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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
A fashion show dedicated to young, independent women, "How Funky Met Fresh," was brought to life Sept. 5 in Sutra Bar and Lounge at 1109 Lincoln St. The $25 tickets sold well, and by 8:30 p.m., the bar was packed and the show underway.
Organizers Quinn Curry, the owner of Fashion Society of Young Colorado, and Brittney Reese, co-owner of Chocolate.Piece Productions, are 21-year-old students making names for themselves in the fashion industry.
Reese's sexy style mixed with Curry's tomboyish appeal created a potion that set the precedent for the runway show at Sutra Dance Bar and Lounge. When funky style collides with its fresh counterpart, we get "How Funky Met Fresh."
Curry is a journalism major at Metro with an emphasis on public relations. Rather than attend The Art Institute to major in fashion design, she decided to major in something that would give her a well-rounded education. Reese is a junior at the specialist Art Institute, majoring in fashion and retail management.
Models ripped the runway in liquid leggings by Benzo Couture, showed Colorado pride in Denco Customs, skated for 303. They showed the crowd their lip gloss was popping in Sista Girl, showcased the new sexy with fitted tees by Urban Nerd, and rocked vintage couture in Anastasia, clothing from their sponsors and so much more.
Group Flame Tha Game opened for Universal Records, featuring recording artist Kia Shine, who showed the crowd how "crispy" he is.
Amanda Maestas and J. Bryant, designers for company Sinister, showcased their faux leather and toile designs. Their clothing is influenced by music, and the portrayal of two different perspectives is what made the duo join the show.
Though there was mayhem and intense heat in the dressing rooms, the models showed poise, confidence and personality on the stage.
Reese also premiered her clothing line Chocolate Cake. The tops worn by the models mirrored the layers of a cake. "The chocolate stands for the sweet and sexiness of women, and the cake symbolizes money. Paying respect to the feminine grind," Reese said.
Ending with a bang, the group launched its after-party for fashion show attendees and the public.
"The show was pretty hot. It had a nice edge," said audience member Eric Shaw.
The Business
Last year, Curry decided to create a company, the Fashion Society of Young Colorado, that would help the fashion courante with ideas on how to enter the industry and obtain access through networking. She has since connected with a lot of New York fashion labels, including Rocawear. She is now able to take aspiring individuals in the fashion world to the next level of development.
"The Fashion Society of Young Colorado is trying to show the diversity of Colorado clothing," Curry said.
Curry's business targets high school and college students, creatively pushing education by showing students they can follow their dreams in their chosen field. The company also offers free advertising for local talent.
"If you can't find or afford your shoes and clothing -- make them! It's all about being unique and following your dreams," Curry said.
Meeting through MySpace, Curry found her counterpart in Reese, and the two decided to create a fashion show together. "How Funky Met Fresh" is not only a title that describes the style of the two creators, it also illustrates the meeting of two different personalities coming together to make their dreams come true.
Planning
Curry was the merchandise coordinator for the show. She handled all of the designers, while Reese and the 14-member production team oversaw everything else. To add to the mix, Reese's older sister Joslyn Reese, a graphic designer, helped the duo. Joslyn handles the paperwork for the business, making sure contracts are signed and everyone is doing their job.
Chocolate.Piece Productions originally started off as a consulting and public relations firm founded by Brittney and Joslyn. Later, the sisters decided to create a one-stop shop for entertainers. They offer help with all things fashion, graphic design, interior design and networking.
The women saved a lot of money by acquiring volunteers, who work for the exposure rather than for the pay.
Vitamin Energy, Family Affair and Livewire Urban Radio were just a few of the many sponsors that funded the show; nearly all of the donors were obtained through networking and connections.
"What helped us the most was that we got people we trusted to make this all happen," Joslyn said.
Twenty-seven models were chosen by the production team. Many of the female models came from Access World Talent Scouts and most of the males were amateur talent. These models were not stereotypical wafer-thin Amazons. Rather, these clothes-horses showcased diversity in style and size. Their personalities are what got them into the show.
So what is next for both companies? "There are talks to do annual shows," Curry said.
In the future, the Fashion Society of Young Colorado plans to take its mission nationwide and also open its fashion organization to Metro students, offering all things fashion.
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