If you want to see some of the best up and coming independent designers, just go to the fabulous Nolcha Fashion Week held each September and February during New York Fashion Week. NOLCHA features two very different events to showcase up and coming talent. As a fashion photographer, I love attending their all day runway with 17 amazing designers and getting personal access at the Nolcha Media Lounge which featured 11 designers with many from the US, UK, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Guatemala.
Nolcha Media Lounge
Press and special guests were given one-on-one access to a fantastic group of designers who specialize in couture jewelry, men’s accessories, handbags, shoes and much more. The designers this season included Michelle Pajak-Reynolds, TaylordBlu, El Voyage, Riley Versa, James Carletons, I AM I, Mafi, AprelleDuany, Dela Eva and Oysby.
One designer lucky to show pieces at the Media Lounge and on NOLCHA runway was Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Jewelry. She teamed up with the lovely Jody Bell for her runway show and gave us a double dose of her spectacular pieces. Since NYFW wrapped, Raven-Symoné, of The View, was spotted in one of Michelle Pajak-Reynolds pieces on the red carpet of the Emmys and donned a lapel pin from TaylordBlu on the The View. These amazing opportunities are just one of many examples of the great connections for designers to be made at the NOLCHA Fashion Week events.
Michelle Pajak-Reynolds with SMEG Savvy Marketing at the NOLCHA Fashion Week event.
The Michelle Pajak-Reynolds necklace and earrings worn by Raven Symone of The View was featured on the runway at a Nolcha Fashion Week event.
Nolcha Fashion Week Runway Collections
The extremely talented collection of designers on the runway at the NOLCHA Fashion Week event included Acid NYC, Alice Yim, Cashmere Song, Jody Bell (with Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Jewelry), Just in Case, Lu Yang, Minan Wong, Nikistavia, NY School of Design, Olivia B, Rohitava Banerjee, Samantha Leibowitz and Syu Syu Han and more.
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- ACID NYC
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- ACID NYC
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- ACID NYC
The day went by with a flash as I captured photos of beautiful garments, one after the next from the front of the media pit. Between shows we rushed backstage to get personal with the designers for interviews. The creativity and artistry of these collections is something to be seen! I assure you that the upcoming season holds huge amounts of color, pattern, textures and fun for every personal style!
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- Jody Bell
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- Lu Yang
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- Cashmere Song
Celebrity attendees at both of these great shows included celebrity stylist Derek Warburton, who has also attended past NOLCHA Fashion Week events, and Fatima Ptacek who is the voice of Dora the Explorer. Their presence and support was well received as they mingled with the crowd, talked with designers and posed for photos.
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- Celebrity stylist Derek Warburton with heels by Oysby at a NOLCHA Fashion Week event.
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- Fatima Ptacek with a Taylord Blu Flower Ring at the NOLCHA Fashion Week event
If you have the opportunity to attend these events, I highly recommend it. The NOLCHA Fashion Week events are always a hit, and Spring / Summer 2017 was no exception.
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- I AM I
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- James Carletons
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- El Voyage
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- Taylord Blu
Photographer: Julie Stanley www.juleimages.com
Acid NYC Runway Photos by: Patrick Hovan www.patrickhovanphoto.com
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