A CLOSER LOOK:

From Phoenix, AZ





AMA SEA PEARL




Welcome to a world of peace with an ethereal-esque vibe mixed with simplistic creativity. Yep, that's what I felt when I met this little lady at Phoenix Fashion Week's Shop Garment District. Her spirit is something special.




Meet Ariel founder of Ama Sea Pearl. One of the accessory designers gracing the runway with her delicate wares. Her idyllic personality shines through her brand. She's just so precious!!


This young lady is such a breath of fresh air. Her jewelry which includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings are meant for any girl of any age.


Here's a closer look at this wonderfully thriving jewelry designer...


Give me one word that best describes your style of accessory? 
"Unique." Why?  "I would say unique, because of the nature of the pearls and why it is a material that is relatable to the human experience." 

What was your first piece ever created? Do you still have it?

"I made a bronze star locket in my first metals class, I carved it from wax and used lost wax casting to create it. Yes, I still have it and I could never part with it."




Aw that's so cool! I made a foot stool in Shop class in 8th grade and I still have it lol. It's so hard to part with those first loves.

What matters to you most as an accessory designer?
"Creating a piece that is just not about aesthetics, but has a meaning that the wearer can relate to."

What part of the accessory game excites you most?


"Being able to create accessories that individuals can relate to. Giving an accessory more meaning is what really gets me ecstatic."








What type of materials do you work with?



"Freshwater baroque pearls, fine silver, and sterling silver."

What is your favorite part of conceptualizing a new design?
"I’ve always found the process of coming up with any idea in the mind and finding solutions to bring that idea to fruition. Even more so going through the challenges as a designer to go from idea, to 2D sketch to finally an actual tangible design." 

Wow, I couldn't imagine where to begin in creating that next piece. Being the perfectionist that I am, my challenge would be starting the project uh seriously. I continue to find amazement in the level of creativity in designers.

Do you have any other experience in the jewelry industry?

"No, I don’t I’m still new to everything but I don’t let that discourage me. Since I am a full time graduate student I’m always learning. Learning from both sides of being a studio jeweler and learning about the industry."

Where do you find the inspiration to create your unique brand?
"The material I utilize, which are unusual pearls. I feel we are all like pearls, unique."

What has been your biggest challenge so far?


"So far is being the only one to make jewelry by hand."




I would think that would be a plus for you as a designer. Handmade jewelry is its own specialty being one of a kind craftsmanship. 









What is the best part of the designer bootcamp?


"The various challenges given, pushing myself to do my personal best."

What is the hardest part of the designer bootcamp?

"Defiantly trying to duplicate myself to fit the many roles to run a brand, since I am the only one. I often times have to delegate what is the priority."

With all the current trending fashion, how do you come up with new looks in order to standout from others?

"To be honest I actually don’t follow what is trending, I’m very insular for my design process. I am more so inspired to capture a feeling or a thought. Then I try to figure out how to convey that in a storytelling fashion into an actual piece that is tangible."

IG - @amaseapearl
Facebook - www.facebook.com/amaseapearl/

Make sure you catch this young lady and her brand on the big runway at Talking Stick Resort on October 18-20, 2018. Get your Phoenix Fashion Week tickets here.



See you on the runway!
Toy

Presented by www.chronicbehavior.com/   @chronicbehavior

www.facebook.com/FilmFashionFutures.com

Thanks to the Chronic Behavior team for their excellent coverage of the event. They are the team helping to support and promote the brand. We appreciate you for your continued support.

MY New York Fashion Week Experience

Lisa, Moni, Jenny, Toy- The Glam Squad

By Toy Taylor - I'm packing my makeup bag checking and rechecking making sure everything is perfect. For those of you who don't know me....I am somewhat of a perfectionist. Gotta keep things in order, you know? 

Anyhoo, I started thinking, um more like reflecting on my career as a hair stylist and makeup artist. From the beginning to present day it has been a pretty cool journey I have to say. And look at me now, I am headed to New York to do what I love to do...makeup! makeup!makeup! 
I had the pleasure of being part of the creative team for the Plitzs NY Fashion Week show. Yep, I was screaming inside and out.

Designer Lana May

Designer Lousy Rich

This is it. All the hard work with early morning call times, long days on set, and missing family time has led me to this very moment. I am beyond humbled and blessed at this opportunity to not only utilize my craft but to represent for

an incredible accessory designer Lana May of Art Bead Circle and Phoenix' very own fashion designer Breanna "Breazy" Skoon of Lousy Rich  who also brought her fabulous collection to

the New York runway. Their artistic pieces would be showing first on the runway, yikes!  There were over 20 designers showing that night which meant backstage was going to be a

wee bit busy. I was ready! 

First models up were Lana May's and then it was off and running. There were hair and makeup artists from everywhere. They had us neatly lined up ready to take on a ridiculous amount of models. 15-20 minutes application time was it. My squad worked their butts off. Jenny Alton and Lisa Dozier-Bonnington did their thing in the hair styling department. While my partner-in-crime Moni Monique Barrett and I were beautifying faces and chatting it up with anyone we could. She was the networking guru. This was our element!

Moni

For the next 5 hours or so we applied makeup for designers Lana May, City and Sky (Dallas) and whoever else popped up in our chair. And it went just like that. I loved every minute of it. The energy was high and pumping. It was as if we were all working together in one big salon. Hair and makeup going back and forth on one side of the conference room and the first showcase of designers on the other.

Maddening!

It was that moment when it hit me that all hell was about to break loose. It was close to showtime and things picked up real REAL quick. It was exhilaratingly maddening!

Model

I quickly learned my stage name "makeup"! We were on red lip detail for what seemed like an hour. Listen up fellow makeup artists, when a designer request a bold red lip, give them a bold red lip. Orange does not count. And neither does pink. For those of you who don't know me, I always come prepared. I had every  designers looks printed out. It clearly stated a BOLD RED LIP. I'm done.

Assistant to Creative Team Director
Katie

This NYFW experience has been the best 72  hours of my career. We all work so hard to get to that next level and now I feel like (a silly cliche) sky's the limit. To give the trip a five star rating, I got the opportunity to meet with local handbag designer Lynn Rosetti at her gallery in the Tribeca area. I was very lucky to catch her in between meetings. She had accessories designer Vanessa Lianne in house, so you know I snagged a few pics. Vanessa also had some juicy-ness to share with us. But you will have to check out my full interview with these ladies in my next blog. Ugh, what a highlight! I will never forget this experience. 

Oh and did I tell you? I rode the subway all by myself WITHOUT getting lost. Woohoo!!!
                

Lana May and Lousy Rich lineup at Plitzs New York Fashion Wee

Hope you enjoyed my New York Fashion Week experience. I know I sure did. Stay tune for our own Phoenix Fashion Week to kick off their Spring Into Style event on March 12. Ohhhhh you know how I love the runway! Come out and support our local stylists.

See you on the runway!



PHOTOS COURTESY OF MY GALAXY NOTE 5 aka MY BIBLE

Kendra Scott Gives Back to Ryan House

Cindy Mero of Ryan House

What are two of my most favorite things to do…jewelry and shopping! So you know I was super excited to go to the Kendra Scott charity event raising money for Ryan House located in Central Phoenix.

Kendra Scott, located in the Scottsdale Quarter, is fun and uniquely designed jewelry. I love big chunky jewels that bling. This no-frills let’s-get-down-to-business kind of

jewelry store provides women (and those gift-buying husbands) affordable upscale jewelry. What ever the occasion may be, Kendra Scott will have a bauble or two to compliment your special look.

The staff was very welcoming and helpful when it came to choosing that right piece. I love their motto of try it on! We all felt quite girly trying on rings and necklaces and such. I already saw the cuff I’m going back to snag. They have a customized Color Bar

 

where you can pick the perfect color to go with whichever piece of jewelry you choose. I’ve never seen anything like it. You just tap away on the biggest flat

Color Bar TV

screen ever and design your own unique style. I had a blast! This concept is perfect for a bride and her special day. Having all of her bridal party matching with their customized Kendra Scott design would make any ensemble beautiful. Kendra Scott, based in Austin TX has over 15 locations throughout the Southwest and continues to grow. 

I spoke with Event Coordinator Alissa Dunn who shared the passion Kendra Scott has for giving back to the community. Organizations supporting women and

children are the core values that drive Kendra Scott to be a very philanthropic company. A Kendra Scott charity event gives back 20% of its proceeds. That's awesome for Ryan House. 

Director of Special Events and Marketing for Ryan House Cindy Mero chose to work with the retailer because of their giving nature. It's her passion for helping others in the community that draws non-profits to Kendra Scott.

I had the absolute pleasure in speaking with Ryan's mother,Holly Cottor. What a wonderful woman with a 
Grand Canyon-sized heart. 

In 2001, Ryan was formally diagnosed at 9 months with a degenerative neurological disorder. At the time, the Cottor family was living in London where they struggled to find appropriate care for their son. 

Holly Cottor

Around 16 months old, they found Helen House where Ryan and his family, including his brother, received family-focused respite care and support. Helen House was the first palliative care facility focused on caring for children with life-altering diagnosis. Once able to return to the States, Holly and Jonathan Cottor became committed to providing the same level of care and concern for Arizona families in need. 

The non-profit organization Ryan House was established in 2004. They also have partnered with Hospice of the Valley to increase the level of crucial support for all families. Ryan House strives to "provide respite and palliative care to children with life-threatening conditions and , as needed, end-of-life care". Holly Cottor takes the approach in palliative care as a "lifeline of hope". The team of professionals at Ryan House are always set in place to administer emotional, social, respite, and palliative care for their families. 

What a fun event for an even better cause. Please take a minute to check out the Ryan House website. Any help can and will make a difference.

Toy Taylor

Fashionista Dreams in Style, Designer Article Series, Part 1

Fashion is not just a word or a description or a piece of clothing or an event.  For many it is life…and a way of life.  I have the extraordinary opportunity to share with you, a little part of something bigger than just an industry.  This article series is being written to allow you a sneak peek into the lives of some of designers that are part of the 2012 Phoenix Fashion Week.  The interviews comprise of candid discussions and questions asked of the designers and my interpretation of their answers.   The write-up will be a summary of the conversation.

Bri Seeley can be described as classic, quality, and fashionable.  All of these descriptions are exactly what she portrays in her designs as well as branding.  Her desire to create fashion and design started back to her earliest memories of when her Grandmother taught her how to sew.  There was no specific starting point or deciding point on her path, it was just always known to Bri that she would be in fashion.  Her first major design project turned out to be her Junior Year Prom Dress which comprised of Silver Satin, a train and off shoulder or one shoulder design she had professionally made.  When starting out, Bri realized that through just jumping in and sewing her creations was the easiest way to determine what worked and what didn’t.  Mistakes were part of the process to design and improve the designs.  From design to creation, Bri’s experience defines a six to eight week process and potentially more where custom designs come into play.

Bri’s idea of quality consists of two major items that she looks for immediately – 1) fabric content of the best quality and 2) construction quality in how the design is made.  Her favorite fabrics revolve around silk, cotton, and rayon.  Besides quality, the areas that matter most to Bri as a fashion designer are the items being made/manufactured completely in the USA and that the garments are designed to reflect femininity.  In Bri’s design practices, she absolutely would rather go straight to sewing a design and figuring out the appropriate modifications to make it work versus sketching out the entire design first.  Bri attributes gaining some of the best experience from her schooling and work abroad in Italy.  Two years of education and experience in Florence, Italy helped to shape Bri’s thought process and eventual decision to design in the manner she does.  Advice she wanted to share for up and coming designers just breaking into the industry is the importance of networking.  It is often times, not only what you know but who you know that can actually help make the difference in getting your brand recognized.

The inspiration for many of the designs comes from nature and historical vintage fashion.  Through this, the intent of the line is to really reflect the quality, classic looks, and then designs which are outside of the trends and stand uniquely on their own as well as being able to cross seasons and last for multiple years.  Including the fabrics of silk, cotton, and rayon, wool ends up being one of the other favorite fabrics she loves to use in the designs.  Her creations are art and she is truly an artist with a blank canvas when she starts to develop her designs.   Bri’s passion comes across strong and vivid with that feminine side being a uniquely embellished to make you appreciate the movements she creates in all her designs.

 

One cannot deny that Bri’s clothing line is special and she is going to create waves on the runway.  Looking forward to seeing more of the designs and having the opportunity to highlight and bring exposure to the Bri Seeley brand.

Photography by Shawn Kinney

Website:  http://www.briseeley.com/ , Twitter:  @BriSeeley

Hot, Bold, and Beautiful…Style in Action

If you want to talk about transformations, this years Phoenix Fashion Week is going to be on top with all the incredible designers being brought into the mix.  Here's the recap of the event on Thursday, June 21, 2012.

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Last week, not only was the heat on in Miami with the NBA Finals, but it ruled the space at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix on June 21, 2012 with the fashionistas out in style and the paparazzi photographers out to cover the next big announcement from Phoenix Fashion Week – Emerging Designers 2012!!  The excitement and the energy were strong as the anticipation built up in the pre-event gathering where heavy networking, pictures, and people watching took place.  There were designers, jewelers, and other fashionable attendees everywhere you looked. 

In their normal guided pace, Phoenix Fashion Week kept the crowd on its toes waiting until everything was just right and the moment the doors opened there was the frenzy to get to the right position to have the best views.  The Founder’s Room was the site where all would take place on this lovely night.  As always, there is plenty of media, fans, support, family and friends in the audience and it was standing room only once everyone was allowed into the room.  The organizers for the event began the night with the introductions and Brian Hill, Executive Director for Phoenix Fashion Week,  took his place at the helm and started the show. 

I always get goose bumps at these times as you are in place where history is being made with these types of events.  You get to see the past accomplishments and then begin to see the vision for the year and into the future at these times.  Brian did not disappoint anyone.   He started off making sure everyone was seated and began discussing , “The Experiment”.   More to come on that later.  A great message was delivered from the main sponsor for Phoenix Fashion Week, Balluun Inc. , who has developed a business collaboration and commerce network to rival all others.  They are very excited to be involved with these events and you will see more of them. 

Now to the highlights - the introductions of the emerging designers:    1) Bri Seeley was out the gate first with a blue and white flowing dress, 2) ENVY sauntered into the room with a black and white block design outfit that was bold, 3) EYE Thread rocked a very versatile, patterned, and lovely creation that just exuded confidence,  4) Italia Rocks Couture strutted with the classic chic long black dress couture style, 5) JHaus entered with a dynamic model wearing an innovative open back design, 6) Living Dreams shared a great message and the look and feel of paradise with the blue hue T-Shirt, 7) Ofra Style walked into what seemed like their fan club of support with an incredibly comfortable styled jumpsuit that has versatility, 8) Samantha Patterson demonstrated that Arizona does have more than one season with the classic simple skirt and blouse-jacket style with very nice cuts, 9) Sew Twisted Designs showed why they were twisted with a nice pairing of pants and top, 10) Paulie Gibson definitely included a unique styling and colorful array for their menswear model, 11) Shawl Dawls carried the catwalk with the stylish convertible and classic styling with the shawl and pants, and finally 12) Suzzane Lay showed another way you could lace it up with the purple flush dress.

You can see the designers and read more about them at their links on Phoenix Fashion Week’s page Emerging Designers 2012.  The night was not over with those introductions as SJ Couture talked about what the next steps and the journey was like based on their past experience.  Additional announcements were made and several successes were shared from the podium.   The last great information shared was that Miss Arizona USA (2011) Brittany Brannon, was there representing for her first major event of Phoenix Fashion Week as the new Fashion Host of PHXFW TV.  She was amazing and did a fabulous job as contributing host along with Brian Hill and the rest of the team.  Looking forward to a fantastic season with Phoenix Fashion Week!!!