Gen Art New Garde AW12 Designer… William Okpo Gen Art alumni designers, Darlene and Lizzy Okpo created the women’s wear collection, William Okpo in 2010. A nurtured love for fashion and creativity brought about the birth of the collection named for their father, William Okpo. The concept behind the William Okpo line is inspired by the parents of the Okpo sisters. Daughters of Nigerian immigrants, Darlene and Lizzy were motivated by the interplay of their parent’s personal style with the American culture. With William Okpo, the Okpo sisters wish to illustrate the unique aesthetic that results from the juxtaposition of the immigrant’s sense of style against American cultural sensibilities, offering the modern feminine designs with touches of masculine elements. William Okpo is for women who celebrate their cultivated sense of style.

Gen Art New Garde AW12 Designer…

William Okpo

Gen Art alumni designers, Darlene and Lizzy Okpo created the women’s wear collection, William Okpo in 2010. A nurtured love for fashion and creativity brought about the birth of the collection named for their father, William Okpo. The concept behind the William Okpo line is inspired by the parents of the Okpo sisters. Daughters of Nigerian immigrants, Darlene and Lizzy were motivated by the interplay of their parent’s personal style with the American culture. With William Okpo, the Okpo sisters wish to illustrate the unique aesthetic that results from the juxtaposition of the immigrant’s sense of style against American cultural sensibilities, offering the modern feminine designs with touches of masculine elements. William Okpo is for women who celebrate their cultivated sense of style.

Permalink

Gen Art New Garde AW12 Designer… Samantha Pleet The story began in 2006 when Brooklyn Designer Samantha Pleet debuted her namesake collection, intertwining elements of the mysterious and fantastical with a sense of modernity. Each season new and ancient ideas from music, art, history, and literature are conjured along with various feelings and are transformed into Pleet’s silhouettes, then shown in collaborative projects from films, photographs to unique installations. The clothes, made in New York City using organic materials whenever possible, have become favorites among creative girls around the world including musicians like Beach House, The Dirty Projectors, and Au Revoir Simone.

Gen Art New Garde AW12 Designer…

Samantha Pleet

The story began in 2006 when Brooklyn Designer Samantha Pleet debuted her namesake collection, intertwining elements of the mysterious and fantastical with a sense of modernity. Each season new and ancient ideas from music, art, history, and literature are conjured along with various feelings and are transformed into Pleet’s silhouettes, then shown in collaborative projects from films, photographs to unique installations. The clothes, made in New York City using organic materials whenever possible, have become favorites among creative girls around the world including musicians like Beach House, The Dirty Projectors, and Au Revoir Simone.

Permalink

Gen Art New Garde AW12 Designer… Gemma Kahng In 1990, Gemma Kahng started her own namesake fashion house. For her first season, she showed a tightly edited collection representing her personal style. As a total surprise, that first collection was a big hit, opening over 30 top retail accounts across the country. It was also featured in a full page editorial in Vogue Magazine. From then on, Gemma was well on her way to be recognized as a respected designer in the fashion industry and soon became a member of the CFDA. Twenty years later, Gemma has re-launched her collection to great acclaim from editors, buyers, press and celebrities like Julie Roberts and Christy Turlington.

Gen Art New Garde AW12 Designer…

Gemma Kahng

In 1990, Gemma Kahng started her own namesake fashion house. For her first season, she showed a tightly edited collection representing her personal style. As a total surprise, that first collection was a big hit, opening over 30 top retail accounts across the country. It was also featured in a full page editorial in Vogue Magazine. From then on, Gemma was well on her way to be recognized as a respected designer in the fashion industry and soon became a member of the CFDA. Twenty years later, Gemma has re-launched her collection to great acclaim from editors, buyers, press and celebrities like Julie Roberts and Christy Turlington.

Permalink

Meet Our ‘Little White Wardrobe’ Design Competition Judge…  WHITNEY PORT Whitney Port is not just another pretty face in Hollywood. She is paving her own way as a designer, TV host and author, and making sure that she builds a solid foundation that she is proud of.  Whitney began her career on the MTV reality-hit show, “The Hills,” appearing as intern at Teen Vogue Magazine, as well as Lauren Conrad’s co-worker and confidant. By Season 4 she was a show regular and an audience favorite. In December 2008 Whitney’s own spin-off, “The City” launched on MTV. She moved across the country and the cameras followed as she began working for fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg and in later seasons for People’s Revolution’s Kelly Cutrone. During that time she also launched her own fashion line, Whitney Eve. Whitney Eve, which had its first runway show with Gen Art during Fashion Week 2009 showcases Whitney’s creativity and knack for style. Its sophisticated yet comfortable cocktail attire, featuring feminine dresses, tops, skirts, sweaters and jackets. Whitney Eve can be found online and in various high-end boutiques. It has also expanded overseas where Whitney has a large fan base. Whitney will be debuting her first runway show for Whitney Eve during New York Fashion week on Feb 15, 2012. In 2010 Whitney released her first book, “True Whit” for Harper Collins. The book is now being sold overseas and in the US. Whitney currently resides in Los Angeles and is attending Gen Art’s New Garde show as a spokesperson for Crest 3D White. 

Meet Our ‘Little White Wardrobe’ Design Competition Judge… 

WHITNEY PORT

Whitney Port is not just another pretty face in Hollywood. She is paving her own way as a designer, TV host and author, and making sure that she builds a solid foundation that she is proud of.

 Whitney began her career on the MTV reality-hit show, “The Hills,” appearing as intern at Teen Vogue Magazine, as well as Lauren Conrad’s co-worker and confidant. By Season 4 she was a show regular and an audience favorite. In December 2008 Whitney’s own spin-off, “The City” launched on MTV. She moved across the country and the cameras followed as she began working for fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg and in later seasons for People’s Revolution’s Kelly Cutrone. During that time she also launched her own fashion line, Whitney Eve.

Whitney Eve, which had its first runway show with Gen Art during Fashion Week 2009 showcases Whitney’s creativity and knack for style. Its sophisticated yet comfortable cocktail attire, featuring feminine dresses, tops, skirts, sweaters and jackets. Whitney Eve can be found online and in various high-end boutiques. It has also expanded overseas where Whitney has a large fan base. Whitney will be debuting her first runway show for Whitney Eve during New York Fashion week on Feb 15, 2012.

In 2010 Whitney released her first book, “True Whit” for Harper Collins. The book is now being sold overseas and in the US.

Whitney currently resides in Los Angeles and is attending Gen Art’s New Garde show as a spokesperson for Crest 3D White. 

Permalink

Little White Dress Tumblr for “Little White Wardrobe” Design Competition

Gen Art has teamed up with Crest® 3D White™ to create the “Little White Wardrobe” Design Competition, giving emerging designers the chance of a lifetime: To show their glamorous and radiant capsule collection inspired by Crest 3D White during New York Fashion Week at Gen Art New Garde and bring bright smiles to the runway. On behalf of Gen Art, we’ve developed this board to give you some inspiration and ideas to help you create the most glamorous Little White Dress (LWD) around! From Marilyn to Lara Stone, women have been making white shine bright for years. Use these tear sheets to help create your stand-out moment this season at New York Fashion Week! Check out www.GenArt.org/LittleWhiteWardrobe for more deets on how you can apply.

For questions about the contest, email us, or find us on Twitter (@Gen_Art) or Facebook (Facebook.com/GenArtNational) to have your questions answered and find out other fun ways you can get involved in the Fashion Week happs!

Also, don’t forget to follow Crest 3D White on Twitter (@Crest #3DWhiteLWW) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CrestWhitestrips) for more information on the products and award-winning brand!

Permalink

Photographer: Jason Eric Hardwick

Styling: Danielle Melisse

Makeup: Kanako Takase

Hair: Jake Dingler

Permalink

We asked our favorite photographer, Jason Eric Hardwick, to capture our designer’s AW11 collections. Check out their websites to shop AW11 & head to Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion Show presented by smartcar to see them present their next collections, S/S12, on the runway!

Tickets to the show are available here. 

Styling: Danielle Melisee

Makeup: Kanako Takase

Hair: Jake Dingler

Models: Erica Rosen (ELITE) & Vlada (IMG)

Permalink

Jennifer Chun

Jennifer Chun moved to Brooklyn in 1999 to study Art and Fashion Design at the Pratt Institute. Through later experience at Michael Kors, Derek Lam and Brian Reyes, Jennifer intensified her skills and her passion for women’s ready-to-wear. Shortly after her time at Brian Reyes, as Senior Designer, Jennifer segued her vision into the creation of her own line - Jennifer Chun. 

Jennifer’s inspirations come from her travels abroad, studied arts, architecture and also by immersing herself in her surroundings. 

We’re excited to present Jennifer’s first runway show during Fresh Faces in Fashion NYC. Check out her collection here.

Photo Gallery

Permalink