Emerging Designer Competition: Southeast
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Finalist: Lindsey Carter, Charleston, SC
Fashion Institute of Technology graduate Lindsey Carter began by designing her own prom dresses in high school. The Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, native interned with several distinguished lines, including White + Warren, L.A.M.B by Gwen Stefani, and T21 by Elie Tahari, before going to work for J. Crew and cofounding Carter Humphrey. Carter’s line, Troubadour, which debuts this spring, is “about dichotomous pairings and the juxtaposition of hard and soft; always having attitude yet never compromising wearability,” she says. The collection features unexpected details and hidden secrets and is inspired by a fusion of New York City downtown punk and uptown elegance.
Finalist: Alena Fede , Charleston, SC
Alena Fede, a graduate of the Voronezh University of Art and Design, is the designer and founder of Fede Grada. Her clothing line, established in 2007, is named for the Russian words for “sincerity” and “faith” and exudes femininity, tenderness, and romanticism while still asserting a modern sexuality and strength. Intricate, feminine details and lush fabrics are paired with contemporary, structured designs to highlight a woman’s sensuality. Fede describes her distinctive style as an, “organic, natural look designed for the big city.” Fede, the winner of multiple fashion competitions in her native Russia, moved to the United States from Moscow in June 2008 in hopes of expanding her horizons as a fashion designer and currently lives in Charleston.
Finalist: Maria Dobrzanska Reeves, Charleston, SC
Maria Dobrzanska Reeves, Marysia to her family and friends, credits her love of fashion to her impeccably dressed mother and her own innate flair for the dramatic. The Warsaw-born designer attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and debuted her luxury, retro-influenced swimwear collection in 2008. Marysia Charleston is a sophisticated line that encourages mixing and matching, melding modern color palettes and striking silhouettes with echoes of the classic swimwear design of the ’50s and ’60s. The line is crafted from an Italian jersey fabric that is chlorine-resistant with UV protection. “I design for a sophisticated yet fun, stylish woman,” Marysia says. “My swimwear is like a second skin, and you will feel very confident wearing it—no matter your body type.”
 Semifinalist: Swapnali Ahire, Blythewood, SC
Swapnali Ahire currently attends Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, where she focuses on creating fashion-forward, marketable garments. She describes her aesthetic as an experimental street style, and her spring 2009 collection, Death Disco Denim Daze, claims electro music as an inspiration for her unconventional pieces. The Columbia, South Carolina, native cites her Indian heritage and her parents’ optimistic outlooks as having a large influence on her work. “Innovation, to me, is not about creating something simply for of the purpose of making art, nor is it about knocking off someone else. It is about creating something that doesn’t yet exist but can and—most importantly—should exist.”
 Semifinalist: Caroline Baker, Lady's Island, SC
A native of Lady’s Island, South Carolina, Caroline Baker discovered her love of fashion as a child. “Right away, I was a killer of curtains, slips, tablecloths, and anything else I could fashion into dresses for myself and my dolls,” she says. “I even made hats out of magnolia leaves.” Baker attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and has since returned to the South and worked for Charleston’s LulaKate and LulaKate Bridal for the past three years. Her line, Maude Couture, presents the Plumage Collection, emphasizing local, sustainable, couture glamour. Dramatic silhouettes are paired with earth-friendly elements such as fair-trade recycled glass beads, organic fabrics, and feather trims, creating unique, natural luxury.
Semifinalist: Emily Bargeron, Statesboro, GA
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Mamie Ruth Designs
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A graduate of Georgia Southern University, Emily Bargeron named her line Mamie Ruth for the grandmother she refers to as the “root of all my creative goodness.” Bargeron’s spring 2009 collection is inspired by her love of vintage fabrics, nostalgia, and her desire to increase environmental awareness. Bargeron’s design philosophy is “recycle, reduce, reuse,” highlighting design choices that do not contribute to mass production or global warming. Her collection, Patchwork and Posies, incorporates vibrant vintage fabric and bedding with modern design trends, merging Southern charm and natural elements with a “psychedelic twist.” The result is fun, fashionable clothing with distinctive personality.
Semifinalist: Amanda deLeon, Wilmington, NC
Designer Amanda deLeon found her calling at the age of 10, when she began making outfits for her dolls. The Wilmington, North Carolina, resident laughs, “Once I figured out how to stitch, staple, and tape, my Barbies marched to the beat of a different drum.” She went on to major in interior design and minor in architecture at Louisiana Tech University, which has been a major influence on her self-titled line. DeLeon’s pieces reflect her architectural background through their avante-garde design, structured lines, and construction, creating experimental garments for the woman who dares to be an individual. DeLeon describes her unique, sophisticated edge: “Art is all around us. I believe we should be able to wear it, not just look at it.”
Semifinalist: Shan Keith, AtlantA, GA
Shan Keith is a self-taught designer who splits his time between Atlanta and St. Louis. Drawing inspiration from designers such as Sean John, Zac Posen, and Roberto Cavalli, Keith’s style is chic, urban, and flirty, focusing on unique, distinctive style that will pass the test of time. He admires lines that inspire individuality and that stay true to themselves in an industry dominated by trends. Keith’s love of fashion and design savvy seem to be family traits: both his mother and grandmother also designed and produced garments.
Semifinalist: Jonathan Nigel Moore, Raleigh, NC
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J.N.M. |
A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, Jonathan Nigel Moore draws inspiration from Gauguin paintings, such as Tahitian Women on the Beach and The Women with the Mango; the color palette of artist Frank Stella; and the inherent style of Tahitian women. He describes his spring 2009 collection as relaxed and nonchalant, embodying effortless beauty. The collection also emphasizes youthfulness and playfulness, incorporating intricate details and voluminous, eye-catching yet simple silhouettes. Of his line, J.N.M., he explains, “A woman knows when she has a J.N.M. piece that there isn’t anything quite like it out there.”
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