Sarah Nami Ahn is an LA based fashion designer and founder of her own womenswear brand called NAMI after her middle name, her Korean name. Ahn’s brand, NAMI, rapidly gained traction after just one season, her debut collection SS12 that was shown at NYFW, LAFW in September and October 2011, respectively. Ahn only launched her line June of 2011 and within a short year, her line is now sold online and in boutiques around the country. Her design aesthetics is highly influenced by her worldly travels as an Army Brat, her heritage, her unusual educational background, and finally by architecture.
On October 13th, NAMI presented its Spring/Summer 2013 collection in Los Angeles, and we were lucky enough to be at the show. Check out our collection review as well as our interview with the designer, Sarah Ahn, after the cut!
I was first introduced to Thai Nguyen’s work eight months ago at his debut fashion show in March. Back then, he established himself as a designer who creates flowy light-weight dresses so I expected his Spring 2012 collection to be similar. On October 15th, I attended Thai Nguyen’s 2nd runway show for Concept LA Fashion Week and I was certainly surprised by his new collection.
You know a designer is established when you search for LA Fashion Week events and see that her name is singled out with her own private invite-only event and not jumbled into a series of other fashion shows. I’m talking about Sue Wong. Her work never ceases to amaze me – she really has an eye for great taste and elegance. I’m not really the type who goes for dresses with beading and ruffles but when they look so graceful like Sue Wong’s, I will definitely make an exception. She really goes on to perfect every little detail.
LA Fashion Week has come and gone but besides the onstage drama, there were some backstage ones going on as well!
Due to mismanagement on show permits, shows held at LA Production Studios on Thursday, October 21 were canceled. Many of the designers (most of which are fresh faces) were unable to showcase their work. However, instead of just packing up and going home, some of these designers took an alternative route and held a press reception/bloggers cafe in conjunction with Fashion Los Angeles, displaying their designs atop a downtown studio flat for selected press to check out.
The designers in attendance were Daisy Gonzalez, and Paulina Lopez and Anh Volcek with her L’une collection. You may remember, Audrey Magazine was a proud sponsor of Ms. Volcek’s canceled show. The Vietnamese designer has been on our radar since winning a gold thimble from the Parson’s School of Design.
Left to right: Paulina Lopez, Michael Venedicto, Anh Volcek, Cynthia Ruiz, Dais
Anh Volcek
Volcek’s designs have a clean and simple appeal to them, an style that makes sense once you find out she used to work for fashion houses like Nautica, Gap, and Calvin Klein. Each dress is named after a close friend and and the aura of life that surrounds that woman.
The Allegra gown in white
With plenty of drinks chilling by the sink and bloggers milling about, this showcase was definitely a far more intimate affair compared to the canceled fashion show. But with press and guests invited to touch the fabrics and get a up-close look at them draping off the models, fashion definitely got a lot cozier.
For more information on Anh Volcek’s collection, check out L’une Collection.
All photography graciously provided by Melissa Manning from The Look Partnership.
