THE RISE OF FASHION

Spring 2011 Collections October 2nd 210

Achievers 09
Lorem Ispum School

THE BOOK FASHION EXPOSE

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 the colonnade 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-specic venues, e.g. Bryant Park in cultural elements of his native home Haiti. Prajje Couture a n t i c i p at e s s h ow i n g a f u l l y accessorized line, inspired by the culture of Haiti. Although at home in his adopted city, Prajje still feels a strong connection to his homeland. Boston has long been building its reputation as a fashion-oriented city, and the continuing appearance of retail outlets of the major fashion houses on Newbury Street attests to its staying power. Boston's own Johnny Cupcakes, with its agship store located on Newbury Street, is making a name for itself and the city around the country and the Hollywood scene. Fashion Expos, with its commitment to great design and its enthusiasm for promoting local rising-star designers, hopes to focus attention on the role that fashion plays in our local economy, while highlighting some of the talent that we have in our own backyard.

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

THE CHARITY

This year, Fashion Expose is proud to support FACE Africa, a non-prot 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 "To leave the world a bit 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 rst clean water project in Barnesville, Liberia. The project involved the installation of a water purication 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

better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

FASHION EXPOSE

SPRING COLLECTION 2011

Born into a Lebanese family and the oldest of seven children, Sara Marhamo learned at an early age not only how to work with a group but the importance of standing out in one. As a little girl, looking at magazines inspired ideas of clothing, and when shopping she would always leave stores wondering why they didnt sell what she had in mind. Later, she started to make clothes. After learning how to sew in classes taught at her technical high school, Marhamo went on to explore

THE BOOK

1st Issue

This collection explores the comforts of color and texture and pushes their limits from the familiar folk use to a more modern edge. Matryoshka dolls hidden beneath cobwebs, now brought to life by the reading of an old folk story. A shaggy knotted collar, a mix of unexpected prints, and a play on matte and shiny nishes; The looks embrace the tension between what is, visually, too much and just right. Layering the loose with the tailored, the precisely constructed with the ripped, the woman who wears these clothes can appreciate learning the rules, only to break them.

Sara Marhamo
Boston
shown her work at Providence fashion week this past May. She also plans on showing her extended collection during Boston Fashion Week 2010. Excited for what her future as a young designer holds, Sara will continue to explore clothing as an art with fabric as a medium and the world as a gallery. Sara currently designs and creates in Bostons South End.

herself more as a designer and an artist at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Despite having recently graduated, Sara has already had fashion show experience while at MassArt and

Solome Katongole
Washington D.C,
well. Having graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology she honed her skills by designing for and participating in fashion shows. Her Ugandan culture has helped to inuence her creativity in making garments. In 2008 she moved to LA to pursue her dream of becoming a professional designer. Solome attended majoring in Fashion Design and is a Graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Solome is a label that

Born in Uganda and raised in Columbia, MD Solome haa always been aware of fashion from a young age. As she grew older her passion for fashion design grew as

specializes in customized women's clothing. She is inspired by color and nature, also her passion is infused with her Ugandan culture which has inuenced Solomes ability to design

Mataano
New York Born to Somali parents and raised in both their native country and Washington DC, identical twins Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim are anything but ordinary. Having ed 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 of fashion and design. Experiencing the industry from the ground up through careful study and practice, they slowly crafted their talent, weaving their cultural

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, condent, 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 a sense of feel into her fashion giving her clients the freedom to dene their own style. Solome does customized orders on garments, and can satisfy a clients needs in every way a designer can. solome.webs.com

inuence throughout each meticulously designed piece in their studio with only distant dreams of launching a collection. In 2008, the Mohallim sisters took their rst 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, the queen of daytime television, invited both siblings onto a recent show via Skype featuring the Olsen twins and young millionaire moguls.

Pa r a l l e l i n g t h e i r 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. mataano.com

Korto Momolu

Project Runway 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. Inuenced 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 fth 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 nale of Project Runway, Korto

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 an eye-catching collection of handbags and jewelry that is currently in more than 70 stores nationwide. 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 cancer organization providing full lifecycle, service-oriented assistance to young women. Not settling on being of service to only one non-prot, 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 benet the National Food Bank for New York.

On September 12, 2010, Korto will return to the runways of New York to unveil the highly anticipated "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 Tlale
South Africa

Life is an occasion; Celebrate it in style, elegance and pure indulgence of a David Tlale original. Over the ve 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 dees convention and a brand that impenitently emplys unpredictable use and understanding of 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 numerous international platforms, including Paris Fashion Week in 2007, Washington D.c.s De Beers Shining Light Collection in 2008, and a showcase at the Mercedes Benz 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 deed all expectations.

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

House of Versatile Styles

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 and doing public 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 international design companies through internships and design contests. Finally she decided to dedicate herself to creating a name for her by designing her clothes under her own signature. While designing she found herself designing different styles with many ideas and inspirations behind it.

Washington DC

That was when the House of Versatile Styles was born! Bukky realized real early in the industry tha many designers were followers rather than being innovators. "I am an innovator of my own fashion," 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 nds inspiration for her designs from her travels around the world. A lot of her pieces include fabrics from West Africa with American and European inuence. She creates a lifestyle, a line where you can dene your own style this includes

"What's beautiful can never be denied, I dream with my eyes open and I am what I dream. That's my Versatile Style." Fo 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

couture,contemporary, and urban. No detail is overlooked in Bukky's designs and you are guaranteed top quality and exceptional hand tailoring in each of her pieces. Daring hemlines, plunging necklines, and the use of sequences characterize her women's wear. Unlike many fashion designers, Bukky is involved in the whole process - from concept to completion. Bukky grew up studying different designers and is most inuenced by Michael Korrs, Donna Karen, and Nigerian

fashion designer Dakova. House of Versatile Styles has been showcased in the United States as well as internationally; from Gala events to fundraisers for HIV/AIDS Awareness. Bukky's styles have

graced the runways at events such as: DC Fashion Week 09; Red Wine & Hors D'oeuvres - Fashion Show -

Prajje 1983
Boston In just a few years, Prajje JeanBaptiste has become one of B o s t o n s m o s t p r o m i s i n g 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.

Houston, TX; Against Illiteracy Poverty and AIDS (Fusion Fashion Show) - Lagos, Nigeria; Egyptian Queens and Rice University (Annual Fashion Show); Runway to Cure AIDS Fa s h i o n S h o w . houseofversatilestyles.com

Prajjes designs are quickly gaining recognition as the work of a hip young fashion designer with exquisite craftsmanship. Prajjes gowns are unique and luxuriously realized. His designs are instantly recognizable yet betting 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 condence 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, TV anchor for Fox 25, Bianca Golden from Americas Next Top Model among other celebrities. His collections over the past ve 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.

SPONSORS

Special thanks to our

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Full Service Fashion & Event Productions Company

Specialize in: Ready-to-Wear and Couture for men and women. Runway shows Trunk shows Special events Weddings Corporate events
Prajje 1983 P.O. Box 170415 Boston MA, 02117 617-320-25770 www.prajjecouture.com www.bostonfashionexpose.com

HUNGRY AFTER FASHION EXPOSE?

PROGRAM
DAVID TLALE SOLOME KATOGNOLE SARA MARHAMO KORTO MOMULO HOUSE OF VERSATILE STYLES MATAANO INTERMISSION PRAJJE 1983

SPRING COLLECTION 2011

BOSTON FASHION EXPOSE PRODUCTION

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 HARRIS Promotions BETTY FULTON Public Relations COMMONWEALTH PROMOTIONS, COLETTE PHILLIPS COMMUNICATIONS, INC Production and Designer Styling Coordinator ALEXX ALEXZANDER, KOKUHILWA ROSEMARY Exhibitor Liaison MARIANA 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 & Sound RbR LIVE AND STUDIOS PRODUCTION Music Composer PRAJJE JEAN-BAPTISTE Music DJ SHAM Make Up GRACE 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