It was a little idea Houston designer and Project Runway winner Chloe Dao and I dreamed up to support and empower emerging fashion designers from Houston Community College and the Houston Art Institute. We wanted to do a simple fashion show to expose Houston to these super talented designers.
We never imagined we'd produce a free New York-styled fashion show with 16 designers, Houston Chronicle music critic Joey Guerra serving as deejay and 400 guests in THREE weeks.
Last Friday, we held the debut Designers' Platform Houston at Sawyer Yards' Sabine Street Studios in First Ward. The event was standing-room only with fashion fans representing the incredible diversity of Houston. After the runway show, each designer had the chance to talk with guests about their collections in the trunk-show space area. The event also was our excuse to celebrate Chloe's 19 years in business with her Rice Village boutique and my 15 years covering fashion for the Chronicle.
(Thankfully, no one saw us sweeping and picking up trash long after the last guests left. It's part of the work that goes into putting on a show like this. So worth it, though.)
We couldn't have pulled it off without sponsors: Dao Chloe Dao, Sawyer Yards, Blo Dry Bar, Kroger, 3930 Ego, Saved, Meiomi Coastal California Wines, Cointreau, Houston Media Source, The Carbonara Group and Houston Chronicle. Also, a team of volunteers and models made the event even more magical. Check out the video by ABC 13's Miya Shay.
The featured designers were:
Nicole Kang
Mishelle Chayeb
Sanaz Ekhlassi
Weihsia Creevan
Moyosore Lamilisa
Daiane Elert
Violet Navarro
Ebony Terrell Taylor
Kyndall Bollmeyer
Silvia Otaola