Lie Sangbong
Lie Sang Bong is one of Korea’s preeminent fashion designers, a master craftsman and artist who is internationally recognized for his architectural collections that celebrate and enhance the body. Since founding his eponymous brand, LIE SANGBONG, in 1985 Mr. Lie continues to blend traditional influences and innovative techniques, allowing his work to resonate with audiences around the world.
“One good thing about being a fashion designer is that you can live in different ages, combine even oppositional ideas and techniques to create something that is both contemporary and useful, ” says Mr. Lie. Believing that fashion is where art and industry converge, he combines diverse influences including: Korean poetry, calligraphy and architecture, Cubism, Bauhaus design, 1930’s Film Noir heroines, and the natural world. Garment construction is approached from an architectural perspective; silhouettes are built out from Bauhaus-influenced geometric shapes. Mr. Lie also produces unique ‘tech’ fabrics for each of his collections. Intricate techniques, like laser cutting, embroidery and digital printing, are applied to natural fabrics, used alone and in combination with one another.
LIE SANGBONG continues to receive critical acclaim and has been featured in publications including: Vogue, Vanity Fair, W, The New York Times, Le Figaro, The Telegraph, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. Mr. Lie has dressed notable women such as Korea’s First Lady, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Rosario Dawson, Kelly Rowland, and Juliette Binoche. An influential artistic and cultural figure in Korea, he currently acts as the president of CFDK (Council of Fashion Designers of KOREA) and a cultural Ambassador for the City of Seoul.
Michele Helene
Easy meets sexy and goes global. That’s the concept behind Michelle Helene, a new brand about to become every woman’s favorite line. The designer’s sculptural, yet classic pieces tell a tale of finding your inner self, while exploring the world at large. It’s not about wearing a costume; it’s about realizing who you are. “I find inspiration all around me on a daily basis, including everything from nature, art, museums, music and traveling to friends and family,” Michelle says. “My inspiration is never rooted in one thing. For each collection, I look at everything around me and take it in and use it to create either fabric, color story, or design.” Though she does love New York and the rush the city provides.
Launched in Fall 2014, Michelle Helene focuses on an organic design process, eschewing the usual mood board in favor of weaving fabrics in Taos with her brother, Alex. From there, the form of the collection takes place. Michelle, who studied at the Academy of Art in San Francisco and worked with various contemporary brands before launching her own line, it’s important to have a personal connection with her clothes and fabrics. “I take special care in sourcing my fabrics each season. I often use organic cottons, some of which feature yarns that have been hand-dyed by women in South Africa, a Buddhist nun from Taos, and some of the recycled jersey yarn was made from jersey waste from the mills.” That careful touch is apparent in the bespoke collection, which is full of stunningly beautiful silhouettes, well-crafted folds, and pieces that any woman around the world can wear, whether it’s a dress, trousers, a cape or blouse. “The fit is really important, for a lot of different bodies. I have a certain clientele, and I want to make everyone satisfied, to have that personal connection.”
But the end goal of course is to make sure you love the clothes as much as Michelle does. “Wearability is always important, you can’t feel sexy or confident if you don’t feel like yourself. I believe this goes back to making pieces that my customer sees as an extension of themselves, I want them to feel unique but natural all at the same time.”
Set Design — Jason Peters; Styling — Marcell Rocha; Casting — Anna Lev; Hair — Jorge Luis of PRIVE; Makeup — Regan Rabanal for MAC; Nails — Rose Velez – Miggins of Doorbella; Production & PR — EB Consults
Babyghost
Qiaoran Huang and Joshua Hupper launched Babyghost five years ago and have since developed a distinct following. For fall, the duo took their best-selling items from seasons past and reworked them. “We deconstructed and reconstructed pieces,” said Hupper.
The designers, who were inspired by an Asian technique of filling in cracked porcelain with gold filigree, felt the reworked looks were even more beautiful than the originals. Hupper, pointing to one coat, noted, “We cut the lining and made the lining the outer and the outer shell the inside of the coat.”
The outerwear was certainly show-stopping. But underneath those pieces, were equally as impressive layers and separates. So all in all, some great RTW too.
Nineteenth Amendment Event at Macys Herald Square
Nineteenth Amendment was created on the idea that fashion is a choice and that the garment production process for manufacturers in the US needed a makeover. And, just like its namesake, Nineteenth Amendment believes everyone has a right to choose how to make the system – and their closets – a better place.
So for NYFW, they brought 6 of their designers to showcase their latest looks. But this was not just for show! This NYFW event was also a shoppable one as each of these stunning looks were up for grabs.
