Fashion Week LA: 1st Annual "Driven by Design L.A." Spring 2014 Collections

Los  Angeles, CA  (West Hollywood Today)

Photos & facts by Karen Ostlund

Guitarist Malina Moye performed opening act

The “Driven By Design L.A.” producing team are consisting of Alumni from the Fashion Institute of Fashion Design & Merchandising (FIDM).             The team hosted a pre-design experience at L.A. Mart downtown Los Angeles, to kick off Los Angeles October fashion month of runway shows.

 Below is a review of the Spring/Summer 2014 Collections of Rocky Gathercole,  Thai Nguyen, Dena Burton, BK Phillips, Felio Siby, Paul Bennett, Karilta Designs and Sara Horne.  All of these designers were placed in the spotlight of the 1^st season of Driven by Design L.A. -  and  it's all about - Your Style, The Life, Driven By Design. 
Driven By Design L.A. Spring 2014 Collections runway shows opened up with SONY Music artist Malina Moye and “For The Stars Fashion House” designer Rocky Gathercole.   "For The Stars Fashion House" had a grand opening October 19th, located on 7556 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood.

 

 

 

Rocky Gathercole fashion

Rocky Gathercole is a fashion designer from Parsay City, Philippines. He started designing at a young age when Vicente Arcaina took him to Saudi Arabia for his first job into the fashion industry.  After that period of time and guidance of his mentor, Rocky decided move to Dubai in 1992 where he started designing for “Calash Haute Couture.”  

After designing for Calash Haute couture, he created his own designs and used his name Rocky Gathercole to built his empire with an amazing aesthetic and a strong sense of the importance of “individuality.”  Gathercole’s aesthetic was based on avant-garde ideas and a unusual sense of being different and unique as his “schizophrenic” exciting work.


    

Rocky Gathercole haute couture
Spring 2014

 Guitarist Malina Moye is a pioneer among the new generation of lead guitarists, and is the first left-handed female player to be included on the legendary Fender Guitars impressive roster of endorsees and to also join the critically acclaimed 2012 Experience Hendrix tour.

The songstress was also featured in the UK documentary "Stratmaster: The Greatest Guitar Story Ever Told,” and Guitar World Magazine dubbed her the "female Jimi Hendrix" and one of the top 10 female guitarists to know." Malina has just completed her new record ROCK N ROLL BABY with the first single K-yotic featuring Bootsy Collins, released this July, distributed by Red Distribution, a division on SONY Music Entertainment.

Thai Nguyen Spring 2014 Haute Couture

 

 

Thai Nguyen fashion

 

 

 

 

 

                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THAI NGUYEN  (Tie-Win), fashion designer & stylist who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in 2002. Following graduation, he earned the title of associate designer for BCBG Max Azria, which he held through 2004. Known for his convertible evening gown creations on the TV show, Thai was a finalist on Bravos Launch My Line. Thai was also a fashion designer/contributor on RuPauls Drag Race Season 2 and is currently working with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Adrienne Maloof and Brandi Glanville. ThaiNguyenCollections.com

Brian BK Phillips Spring 2014

Los Angeles based fashion designer Brian “BK” Phillips draws inspiration from life’s adventures.

His 2014 Spring Summer collection is in full effect on the runway this season. In 2010, BK Phillips Designs launched to vast community in the television and film to selling is collection in specialty apparel boutiques across the country.

 BK Phillips also
for men

BK Phillips pairs fashion with function; designs that allow for movement, comfort, and the incorporation of useful details, while connecting a feel of the past with his utilitarian blast of the future.  A self-taught designer and natural creative in many mediums, BK stormed into fashion design after years of making his own clothing.  He has styled and designed for Grammy-nominated R&B artists Mary Mary, slam poet and rap artist Watsky, international British electronic DJs the EC Twins, and American recording artist Divinity Roxx.  He has worked with actors and talent such as Debbie Allen, Keith David, Lorenzo Lamas, Lily Tomlin, and Sally Kirkland.  Also, he has assisted celebrity stylist Luke Storey.

Dena Burton fashion
Spring 2014

 Dena Burton Collection -  Dena shares that her Spring/Summer 2014 collection is sexy, smart and carefree. 

Dena Burton

(DenaBurton.com) Her styles have been worned by casting director Robi Reed and her collections have been shown at Smashbox Fashion Week LA , San Francisco Fashion week and Miami Fashion Week. 

 

 

 

 

 

 It’s all about the trendsetter experience. The woman that wears Dena Burton's collection is serious about business. The designer places her focus on showing off her favorite DBC apparel in the French Riveria, Italy and evening yacht mixers in Nice.

 

 

FELIO SIBY Spring 2014 Collection for men,
(center) Dominique Siby

 

Dominique Siby, the creative force behind luxury brand FELIO SIBY, discovered his dream of being a high-end fashion designer in the small central African country of Gabon. However he is poised to become an international fashion staple ranking amongst Dolce & Gabana, Lanvin, Prada and others in that fashionable category.  

FELIO SIBY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                

The FELIO SIBY Collection consists of handmade shirts, jeans  and duffle bags made of exotic skins, cashmeres, and fine cottons, targeting the upscale gentlemen who wants to look good, be comfortable and not look like the carbon copy of other men.

Paula Bennett's crocket dresses spring 2014

Crochet Fashion by Paula Bennett  has been putting together creative and unique couture crochet designs transcending it into an elegant art form. Every item Crochet Fashion designs transforms from a simple fabric to a beautiful work of art. Paula's spring 2014 collection represents Beauty of the body. These designs can be confidently worn to make your body sexy and with couture look and feel because each piece is one of a kind.

 

Karlita jewelry design on
the runway

 Karlita Design by Karla Lopez begin her venture in 2003 when she opened up boutique/gallery in Los Angeles called “Blue Chips”. Several years later in 2005 she began her own jewelry line designing for stores and individual clients. “I uniquely design for each piece carefully contemplating the women that will adorn themselves with my pieces with the intention of creating strength and energy that can get sucked away by everyday life I have enjoyed creating elaborate jewelry pieces for some of my clients (Stana Katic, Erykah Badu, Billy Corgan). Karlita Designs uses limited edition designs that feature very rare semi-precious gemstones, made to raw elegance and inner sensuality in women.

Karlita designs ear-rings and necklaces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sara Horne Jewelry was born out of a love for fashion, art, and culture. Sara has been making jewelry since an early age and studied painting in college.  While working in retail it was clear that jewelry was a bigger part of Sara’s lifestyle, and took over. Sara Horne Jewelry started growing in Lake Tahoe, California, and most recently relocated to Venice, CA. Her pieces are made from a dynamic supply of materials ranging from Turquoise to bone.  Found in most of her pieces is leather, which gives each, piece a soft, wearable and worn quality.  Most important is that each piece becomes a part of your lifestyle.

Sara Horn jewelry design

Sara Horn
jewelry design

 

The Executive Producers of 1^st season of Driven by Design L.A. were: Lela Christine and Lori A. Neal.

 Ice Cream Sundae Divas

Official partners were: L.A. Mart  unveiling Maker City/Magic Box, PORSCHE , Diamond Interior L.A.

Saffron Spot ice-cream

Other sponsors:
Fab Five Lifestyle Magazine, Perrier,  Ice Cream Sundae Divas, Saffron Spot, Coffee Bean & Jalisco Mobile Taco Grill.

Beauty partners were Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics and Brambila Salon.                                              

 

 

 

Napoleon Perdis cosmetics did touch-ups on guests

 

                                                                    

Chicken tacos by Jalisco Mobile Taco Grill
 

          

Napoleon Perdis has transformed the faces and lives of women for over 20 years.The Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy staff presented the beauty looks on the Driven by Design L.A. runway shows. 

 

2^nd season of Driven by Design L.A. is scheduled for March 2014.   www.drivenbydesignla.com