The Designers
Meet the Designers!
The West 18th Street Fashion Show features eighteen collections showcasing the best in cutting-edge fashion design. Each year, dozens of designers apply for the opportunity to show their collections on the 18th Street runway, and only eighteen are chosen.
Clothing Designers
birdies
Birdies will be showcasing a collection inspired by the artist Will Cotton. Combing a collaboration between jeweler Coki Bijou, glass artist Dierk Van Keppel with modern lingerie and swimwear and biodegradable bamboo umbrellas, expect a sweet surprise down the runway. Showcasing new designers from Rio to Oklahoma, Peregrine Honig and Danielle Meister are excited to present a feminine and tropical version of decadence. Birdies approaches its eighth birthday as an independent lingerie and swim boutique. Recently catching the attention of The New York Times and published in Elle, Bust, Nylon, and WWD- Birdies is happy to be a part of the West Eighteenth Fashion Show in its tenth year. Birdies Website
Peggy Noland Kansas City
Peggy Noland is a fashion designer and installation artist living in Kansas City. Noland entered the design scene in 2006, opening Peggy Noland Kansas City in the Crossroads. Since that time, she has been designing for musicians and performers like Fischerspooner, CSS, Tilly and the Wall, SSION, Chicks on SPeed, Peaches, and Lady Gaga's back up dancers. Noland's work has been featured on the cover of international publications like WWD, Dazed and Confused, Nylon Japan, Vogue, Elle, Spin and Rolling Stone. Noland is an instructor at KCAI and opened a boutique in Berlin in August of 2009. Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Jovana Mirabile
Jovana Mirabile is a New York City based fashion designer. Jovana was born and raised in the Kansas City area and still travels back frequently. She is currently studying fashion design at Parsons New School of Design and working as an intern for Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors. This summer, Jovana plans to study at Central Saint Martins in London, and work for renowned fashion designer Matthew Williamson while there. She describes her design style as colorful, bold, and glamourous, and hopes to convey a sense of confidence and empowerment to the women who wear her fashions. Jovana is planning a long and successful career in the fashion industry, and she is well on her way! Hair by Rachel, Makeup by Ashley Baker at Salon Spice, and Accessories by Rachael Marie Longgrear.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Designer Website
Katie Coble
Katie Coble is a Kansas City native but is currently a BFA Fibers candidate for 2010 at Maryland Institute College of Art with concentrations in experimental fashion and environmental design. Flux, instability, and the use of an object are what most interest her. She experiments mostly with material manipulation to transform garments and objects into different orientations. The wearer creates a performance using an object that does so many things that it can't to one thing specific. Infinite possibilities do not equal one solution, but may just pose more questions and exploration. What drives Katie's work is constraining the variables between these possibilities. Much of her fashion changes volumes and silhouettes and mixes very delicate feminine forms with heavier more massive ones. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Nataliya Meyer
Oblivion Clothing Nataliya uses her training in tailoring and design and brings a finished look to her creative, edgy garments. She began her studies in the Ukrain, but now resides in Brookside. She is well on her way to success in fashion as her clothing brand, Oblivion Clothing, continues to gain fans and notoriety. Hair Styling by Revue Salon and Jewelry by Evil Pawn Jewelry
Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Rachel Rolon
Based in Kansas City, Rachel is currently a student at the Kansas City Art Institute majoring in fibers. This Spring, Rachel is participating in the Spring 2010 New York Studio Program. Notable past experiences include a 2006 summer fashion design program at Otis College of Art and Design, she interned for Christian Joy, and she has worked backstage at New York Fashion Week dressing Peter Jensen at the Milk Studio. She describes her design style as minimal and sculptural, and designs for anyone who wants a unique outfit or piece of clothing for any occasion, event or happening. Her collection this year is titled Lotus Eaters. Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
spool boutique
Spool is a boutique for cute and trendy ladies and babies, located on 18th street in the Crossroads Arts District. Spool will bring a collection that is bright, trendy, and young to the runway. Always a cute and happy collection! Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sára Emami
Sára is a fashion design graduate with training in couture embroidery and she also attended the Paris American Academy School of Fashion. She describes her design style as girly and simple with detailed handwork such as embroidery and applique. She draws inspiration from home interiors, vintage clothing, designer Sonia Rykiel, and even Anthropologie. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Shannon Bailey
Shannon has been designing for 8 years, and is based in Kansas City. She describes her design style as feminine, flirty and fun, and derives her inspiration from daily life, beautiful vintage pieces and friends. Currently Shannon designs women and children's clothing for a local company. Hair by Colby at Bijin Salon; Makeup by Kaleidoscope Makeup by Karen
Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Liz Peters
Liz has studied design at the Kansas City Art Institute, and has recently been working as an intern with Peggy Noland Kansas City. She is interested in creating designs that reinvent old techniques such as quilting and knitting. She finds inspiration in the more avant garde designers, and enjoys designing for young, stylish women. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Designer Website
Cheryl Eve
Cheryl Eve is a jewelry designer interested in challenging traditional concepts of wearable fashion and body adornment. She was trained at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and is currently an artist in residency at the Art Incubator in Kansas City. Her inspiration stems mainly from nature and aquatic life and describes her work as being provocative and eye catching with an exotic twist. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico by her French mother. Credits: Styling by Andrea Medeiros, Salon Ambience and Boutique, Tailoring by Nicole Janzen and Kalyn Valliere, Cosentino's Market, Coda Bar and Grill, Medical Imaging KC.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Designer Website
Jamilah Knight
Jamilah is a 2006 graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, and has completed an internship for accomplished designer, David Rodriguez of New York City. Her design style is described as avant garde, sculptural, and architectural, and she counts Alexander McQueen and Madeline Vionnet among her design influences. Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Sarah Nelsen
Sarah is a true designer that has spent the last eight years in the design industry, not just focusing on fashion, but compiling a wealth of additional experience with costuming, graphic design, visual art, and illustration. She describes her style as refined and structured yet feminine. Legwear by Seduzione Leggs, Hair by James Pillatzke Pinkie Couture, Make-up by Julie Pope - Tigi Cosmetic Educator.
Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Amanda Nervig
Amanda Nervig is a 2008 graduate from the Kansas City Art Institute from the fiber department. She likes to design colorful, fun knitwear in various shapes and unusual color combinations. Designer Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tricia Rock
Tricia is a self-taught fashion designer based in Lawrence, Kansas. She finds inspiration in all facets of life, but will specifically draw inspiration from Paul Poiret and Catherine Baba. She loves to design for women who take clever risks in the way they dress, and generally constructs all of her garments out of reclaimed fabrics. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Emma Burgess-Olson & Lauren Fallis
Emma and Lauren have both attended the University of Kansas specializing in textile design. They both count Chloe and Lanvin among their design influences. Emma finds her design inspiration by seeing physical materials and forms interact, put simply - by playing! Lauren finds her inspiration in modern painting and post-modern sculpture. They will be working on a collaboration called Femto, which means one quadrillionth.
Emma's Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Lauren's email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Kaylin Hertel
Kaylin is an accomplished Lawrence, Kansas based designer with a degree in metalsmithing from The University of Kansas. Kaylin has been published by Lark Books, has been an intern with Marie Claire magazine in NYC, and has exhibited around the country as well as in Germany. Kaylin describes her design style as bold, strong, and architectural but with a feminine touch. Clothing, necklaces and belts by Kaylin Hertel; fascinators (hair accessories), jewelry, and gloves by Erica Voetsch; hair styling by Teri Williams with the Green Room Salon. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Designer website
Maegan Stracy
Maegan is a Kansas City based artist, but is planning to study at the University of Arts in London. She hopes to continue traveling and gaining inspiration from different cultures around the world. Maegan describes her design style as a playful layering of colors and hand-dyed fabrics using influences from past trends in popular culture. Makeup artist: Gina Gunn. Hair Stylist: Jay Morgan from the Jet salon in Lincoln, NE.
Maegan's Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Jewelry Designers
Rachael Marie Longgrear
Rachael has been designing most of her life, and is a recent graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute. She describes her style as eclectic reuse. Her pieces are almost entirely created out of repurposed materials, with influences in modern, tribal and decoration being constantly changed. Designer Website
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Coki Bijoux
Coki began her formal study of jewelry making in Paris in 1990 while apprenticing under the independent “bijoutier” Thierry de Bourqueney. Her time with de Bourqueney taught the necessity of measurement and precision in jewelry making, while also using that as the foundation for creativity in design. Over the years her work has evolved from the strictly "bijoutier" style to include more organic, earthy elements that reflect her love of forms and objects found in nature. Her collection has expanded to encompass work with stones, wire and metal work, and beading. Says Coki, "In all my work, I try to create something that is unique and original to the person wearing it." Designer Website
Erica Voetsch
Erica is a jewelry designer based in Lawrence, Kansas, and a student of the University of Kansas Metalsmithing program. Her work is primarily made of silver, paired with found objects and tiny, forgotten trinkets. In 2005 Erika designed a necklace that won an American Vision Award, (an award shared by Andy Warhol) which led to the opportunity to exhibit the piece in Diane von Furstenberg's private studio. In 2008 she traveled to Eutin, Germany for a shared exhibition, and in 2009 she lived in Finland while studying silversmithing. Erica's Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Faith Evangeline - Evil Pawn Jewelry
Evil Pawn Jewelry is an international, internet-based company. Faith is a master jeweler who derives her inspiration from the old world, goth and high fashion. Evil Pawn will be working with Nataliya Meyer for her collection, with hair styling by Revue Salon and Spa. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Website
Seduzione Leggs
Seduzione Leggs is a hosiery boutique in the Crossroads Arts District. Seduzione Leggs is the first and only store in the U.S. to feature “one of a kind” couture hosiery and leggings from the world’s top designers including Cavallini, SiSi, Falke, Omero, and Trasparenze. Seduzione Leggs is teaching women how to capture the true essence of their best feature, their legs. Seduzione Leggs is the brainchild of owner, Lisa Goshon. Lisa is the founder and chair of Fashion on a Limb, the first organization to bring fashion designers and disabled women together to design functional and fashionable crossover products. Website .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
