Raising Funds For the Next "A Day of Fashion"

Confindence! The act of trying... ( Applying to Project Runway )

Ever since the start of the show and before the offical start of my fashion label, people have been telling me, I should be on Project Runway. I have tossed it over and mildly entertained the idea the first few seasons. My confidence always got the best of me.
... I'm not that good... people will not like my ideas... I don't do my artist seriuos enough or want people to judge me..
Well two years ago I gained the confidence to do my first big fashion show for Baltimore Fashion Week, summer 2009. It was a snow balling effect. I not only wanted to show some of my ideas to the public but designed an elaborate 20 piece collection themed "Nightmares and Daydreams" kind of sums up what I feel in life. Nightmares that I will loose something or someone, crack under the pressure, dissapoint people, and thusly not having the confindence to succeed. Then on the other had I always daydreamed of making it, making great things, some how changing the world.
After my first show I got rave reviews, a positive response from alot of people. I am still a really modest person when it comes to my art. I didn't let one sucess go to my head. Show after show, and more and more fans, I was feeling better about things in my reach.
The thought of Project Runway kept popping up. I religious watched the show season to season and compared myself to different contestants. There where points I was like I could do better then him or her. I started to think why haven't I just tried to do it. Even to just experience the journey and see where it takes me learn for sucess and failure.
After I completed "A Day of Fashion & Tribue to Alexander McQueen", Diva Davanna's mothers actually sent me an application. She was a wondering lady and shared my visions with me. Her daughter, the Diva, inspired me alot being so young and going out there infront of America and working it. She has great confindence, but is still a modest person and isn't affected by her fame. These were all issues with me.
I passed up applying that year, and told myself I just need to get one more great collection under my belt. It sounded like a plan was starting. Well I got more of my work out there and my confidence was blooming.
Life was getting in the way a bit tho and more person stuggles got me down. My friends and family were where there to pick me back up though. I checked the website of the year's applicantion, and the link was gone. I was sad I got up the guts and the chance had past again. I went back to work and life and trying to do more great things.
Out of the blue I got a text from my favorite D.C. designer, Duane Walker... it was a link to the application. With just about 2 weeks to spare. This was sign, don't over look yet another person that has faith in you, have faith and go for it.
I printed out the application... all 25 pages...WOW! I took a deep breath and started reading. It wasn't terrible, but alot of diffent question and a video taped interview and pictures and sample of works.
In the week to follow it was an emotional rollacoaster! Thinking and over thinking the questions, talking it all over with friends. They told me just to be me and people will like my sincerity. Some questions brought up thoughts of joy others thoughts of saddness. I got through them. When it came time for the person video, I just went for it and it wasn't that bad. Then off to good old Walmart to print out my photos. The women at the photo center was so helpful and she was excited for me.
She said she had wanted to be a fashion design but somehow she didn't go for it and now here she was... I told her it's never too late!
With the help of my parents, who have become so supported over the past few years really excited for me and my achievements. It means alot to have them behind me on this. Together we put the finishing touches on my packet and got it off to Fedex.
So now my packet is some where heading across the country to California, I have my fingers cross. My family, friends, fans and stalkers are all behind me ! :)
Just want the chance to show America what i've got and hope add a new facet to fashion.

Open Fly Magazine Launch

Last night the first sneak peak Issue of the all new "OpenFly Magazine" was released. It's a non-profit fashion and arts magazine that shows of local artists. Their mission is to encourage individuality and increase self-esteem in our communites by highlighting how fashion and the arts; stimulate creativity, and motivates the enhancement of one's education.
Started by one of my biggest fans, I alway a joke with her. She asked me to take part in this wonderful first work. We share alot of the same dreams and visions about fashion and how things should be. Check them out at www.openflymag.com



...What's next? Everyone is asking me... and I tell them the second annual, "A Day of Fashion"! This has become my baby and big yearly undertaking.
It all started out with my experience in the fashion and arts world here and around the area. I wanted fashion to be more accessable to the community, to all people, of any shape or size, income, or ethnic background. The first show was a tribute to the late Alexander McQueen, who had such great talents, ideas and presentations that always inspired me. He held fashion shows in all kinds of unsual places, like garages, ice rinks, and warehouses.
I thought what better place then the beautiful and historic heart of Baltimore city, Mt Vernon. The parks there gave us a runway to top all runways. The length of a large city block, multiple levels, stairs, and a fountain, Wooh look out Tyra!
I stewed over the idea for a while, and tried to gather up my confidence. I decided to post an open invite on facebook to see how many people were interested. It was kind of like getting Betty White on SNL. First there was 10 interested people , then 25, then 90, then over a hundred. I knew I had to make this happen.
This would be my biggest challenge ever!!
So what exactly is it you may be asking!? "A Day of Fashion", is a day for everyone in the area to come out and show their support for the fashion industry. Models strut their stuff, designers show off their works, photographers professional and amature capture some great looks outside in the park. Also it was to be a chance for people to network and meet others in the fashion & arts field. Finally an event where other inspiring artist can take part. Open runway time gave a chance for the daring to take their first walk on the runway. I hoped this event would pass along the inspiration to others in the community to make things happen.
"Free to the Fashionable & Open to the Public". The event was totally free (and will aways be) to all taking part, even the local area boutiques I invited to showcase their stores, that sell local area fashions. Having a completely free public show, this added the biggest part of the challenge! I had to find sponsors to share my vision and help support this event and its costs. It happen thought, I, We and the community, came together and it happened when others said it couldn't. Next goal it to be bigger and better!
So on to the up & coming, this spring/summer, will be the 2nd Annual "A Day of Fashion ~Orchestrated Elegance". The theme this year inspired by Music, like fashion with a careful plan and conducting, makes beautiful harmony.
We are looking in the second stages of planning and we are looking for: sponsor to share and fund the vision, designers & boutiques to show their clothing, models, photographers, hair and make up artists to make this a sucess. If that weren't enough I am still in need of a strong support staff. Oh yeah, and music... looking for musicians, for classical to contemporary to accompany our runway shows as they happen. The booming bass we will save for the after-party. This years in the park will be refined and elegant, with some Bmore charm.
If you are interested in any aspect, visit our website: www.adayoffashion.com , it is always being up dated with more information and find me on facebook: www.facebook.com/kantankderous.couture . This will be a great event for the whole family, so I dare you to come out, wear something outside the box, Be a fashion rebel! Be Kantankerous!!!

*STAR KILL-R JEANS*

You saw them in the last runway show. So here is the run down. "Star Kill-R", comes from two inspirations: First the character Starkiller, who is a total bad ass Jedi from the force unleashed video game. The character costumes were very inspiring. The second was what kills stars, like cleberites, Drinking, drugs, the hard life, shootings, bad media, even their own vanity.

So I made a collection of six differnt themed jean: "Nut House", "Drive By", "The Final Cut", "Punch Drunk", "Media Murder" and "Vanity Kills".

The Nut house, was about going crazy and being all strapped down(some people like that). Drive by, was a hard core look rettled with bullet holes and empty bullet casings. The final cut, was an artist version of a Kung Fu sword battle. Media Murder is all about the press and it muderous power and the jeans are filled with photos of celebrity scandal. The best for last, Vanity Kills, some slow, some quick. The jeans are like dieing in a hot pink blood bath after falling into the mirror, which jewl the jeans front and back.
The jeans will be made for interested clients on a one of a kind basis.
I took jeans from my models that they had worn out and I reworked them and made them Rockin! So if you have an old pain and wana turn them into something Kantankerous, let's do some business.

Post Show

Wow! Wow! and Wow! I am still recovering from the big event. I finished the fashion show and didn't know what to think. My brain was total mush. Lots of people where coming back stage and telling me how great the show was, and trying to talk some business. All I could do was pass them my card. Shows are always crazy backstage even with lots of prep. Hours before hand my mother, my right hand man, was sewing last minute alteration to a few garments. Jeff my backstage assistant was ridding the bus back home to get things that were left, and I was trying to unpack and line up 23 diffent looks on one rack.

My long time friend Greg Malone showed up to beat some faces and give my models some wild makeup. All my models showed up and were ready to work it for me. Some models I had worked with before and some new one. Also brought in some new face to give it their go on the runway. Meliane Blue, my Muse, Started, climaxed and finished my line. I knew she would Rock it out. Some of my models asked who gets to start it all off and I let them know....she is just that good, to be my begining, middle and end. All models though were great, with me tuggin them in one look, rippin them out and then into the next. They composed thems and looked fierce down the runway.

I couldn't have done it all without everyone. My mom sewing and construction with me the past two month, my dad helping to apply my jean logo, Emily and Jeff doing some fine hand work on the jeans, and Greg doing make up and helping me and Jeff get all the looks together backstage. My Friend from work, Joey Pobre came along to be my pesonal photographer.

Afterward we all went out for a few drinks with my other friend Greg who made it up from DC just to see my next crazy show. He loved it also. The next morning I think I could have stayed in bed all day. It was back to the Emergency Room that night to try and save some lives.
I didn't really know actually how it all went until I saw the pictures.

Late night jitters...

Its only days til my second big fashion show. I have all most everything completed. Just feeling that strange mix of emotions when you are excited and proud, but also nervous and doubting. My model Shawn said I should start a blog. So here it goes... Will see if I can get some fans.
More to come.... 3 days and about 14 hours til Kiss the Runway.