The fashion bases will be loaded as dynamic designers from both cities present their 2010 collections during the second annual Evoluer House Fashion Show Fundraiser and Cocktail Reception, Prêt à Porter, taking place on Friday, December 11, 2009, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street in Philadelphia, PA.
Headlining the eclectic mix of designers is New York’s own Malcolm Harris for the design label Mal Sirrah. Designing for over 10 years, he started his luminous career as an apprentice at a wide array of Paris fashion houses including Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier and Paco Rabanne. He evolved into a highly sought out fashion stylist prior to his transformation into world-class designer with highly successful labels in New York and Japan. He is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and also possesses a Masters Degree in English Literature from the prestigious New York University.
Complementing the New York line-up is Brooklyn’s own Bweela Steptoe. The daughter of world-renowned children’s book illustrator, John Steptoe Bweela uses her artistic background and family art influences as an inspiration for her fabric and clothing designs. Bweela is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, where she received degrees in Accessory and Knitwear Design. Her rags-to-riches style expresses inner-city resourcefulness she calls Urban Deconstruction. In her own words, “Life is about survival, but to do it with style makes a difference”.
Melanie C. Brandon returns to Evoluer for the second year to represent Philadelphia with her Couture and Ready-to-Wear label, Melani Von Alexandria. The internationally acclaimed designer was the recipient of the New York 2003 Indie Award for Best Designer. For four consecutive years, she has been featured in 7thth on Sixthth, the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. She has also been a featured guest on Living It Up With Patti LaBelle. The vocal group, LaBelle, is the inspiration behind Melanie’s 2010 offering entitled Dear LaBelle.
Rounding out the Philadelphia line-up is award-winning designer Autumn Kietponglert of Autumnlin Design. Ms. Kietponglert has shown her art and designs both here and abroad, having been featured during New York Fashion Week, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and in Florence Italy. She has a Bachelors Degree in Fibers from The University of the Arts and a Masters Degree from Drexel University in Fashion Design. She is a member of the Arts of Fashion Foundation, which is dedicated to encouraging international cultural exchange among designers and fashion students.
Serving in the capacity of Honorary Co-Chair is yet another internationally acclaimed designer, Loris Diran. Diran worked for legendary design houses Versace, Claude Montana, and Chanel before launching a collection of luxury knits in 2003. In 2005, he started his Signature Men's Line and his Women's Ready To Wear collection immediately after. His designs were featured in the hit film, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA starring Meryl Streep.
These “all-stars’
