In The 'No: Issue 1

Trashique: The Biggest Fashion Show in Fresno

Recaps of local fashion shows

Community and Fresno State Voices

3 3 DESIGNERS You Need To Know

InTheNofashionmagazine hasbeenapersonalpassion projectofminefortwoyears. Overthecourseofmy reporting,Ihavebuilt friendshipswiththosewho areactiveinfashion.Iwant mymagazinetobeasafe spaceforotherfashion creativesandalsoaplatform forindividualstoexpress themselves.

Sarah Delgado

Editor-in-Chief

PhotocourtesyofWest

Editor’s Note

SARAHDELGADO

In this issue

Let'sfollowhowFresnofashion hasevolvedovertwoyears.

Ihopeyouenjoythisissueas muchasIlovereportingand gathering. Muchlove.

Trashique

Fresno'sbiggestfashionevent, Trashique, surrounds the beauty in sustainability and the craftsmanship of locals. Designers Conner McKnight and model Lin Mochi talk about their first experience at thelargeevent.

The concept of environmental sustainability is generally found in the culinary and lifestyle fields. Apparently, this concepthasalsobeguntobe taken seriously in the fashion industry. Also known as ecofashion, various well-known fashion brands are starting to try to produce eco-friendly and renewable fashion products.

PhotocourtesyofMiguelDurand

Trashique, a Fresno Museum tradition, is a fashion show that occurs every other year After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 (the 2020 installment was canceled), the show opened to an ecstatic audience awaiting to see local creations. The show was inspired by famous artists and at the end, fashioned to include the theme of the current exhibition on view at the Fresno Art Museum, “The Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes ”

The night was chilly and the audience members warmed themselves with wine and conversation. As laughter and joy filled the environment, the audience – many of whom were wearing fur coats themselves – sat down to celebrate local designers on Nov. 5.

At the event, 28 designers and artists worked to produce 42 total garments in a show about finding the beauty in unconventional items inspired by the artwork of famous artists.

Mark Standriff, the master of ceremonies and director of Beautify Fresno, joked that when he thought about beautifying Fresno, the ability to “make trash into something beautiful” was not something he envisioned.

For the past 12 years, Trashique has focused on crafting haute couture using recycled materials, with the focus on sustainability. Many of the pieces are secondhand finds from local thrift and consignment shops crafted to create something totally new. Others use such materials as zip-close bags and tarps to have more than one function.

Pattie Wilkinson’s creation, modeled by Chloe Tatro, was a performance on its own. Inspired by Maxfield Parrish, the garment was composed of a discarded bridesmaid dress, AC filters, chair cushion stuffing, and a rusted screen. Tatro walked the runway with holding handles that controlled the train of the dress. She swayed the poles to the ethereal music, creating a mystical view for the audience

Leslie Batty brought France to the runway with Kayland Love and Shamira Evans walking in synchronicity. The garments were inspired by Louis Bourgeois, an artist with emphasis in sculpture and installations. Both garments were composed of painter’s drop cloths, wooden thread spools, buttons, school binders, and popsicle sticks

The Marc Chagall section included a statement from one of the designers Enrique Cabrera modeld an orange getup with an emphasis on construction cones. Damen Pardo, the designer of the garment, said, “It’s a message about fragile masculinity.”

Cabrera took on a character, with female models batting eyelashes at a character he has become This section was a performance, with the models attempting to seduce his character. It’s avant garde, and it captured Chagall’s essence well.

Nothing at Trashique truly captured art as directly as the section for Yayoi Kusama did. Kusama, known for her polka dot art, completely dominated the models The models all displayed a form of polka dots in their garments

As Charnetta Hall walked the runway, the boldest designer statement was from NeFesha Ruth and Henry Ellard Jr., with Hall wearing nothing more than a faux fur cape, glass, and plastic beads. It embraced Kara Walker’s background rather than her work, but still embraces gender and sexuality

L O O K B O O K

Two alumni of previous Trashique shows closed the show with their creations made in correlation to the current exhibition of female archetypes at the Fresno Art Museum show Eric Gomez and Debra Erven worked together since August to produce something for the show.

Gomez worked to produce four of the seven archetypes, whereas Erven crafted two

Erven was a costume design professor at Fresno City College. After 28 years, she recently retired but continues to make garments as a hobby She says that Gomez had come to her in August to propose a Trashique project. She produced garments related to The Sage and The Thespian archetypes.

Erven’s creation for The Sage was a black textured dress with bell sleeves. In addition, a stuffed snake draped around the model. The dress and snake were made from garments from a local consignment shop, Repeat Performance

For The Thespian, the garments were composed of a plaid two piece with gold accents. It was heavily inspired by Alexander McQueen (Highland Rape), and made to mimick the presence of McQueen’s designs in the room dedicated to the Thespian archetype.

When asked about Erven's biggest challenge in regard to Trashique, she remarked that the snake was her biggest complication.

“Finding out how to make the snake hang on to the dress was my biggest problem,” she said

Conner McKnight, another designer present in the show, was given the objective to fulfill a design inspired by artist Ruth Asawa Modeled by Lin Mochi, his design played with obscure silhouettes and the addition of hair ornaments.

McKnight, who is a teacher, but makes garments as a hobby, also worked since August to produce something for the show Compiling some of his own fabrics from past garments and a sleeping bag he had planned to donate, McKnight created a bubble baby doll dress.

“The top is actually a sleeping bag that I couldn’t donate because it had already been slept in. So the seams you see are actually added on,” he said in an interview.

To create the silhouette, the model was fitted with a wire skirt, with the top added and held together by a bowed ribbon. To further accentuate this dress, the addition of more wire was added to the outside to play with the conventions of fashions

“The organza on the skirt is recycled from another one of my garments,” he said.

McKnight and Mochi, who are both also heavily involved in Fresno’s fashion scene, both expressed that they “wished people took fashion more seriously.”

Mochi, who modeled McKnight’s creation, remarked that fashion was her career In the past, she has also modeled for local brands House of Francisco and KD Dollhouse.

The night is remembered for its extravagant designs made by locals. Amongst Erven and McKnight, the other designers excelled in the creation of haute couture with the restriction of only using trash or secondhand items.

What’s behind this and why is it significant? In recent months, Downtown Fresno has become a new hub for Central Valley Fashion With shows arising during Arthop and others taking place in notable nightlife spots like Full Circle Brewery, Fresno is starting to see a fashion boom.

With the addition of Fresno Art Museum’s current exhibition, it’s a first for giving access to high fashion garments to Fresno locals “The Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes” introduces the seven female archetypes in fashion and showcases many high fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen, Iris Van Herpen, and Vivienne Westwood.

The Fashion House on BroadwayHouse of Francisco

Designer Spotlight #1

House of Francisco has been a notable figure in the creation of Downtown fashion. With frequent fashion shows taking place in Studio #19.

e x t e n d e d

Photo courtesy of Patrick Rodriguez and Yannick Lyet Kofi

DesignerSpotlight

In Fresno, the concept of being a fashion designer is still foreign. Francisco Rodriguez includes the misfits of the Central Valley to help bring his vision to life The individuals who wear his creations best are the ones who do not want to conform to a typical fashion standard

At the age of 32, Rodriguez’s vision is like a breath of fresh air in the Valley His avant-garde and non-conforming clothes prove to be the best of both worlds, new and sustainable

In April 2022, the House of Francisco launched its Spring & Summer Ready-To-Wear collection at Broadway Studios during ArtHop Fresno’s first Thursday of the month tradition Upon arrival, locals lined up against the establishment's walls, eagerly waiting for models to do their catwalks in his designs You could tell by the massive amount of people present at the show that anyone in the underground scene knows of House of Francisco

With music blaring and white walls vibrating, models catwalked down the Broadway Studios halls on the makeshift runway. What makes House of Francisco stand out from other brands is Rodriguez’s promise to diversify his runway. Models have different builds, heights and aesthetics Some identify with the LGBTQ+ community It is an invitation to authentic Fresno beauty

Rodriguez boasts of being one of the first fashion designers of Fresno, and it is rightfully earned. He takes the effort to craft each of his pieces by hand. It is also worth noting that his some of his designs often incorporate second-hand clothing sewn into another piece to make something entirely new

In his studio, located in one of the rooms inside Broadway Studios, lay bundles of different fabric and walls decorated with unfinished pieces and past season garments

Each garment from a past season exists as one of a kind

His energy and aura are inviting. His knowledge of fashion aspires to the future of fashion in Fresno. While he’s showcasing his work online and making an impact downtown, Rodriguez is creating magic for everyone willing to expand past Fresno’s typical fashion

During his time at SOMArts, he debuted on collections–

Rodriguez, who was born and raised in Fres designing his own clothes since becoming a beginnings in fashion derived from his own costumes that he found inspiring from the m

His earlies memory of fashion was city nigh later proved to be a considerable influence if there was a specific supermodel or drag q fashion influence in him, Rodriguez diverte Fresno locals, saying, “There’s a lot of beau Once I found my niche, I wanted to make c my best friends to wear my clothes.”

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fa San Francisco Art Institute (the fashion bu Rodriguez found that big cities like San Fra were not going to be the places to debut his Rodriguez’s view, he considers San Francisc Angeles is “too edgy ” Fresno is the perfect establish a new fashion scene, and Rodrigue becoming one of the known pioneers.

Opening the show just outside his studio is striped long sleeve sweater paired with a bl long white a-line petticoat Just after the fir lengthy white sheath two-piece with a gathe intricate details of ruffles and lace Making past show, a strapless taffeta dress with seq

After a series of feminine looks, a model sh deconstructed penguin-tailed suit made to f decorated with ostrich feathers and buttons garment is then finished with taffeta The g two fabrics not often expected to work toge proves otherwise

Just like Rodriguez’s eccentric personality, fashion show with an ensemble he made for double blazer sewn together to form a tailco made as a visual celebration of his creative together with blue, yellow, and red tulle ut asymmetric dress

Rodriguez’s strength is making dresses Som fabrics used for much of his designs and dre taffeta, two textiles that are not commonly fashion This is a reminder that House of Fr worn by those consumed by conformity

In July 2022, Rodriguez put on another fashion show at the same venue, this time for a different occasion It was the birthday party of one of the band members of a local Fresno band, PUPPET but with the general public invited to participate in festivities PUPPET was not the only act to perform, rather another locally known set of DJs under the name Pleasure Pack, provided the attendees with music to dance to.

Before the show, Francisco conditioned his models to do the perfect catwalk down the runway He resembled a conductor of an orchestra, instructing the models as instruments on how to appear: inspiring and elegant

With sounds provided by Pleasure Pack, Francisco showcases new designs for his summer show, along with past pieces he still has in his collection that have become synonymous with his brand image

Amongst one of the new looks never before seen is a two-piece cotton long sleeve sweater and shorts set The sweater is adorned with diagonally exposed hems and the shorts are rawly cut

The second of the new garments looked a bit illfitting for the model wearing it. Presented as an asymmetrical crop top with a high neck paired with matching wide-leg, cut-out detail pants, contrasted to how it was worn on the mannequin The design is on-par to current trends, such as the shape and cut-out of the pants but it appeared better when the mannequin wore it

Debuting third on the runway is a mini coral pink tulle dress. The fabric is just transparent enough to complement the skin but also allow the flashy lingerie to see through The model showcased this with a bubbly and jumpy strut, in similarity to her equally out of ordinary dress

In comparison, another “haute couture” look took over the gazes of the audience members It is a baby blue dress adorned with a silky thin ribbon of a matching hue, hung atop a white taffeta, square neckline dress. With the small details and presentation of the model, this represented the high fashion element of the show High fashion is here, present in the valley with Rodriguez as the head of the category

AVANT Garde

A prominent silhouette from the past shows makes a return: a satin lime green layered dress Beneath the surface was a fuchsia lining embellished with taffeta that gave length to the initial bubble-like dress The design was out of the ordinary yet reminiscent of an 80s awakening with its colors and shape

Earlier in 2022, House of Francisco was one of the 10 fashion brands and designers to showcase garments for The “NO” Fashion Show in Fresno hosted by Styles by KMonet Styles by KMonet is a personal stylist and boutique

Styles by KMonet is also someone in the community who is active in creating the “Fashion in Fresno” movement She included Rodriguez in a livestream to talk about the current state of Fresno some time after the event

At Full Circle Brewing Co. located in the heart of Downtown Fresno, 30 local models walked down the runway dressed in garments of the 10 brands Rodriguez presents both new and past garments, all hand-made under the House of Francisco brand

Destiny Duran, a frequent model of his clothes, was one of the first to walk the runwalk outside the studio floors. She was clad in an almost replica version of the satin lime green dress, only this version was baby blue for the “NO” Fashion Show

“Giving a show to everyone and having each of us be a part of it was just different than anything I ever went through,” Duran said “When I met him, I immediately heard about the fashion shows I asked to be a part of the modeling,“ she said

Duran is also a vendor outside of Rodriguez’s studio space during Art Hop. The two have become friends through their love for fashion and her support for his craft

“I think as a creator he has everything he needs to create anything he truly wants and loves to see, and he’s not selfish In the light he gives everybody a chance, and that’s what I truly am grateful for is having someone showing off a side of fashion nobody sees often,” she said

Again in August, Rodriguez was a guest designer and presented new pieces at a fashion show put together by Darius Huggins at Full Circle Brewery Co. Huggins runs an Instagram account named “The Valley’s FashionVerse” that organizes fashion shows for fashion enthusiasts to attend, model, and showcase.

Conner McKnight, an upcoming designer who is a as friend and business partner, has both modeled for and shared the runway with the designer He was present at that show in support of Rodriguez

“He has shown me the potential for what sewing is capable of in Fresno, he's really carving out a path that's never existed before,” McKnight said.

McKnight is a teacher who dabbles in fashion and costume design as a hobby He has previously shown some pieces during a fashion show hosted by Rodriguez He has also just recently created a piece for Trashique

McKnight credits Rodriguez with allowing to utilize some of his models and mannequins for use “ As long as I'm willing to put in the work, he's willing to lend a hand,” McKnight said

With Rodriguez, McKnight can count on him for networking, advertising, and acceptance of creative expression.

“He’s pretty much jump-started my personal pursuits in costume design,” McKnight said

After graduating, Rodriguez never stopped learning His mind was always absorbing new knowledge of textiles, sewing, and silhouettes His capacity and passion for fashion continue to evolve As a hardworking individual with an artistic vision, it’s evident that his work is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

“I am fearless and don’t contribute to the mass market, and I’m not afraid to go out of the box and differentiate. Not for the sake of being different but for the sake of being experimental with fashion. Fashion is my art, my tool," Rodriguez said.

S H O W

M S H S F A S H I O N

The sixth annual show OriginallypublishedinTheCollegian

THE WORLD IS YOUR RUNWAY

Shae Dellamaggiore, a student, designer and model for Madera South High School’s sixth annual fashion show, turned heads as they modeled in self-made designs and represented two minority demographics in the fashion world; the queer community and models with disabilities

Dellamaggiore, who goes by they/them pronouns, is the designer of their self-made company, Shae’s Custom Outfits. They were the first designer to showcase two original crocheted items: a two-piece inspired by traditional Mexican folklorico dresses and another brown colored two-piece set modeled by Dellamaggiore

“As a kid, my family was very crafty. I started crocheting at 8, crocheting, sewing and knitting I've been making my own jewelry since I realized at 10 [years old], it's been a lifelong thing,” Dellamaggiore said

This year ’ s theme for Madera South High School’s annual fashion show was “The World Is Your Runway,” featuring a variety of local brands and embodying different cultures, on March 3 In addition, the event also featured live performances from Aztec dancers. The presentation of fashion was extraordinary in the Central Valley that typically falls behind in keeping up with trends

Dellamaggiore was a frequent face on the runway, each time serving a fierce attitude with each garment they wore.

“It was really nice. Everyone was really supportive. It was nice to be out there, especially having representation for different groups. I'm disabled. I'm queer And there's a lot of representation today, and it was really nice to see all of that,” Dellamaggiore told me

Dellamaggiore sold a majority of her clothing at the end of the show, and after encouragement from their peers, Dellamaggiore created an Instagram account to market their garments

“I did sell most of them already. There's still stuff out there I am now on Instagram because people are wanting my Instagram So I just made one like a few minutes ago, ” they said

After Dellamaggiore’s presentation, the runways were flooded with a takeover of formal wear

Some models strutted in suits from Men’s Warehouse and others strided in quinceañera dresses. The dresses were from the models’ personal wardrobes to represent their Mexican culture

Later in the show, Angel’s Bridal showed a collection of different gowns in time for the upcoming prom season

Next up, Ari Rey, a Madera-based activewear brand, presented their collection of happy-go-lucky, mood wearing garments of bright neon colors The collection consisted of matching sets, cargo pants and oversized T-shirts paired with biker shorts

Arianna Reyes, the designer behind Ari Rey, founded the brand with a $5,000 tax refund in 2016

“The World Is Your Runway” had a world culture theme, one highlight was the introduction of Yoztaltepetl traditions Aztec dancers, led by Gloria Guerrero, filled the space with colorful headdresses and the sound of rattling ankle braces Their performance amplified the stage with vigor, resistance and the embracing of Aztec society

Other brands presented their clothing as well: Ms Limón V, Sunshine’s Custom Designs and House of Morii.

Ms. Limon V’s collection took inspiration from the Yokut Choinumni tribes of the Central Valley. Models walked in loosely fitted garments, cinched by belts, to the sounds of Native American DJ, Dj Shrub

Sunshine’s Custom Designs came to the fashion show with printed T-shirts, customized sneakers and a denim outfit with matching wide brim hat

Dora Ryans, creator of Sunshine’s Custom Design, said this was her first time showcasing a collection The brand began at the beginning of COVID-19 in 2020.

“It was a blessing to see others interested in my items They were just as excited as I was, ” Ryans said

One of her designs, the Nike sneakers, were made from an old pair that her daughter had given her

“Instead of throwing them away, I revamped them and now they’re new, ” Ryans said “The hats were too plain and boring, so I changed them to give them a different look.”

Much of her sneakers incorporated intricate rhinestone designs Jackets were vibrant with different paisley prints and light wash denim

“I hope people will be encouraged to step out of their comfort zone You never know what blessings are waiting for you, ” Ryans said

The House of Morii, founded by business partners Amanda Espindola and Jasmin Mejia, featured chic bodycon dresses and a two-piece relaxed set Many of the Madera South’s Fashion Club officers took part in modeling this collection

Gloria Vander Laan and Araceli Witters, the faculty advisors for Madera South’s Fashion Club, introduced the fashion club officers to the audience

Natalia Sandoval, the president of the fashion club, was behind the scenes the entire time making sure that the fashion show was running smoothly

“I was very excited because I helped them with practice I was in the background Instead of modeling, I would help with the music When I saw it all come together I was just so excited to see my vision,” Sandoval said

Sandoval told me that before she was elected president of the fashion club, she was an usher, so managing backstage duties was hardly challenging for her

“This year, I got elected president So yeah, I wanted to help more backstage and it was chaotic, but it was worth it,” Sandoval said.

Sandoval’s favorite part of the show was seeing alumni present themselves in garments that showcase their personal style

“When the alumni came, it was so cool Seeing all these people from different years, graduating coming together again in Madera And I thought that was really cool,” she said

Ortiz Western Wear, a featured brand in the fashion show, represented traditional Mexican guayaberas in its collection Its models danced to ranchera music while walking on the runway.

A Madera South alumna, Mary Idowu, followed up with her brand Majo, taking direct inspiration from her Nigerian heritage.

Models walked down the runway in printed garments with Idowu herself walking in a bright yellow dress

“I hope the community can take in the beauty of my culture and even peak an interest in getting to know more about African culture and its roots in the fashion industry,” Idowu said

The garments were loose fitting and decorated with matching printed scarves The traditional garments, ankara, lace, and kampala are considered everyday wear in Nigeria The textiles used to craft the traditional pieces was from wax ankara, asoke and kampala.

“It’s funny when I wear them here in America People think I’m dressing extravagantly, but this is the daily norm [in Nigeria],” Idowu said “The inspiration was to bring the daily norm into this society and even encourage my fellow Africans to dress up in their native attires and feel at home again.”

Yua Cha, a special education staff member at Madera South, presented Hmong outfits in the show

Models were dressed in outfits representative of the culture with head dresses and accessories added Traditionally, the outfits are crafted with hemp fabric and are embroidered with intricate designs

The models appeared in vests with silver coins, dresses with criss-crossed patterns and the vivid colors of red, green, and yellow.

Thrift Demon, a Fresno-based thrift store, brought a collection of modern fashion trends with an emphasis on sustainability Thrift Demon offers quality second hand clothing and can be found on 1904 Fresno St

To close, Kordova presented a colorful collection of garments. From faux leather flare pants to a dazzling mini dress covered by a scarf of various flag printed textiles, the collection.

Vander Laan, the advisor for the fashion club, told me that she was very emotional.

“When I see the students express themselves I cried probably like 10 times tonight It was very amazing I just love how they begin to open up and just express themselves in a beautiful way, ” Vander Laan said

Madera South Fashion Club hosts fashion shows to raise money for the Fashion Institute of Technology and Merchandising annual fashion show that the club attends every year.

Vander Laan hopes to bring the community together as she promotes local fashion into her events

“I feel like a lot of places need to unite together and just glean off each other's creativity and knowledge. When we come together, it becomes an incredible feat,” she said.

Vander Laan hopes that more Madera students are willing to try out to be models for next year

LOOKBOOK

PAPER CRANE GALLERY FASHION SHOW

Photos courtesy of Miguel Durand

House of Francisco, Conner

McKnight, Hell Alchemy present

On April 28, three designers and artists from Paper Crane Gallery, an art collective, collaborated for a fashion show During the show, two artists atop a platform, sketched models as they reached the top of the staircase

Fresno High’s second ‘Sustainable Beauty’ fashion show features designs from Fresno State student and alumna

Jessee Robinson is a criminology student at Fresno State with a talent for crafting fashion out of sustainable materials. Her brand, Longhorn Leather Co , specializes in purses, jackets and wallets with an eco-friendly cause behind it.

One of her designs is a leather jacket with a cow-print detail and brown waist belt. Robinson was inspired by western style with a touch of formal flair

“I wanted to create items that would make the wearer feel confident and beautiful while simultaneously being useful and mindful of the environment,” Robinson said.

Her work was featured in Fresno High School’s second annual “Sustainable Beauty” fashion show on March 18, which combines student and adult designers to craft garments using recycled items. The garments were made from bubble wrap to CDs, and also upcycled fast fashion.

Sustainable fashion aims to give new life to old, fast-fashion pieces.

Fresno has done sustainable fashion before with events such as Trashique, but "Sustainable Beauty" focused on students' works

Robinson always had a knack for fashion from a young age, and is also conscious about the environment.

Jessee Robinson is a criminology student at Fresno State with a talent for crafting fashion out of sustainable materials. Her brand, Longhorn Leather Co , specializes in purses, jackets and wallets with an eco-friendly cause behind it.

One of her designs is a leather jacket with a cow-print detail and brown waist belt. Robinson was inspired by western style with a touch of formal flair

“I wanted to create items that would make the wearer feel confident and beautiful while simultaneously being useful and mindful of the environment,” Robinson said.

Her work was featured in Fresno High School’s second annual “Sustainable Beauty” fashion show on March 18, which combines student and adult designers to craft garments using recycled items. The garments were made from bubble wrap to CDs, and also upcycled fast fashion.

Sustainable fashion aims to give new life to old, fast-fashion pieces.

Fresno has done sustainable fashion before with events such as Trashique, but "Sustainable Beauty" focused on students' works

Robinson always had a knack for fashion from a young age, and is also conscious about the environment.

Sustainability is just one thing that motivates her to create

“It is incredibly important for us as humans to adopt sustainability. In recent years, there has been a decline in the quality of life on our planet due to the increasing amount of consumption of products, such as clothing. If sustainability becomes more prevalent, there will be better conditions around the world,” Robinson said

This is more than just a quick trend in the fashion industry More fashion houses vowed to reduce waste and others offered eco-friendly wear, such as Loewe’s Spring/Summer 23 collection of grass garments.

Robinson said sustainable clothing will outgrow fast fashion because more people are learning about the environmental dangers of fast fashion and textile waste

“With all the recent pushes to have a greener planet, I believe there will be a substantial shift in fashion purchases,” Robinson said.

Talene Karkazian, Fresno State alumna and designer from Trashique, returned to debut five new pieces at “Sustainable Beauty ”

For one of her works, Karkazian upcycled a quinceñera dress and redesigned jacket decorated with antique charms, creating a new red dress out of older clothing.

Her other pieces included: a black bodice and mismatched textile skirt with lace trimmings, an asymmetrical polka-dot dress with a layered skirt, a deconstructed vest paired with an upcycled sporty dress, and a jeweled bustier top finished with denim

Her creative inspiration derives from her grandmother in Lebanon.

“When there was war, they closed down everything, and so she was making her babies’ wedding dresses with whatever she had That's how I learned She always taught me to use what you have and make it look good,” Karkazian said

D’Ambrosio said that thrift stores should be transparent about their recycling practices with consumers

D’Ambrosio hopes events such as “Sustainability Beauty” will be helpful, not only in promoting sustainability but also building a community for creators as well.

“Next year we're going to continue growing. We're going to continue marketing it. We're going to continue bringing in designers and artists and just bringing awareness to this,” D’Ambrosio said.

KORDOVA X MS. LIMÓN V REVITALIZES 100-YEAR

OLD DICK’S MENSWEAR BUILDING WITH FASHION FORWARD BOUTIQUE

Kordova x Ms Limón V aims to make Chinatown a new fashion hub with monthly fashion shows and featured designers every month during ArtHop. The new storefront is owned by Fresno residents Mikey Garcia and Anndrea Villarreal, both aiming for inclusivity in their clothing

They occupied the iconic Dick’s Menswear building, known for its exterior of gold koi fish.

“When we came into the space, it was just like [an] instant homey feel [and] I like what we have going on with the exposed brick walls. Very urban [and] industrial. It really complements both of our customer bases ” Garcia said

On Feb 2, Fresno’s Chinatown welcomed the two new fashion designers as they hosted their grand opening of Kordova x Ms. Limón V. But before their joint venture, Garcia and Villarreal started with separate fashion houses

Villarreal founded Ms Limón V and created a specialized brand of lingerie and clothes for diverse body sizes, ranging from XXS to 5X. She wants her customers to trust the brand’s quality, comfortability and durability

Her business partner, Garcia, is a graphic designer and creator of Kordova He makes original designs and hand-sewn garments, with many of his products supporting gender inclusivity

When Villareal met Garcia at a wedding through a mutual friend, they found a common interest in clothes and decided to bring their two brands together, creating their current shared spot

“I've noticed that people are very hyped about Chinatown being revitalized, especially this building. What I really liked about us moving in here is that people stopped by and are really excited that this building is still going,” Villarreal said

Villarreal also wants to assure customers that she will fix any of her garments that may have sustained average wear-and-tear.

“The quality of fabric really trumps a lower price and I want them to know with each purchase of mine, I will fix it for the rest of your life,” she said.

After ArtHop, they held their new annual event “Zest Fest,” a fashion show, on Feb 5 The event hit the streets of Fresno and showcased city businesses, along with local models

Sarah Joy a vendor selling artwork and stickers at the storefront mentioned how Fresno was growing both artistically and fashionably

“I think it's perfect for Fresno right now. I think this scene has been really growing and growing,” Joy said

“Fresno’s doing big things, and I want people to come out and show some support for local vendors, local artists, local theaters,” Joy added.

Individuals can follow the shared business Instagram for more updates regarding upcoming fashion events.

In the middle of the Zest Fest show, Lindsey Pugh, a guest designer, stunned attendees with her elegant designs Utilizing textiles with glitters, and experimenting with nonconforming angled hems, her collection took a fantastical approach

She said it was “exhilarating” to see her garments as the models showcased her clothing Pugh’s brand, Fastened By Lyn, is driven by dystopian ideas to create empowering garments for individuals

“It's definitely influenced by dystopian movies I wanted to create a world to wear my clothes And so I actually started by writing a synopsis in my own dystopian world where fashion is a hierarchy. And so I was very influenced by Madman,” she said.

Zest Fest was a gala full of fashion appreciation and vendor recognition The event was staged on Feb. 5 by Anndrea Villarreal and Mikey Garcia, designers and owners of their shared storefront called Kordova x Ms Limón V

The new annual Zest Fest aims to bring the community together in celebrating fashion in a new revitalized area of Fresno’s Chinatown

Pugh was the third artist to display her work. She is a self-taught costume designer with eight years of sewing experience, but this was her first attempt at fashion.

“Events like this give the opportunity for those voices to be heard Especially for me, I'm not very eloquent with my words, but I feel my passion speaks for itself,” she said.

“It was an amazing experience to actually see them come to life and to see what a person looks like with it on,” Pugh added.

All of Pugh’s clothes are available for sale She is also releasing an art book through Blurb that details her creative process.

I n t r o d u c t i o n

Pixiegift Fashions has been in operation since 2014, but this is Iwata’s first time doing a fashion show in Fresno

She told The Collegian that she was excited to showcase her work as a Sacramento native

“We just have so much in common. I think the way we get throughout this journey is different but I mean we ' re all the same and we ' re all very supportive Sacramento would be really interested in what Fresno is doing now,” she said

“I think that whether you’re Central, Northern, Southern, we all need to be together We're a community and that's what's really important out here We all need to be working together,” Iwata added

Iwata’s clothing was present both on the runway and vendor space, with her designs being modeled and matching hair accessories being sold She explained how her clothing also embraces her heritage:

“I just want to be happy and I just want to create things that make me happy and hopefully, other people are empowered by that I am making up for all the times I've never been empowered You know, [I’m] Asian American I'm kind of just taking that power back for myself and I noticed other people feel that way ”

Zest Fest opened with creations from Sacramento designer Gina Iwata She created Pixiegift Fashions, specializing in hyper-feminine designs.

Garcia’s brand, Kordova, was showcased soon after Designs encapsulated techwear, with reflective harnesses and neon colors. Models were decorated with bucket hats and sunglasses

Garcia said his brand represents his state of mind and his imagination, with much of his designs being handmade

His collection for the runway embraced neon, with models in futuristic style streetwear and others in subtle glitters Two of the models were suited in dresses, with one in a strapless leopard silhouette and the other in a subtle, chromatic glitter dress

Kordova is a brand that faced trial and error and a passion project that showcases a visual representation of Garcia’s graphic design skills. He started it in high school but it fell through Garcia tried again in college, but went through financial obstacles

When Garcia finally found a manufacturer, it was at the start of the pandemic.

“It really was a light to push for me to start doing the clothes myself again, learning how to sew. I think that's kind of the beauty and the light is just like keep going Don't give up,” he added

Now, Kordova is up and running, along with its collaborative partner Ms Limón V

Villarreal is the designer of Ms Limón V Villarreal presented two collections: one inspired by the pandemic and the impact it had on sex workers, and the other showcasing Villarreal’s take on formalwear

In her first collection, Villarreal’s streetwear displayed words like “subscribe” and “tips” across the garments. The words represented industries such as OnlyFans and embraced exotic dancers Hems were cut short and the exposure of skin was imminent for this collection.

Villarreal’s second collection had models walking in formal gowns. Models broke conformist standards by wearing fabrics uncommonly seen on masculine silhouettes The collection surpasses gender binary norms in formal apparel and, like the first set, embraces the exposure of skin

Ms Limón V derives from Villarreal’s childhood nickname Her motivations to create a brand stem from big name designer flaws and limitations in styles.

When she was 19, she noticed some expensive brand clothing had some flaws, like Agent Provocateur for example

“I thought ‘Well why don't I just do this myself,’” she said.

Villarreal capped off Zest Fest with her collection but will continue to host future galas. Garcia and Villarreal will continue to hold monthly fashion shows and feature local designers. For next year’s Zest Fest, they hope to invite high school student designers to showcase their creations

“There is fashion in California that isn't just Valentino and the higher brands Independent designers do have talent and it's time to watch us,” Villarreal said.

The next Zest Fest is Jan 27, 2024, in the Dick’s Menswear Building. Kordova x Ms. Limón will hold its next fashion show on March 2 during ArtHop

Photography:

Miguel Durand – Pages 1, 3-10, 2639

Yannick Lyet Kofi – Pages 11, 4547, 50, 52

Patrick Rodriguez – Pages 12-19

West – Page 2

Ana Rodríguez – Page 53

Dev Hernandez – Page 54

Editors/Mentors:

The Collegian Staff

Manuel Hernandez

Donald Munro (munroreview.com)

MANYTHANKSFORTHE SUPPORT

CONTACT

scientiasfashion squarespace com

scientiasfashion@gmail.com

In The 'No EDITION

FIRST

Lastly, many thanks to the readers and special people willing to give me their time for an interview.