[Photos Via LAFashionWeek.com]
October 6, 2009
On this crisp morning, the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio R. Villaraigosa, announced the winners of the Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Emerging Designer Showcase, in a live press conference at the California Market Center. Cynthia Ruiz, Fashion Ambassador for the Mayor’s office, did a fine job organizing the press conference.
Looking dashing in a gray suit with pink tie, Hizzoner was flanked by design legend (and friend) Max Azria of BCBG, designer Randolf Duke, and Isle Metchek, Executive Director of the California Fashion Association.
The Mayor was excited that the City (Dept. of Cultural Affairs) was co-sponsoring the first Emerging Designer Fashion Show- in partnership with Downtown LA Fashion Week.
“Regionally, fashion is a $28 Billion dollar industry. Fashion is the 4th largest basic industry in the region. More than 200,000 people are employed in work which involved designing, producing and selling. This includes our creative talent, designers, fashion stylists and retail sales persons.”
L.A. FASHION WEEKS BRING IN $50 MILLION TO THE CITY OF ANGELS
“53,000 Buyers and Exhibitors come to the LA Fashion District annually during Market Weeks and spend approximately $50 million every year at LA area hotels, restaurants and transportation. They come here because the talent and hard work of local designers has put the 90 blocks that comprise the LA Fashion District on the international fashion map.”
In later conversations with reporters, the Mayor noted that L.A. Fashion Week ranks #6 worldwide, right behind Milan, Paris and New York. He expressed enthusiasm to leverage Hollywood and the local music industry to elevate the position of L.A. Fashion Week on the global Fashion Week destination schedule.
Lastly, the Mayor seemed real excited to welcome Rock Fashion Week to Los Angeles.
Next, designer Randolf Duke (and a judge of the DLAFW Emerging Designer program, along with Jeffrey Sebelia, Nony Tochterman, Louis Verdad and Vanessa Gonzalez) took the podium to announce the winners:
Phong Hong, Fernanda Carneiro, and the design team of Jaquetta O’Dell and Leslie Henry
L-R Designer Jaquetta O’Dell, Model, Designer Leslie Henry, Designer Fernanda Carneiro, Model, Designer Phong Hong, Model.
Each of these winners will participate in a runway show on October 13th, dubbed “The Fashion Angel Awards Emerging Designer Showcase” at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA as part of Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week. Each will also receive $1,500 in services from CPA firm Moss Adams.
Tickets to this Emerging Designer Showcase are $15, and available to the public at: Fashion Angel Awards Tickets
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