FRESH FACES: Gen Art rising talent for ss13 at NYFW

GenArt 2012 Fresh Faces show promise with a new batch of young designers showing at New York Fashion Week during the spring 2013 shows. Propelling previous brands such as Rodarte, Phillip Lim, Zac Posen, Vena Cava to household names, this show can give some lucky designers their next big break.  A handful of the show’s past members have received the top-notch CFDA Emerging Designer Award, the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, and wins on Project Runway.  

In its 14th year, GenArt decided to pump up the volume, using media+creativity as a way to reach out to the masses, with an online designer contest. Knowing that creativity isn’t just a pretty face (or pretty dress in fashion’s case) five-year veteran Fresh Faces in Fashion curator Aurora James looked at the whole package when selecting designers: industry buzz, design caliber, experience, and several other factors. Guests will view collections from Chloe Comme Parris, Anne Sofie Madsen, COMEFORBREAKFAST, A-morir, Amanda Lew Kee, Gretchen Jones. For more fashion frenzy, the arrival of Kenyan designer Katungulu Mwendwa, a designer in the new GenArt Global program that began May 2012, will definitely rock you out of your seat. check out what we are excited about in the photo gallery below.

about the designers:

Based in Toronto, Chloe Comme Paris accessories+fashion label is made up of sibling design duo, Parris and Chloe Gordon, who have taken much-loved contrasts such as male/female and tough/sweet into decadent, yet always wearable pieces since the brand began in 2009. John Galliano-trained (at Dior), former trend forecaster Peclers employee, previous Junior Designer for Alexander McQueen, and Denmark native Annie Sofie Madsen’s designs will also show at GenArt.  While being declared new rising talent from the Vauxhall Fashion Scout, she featured a collection at 2010 London Fashion Week, taking inspiration from couture, and began her brand in August 2011 at Copenhagen Fashion Week with a SS12 capsule collection.

A-Morir’s Kerin Rose Weinberg uses her love+studies of classical music as a kid, along with a passion for rock-n-roll to create hand-made eyewear, whose free-spirited pieces have led the label to be honored in the SS2012 showcase plus being dubbed ‘New Talent’ within Vogue Italia. Their embellishments have caught the eye of Beyoncé, Will.I.Am., Debbie Harry,  Katy Perry, Rihanna, Anna Dello Russo, Nina Garcia, Lady Gaga, Grace Jones, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Estelle, Mariah Carey, Solange, Fergie, along with Karlie Kloss, Andre Pejic, Carmen Cass, and Crystal Renn, sporting their accessories in several editorials.

Italian-made COMEFORBREAKFAST has catapulted from their original printed tops, created by Polimoda grad and the label’s designer Antonio Romano along with Fransceco Alagna, to trousers, streamlined dresses, and fleece that all follow their powerful minimalist approach. Alagna’s degrees from Milan’s Marangoni in Industrial Design and a Master in Fashion Buying assisted in talking with global companies on how to reach the fashion set and beyond –ultimately helping the brand reach its current, and rising success.

Lew Kee’s futuristic ease has allowed her to transition her runway designs to entertainment, creating looks for Deadmaus, Shenae Grimes, and Miss Piggy, along with one-of-a kind pieces for HBO’s True Blood. At 19, she began her label within her 3rd year at Toronto’s Ryerson University School of Fashion, while going on to getting in 2010 her BofDesign. She also presented at the Toronto’s World Mastercard Fashion Week after receiving an invitation from the Fashion Design Council of Canada. Gretchen Jones, a western-transplant and current NYC resident, connects to her past and always keeps nature in mind. She is focused on the supportive, ethical practices within businesses, local craftspeople, all within the NYC-based Save the Garment Center organization, by creating domestically produced-collections. By working with silk, linen, wool, leather, organic cotton, and bamboo, through her themes from music, art, literature, and romanticism from the 1970’s-you’ll feel as if you took a journey out west.

The Nairobi, Kenyan designer Mwendwa combines modernity within the African land’s traditions at large, while still fearlessly taking her passions from handcrafts to writing within her testing of various materials. The luxury hair care brand Moroccanoil will also collab with the designers for runway-ready hairstyles, so you’ll be even more prepared for the much-awaited Spring/Summer 2013 beauty looks. 

The national organization of GenArt, whose CEO is Marc Lotenberg , is focused on enriching new talent within several arenas: from fashion to visual arts to music to film. Their 16+ years of presenting artists to many devoted consumers gives them an opportunity to showcase their work while the artist’s integrity is sustained. Their Summer Screening Series, Fresh Faces in Fashion, and GenArt Film Festival are a couple of the organization’s events. we’re checking out this new batch of designers! Written by Mary Anderson.