Boston Fashion Expose Spring 2011 'The Book

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Achievers 09Lorem Ispum School

THE RISE

OF

FASHIONSpring 2011 Collections

October 2nd 210


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Boston

Fashion Week was founded in 1995 by

New York native and designer Jay

Calderin with the goal of providing a

forum for young upcoming designers in the

Boston area to gain exposure for their fashion

lines and to strengthen the sense of

community amongst designers. Events have

been held in assorted venues throughout the

city over the years but have focused attention

on Boston's up and coming fashion scene.

Prajje Jean-Baptiste, creator of Boston Fashion

Expos, wants to create a collaborative fashion

destination event at the World Trade Center in

October 2010 that will become one of the key

focal points for the week's activities, featuring

local designers as well as established fashion

brands from our area. The Expose will be held

in a specially created venue under thecolonnade at the World Trade Center, offering

patrons an opportunity to visit an appealing

and unique happening that is here today, gone

tomorrow. Conforming to the recent trend of

these site-specific venues, e.g. Bryant Park in

New York and Design Museum Boston,

Fashion Expos will appeal to the young

fashion-forward audience.

Fashion Expos has been a part of Fashion

Week since 2008, and featured designers have

included Project Runway Fan Favorite winner

Korto Momolu, couture designer Samantha

Cole of London, Kosibah Creations of

London, ECC Life and Style, and Boston's

own Prajje Couture. Fashion Expos has also

brought in elite models, including Aminat,

Sandra, and Bianca, all of America's Next

Top Model fame, and has elevated the caliber

of Boston?s runway fashion presentations.

In addition to being the producer of the event,Prajje will also feature his own designs,

including the launch of Prajje Couture's new

line Payizan "Peasant", a collection inspired

and drawn from the majestic and artistic

cultural elements of his nativ

home Haiti. Prajje Coutur

anticipates showing a ful

accessorized line, inspired by th

culture of Haiti. Although at home in h

adopted city, Prajje still feels a stron

connection to his homeland.

Boston has long been building its reputation

a fashion-oriented city, and the continuin

appearance of retail outlets of the maj

fashion houses on Newbury Street attests to i

staying power. Boston's own Johnny Cupcake

with its flagship store located on Newbur

Street, is making a name for itself and the ci

around the country and the Hollywood scen

Fashion Expos, with its commitment to gre

design and its enthusiasm for promoting loc

rising-star designers, hopes to focus attentio

on the role that fashion plays in our loceconomy, while highlighting some of the tale

that we have in our own backyard.

THE CHARITY

This year, Fashion Expose is proud to support FACE Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to

rebuilding communities and improving lives that were impacted during years of civil unrest in

Liberia and Sierra Leone. FACE Africa raises awareness and funds through special events and

innovative marketing campaigns, and forges strategic partnerships with local communities, partner

organizations and government agencies to provide access to clean

water and sanitation facilities, education and training, health and

nutritional programs, and empowering girls and women.

FACE Africa's current focus is clean water and sanitation in

Liberia. In 2009, FACE Africa completed its first clean water

project in Barnesville, Liberia. The project involved the installation

of a water purification system capable of producing up to 20,000

litres of drinking water per day and currently supplies over 600

residents with clean drinking water a day. Saran Kaba Jones

"To leave the world a bit

better, whether by a healthy

child, a garden patch, or a

redeemed social condition; T

know even one life has

breathed easier because you

have lived. This is to have

succeeded"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

FASHION EXPOSETHE BOOK


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specializes in customized women's

clothing.

She is inspired by color and nature,

also her passion is infused with her

Ug andan cu l tu r e whi ch ha s

influenced Solomes ability to design

clothes that are chic, sophisticated,

and sexy. She explores art with

fabrics to create garments that are

comfortable and make statements.

Solome is for every woman; shy,

confident, loves color, fashion

forward, or with a youthful spirit. She

loves to dance and travel to warm

areas wearing bright and soft colors,

and prints so those loves are

translated into color, dance and

sense of feel into her fashion givin

her clients the freedom to defi

their own style.

Solome does customized orders

garments, and can satisfy a clien

needs in every way a designer ca

solome.webs.com

Born to Somali parents and

raised in both their native

country and Washington DC,

identical twins Ayaan and Idyl

Mohallim are anything butordinary. Having fled Somalia

at the age of nine to escape

the countrys civil war, both

Idyl and Ayaan completed

their college education at

University of Michigan and

B o s t o n U n i v e r s i t y ,

respectively, before making the

bold move to Manhattan

where they aimed to stand out

from the rest in the world off a s h i o n a n d d e s i g n .

Experiencing the industry

from the ground up through

careful study and practice,

they slowly crafted their

talent, weaving their cultural

influence throughout each

meticulously designed piece in

their studio with only distant

dreams of launc hing a

collection.

In 2008, the Mohallim sisters

took their first step together,

launching a new brand,

Mataano (meaning twins in

Somali) and furnishing a

platform to express their

vision and bring forth their

creations to the marketplace.

Mataanos premier Spring

2009 collection launched in

New York City on November

1, 2008 featuring a boutique

preview of ten dresses, many

of which received notice in

the industry. Oprah Winfrey,

th e que en o f day t i me

television, invited both siblings

onto a recent show via Skype

featuring the Olsen twins and

young millionaire moguls.

Parallel ing their

success with the

Olsen sisters, Oprah

lauded the duo for

their inspiring story

and much deserved

success, and gave

them the nat ional

credibility that will

undoubtedly launch

M a t a a n o a s a n

emerging brand with a

rich cultural heritage.

mataano.com

Korto Momolu is a popular fashion designer and stylist. .Born in Liberia, West Africa, Korto left

the country in 1990 due to a civil war,

and settled in Canada where she

pursued her passion, and studied

fashion design at the L'Academies des

Couturiers Design Institute in Ottawa,

Ontario. After graduation, she moved

to Arkansas with her husband to live

and raise their daughter. Influenced by

her African roots and inspired by rich fabrics, Korto began

producing chic womens wear and accessories.

After working as an independent fashion designer and

continuing her education at the renowned Parsons School

of Design, Korto followed her dreams and won a place on

the fifth season of Bravo's hit show Project Runway.

Throughout the show, Korto stood out as a designer who

embraced color and diversity and displayed such

extraordinary talent that she was awarded the fan favorite

prize. During the season finale of Project Runway, Korto

MataanoNew York

Korto MomoluProject Runway


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presented her spring 2009

collection at Bryant Park

during New York Fashion

Week and ultimately ended

the season as 1st runner up.

Today, Korto has formed a

partnership with Dillard's

Incorporated to design aneye-catching collection of

handbags and jewelry that is

currently in more than 70

s t o r e s n a t i o n w i d e .

Additionally, she teamed up

with Madera Exotic Woods to

design "The Saba Collection", an exclusive line of

fashionable eco-friendly wood jewelry.

In May 2010, she was appointed as a "Goodwill

Ambassador" for the Tigerlily Foundation, a breast cancerorganization providing full lifecycle, service-oriented

assistance to young women. Not settling on being of

service to only one non-profit, Korto is the ultimate

humanitarian and uses her God-given talents to support

several charitable organizations. Most recently, she

generously agreed to design a custom-made handbag to be

auctioned for the "Go Orange" Campaign with proceeds

to benefit the National Food Bank for New York.

On September 12,

2010, Korto will return

to the runways of New

York to unveil the

highly ant ic ipated

"Korto Momolu 2011

Spring Collection"

during the fame New

York Fashion Week.

Highlighted as the

"fashion designer to

watch" by the New

York magazine, Korto

has been featured by

major international

and national media

outlets, including the

Tom Joyner Morning Show, People Magazine, Soap Opera

Digest, Women's Wear Daily, Sprit magazine, TV Guide,

The Mo'Nique Show, African Premiere Television, The

Wendy Williams Show, Essence, and many more

kortomomolu.com

David TlaleSouth Africa

Life is an occasion; Celebrate it in style, elegance and pure indulgence of a David Tlaloriginal.

Over the five years since he launched his brand, award-winning designer David

Tlale has proven that he is indeed a design force with creations that go far beyond

expectations. Both daring and dramatic, David Tlale is brand that defies convention

and a brand that impenitently emplys unpredictable use and understanding o

fabric, color and texture.

It is with this understanding that the David Tlale brand developed to be one of the

most formidable fashion labels in South Africa to date. His designs are often

heralded by critics as the most innovative and creative, with bold uses of color and

fabric. It is a collection that dared to straddle the sometimes indistinct gender lines

David Tlale has been invited to exhibit his creative talents at numerou

international platforms, including Paris Fashion Week in 2007, Washington D.c.

De Beers Shining Light Collection in 2008, and a showcase at the Mercedes Ben

New York Fashion Week in 2009. Also receiving various awards and honors

including Mzansis Star Fashion Designer in 2008, being voted SA Style Awards 2008 Most Stylish Person and being

awarded Fashion Designer of the Year at the recent Arise Africa Fashion Awards where Tlale presented a Ready-to-Wear

Collection that defied all expectations.


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David Tlales commitment to his environment is

mirrors in his vision for business and community

empowerment. The immediate plan is to become a

top couture house in South Africa before taking on

a (waiting) global market. Since its inception, the

label has received numerous nods from fashion

critics and it continues to make its mark as a brand

that has a strong sense of style and individuality.

DavidTlale.com

"What's beautiful cannever be denied, I dream

with my eyes open and I am

what I dream. That's myVersatile Style."

F o r m a n y f a s h i o n

designers, it can seem

like a long, hard road to

discovery and acceptance

into the fashion world.

However, for one fashion

designer it seems that

she was truly compelled

for great things. Bukola

Are is one upcoming

fashion designer who has

made a great pace for

herself and has made a

name for herself in the

fashion industry.

Bukola Are, of Nigerian

heritage, was born in

Maryland, USA and

moved to Lagos, Nigeria

where she attended High

School . Though she

always knew she wanted

to be a fashion designer,

she began to learn more

about her craft while

producing fashion shows

a n d d o i n g p u b l i c

relations for her school

magazine called the Press

Club. Later "Bukky" as

many called her, attended

college back in United

States and established

herself with national and

internat ional design

c o m p a n i e s t h r o u g h

internships and design

contests. Finally she

decided to dedicate

herself to creating a

n a m e f o r h e r b y

designing her clothes

under her own signature.

While designing she

found herself designing

different styles with

m a n y i d e a s a n d

inspirations behind it.

That was when the

House of Versatile Styles

was born!

Bukky realized real early

in the industry tha many

designers were followers

r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g

innovators. "I am an

innovator of my ownfashion," says Bukky. "As

a designer, I can create

and adapt to original

designs of clothing and

accessories for women,

men, and children. I call

it a lifestyle."

Bukky also finds

inspiration for her

designs from her travels

around the world. A lot

of her pieces include

fabrics from West Africa

with American and

European influence. She

creates a lifestyle, a line

where you can define

your own style this

includes

couture,contemporary,and urban.

No detail is overlooked in

Bukky's designs and you

a r e g ua r an teed top

quality and exceptiona

hand tailoring in each o

h e r p i e c e s . D a r i n g

h e m l i n e s , p l u n g i n g

necklines, and the use o

sequences characterize

her women's wear. Unlike

many fashion designersBukky is involved in the

whole process - fro

concept to completion.

Bukky grew up studying

different designers and i

most influenced by

Michael Korrs, Donna

Karen, and Nigerian

House of

Versatile StylesWashington DC


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In just a few years, Prajje Jean-

Baptiste has become one of

Bostons most promising

young designers. Born in

Haiti, Prajje attended North

Cambridge Catholic High

School and graduated in May

2009 with a degree in Fashion

Design from MassachusettsCollege of Art and Design.

Prajjes designs are quickly

gaining recognition as the

work of a hip young fashion

des igner wi th exquis i te

craftsmanship. Prajjes gowns

are unique and luxuriously

realized. His designs are

instantly recognizable yetbefitting the individuality of

the woman who wears them. I

believe a woman beautifully

dressed for an occasion does not need to make her presence known.

As she walks into a room, she exudes such confidence that

everyone wants to know who she is and what she is

wearing. She is absolutely stunning wearing Prajje

Couture.

Prajje designs have been worn by Sara Underwood, TVanchor for Fox 25, Bianca Golden from Americas Next Top

Model among other celebrities. His collections over the

past five years have been presented at a number of fashion

shows in and around Boston, in New England, and in New

York. For Boston Fashion Week 2008 Prajje organized and

presented the only runway show featuring multiple

designers. View his and other young designers collections

at www.bostonfashionexpose.com.

fashion designer Dakova. House of

Versatile Styles has been showcased

in the United States as well as

internationally; from Gala events to

f u n d r a i s e r s f o r H I V / A I D S

Awareness. Bukky's styles have

graced the runways at events such

as: DC Fashion Week 09; Red Wine

& Hors D'oeuvres - Fashion Show -

Houston, TX; Against Illiterac

Poverty and AIDS (Fusion Fashion

Show) - Lagos, Nigeria; Egyptian

Queens and Rice University (Annua

Fashion Show); Runway to Cur

A I D S F a s h i o n S h ohouseofversatilestyles.com

Prajje 1983Boston
http://www.bostonfashionexpose.com/http://www.bostonfashionexpose.com/http://www.bostonfashionexpose.com/


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SPONSORSSpecial thanks to our

SPECIAL ADVERTISING


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Full ServiceFashion

&

EventProductions

Company

Specialize in:

Ready-to-Wear andCouture for men and

women.

Runway shows

Trunk shows

Special events

Weddings

Corporate events

Prajje 1983P.O. Box 170415

Boston MA, 02117617-320-25770

www.prajjecouture.comwww.bostonfashionexpose.com
http://www.prajjecouture.com/http://www.prajjecouture.com/


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HUNGRY AFTER

FASHION EXPOSE?


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PRAJJE JEAN-BAPTISTE

President & Producer

PRAJJE 1983 WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO...

PRODUCTION TEAM

Vice-President SARAN KABA JONES

Production Manager & Co Producer BIANCA MAXWELL HARRISPromotions BETTY FULTON

Public Relations COMMONWEALTH PROMOTIONS, COLETTE PHILLIPS COMMUNICATIONS, INC

Production and Designer Styling CoordinatorALEXX ALEXZANDER, KOKUHILWA ROSEMARY

Exhibitor LiaisonMARIANA R. SILVA-BUCK

Sponsorships SUSAN ALLI

Travel Arrangements CARA PONG

Production Management Assistants MICHELLE, RICHARD, JENNIFER NGO, ASHLEY MARAND

Production Volunteer Team DEANNA SMITH, ACHK KOMBANA

Lighting & SoundRbR LIVE AND STUDIOS PRODUCTION

Music Composer PRAJJE JEAN-BAPTISTE

Music DJ SHAM

Make UpGRACE PROFESSIONAL COSMETICS, JENNIFER DELMONACO, STACEY CACICIA, HOLLY MILLER, KAITLYN

FINN, SYDNEY SZMONKO, VANESSA SOUZA, ASHLEE LAMBERT, KRISTI BEAMAN, ANI KERESTEDJIAN, KOREN

LOCKWOOD, BREEZY MACISAAC, CAITLYN KENNEDY, JOANNA PETIT-FRERE

Hair CARLOS A FEBRE, JENI TERAN, TIA DODD, CHRISTINA BURNS, JUSTIN WOODS, ALEXANDER MAUD,

JESSENIA, SAM BEAULIEU, JAMIE CHAPMAN, CHRIS THORP, HEATHER BETTENCOURT, JOLINE COLON,

CAITLIN HILL, ALYSIA TURNER, LINDSEY THOMAS, KERRY ANNE LASALLE, ERIKA VAUGHN, ANDREA FORD,

JOHNNY MARCHIO, YOSHIE TANAKA

THE BOOK

Editor in Chief and Graphic Designer BIANCA MAXWELL HARRIS

PROGRAM SPRING COLLECTION 2011DAVID TLALE

SOLOME KATOGNOLE

SARA MARHAMO

KORTO MOMULO

HOUSE OF VERSATILE STYLES

MATAANO

INTERMISSION

PRAJJE 1983

BOSTON FASHION EXPOSE PRODUCTION

Documents

Boston Fashion Expose Spring 2011 'The Book