CFW 2013 Emerging Designers Party

This past Saturday night I was invited to celebrate a new class of emerging designers in the Southeast. This event was designed to give a sneak peak at their collections as there was a slideshow of some of their sketches on a projection screen. It was an awesome night to give us a taste of the designers who will be competing at Charleston Fashion Week in March.

Needless to say, if it's a fashion event then there are bound to be a plethora of stylish guys and gals. Scroll down to see who I thought were the standouts of the night. 

Awesom spread of treats catered by Jim n Nick's BBQ

A group shot of the 20 semi-finalists

The one and only Ayoka Lucas

Chelsie Ravenell, founder and designer for Kenneth Beatrice

KJ, writer of H1gher Learning with one of 2011 Charleston's Most Stylish Jasper Brown

KJ with Emerging Designer Semi-Finalist Afriyie Poku

1. What are you most excited about getting to present at Charleston Fashion Week?

The opportunity to share my vision of a menswear  with the world.

2. What was the inspiration for your collection?

The past fall I found my self foliage in my neighborhood. The leaves and flowers color changes I witness can be seen in the collection I plan to present in Charleston. The rest is my aesthetic to the cut and details of each garment  

3. Why do you want to be a designer?

STYLE IS HELLO; nonverbal introduction of ones self. I have a vision of a Gentlemen  brand that I want to shear with the world.

Emerging Designer Semi-Finalists Clarissa Arocena and Bryan Datinguinoo

1. What are you most excited about getting to present at Charleston Fashion Week?

We are excited to present our first collection as a duo at Charleston Fashion Week!

2. What was the inspiration for your collection? 

The industrial revolution and the clothes that men and boys would wear working in factories. Craftsmen such as blacksmiths , tailors, shoe cobblers , and weavers also inspired us.

3. Why do you want to be a designer?

We love being designers because it is our platform for us to present our creative vision

Emerging Designer Semi-Finalist Jazsalyn McNeil

1. What are you most excited about getting to present at Charleston Fashion Week? 

Sharing my creative vision with the city that introduced me to the fashion world as a model 2 years ago. 

2. What was the inspiration for your collection? 
My inspiration is to inspire. I want to create an ethereal land, a haven for the audience to escape to. 

3. Why do you want to be a designer?

As humans we tend to take the world around us for granted, we make our lives larger than the universe. I aspire to reverse that.

For a preview of more of her work check out her fundraiser campaign for Charleston Fashion Week at http://www.indiegogo.com/jazsalyn-cfw13 

Charleston Fashion Week and the Emerging Designer Competition will be held March 19-23. Tickets are available.