DESIGNER AND ARTIST PROFILES

Tee Njoroge - Designer, NCIIRA

Tee Njoroge, is a 22 year old London based graduate who is currently working on building her brand called NCIIRA. Her work is highly inspired by architecture, shapes and structure. The brand’s aim is to empower and represent the inner strength and confidence of an individual through their way of dressing. The designs are a mixture of elegant edgy, feminine, bold and daring.

Sara Hegazy - Designer SARA HEGAZY

Sara Hegazy is Dubai fashion designer and a student at London College of Fashion Student. In her short career, she has been nominated MENA's Next Top Designer , and was appointed first fashion designer and consultant at Asfour Crystal International & Egyptian Fashion Entrepreneur . She launched her international brand SARA HEGAZY and was the first Egyptian couture brand on the London Fashion Week catwalk in 2013. Currently, she is launching her fourth collection, "Cleopatra, " which enjoyed a successful pre- launch at Asia Fashion Jewelry International Fair in Hong Kong.

Eva Cammarata - Designer, Eva Cammarata

Eva Cammarata is a London womenswear designer. Born in Sicily, Eva graduated in Italy but earned a Master Degree in Womenswear Design at the “Istituto Marangoni London Campus” and a MA in Digital Fashion at the prestigious London College of Fashion. Eva began her career working at Giles Deacon and Erdem, and in 2010, launched her eponymous brand, showcasing in , London and New York. Eva Cammarata is an ethical luxury label, using organic and biotech fibres that moisturise the skin of the wearer. Eva's collections adhere to impeccable quality and sustainability through the entire manufacturing process, producing in UK and Italy, and reflecting her commitment to the environment and fair trade.

Melissa Laskin - Designer, elvislaskin

Melissa Laskin has enjoyed success in a multi-hyphenate career: stylist-designer-artist. She achieved tremendous success as a Hollywood stylist, working with A-list celebrities and media outlets, as well as creating looks for well-known advertising campaigns. While recovering from a serious car accident, Melissa began painting, creating bold abstract art. She quickly translated her artwork into a successful line of t-shirts, tunics and dresses, in contemporary silhouettes she was unable to find elsewhere for styling. Her eye for color and composition continues to bring her success with her artwork featured in art galleries around the country, and her elvislaskin collection sold in prestigious boutiques.

Juan Pablo Martinez - Designer, Juan Pablo Martinez

Juan Pablo Martínez studied in Bogotá in the early nineties and then moved to Milan to study pattern making and sewing. After completing his studies, he moved to Paris to practice design at the Atelier Chardon Savard, and worked with Christian Lacroix at his Prêt-à-Porter studio. In 1999, Juan Pablo returned to Bogotá and opened his own atelier, designing and creating men's suits. After 12 successful years in tailoring, Juan Pablo felt the need to pursue fashion differently, with a focus on sustainable fabrics and fair labor. His collections combine the exquisite tailoring found in the finest menswear with sustainable fabrics sourced in Colombia, recycled cotton PET from recycled plastic bottles, and baby alpaca hand woven by local artisans. The inspiration for his collection marries his passions: hard rock music and draping over the body; the Trucker Jacket meets Madame Vionnet.

Natacha Arranz - Designer, Natacha Arranz Atelier

Natacha Arranz was born in Valladolid, Spain, and studied Fashion Design at Saint Martin School of Art , in London, with post graduate study in fabric techniques at the University of Barcelona, and in cinematography and aesthetics at the University of Valladolid. Natacha designs prêt-à-porter, and millinery in her atelier and teaches fashion design in "La Escuela de Diseño." She is an award winning designer, winning first place in Castilla y León. Valladolid (Spain), the Young Designer's award in Zaragoza (Spain), and the Creativity Award from the El Corte Inglés. Valladolid (Spain), as well as winning the "Prêt-à-porter Award" at Miami Fashion Week.

ImaniLia - Designer, Imani Lia Whyte

Native New Yorker designer Imani Lia Whyte created IMANILIA™ in 1997 when she was only 10 years old. After growing and studying her craft at one of the top art High Schools in New York City she went on to perfect her skills at The Savannah College of Art and Design one of the top Art & Design Universities in the World. SCAD is where Imani honed in on her love for evening wear with a twist. In 2009 IMANILIA™ moved from custom only pieces and launched their 1st full collection at Fashion On the Hudson in Riverbank State Park in Harlem NY. Since then IMANILIA™ has produced four additional clothing collections, participated in countless runway and trunk shows, been recognized in the press online and print both nationally and internationally while also giving back to the community through the brand's Annual Prom Contest.

Sonia M

SoniaM grew up in Italy, where beauty and style is part of the culture, surrounded by creative people, and both of these have instilled in her a sense of aesthetic sensitivity and judgment through an understanding of visual and structural values. In 2003 she graduated from Central Saint Martin’s as a textile designer specialising in knit. During her final year she experimented with unusual yarns such as wire, copper, Lurex, paper and plastic and is still using these materials to design accessory pieces for Fashion and Interiors. Since graduating SoniaM has accumulated a vast spectrum of experience working for LFW - London Fashion Week - from 2005 to 2010 with various fashion designers styling their catwalk shows and for UFFR - United Fashion Forum Russia – styling catwalk shows at the Victorian & Albert Museum and for LFW off schedule show. From 20010 till 2013 SoniaM was the Head Stylist for FF - Finest and AFWL - Africa Fashion Week London – creating individual and unique looks on the catwalks.

Josephine Adebolu - Designer, JoDeLyn London

JoDeLyn London is a contemporary jewelry collection designed and handmade by Josephine Adebolu. She produces a catwalk and diffusion range of exquisite contemporary jewelry pieces and uses them as a means to communicate and express her passion for identity and individuality. Josephine is a graduate with honors in Silversmithing & Jewelry. Her main inspiration comes from the contrasts that exist in textures, colors and materials in nature, cultures and everyday life. She combines different contrasting qualities; rough with smooth, light with dark, hard with soft, resulting in unpredictable and beautiful possibilities. She creates bold, stunning statement jewelry that individualizes and distinguishes the wearer from others.

Laura Buffa - Designer, Alter Equo

Laura Buffa launched Alter Equo in response to the emergency of the waste collection system in Rome. Rome is scattered with discarded plastic bottles that become first hand material for the Alter Equo sustainable fashion project. The bottles are cut into shapes that are revealed in the plastic or cut out according to the designs previously imagined and sketched. The shapes are then worked with heating tools, allowing the plastic to react to heat according to its chemical weight. Finishing touches are semi precious stones (quartz, amethyst, carnelian, pearls) or rhinestones. “We are artisan women combining business and sustainability. We know our action is just a drop in the ocean yet we care for the environment and try to preserve it. We get inspired by the shapes and colors of the bottles to create PET plastic jewels, eco designs and home complements. We manage to find the "soul" even in a disposed plastic bottle, the symbol of massive consumerism." Laura Buffa

Foldi Kinga - Designer, Baharat

Baharat is an haute couture and luxury prêt à porter brand. Designer Foldi Kinga is an award winning designer and costumer who handcrafts collections with an to detail, using traditional as well as unique techniques and often build upon a particular traditional decorative technique such as origami, pleating or lace-making. The designer pursues ethical principles, creating her designs in collaboration with local artisans and using left over sartorial material in the Baharat jewelry collection. The silk jewelry is crafted from two layer laminated silk, with each component part cut and ironed by hand, and strung together to create a shimmering rainbow of color.

Bethany Walker - Mixed Media Textiles

Bethany Walker is an exciting emerging Mixed Media Artist best known for her ‘signature’ combination of materials – cement and textiles. Bethany has developed her individual hand techniques, each piece is individual and creates intrigue with its integral shape, colour and relief. Bethany’s work explores connections and contrasts in the urban environment – things we all observe daily but often overlook. The dynamics of the graphic and organic; the old and the new are an endless source of inspiration for the artist. Endeavouring to break new ground, Bethany is pushing the boundaries of contemporary textiles - blurring design disciplines, breaking preconceptions and traditionalist viewpoints to create pleasantly stunning pieces.

Manny Flaherty - Furniture Artist

Founded in 2010 by Manuel Flaherty, Mi Mesita is a small furniture company dedicated to producing high quality, hand-made furniture that is accessible and affordable. Using traditional building techniques and domestic woods, Mi Mesita creates furniture that will withstand the test of time, both structurally and aesthetically. As a New Yorker, all designs take into consideration the limited space available in many NYC homes. Even in a little apartment, one should be able to decorate with unique, beautiful, functional, and quality long lasting furniture. Each piece is hand built, and all designs are customizable to meet your needs.

Teo González - Artist, abstract art

Teo González was born in Quinto de Ebro, Zaragoza (Spain), in 1964. He studied under Jordi Teixidor before moving to Southern California in 1991. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Art from California State University, Bakersfield. He has lived and worked in Brooklyn since 1999. His work has been included in museum shows worldwide at institutions such as the Kemper Art Museum in Saint Louis, Missouri; the Borusan Contemporary in Istambul, Turkey; the Katonah Museum of Art in Katonah, NY; the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Esteban Vicente in Segovia, Spain; and has been included in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, NY; the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, CA; the National Gallery and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC; the Museo Pablo Serrano in Zaragoza, Spain; the San Diego Museum of Art in San Diego, CA; The Achenbach Foundation in San Francisco, CA; or the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, NM, among others.

Cristóbal Gabarrón - Artist, abstract art

Cristóbal Gabarrón was born in 1945 in Mula (Murcia), Spain, received his first training in Valladolid before pursuing his early artistic career in France and Italy. His current works are carried out primarily in Spain and the United States. Far from the aesthetic conventionalisms, of isthmuses or vanguards, Gabarrón’s work only understands life. His vision of art is clearly anthropocentric. The individual human life, and the coexistence and the development of human values, are the pillars on which his art and his personal convictions rest. The Olympic Mural for the Barcelona Olympic Games and the Encounter Mural for the Universal Exhibition of Seville (1992), the great sculptural project “Atlanta Start” (1996), the materialization of the work “Hope for Peace” (1986) and the Official Poster for the Millennium Summit and the Millennium Chapel (2000-2001) are important milestones in his career, while beginning a fruitful creative period, which still remains today, marked by his collaboration with international organizations, such as the IOC or United Nations.