Ready to Wear

Eight up-and-coming Grand Rapids designers will show off their passion for fashion July 12 at a runway show in the heart of downtown’s hippest arts district.

“This show has just gotten enormous,” says Rachel deLange, local designer and the event’s organizer.

The fashion show mixes haute couture sensibility with gritty, underground style. Collections include everything from men’s accessories to fashion forward maternity wear. Mos Eisley’s tattoo parlor – a “hive of scum and villainy,” according to their MySpace page – will host the event.

“It’s going to be fun and edgy, but still down to the earth,” says David Moralez, a volunteer, about the runway show. “Think New York energy with an L.A. vibe. Exactly the kind of event Grand Rapids needs.”

The Road to the Runway
The idea for a fashion show came when deLange noticed her own clothing collection was outgrowing her closet. “I looked for a fashion show to plug into, but everything fell through,” she says. “So I decided to make it happen on my own.”

DeLange put an ad on Craigslist calling for models, designers, sponsors, and volunteers. People were soon beating down her virtual door trying to get in on the action. “I was really surprised by the response,” says deLange.

The intrepid young designer originally started sewing for herself out of necessity. “When I was in eighth grade, Sears just didn’t make clothes for tall stick-legged girls,” she laughs. These days, her inspiration comes from recycling and reuse. “I’m Dutch. I don’t like to waste,” deLange says, matter-of-factly. “Instead of donating used clothes, I move them into my sewing room.”

Brooke LaGrand is another designer in the show. She is thrilled to promote Konopka, her women’s wear label, and to connect with other local artists. “The opportunity to make a collection and get feedback about it is awesome,” she says.

LaGrand began making clothes four years ago when her mother bought her a sewing machine. She started with basic pieces she could construct without complicated patterns. Last December she decided to take her skills to the next level. “I realized I didn’t really know how to sew, but I was dying to learn,” she says. LaGrand began taking lessons from a local seamstress and changed jobs so she would have more time to focus on fashion.

LaGrand describes her whimsical signature style as “feminine and romantic, with a lot of mismatched prints.” For this show, however, she challenged herself to create a bold new collection with a totally different aesthetic. “I thought a lot about color blocking, simplicity, and straight lines,” she says.

From Hemlines to Bottom Lines
This runway show is more than just an outlet for designers like LaGrand to make a fashion statement. It’s also an opportunity to expand their client base.

“I wanted to offer a direct point of purchase for unique clothes,” says deLange, who is also an advertising major at Calvin College.

Fortunately, high fashion doesn’t necessarily mean high cost. Pieces from the Konopka line, for example, start around $35. “I am a person who likes affordable clothing,” says LaGrand. “I want to provide that for my customers.”

Another savvy business decision was to recruit non-traditional models. Guests can see the clothes on “real people”, making it easier to imagine how the clothes might work for them. Models of all shapes and sizes auditioned for the show—exactly what designers hoped for.

“I love women with curves,” LaGrand says. “I don’t ever want a woman to feel like she can’t wear beautiful clothing because of her size. You can be totally fashionable at any weight.” It’s literally the curvier the better for LaGrand—Konopka includes a “mini preggo collection” for fashion conscious moms-to-be.

Walking the Walk
In addition to diverse looks, models also bring different levels of experience to the runway. Bridget Hibler, a blonde sprite of a girl standing just over five feet, tried out even though she had no prior modeling experience. “I wanted to be involved because I just love fashion,” Hibler says.

Areg Sarkissian represents the other end of the spectrum. His résumé includes work with fashion industry heavyweights like Armani Exchange. “Pretty much every single agency is trying to get with me right now, but I’m not signing any papers,” says Sarkissian, a Cooley Law School student and one of the show’s few male models. He sees this show as an opportunity to “start out fresh” with his modeling career.

Both models agree this is the kind of event that Grand Rapids needs more of. “We’re pushing the envelope a bit with this show,” says Sarkissian. “It’s really different from what’s been done in the past. I’m completely excited to see what else we can do here in Grand Rapids.”

Models start strutting their stuff at 8 p.m. on July 12. Tickets are $10 in advance purchased online at http://FashionprojectGR.googlepages.com/ and $20 at the door.