Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW) brought fashion dreams to life from Oct.16 to 18 in New Mart, located in the streets of downtown LA, powered by Arts Hearts Fashion (AHF).
The event included a night full of shows, fashion experiences and live events. Each model exuded the designer’s passion for fashion, from flowy fabrics and delicate embroidery to tropical prints and sequins. It represented the diverse cultures of different American cities—like Santa Fe, Boston, or Palm Springs—integrating international designers, media, celebrities and commerce, season after season.
Typically, designers for Fashion Week are selected through formal applications, submitting a portfolio, photo, fee and sometimes, an introductory video. Casting directors look for candidates who are influential fashion insiders, trendsetters and media professionals. Some could be invited to apply when following well-known designers or industry insiders on social media.
The host company, Arts Hearts, was founded by designer Erik Rosete, founder of RMG Talent and Mister Triple X. The company’s events are a leading platform for designers and artists to showcase their collections and grow in reputation in the art and fashion community. A local success, AHF is coast to coast and is now celebrating its expansion to various markets—including Miami, New York, Las Vegas and most recently, announcing international shows in Shanghai, China.
LAFW featured a variety of designers, all coming from different backgrounds and artistic traditions. The line-up included Alexis Monsanto, Cross Colours, David Tupaz, George Styler, and Giannina Azar, as well as those from Asian Fashion Week LA like Charlie Designs, Jesse J Collections, and Kiki Wang.
Among the many talented designers, Alexis Monsanto from Mindanao, Philippines, presented stunning outfits with vibrant colors and intricate patterns, each inspired by Southeast Asian attire. Models walked down with robes and headdresses, faces resembling a porcelain complexion, a common element in historical Asian dynasties.
Three months before graduating with a pre-med degree, he was offered a position as an assistant fashion designer for a prominent boutique. Taken under the wing of the owner of the boutique and inspired by the work of several fashion designers, Monsanto decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue his dream. His creations now exhibit cultural and classical beauty.
Additionally, Dominican-Lebanese fashion designer Giannina Azar, known for her vibrant collections, dressed her models in glamorous and dimensional attire, studded with silver gems and corset-lined bodices. Azar’s work is often inspired by the music, the colors and the joy of the world’s ethnic groups.
As the last steps were being made on the runway for LA Fashion Week, many bloggers, stylists, buyers, and photographers celebrated their latest breakthroughs, innovations, social connections and collaborations. Even though Los Angeles is not considered to be the world center for glam and the fashion industry, it seems to be a few steps away from reaching the level of the Big Apple, as the rumors have it.