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Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Tadashi Shoji Fall 2011

Tadashi Shoji is the founder and chief designer of the Tadashi Shoji collection. Born and raised in Sendai, Japan, he began painting and drawing from a young age and eventually moved to Tokyo, where he studied fine art.

His talent was soon recognized and he was recommended for an apprenticeship with Japan’s leading contemporary artist, Jiro Takamatsu, who is credited with paving the way for the modern art movement in Japan during the sixties.

It was during this period that Tadashi became intrigued with New York City and its role in the contemporary art scene. He moved to the United States to attend university in Los Angeles and further his artistic development, when he discovered fashion design and awakened a life-long passion.

As a student, Tadashi was presented with the unique opportunity to work with famed costume designer Bill Whitten. In the flamboyant seventies, every major recording artist was demanding a Whitten original, and Tadashi created designs for A-list stars including Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, The Jacksons, and Earth, Wind, & Fire.

After earning his degree in Fashion Design, Tadashi began working at a prominent clothing manufacturer where he climbed the ranks for several years. Troubled by the fact that women had few options for special occasion dresses in the contemporary market, Tadashi identified a niche and set out on his own.

Established in 1982 by designer, owner, and president Tadashi Shoji, the Los Angeles-based fashion house Tadashi Shoji has become widely recognized for its original designs and innovative collections. The company has seen steady growth since its inception and is carried in more than 4,000 major department and specialty store doors worldwide, including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s. Internationally, the brand is available at high-end retailers such as Isetan, Epoca the Shops, and Anniversaire Omotesando.

Tadashi also launched the Tadashi Shoji Runway collection during Fall 2007 New York Fashion Week to rave reviews. By featuring the utmost in luxury and elegance, the much-anticipated collection continues to elevate and hone the brand’s image in the marketplace. His designs have won a loyal following with well-dressed women worldwide, including a wide range of celebrities from Helen Mirren, Queen Latifah, Deborah Messing, Beyonce, and Blake Lively.

The company that has been present on the market for 17 years manufactures over 5 thousand units of clothing a month. As a result, it enjoys a large number of regular customers keen on luxury clothes both home and abroad – mainly in Italy, Germany, Russia and, since 2008, also in France.

Thanks to my sponsors for being a part of making this trip possible through your generous support.

Sponsors Credit: PSGIVE – Popularhispanics.com – Precision Camera – Cotton Carrier

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Luca Luca Fall 2011

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Raul Melgoza was attracted to luxury and beauty from an early age. He found inspiration visiting museums and exploring the shops on Rodeo Drive.

After completing a business degree from the University of Southern California, he left the West Coast to pursue his desire of studying fashion at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

Melgoza flourished as a student, graduating at the top of his class. He was nominated Designer of the Year and was one of ten students chosen to debut their senior collections at the Parsons Annual Benefit Dinner, a prestigious event attended by industry heavyweights and an extraordinary opportunity for promising designers.

Following his presentation at this event, Saks Fifth Avenue asked to display his collection in the windows of their flagship store.

Upon graduation in 2005, he joined the women’s fashion house of LUCA LUCA where he worked closely with Luca Orlandi. He quickly rose to the position of Senior Designer.

Thanks to my sponsors for being a part of making this trip possible through your generous support.

Sponsors Credit: PSGIVE – Popularhispanics.com – Precision Camera – Cotton Carrier

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Duckie Brown Fall 2011

Founded in 2001 by Steven Cox and Daniel Silver, Duckie Brown is a New York City based menswear designer collection.

With a fan following that includes the New York Times, GQ, Barneys New York and the industry’s premier stylists, Duckie Brown has been widely praised for its innovation and wit. As one of the few NYC-based menswear labels winning international attention, Duckie Brown is stocked in stores across the world from New York to London to Tokyo.

Duckie Brown evolves naturally – the end of one season is always the point of departure for the next. Each collection starts with the shoulder of a man’s jacket and then builds layer upon layer while always reconsidering what is acceptable for men to wear. The cut of each garment, the proportion, fabrication, humor and color are the cornerstones of every Duckie Brown collection. Duckie Brown believes menswear can be exciting, colorful and handsome. With that in mind, Duckie Brown aspires to dress men beautifully in the most elegant hand tailored clothing season after season.

Duckie Brown received their first accolade in 2006 with a nomination for the CFDA Perry Ellis New Menswear Award. This was followed in 2007 with a nomination for the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, along side Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Also in 2007, Duckie Brown was one of the designers featured at in London at the Victoria & Albert Museum show, New York Fashion Now, a retrospective of up and coming American designers. After the show closed, Duckie Brown was honored by the Victoria & Albert Museum by having one of their outfits become part of the V& A’s permanent collection.

In 2008 Duckie Brown partnered with Florsheim Shoes creating Florsheim by Duckie Brown, a collection of classic fashionable shoes. Currently the shoes are selling around the world including Barneys NY, Saks, Bloomindales, Nordstroms, Harrod’s and many other stores across America, Europe and Japan.

Thanks to my sponsors for being a part of making this trip possible through your generous support.

Sponsors Credit: PSGIVE – Popularhispanics.com – Precision Camera – Cotton Carrier

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Richard Chai Fall 2011

Richard Chai, a New York native, began his career in fashion at an early age with a prestigious internship at Geoffrey Beene as an undergraduate at Parsons School of Design.

Upon graduation from Parsons, Chai continued his studies at the Lissa School in Paris, during which time he worked as a sketcher at Lanvin.

Returning to New York one year later, Chai immediately embarked on his practical experience as an assistant designer at Armani Exchange. He then joined Donna Karan as a designer for the DKNY and D collections. From 1998 to 2001, Chai was the Design Director for the Marc Jacobs’ men’s and women’s collections and the launch of the Marc by Marc Jacobs men’s line. In September 2001, Chai was appointed Creative Design Director of all TSE brands, including men’s, women’s and TSE Say, marking the first time in the company’s history that a single person oversaw all brands.

Through his experiences at some of the world’s most influential fashion houses, Chai developed a keen eye for detail, a reverence for architectural design elements, and a strong belief in the importance and value of the construction of clothes. After two years at Tse, Richard Chai established his own company in 2004.

Thanks to my sponsors for being a part of making this trip possible through your generous support.

Sponsors Credit: PSGIVE – Popularhispanics.com – Precision Camera – Cotton Carrier

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Nicholas K Fall 2011

Nicholas K is a New York based design company, founded in January of 2003 by siblings Nicholas and Christopher Kunz.

Nicholas K was conceptualized with the intent of providing sophisticated customers with modern classics to become wardrobe staples.

Incorporating traditional quality and design with modern refinements and a downtown edge, Nicholas K offers items across the full women’s RTW product range as well as accessories and a menswear line that launched for Fall 2006.

The first collection for Fall 2003 was extremely well received and sold through 35 of the top women’s specialty boutiques across the U.S. and Japan. Demand for Nicholas K continues to exceed expectations.

Thanks to my sponsors for being a part of making this trip possible through your generous support.

Sponsors Credit: PSGIVE – Popularhispanics.com – Precision Camera – Cotton Carrier

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2011 BCBGMAXAZRIA Fall 2011

BCBGMAXAZRIA was founded in 1989 by Designer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Max Azria. In 1991 Azria’s wife and muse, Lubov, joined BCBGMAXAZRIA as Creative Director. Named for the French phrase “bon chic, bon genre,” a Parisian slang meaning “good style, good attitude,” the brand embodies a true combination of European sophistication and American spirit.

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Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Naeem Khan Spring Summer 2011

Its impossible not to like fashion designer Naeem Khan as a person, and impossible not to love his designs. His show was the third last of the 2010 September event and it definitely left a memorable impression.

We were so blessed to have been invited backstage and get to capture the models getting ready (backstage images coming in a separate post).

Born in 58 in Mumbai, Naeem is the designer and CEO for Naeem Khan, launched in 2003. Celebrities including Beyonce Knowles, Carrie Underwood, Eva Longoria, Brooke Shields and First Lady Michele Obama have all worn his creations.

Naeem’s work would definitely rank as my most favorite from 2010 and it was a delight to photograph such elegance.

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Ivana Helsinki Spring Summer 2011

Ivana Helsinki‘s collection reminds me of a mix of the 1960’s and what I think of when I think of Scandinavian style. The rope shoes and boots also added a nautical feel element that fits perfectly.