Fashion Group International Boston presents: The Launch
by Ian L.
by Ian L.
As many of us here in Boston know, Jay Calderin loves fashion. Not only is he a teacher at the School of Fashion Design on Newbury Street and the founder of Boston Fashion Week, Jay is also the head of the Boston chapter of Fashion Group International. He, along with the other FGI leading members helped to develop "The Launch", a presentation of Boston's finest young and emerging designers.
For the debut of the Launch presentation, Jay and the leading members of FGI Boston selected five local designers from a talented group of entrants. The designers were chosen not only on the creativity and craftsmanship of their work but also on whether or not they were ready for business. As Jay explained to me, Fashion Group International is made up of fashion industry professionals and it has a strong interest in promoting designers that either are, or will be, industry professionals. The five local designers chosen for the inaugural Launch presentation are Millie Bautista, Nara Paz, Pavlina Gilson, Eddi Phillips and Elena Sanders.
Mille Bautista is a graduate of the Mass College of Art and has been featured in top local media sites such as
For the debut of the Launch presentation, Jay and the leading members of FGI Boston selected five local designers from a talented group of entrants. The designers were chosen not only on the creativity and craftsmanship of their work but also on whether or not they were ready for business. As Jay explained to me, Fashion Group International is made up of fashion industry professionals and it has a strong interest in promoting designers that either are, or will be, industry professionals. The five local designers chosen for the inaugural Launch presentation are Millie Bautista, Nara Paz, Pavlina Gilson, Eddi Phillips and Elena Sanders.
Mille Bautista is a graduate of the Mass College of Art and has been featured in top local media sites such as
Local Designer Millie Bautista poses with Lisa Pierpont of Boldfacers. Millie is one of five designers chosen for The Launch by FGI Boston.
Boldfacers. She designed a whole new collection inspired by the 1940's for The Launch. Millie has just started her business and she hopes that her participation in The Launch will help bring her more exposure. She eventually wants to have her line carried by boutiques nationwide.
Nara Paz is a native of Brazil and a recent graduate of Lasell College. Her first collection is a high end, ready-to-wear line that was heavily influenced by the shapes and colors of the renaissance period. Like Millie, Nara also hopes to have her collection carried in national boutiques.
Pavlina Gilson is originally from the Czech Republic and a graduate of the Mass College of Art in 2008. She designs a line of clothing called PRIEMLOV that's finely tailored, easily wearable, and made of uniquely embellished fabrics. Pavlina goes as far as to manipulate fabric with couture techniques to create unique effects. Her line is carried by Turtle boutique in Boston and Parker Brown Textiles in Rockport.
Eddi Phillips is a Californian native. He now lives in Southbridge, MA and is a recent graduate of the School of Fashion Design. He worked in the financial services field for 15 years before finally pursuing his
Pavlina Gilson is originally from the Czech Republic and a graduate of the Mass College of Art in 2008. She designs a line of clothing called PRIEMLOV that's finely tailored, easily wearable, and made of uniquely embellished fabrics. Pavlina goes as far as to manipulate fabric with couture techniques to create unique effects. Her line is carried by Turtle boutique in Boston and Parker Brown Textiles in Rockport.
Eddi Phillips is a Californian native. He now lives in Southbridge, MA and is a recent graduate of the School of Fashion Design. He worked in the financial services field for 15 years before finally pursuing his
This dress was designed by Elena Sanders. Note the windup key in the center of the dress. Elena has a talent for fashion and costume design.
dream of fashion. His first collection is a fine mix of chic cocktail dresses and beautiful evening gowns.
Elena Sanders is a recent graduate of Mount Ida College and has also been recently voted on the Boston Globe as one of the 25 Most Stylish Bostonians of 2009. The clothes Elena put on display at The Launch have a theatrical look to them but if you take away the costume elements, you'll be left with very wearable and highly innovative clothing.
The Launch presentation included a small runway show of the designers' clothing. The room where the collection was shown was all white save for mirrors on one side wall. The focus was all on the clothing. Lisa Pierpont of Boldfacers was the emcee for the show. Days after the show, the designers were hosted by Macys in Downtown Crossing where their clothes were put on display throughout the store and in the main windows.
Jay Calderin hopes that this is the beginning of a great program. The Launch will return again next year to find the next five local designers with great potential. For the meantime, it will stay with the format of five designers but things could change to include more a few years down the road. Jay believes The Launch will make a fine addition to an already expanding Boston Fashion Week, a fashion week that grows more visible and more relevant with each passing year; a fact that as the week's founder, Jay is very proud of.
To find out more about FGI Boston and the designers, please visit:
http://boston.fgi.org/
http://www.narapaz.com/
http://www.milliebautista.com/
http://www.eddiphillips.com/
http://www.priemlov.com/
http://elenasanders.com/
Elena Sanders is a recent graduate of Mount Ida College and has also been recently voted on the Boston Globe as one of the 25 Most Stylish Bostonians of 2009. The clothes Elena put on display at The Launch have a theatrical look to them but if you take away the costume elements, you'll be left with very wearable and highly innovative clothing.
The Launch presentation included a small runway show of the designers' clothing. The room where the collection was shown was all white save for mirrors on one side wall. The focus was all on the clothing. Lisa Pierpont of Boldfacers was the emcee for the show. Days after the show, the designers were hosted by Macys in Downtown Crossing where their clothes were put on display throughout the store and in the main windows.
Jay Calderin hopes that this is the beginning of a great program. The Launch will return again next year to find the next five local designers with great potential. For the meantime, it will stay with the format of five designers but things could change to include more a few years down the road. Jay believes The Launch will make a fine addition to an already expanding Boston Fashion Week, a fashion week that grows more visible and more relevant with each passing year; a fact that as the week's founder, Jay is very proud of.
To find out more about FGI Boston and the designers, please visit:
http://boston.fgi.org/
http://www.narapaz.com/
http://www.milliebautista.com/
http://www.eddiphillips.com/
http://www.priemlov.com/
http://elenasanders.com/