Obama agrees) is Thakoon Panichguil. The Parsons graduate Spring/ Summer 2009 ready to wear line is a lovely juxtaposition of dainty florals, tough chic, and slouchy boyfriend fits.

Pink Panther

Can a sista please get this Alexander Wang blazer like now? Thanks!

The New Asian Persuasian

Do the names Derek Lam, Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim, and Jason Wu ring a bell? The 4 mentioned names are some of the most raved about fashion designers right now! What do they all have in common...they are all asian! Pardon the pride, but it's refreshing to see young ambitious asians follow their dreams. Especially since "fashion" in many asian households isn't considered the most stable or respectable career path. Below are some of my favorite looks from the designers' Fall RTW 2009 lines.


Jason Wu- Fall RTW 2009


Alexander Wang- Fall RTW 2009


Derek Lam- Fall RTW 2009



Phillip Lim- Fall RTW 2009

Naomi B.

My ultimate career goal is to run a boutique fashion PR/ image consultation agency. I want to help brands and designers with their brand identity, help them with press releases, coordinate events, etc...pretty much help them get famous. So for starters I have been helping out my good friend Naomi with her budding career as a designer. Visit her site... www.naomibonline.com

Paris Art Collective: Andrea Crews

The name "Andrea Crews" is a tricky one. It is not the name of a designer, rather an art collective based in Paris France. The art collective is known for their involvement in music, performance arts, activism, and most recently fashion. A few of their pieces have even made it on one of the top luxury shopping sites, www.yoox.com. The cutting edge reconstructed pieces should be taken less than seriously. While some things aren't quite "ready to wear", select pieces from Andrea Crews is definitive proof of the fine craftsmanship and creativity founder/designer Maroussia Rebecq possesses.



Miss Crew featured an exclusive story on Andrea Crew's Spring/Summer '09 Collection titled; Sunset Empire. To see more from the line and look book visit Miss Crew Online.

Nancy Wu-Dang! Clan

Google "Nancy Wu designer" and results will show her name and work featured and published in over a hundred blogs, just in the last couple of months. Wu is a product design student at Art Center (Pasadena, CA) and her career has already taken flight! Learn more about this rising designer at www.nwudesign.com

Nike Remix project! I have a feeling Ms. Wu is signing contracts with Nike right now to design a whole new womens sneaker line for them.

Beef jerky meets Chanel. How clever?!

Android Homme

I'm excited to see the completed line sheet of Android Homme. High end street wear just got a little higher, and a little closer to the future. Android Homme is a line that is founded on quality design, a classic and rich color scheme of silver, black, gold, and white, and functional simplicity. Based off their sneak peeks on their blog, it looks like a lot of leather will be involved in the line. What better material exemplifies a luxurious lifestyle than leather? December 25th Android Homme will take flight. Stay tuned. But for now, visit their blog for some delicious appetizers.

Gold Coast Trading Company

I was fortunate enough to take a sneak peak at the Spring Summer 2009 line and I must say it's going to be a hit! For retailers like American Apparel the African print is a trendy means and bastardization of a culture. For Gold Coast Trading Co. these prints have an attached meaning. Founder and creator Emeka Alams fails to have a middle man in his line. He does not Google image search textiles, nor does he go to LA to purchase fabrics. Rather his design process is an organic one and consists of travel stories of his motherland. Stay tuned for launch parties, fun blogs, and great threads brought to you by G.C.T.C.


Bookmark it.

Shameless plug of my boyfriend reppin G.C.T.C. at New Jack City Fashion Show.