NYFW: The Fiercest Designs From Nolcha Fashion Week

Fashion Week lives on! Team Doost is excited to share more, continuing with a collective show featuring Nolcha’s “Ones to Watch.” The designers’ Fall/Winter 2014 collections are head turning pieces and I loved seeing the Middle Eastern influence.

Dozens of people work furiously behind the scenes to make a presentation like this happen.  Hair, makeup, wardrobe, producers, designers, models, and more use sleight of hand to create an elevated reality.  With six designers sharing the runway, it was no easy task, but these crews made magic.

Kat Graham, Zendaya, Jennie Garth, and more stars were hungry to see the show!!

Gail Be : Fantasy inspired wear. I felt like I dove into the Little Mermaid’s sea and then took a magic carpet ride with Jasmine. I was really impressed to see no fabrics being used in her dresses, the concept is rare. She uses a lot of beads, sequins, feathers, stones and ribbons. Backstage she tells me everything she creates is “made as it unfolds.” 

Her vision:

I take great care in constructing my dresses with materials that can survive centuries. I create intricate designs with beads no longer being produced to guarantee one-of-a-kind dresses. I think great Fashion is Art. My Vision is that after they are worn, my dresses will retire to Museums around the world.

For more check out her website at www.GailBe.com.

Riza Manalo : I appreciate the cut and basic every day wearability of it. The purple dress is my favorite piece because of the slit in the back which reveals a world full of colorful fabric patterns underneath. Her brand philosophy is:

Simple, modern elegance that brings out the best in the wearer. I like fashion’s relevance and playfulness in our current day, its historical social and cultural clues, and its ability to offer a future glimpse. The brand’s evolution is to always offer inspiration.

For more check out her website HERE!

 Naveda Couture : by Amy Devan is a brilliant brand. I love the Egyptian vibe to the collection; I feel like I stepped into Cleopatra’s closet. Very detailed and I love the use of gold, velvet, and sheers to make the pieces beautiful and sensual. The designer herself is adorable and I love how she stays true to her Indian roots while incorporating the Bohemian style I love so much.

Naveda is an emerging luxury womenswear brand with a Boho-couture twist. Our focus is on both ready-to-wear and custom pieces that range from casual-chic to formal-elegance. The Naveda collection of dresses, gowns and separates incorporate hand-embroidery, beading, and fine-fabrics, combining the craftsmanship of the East with silhouettes of the West and allowing for both traditional and fresh elements. Each piece is designed with a modern approach to timeless, classic looks while paying homage to the remarkable skill and talent of artisans who spend endless hours and energy beading, embroidering and weaving by hand – a true art.

For more check out her website HERE!

Maison De Papillon : by founder Danielle Salinas and partner Shriya Bisht are a thrilling combination bringing together the best of Texas meets India. Their signature style is best described by them

It’s versatile, luxurious, and most importantly comfortable without losing its sophisticated style & elegance… Maison de Papillon “Sleepwalker” is a luxury hybrid collection of sleepwear, loungewear, travelwear, and ready to wear! YES! It is all those “wears” in one. It is the MUST HAVE for the world traveller, world dominating, woman on the go!

For more check out their website HERE!

Christina Yi‘s style is dark rock energy with gothic chic! Capes and dark romance took over the catwalk. I was able to catch up with her backstage where she shared her inspiration for the new collection: Gothic inspired architecture mixed with Maori facial tattoos. Fierce.  

Check out her collection!

For more check out their website HERE!

Christian Benner : His first model featured red boots which were a rave backstage.  The ladies walk down the catwalk with a beat to their step reliving his East Village years.

Presenting both men and womenswear. The collection is fun. Old Bowery. I need a killer badass jacket like this.

His influence is the 1977 NYC era & his vision:

When I create my pieces, I look at the before and after product, and imagine them 10 years from now, and how they will subside in that time period. I’m taking such a unique, one of a kind piece, and making it relevant for almost any time period. I envision taking a classic beat up rock and roll t-shirt, and turning it into high fashion. My goal is to create a customer who has a few of my pieces in their closet as their staple pieces that they can pair with almost anything.

For more of his collection CLICK HERE!