GFNY 2010 Designers
Prajje 1983
In just a few years, Prajje Jean-Baptiste has become one of Boston’s 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design. “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 1983.” – Prajje Jean-Baptise
http://www.prajje1983.com/
Thula Sindi
Thula Sindi matriculated (2001) from the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and studied at LISOF (London International School of Fashion).
His debut was as head designer at Dutch textile Company, Vlisco, the day after he graduated. He introduced Vlicsos fashion line with a show at South African Fashion Week in 2005, along with fellow designers Malcom Kluk and Palesa Mokobung. In February 2006 Thula started developing his own range, which hit the runway at SAFW 2006 (a year in which he earned a semi-finalist spot at the Nederburg Rare Fashion Finds Contest). He was also nominated as a finalist in the Marie Claire emerging designer contest in 2007 and 2008.
Nike Kondakis
Nike Kondakis is Greek and Danish and grew up in Europe where she went to a number of art- and design-schools. In 2002 Nike joined the KaosPilots in Denmark, which is a 3-year-programme in responsible entrepreneurship (www.kaospilot.dk). Now Nike lives in Kenya where she puts her knowledge into practice. With her background in art, design and responsible entrepreneurship she seeks to provide an alternative to the polluting fashion industry. She “re designs” by creating garments from recycled parachutes and accessories from dead wood and found object using her artistic passion for fashion. Furthermore Nike has been setting up a development project (Lorika Foundation) for 30.000 Maasais in the Kenyan bush.
http://kondakis.biz
Amparo Chorda
She was born in Valencia, Spain . In the free and innovative spirit of her designs, the eternal feminine elegance conjugates between the dream and the magic. Luxury and modernity are constant in her creations. Her excellent pattern design is directed to highlight the body of the sophisticated and glamorous women.
Amparo Chorda is a perfectionist to the extreme and given herself entirely to her profession we face with an authentic sewing artist, which covers all fronts, sketches that dictates her inspiration, full of charm and subtlety, finesse and elegance in her costumes, and even the basic and deep details of scissors and needle-her domain is complete and incredible.
This European designer has been extracting the best of herself during a long career in the fashion industry. Mrs. Chorda focuses on making custom made garments for selected high end clientele-along with costumes for theater and television, in which she is a wonderful expert. http://www.amparochorda.com/
Mataano
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. Mataano’s 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, the queen of daytime television, invited both siblings onto a recent show via Skype featuring the Olsen twins and young millionaire moguls. Paralleling their success with the Olsen sisters, Oprah lauded the duo for their inspiring story and much deserved success, and gave them the national credibility that will undoubtedly launch Mataano as an emerging brand with a rich cultural heritage.
http://www.mataano.com
African Mosaique
The story of African Mosaique is one of celebration, imagination and continental integration. It is about the conception of a collective culture, casting a spotlight on African fashion, talent and inspiration. ” ‘My vision is a dream of creating timeless, African inspired contemporary designs, of crafting world class accessories, of sourcing from throughout the continent and building bridges and collaborations and ultimately bulding A truly and uniquely African Luxury brand. My inspiration remains the cultural kaleidoscope, diverse landscapes and rich heritage of Africa” – African Mosaique
http://www.africanmosaique.com/
Louda Collection by Louda
Louda Larrain may just be the best kept secret in New York fashion. Sure, she’s shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, been featured on Japanese television, and received attention from the French fashion press. Her work has even caught the attention of George Clooney (ask her about that sometime). But because her one-of-a-kind fabrics are so time and labor intensive, very few people are able to get their hands on them. And since the pieces are eye-catching in a distinct and recognizable way, owning one is like knowing the secret handshake of a very exclusive club
http://www.loudacollection.com/
