THE DUST CLEARS AND A RUNWAY IS CREATED

Fashion shows have a tendency to always be super clean and perfectly planned.  You think of neatly aligned chairs, perfectly painted white walls, blinding lights, super expensive stages, chic tents, and venues.  Depending on the overall vision of the producers and designers, these elements would be perfect to capture the gaze of an audience consisting of hundreds of diehard fashion buyers and critics.  In my city, we have rough and stylish hidden treasures, a fashion sense of our own and a rising fashion culture that is hell bent on not being compared to the New York, LA or Miami's way of fashion.  This fashion journey, for me, started on the edge of Detroit's historic Corktown at my new home by the name of 5e Gallery. 5egallery.org

In my attempt to make a name for myself throughout my own cities fashion culture.  I was directed to a planning meeting of a upcoming show organized by a group that proudly called themselves Design Define Detroit www.designdefinedetroit.com.  This fashion industry gala was being produced by Ris Money, native to the bay area of Northern California, notable b-girl, blogger and designer.  The second part to this dynamic duo, Piper Carter, native to Detroit also calling New York her second home, highly sought after fashion photographer and co-founder of 5e Gallery.  After 20 minutes or so sitting in on the meeting, I could tell that this would be a fashion experience of a lifetime.  I quickly added my opinions and feedback on the discussion and was immediately asked what my speciality was.  I replied "everything, I will be your super assistant and super excited about learning the business."  It was amazing that some noticed me from the previous event that I had done with "Walk" which made me super excited and really ready to roll.  The event was powered by several unique and visually fashion forward fashionista's and fashionistra's.  Most of the people that attended the meetings were volunteers working toward a dream of "creating sustainable fashion industry" in the Metro Detroit Area.  

Design Define Detroit would take place at the 5e gallery, on the thirteenth of November, two thousand ten at four o'clock in the afternoon.   With a lot of work need to be done before lights, camera, action, we knew that this would be one of thee most rawest shows that anyone has ever seen.  The one thing that I loved about the show over the weeks leading up to it, was the team and supporter's ability to find funding to completely transform the whole gallery, create flyers, promote our event, pull all resources for prop design with little to no money.  We literally, knocked down a walls, put in bathrooms with complete plumming, re-wired,  painted, dusted and cleaned up until minutes before showtime.

As the crowd piled in they would have never known that 5e gallery's event was literally an act of faith.  Could we literally pull this off with soo much work to do? was the question all week but I will never question the heart of a lion and the love people have for Detroit again.  I literally didn't get dressed until most of the guests were comfortable, but once I washed off the paint, threw some curls in my hair and put on my outfit being the Executive Assistant to the Producers (Ris Money & Piper Carter) was something that I worked hard to be.  

The show started off with a panel discussion which included Charles Pugh, Mark England, Sarah Lapinski, Emin Kadi, Elizebeth Kincade, Adriana Pavon, Emily, Thornhill, John Conyers, Sharhona Anderson, Rich Rice, Fotula Lambros, Haji Flemings and Brian Health-Founder.




After a very productive panel discussion, media hour commensed with hard work by my friend, fashion blogger and PR professional Asia Willis who without her I would have never been apart of this rising movement.  Next was the Fashion Stylist Spotlight, featuring Benny Lumpkins Jr. and Fanciee and special showing by Von Jour Reece, who also lended the event his talent of runway coach over the weeks leading up to the show.

A runway show has always begun with the heartbeat of a turntable and then appears our first model.   Couture Designer showcase included, Culture Couture, Gina T Fashion, Femilia Organic Couture, Ziam Penn, jewelry by B-Flyy Creations and display fashion by Peace. Love. Spandex from Angela McBride.   I don't know about anyone else but I was holding my breathe the whole time.  Design Define Detroit's journey to show what we could do was completely sending my heart into overdrive.  So many thanks are needed and please don't be mad if I forget you.

 I have never worked with this amount of people that gave there heart, soul, time, blood and sweat to see a collective dream come to life.  To the sponsors 5e Gallery, D.D.D FORMzine, Sole Sisters, Blank Canvas Detroit, VitaminWater, Get the Connections, Fusicology, SRA, Edible Arrangements, Donoven's Salon, SRA Consulting Services, Risism.com, EN GARDE Detroit, NYLA Report, Red Door Digital, we truly appreciate everything that you have done.  Special thanks to the MUA's who created some great looks, Beauty Salon by J Lyle Ltd who did an awesome job on hair concepts, graphics and design by Robin Collins, set design by Nneka Jackson, production by Eboni DeBerry, Charlena Hall, Danni Little, Jakki Kirouac, Tabiha Brown and the WHOLE!!! DDD Team.


Last but definitely not least our fab producers Ris Money and Piper Carter.  You have completely inspired me to believe in a dream and never give up no matter what the obstacles are.  Fashion has become so intoxicating to me know, by seeing it through your eyes.  I have never been as blessed to meet collegeues like you and proud to be recognized as your assistant and a member of the Design Define Detroit family.  I hope that I have proved to you that I can deliver on my promises, and look forward to 2011's growth as a team.

These are the ramblings of a fashionista and a compete supporter of Detroit's Fashion industry.  I have been completely initiated into this wonderful wonderland of colors, textures, and style.  My blog is my way of showing you a glimpse of my journey to achieve fashion history.  I am your SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER, I will dedicate my soul to my purpose, and I will crush all competition. This is the story of a fashionista's come-up, follow me if you dare.

Aisha Iam Scarlet

THE GLITTER OF A RUNWAY

On the twenty-fourth of October at six o'clock in the afternoon, I learned how to "WALK".  Iced Crystals and Jelly's World Entertainment hosted their annual runway fashion show, held at the Charles H. Wright Museum centrally located in the Historic Downtown Detroit area.  I was brought on to the team as the "Executive Assistant" to "WALK", which allowed me to manage operations between the producers and sponsors, designers, models, boutique owners and performers.

Sponsors for the show included HD Sound, Tequila Cuatro Cirios, BFTE Cosmetics and Metromix.  The awesome location made a great backdrop for some of Michigan's hottest photographers to help retain fashions timelessness.  Designers included Cameron Zachery, DUS Couture, AYV, District 81, Brickhouse Designs, Glovers Apparel, DYTF, Cindy Baker, JL Designs, Lasijas Miller, Artistic Fashion Designs, Devil's Shoe Closet, Dani Little, Lynette M and performers featuring WeROK, BOI and Britney Myree.







The events jet black, valentino red and pure white ambiance inspired Detroit's own fashion moguls, socialites and buyers to attend.   The event wouldn't have been as glamours if we didn't have talented MUA like LaShana Lawson House of Fabulosity, C Michelle Styles, Danielle Bracy, Joelle Vanity and Latia Calloway.  Special thanks go to LaShana Lawson House of Fabulosity for turning me into the porcelain baby doll that in envisioned.

Even though monitoring the show with the Museum of African American History's event sales coordinator was stressful enough, the pulse of lights, camera, action in the "D" through "WALK" truly inspires Detroit's own thriving fashion culture.  Special recognition goes out to Sarah Ryan assistant for Iced Crystals, Jena Carmicheal assistant for Jelly's World, La La Of Amaria as couture back stage coordinator, Coffee Tee and Rick for marketing and promotions.  Without the help of the lovely and talented models, sponsors and volunteers, "WALK" would not have been one the season's hottest runway fashion shows. With humble thanks I give to the producers Daishawn and Crystal, and all the models that were patient even when I yelled.  Every player in this secret society understands that events like this are thee most stressful and glamorous all rolled into one.  This isn't a place for everyone and only the fashionista's and fashionistra's gain entry and are not eaten by the fashion beast.

In the beginning

I remember being a young girl, forever oblivious to a breath-taking culture that would forever be my lover.  The campaign on "how to look and act more like a lady", was headed headed by my suburban Detroit family with roots planted deep in the red dirt of Talladega Alabama.  I continued to be the typical teenage tomboy in my younger years, trying to masquerade the fact that I was becoming an attractive women whether I liked it or not.  Now don't mistake my comment as a boast of verbal arrogance, I am just painting a picture of the birth of my famous quote  "Fashion is my life and life will always be fashionable.

I can still remember the day that I  practiced walking in heels for the first time, or when I fell in love with my first dress and even the time that I realized that over-sized handbags were my secret crush sneaking in my window at night.   There is a cloud of pixy dust that overcomes me when I think about vintage inspired clothing, retro dresses, street and geek chic, indie, 1930's and 50's old hollywood style.  

When you finally realize that what really makes you smile are colors and textures and moving art in the form of fashion, being consumed by this ever-changing world is inevitable.  If the fashion world is NOT!!! where I belong, then why does shopping calm my conscious when tranquility has went on vacation.  How can I utilize the thrift stores as my own personal mix and match wonderland.   I am a women of many faces and styles, never looking the same and forever being inspired by new fashion trends.  In a city like mine, this type of style tends to make you stand out like as a colored peacock in a black and white television.

Detroit's fashion has always been admired by our surround cities.  We have a tendency to have the hoTTest fashion and latest hair styles, but lack in the embrace of individual style.  Label 304's and dope- boy fashion have incarcerated the majority of the areas inhabitants. 

Personally, I have decided to "rage against the machine."  Misusing flaming red lipstick, crossing the color roadblocks and experimenting with styles of fashion that my race would normally disregard as tacky.  Being a rebel is something that has never changed since I was younger, just deciding to point it in another direction brings personality to this city born and country raised FASHIONISTA.   

These are the ramblings of a fashion junky.  I wonder if they will ever find a vaccine or cure, it has to be one of the most deadliest man made diseases ever.  So now you have the cliff notes to the beginning chapter.  I know there are millions of fashion slaves that feel the same was as I do, but what makes me different is my ability to share with passion in my eyes and pumps on my feet.

Sincerely,

Scarlet