“We strive to serve as a global launching platform for local designers as our viewers are coming from all parts of the world and to be a resource for consumers to familiarize themselves with local talent in order to build a reputable and profitable industry in Seattle,” - Fashion Network-Seattle
Seattle, WA / September 23, 2010 - Fashion Network-Seattle (FNS) will host an invite-only, blue carpet event on October 7th, 6:30 - 10:00 p.m. in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. This special event will promote FNS’s improved online platform and mission, which is to expose, educate and empower the Seattle fashion industry, as well as inform the local industry on international trends and resources.
The event will feature live model fashion installations from five prominent local designers (full bios attached) including: Banchong Douangphrachanh, Olga Earle, Michelle Elalto, Jesica Milton, and Lacey Velvet, as well as fashion forms from thirty area boutiques and additional independent designers representing current fall trends; a blue carpet entry, hosted bar, passed hors d'oeuvres, and live, light music to round out the evening.
“Fashion shows definitely have their place and personally I am a big fan. However, installations are a visual representation of the concept behind each designers’ 2010 fall collection and offer a way to really interact with each piece and the designers, which is what we’re all about. No runway pedestals at this event,” shares Founder, CEO and Creative Director Shalonne Foster.
Verizon Wireless, Girly Girl Wines, Gary Manuel Salon, Panera Bread Company, Neuro Drinks, Talking Rain, Rosichelli | Mendoza Home Staging, Seattle Models Guild, and Report Shoes sponsor the event. Additional companies are providing promotional items for the gift bags, which will be provided to the first 50 guests. Susan G. Komen’s Passionately Pink for the Cure® will also be on site providing prevention and fundraising information in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; attendees are encouraged to wear pink in honor of the cause.
Fashion Network-Seattle exposes Seattle’s fashion industry by promoting and profiling local designers, photographers, models and other industry professionals, as well as local boutiques; covering local fashion events such as fashion and trunk shows and store openings; creating original editorial content around fashion and beauty; and offering an in-depth fashion calendar. This launch event brings it all together under one roof in a unique, informative and visually appealing presentation.
“At the end of the night, we want to create new customers for local designers and boutiques. We want designers, buyers and boutiques to discover each other; photographers to meet models and generally light a spark in the industry,” says Cynarah Ellawala, Co-Owner and COO.
About Fashion Network-Seattle
Fashion Network-Seattle was founded by Shalonne Foster in 2009, following her work for a local Fortune 500 company and time traveling the globe discovering the geographical oddities of fashion and function. It is led by Ms. Foster and Cynarah Ellawala, COO and VP of Marketing, who has over 12 years of experience working on brands such as Lancôme, Matrix Hair Products, Murad, PetsMart, The Clorox family of products and Microsoft.
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Media Contact:
Amalia Martino
BlueShoes Media
(425) 361-2754 office
amalia@blueshoesmedia.com
Designer Biographies
Banchong Douangphrachanh
Born in Vientaine, Laos in 1977, Banchong Douangphrachanh has lived in Seattle since 1984. As
a young child, she was a refugee from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and has made her
adoptive country her new home.
Graced with the resources in her new found country, she has gone to earn a Bachelor of
Science degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Art in Fashion Design
from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Banchong Douangphrachanh designed hundreds of pieces and has constructed over 50 outfits in both menswear and womenswear and has experience in patternmaking, fitting, construction, and tailoring. Her work has been featured in Lady Gaga’s music video Pokerface, Seattle Fashion Week 2010, the Academy of Art University Spring Runway Show, and the Vagadu Green Apparel Womenswear Chicago Fashion Show. Banchong has received coverage in Women’s Wear Daily and California Daily News, Seattle Weekly, The Seattle Times, and King 5 television, and has interned at major menswear label Nice Collective and for independent womenswears designers Verrieres & Sako, and Vagadu.
Website: http://www.banchongdesign.com
Olga Earle
Olga was born and raised in Belarus, eastern Europe and always wanted to be a designer, but
the opportunity to study and develop as a designer wasn’t a possibility in her native city. She
immigrated to the United States where she earned a bachelor's degree in fashion design from
International Academy of Design and Technology. Now she is realizing her dream of creating
original designs and working toward her goal of launching her own clothing line.
Her main source of inspiration is her personal connection with her clients, but virtually
anything can be the seed for a concept, especially nature, history, and architecture. Olga
considers herself a perfectionist, detail-oriented, and very European in her sense of style. Her
design philosophy is to incorporate new creative ideas into styles which are sophisticated,
glamorous, pleasing to the eye, and flattering to her clients.
Olga’s influences come from all places, her experience was broadened by being lucky enough to
have traveled widely and to experience the fashion cultures of Paris, Rome, New York, Moscow,
and elsewhere. She believes that fashion is also more intensely followed and valued in Europe
in general, and growing up there sparked her awareness of fashion and her focus on it at a very
early age.
Website: www.personalstylebyolga.com
Michelle Elalto
Michelle abandoned her Master of Business Adminstration-Juris Doctor program to pursue her love of fashion. What initially interested her was arranging an entire photo shoot - from concept, casting, and production - and entering into a few courses at New York Fashion Academy opened more possibilities to designing and clothing construction. A classicist by heart her designs are functional, lean, and thoughtfully simple in aesthetics. To be presently working as fashion director, her aim is to create pieces for concept shoots and editorials.
Jesica Milton
Jesica creates minimalist garments with a feminine sensibility. Each garment is thoughtfully
designed and crafted in Jesica's Seattle-based studio using ethical labor practices and recycling
of all fabric scraps. Her work has been featured in Lucky Magazine, Daily Candy, Seattle
Metropolitan, and Seattle Magazine.
Website: www.jesicamilton.com
Lacey Velvet
Lacey began sewing under her grandmother's guidance at the age of 8. She was instrumental
to her basic understanding of fabric construction. She was allowed to dress by herself starting
about age 7 and would combine unusual colors and patterns. Her mother tells stories of how
she wore two different colored/patterned socks to school and how frustrated Lacey was when
others began imitating her. Beginning in her teens, she designed, created and/or re-purposed many fashions for herself and friends. She has studied fashion/design at the Art Institute of San Francisco and Seattle as well as the New York Fashion Academy of Seattle. Designers she considers influential to her style include: Alexander McQueen, Betsy Johnson, Tarina Tarentino, Vivian Westwood, Dian VonFurstenberg, Louis Vitton, and Christian Dior. Her design-style focus is the ultra-feminine with emphasis on evening/special occasion wear. She envisions fashion that spotlights the natural curves of the female form. Her design interests extend into accessory lines for hats, shoes, bags and jewelry
as well.
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