West Eighteenth Street Fashion Show, Kansas City

2009 Call for Designers is OPEN

CALL FOR DESIGNERS FOR NEXT YEAR’S RUNWAY EVENT IS OPEN! The Kansas City Crossroad’s 9th Annual West 18th Street Fashion Show will return on Saturday, June 13th, 2009. The annual event is looking for cutting-edge artists and designers to be a part of KC’s runway tradition.

• To apply:
• *At least 3 photographs of previous garment/clothing design work (not on CD)
• *Resume
• *Artist’s Statement
• *Registration Fee: $25 (cash or check made payable to "18th St. Fashion Show")

• Please mail or hand-deliver the above information to:
• 9th Annual Call for Artists
• c/o birdies
• 116 W. 18th St.
• K.C., MO 64108

To be considered, all registration materials must be received by 7.00pm on Saturday, March 7th, 2009. Please email any questions to 18thstreetfashionshow@gmail.com. Please note, no materials will be returned.

Last year’s eight annual West 18th Street Fashion Show, Summer at Sea, featured eighteen collections showcasing the best in cutting-edge fashion design. Each year, this event draws a record-breaking crowd and coveted press. The West 18th Street Fashion Show has been featured in Women’s Wear Daily (New York), My Midwest (Midwest Airlines’ In-Flight Magazine), KC Star, Verge Magazine, Present Magazine, Urban Times, Ink and The Pitch, among others. Also, the event organizer- the 18th Street boutique merchant birdies- has been covered locally in such further publications as KC Magazine, KC Living and Spaces, as well as nationally in Elle Magazine, Country Living, USA Today, Midwest Living, BUST and Nylon.

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2008 Summer at Sea Designers

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Andrew Hansen

• Design influences: I have continually been influenced by Savile Row tailoring which sparked my absolute love for fine craft, as well as the designers who focus on shifting structural elements in clothing design like Issey Miyake and Junya Wantanbe.
• Design style: I design with the dandy aesthetic of balancing refinement and foppery.
• Favorite article of clothing: My favorite piece of clothing would definitely be my man-skirt. It is incredibly comfortable and usually prompts a dialogue when I wear it out in public.
• Contact: farrell.clothing.design@gmail.com

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Made In America

by Ari Fish

• Design influences: American Civil War, Spanish Colonial stuff, African nomadic tribes, Zoobilee Zoo, Pippy Long Stocking, Robert Altman, Gareth Pugh, Russell Ferguson, Zuni, Hamburglar, prison uniforms
• Design style: fit for the North, West, East, South, rain, sun, wind, snow, hail, bullets, knives, fire, love, sex and armies
• Favorite article of clothing: I am getting really comfortable in socks.
• Contact: www.myspace.com/arifish

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birdies

• Design influences include: Dita Von Tease, Stella McCartney, 1940's and 1950's vintage
• Design style: classy, sexy, timeless, adorable
• Contact: www.birdiespanties.com
• Jewelry designed by Candy Bella

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Bon Bon Atelier

Owners and designers, Betsy Blodgett and Emily Blodgett-Panos

• Design influences include: Barbara Hulanicki, Edith Head
• Design style: modern furniture take on vintage colorful style
• Favorite article of clothing: tutu dress and a tee shirt that says "beauty is skin deep, ugly goes to the bone"
• Contact: www.bonbonatelier.com

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Cali Roberta

• Design influences: nature
• Design style: fabulous and functional fashion
• Favorite article of clothing: comfortable shoes; when my feet are happy, I'm happy.
• Contact: www.caliroberta.com

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The Sunset Collection by Dig It Swimwear

by Davin Watne

Jewelry by Laura Sterchi

• Design influences: luminous sea creatures and the street style of California surf culture
• Design style: mellow, sexy, cool
• Favorite article of clothing: panties, because they are simple and functional, but very rewarding to experiment with
• Contact: www.digitpanties.com

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Laura Sterchi Designs

• Design influences: I really try not to be influenced by 'anyone' already designing. I find inspiration simply in my everyday surroundings such as in nature, color, the patterns of an outfit, even food.
• Who I design for: I currently design for girls and women of all ages, yet I'm constantly encouraged by men to start a line for them.
• Favorite article of clothing: It's a redesigned, vintage, lemon chiffon dress made into a baby doll shirt. I love the 'eco-vintage' look right now.
• Contact: www.laurasterchidesigns.com

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fairfeather

by Peregrine Honig and Hadley Johnson

• Design influences: Yves Saint Laurent, Hussein Chalayan, Anish Kapoor, Todd Boontje
• Design style: luxury embracing poverty; Ellis Island; daugerrotypes
• Favorite article of clothing: a French men's vest, embroidered in roses from the 1920's
• Contact: fairfeather@gmail.com

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Jessy Bergmann

• Design influences: Betsy Johnson, Coach, Triple Five Soul, Puma, anything edgy with fabric manipulation
• Design style: "artsy" with an edge
• Favorite article of clothing: shoes– if you have a bland outfit on, shoes can really give it an extra punch and make it all work
• Contact: jessy_bergmann@yahoo.com

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Summers Only

by Joey Buschmann and Lily Walker

• Design influences: neo-classical fashion prints, Gustav Klimt, anyone who combines pattern and gold
• Design style: super hot and a little fishy
• Favorite article of clothing: cowboy boots
• Contact: summersonlykc@gmail.com

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Metallic Mermaid

by Jovana Mirabile

Jewelry by Rachael Marie

• Design influences: the cultural diversity I've experienced in NYC at Parsons, Betsey Johnson, Tracy Reese, Dolce and Gabanna, Versace
• Design style: girly meets glamorous
• Favorite article of clothing: I love my Betsey Johnson Sparkly Magenta Polly stilettos heels...they can turn any outfit glamorous!
• Contact: www.jovanamirabile.com

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Rachel Marie

• Design influences: Tarina Tarantino, Anthropologie, Betsey Johnson, tribal jewelry, Art Nouveau, the new surge in the craft movement
• Who I Design For: Every girl, young lady and woman who wants bright, fun, accessories that will enhance her style and uplift her mood
• Favorite article of clothing: My 1970's moon boots, platform heel. I wear them all the time because they are fun and make people smile. Also, super hilarious to dance in hat I designed.
• Contact: www.rachaelmarie.net

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In Deep, by Katie Coble

• Design influences: Hussein Chalayan, Droog, Lucy Orta, John Galliano, Gareth Pugh
• Design style: ALL OVER THE PLACE
• Favorite article of clothing: I have too many I love. I can't pick a favorite. I think it would probably have to be something old with a little history behind it real or made up, something well-lived in, a bit tacky, a bit classy.
• Contact: 123ktc@gmail.com

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Lacey Doherty

• Design influences: Marc Jacobs, John Galliano
• Design style: youthful, playful, colorful, vintage-inspired
• Favorite article of clothing: my collection of vintage band shirts, cuz they rock my socks off!
• Contact: laceynd@gmail.com

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Mary Bellamy

• Design influences: 1940s and '50s Hollywood glamour has been a large source of influence on me, as well as the more pedestrian look of the average women and "housewives" of that same era.
• Design style: My style would best be described as a modern, popular culture play on the post-war American woman; sophisticated and refined but simultaneously fun, accessible and easy to wear.
• Favorite article of clothing: My favorite item of clothing is an 80s-era knee-length wiggle dress with a low back and short sleeves, every inch covered in hand-sewn black and gold sequins and beadwork.  Probably not coincidentally, the reason I appreciate it over the rest of my wardrobe is that it encompasses two distinct but complementary styles -- the excess of the 80s and the classic silhouette of 60s evening wear -- which is what I feel I try to do with the pieces that I design.
• Contact: maryqcontraryroolz@hotmail.com

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Mr. Baby

by Amanda Denham and Amanda Nervig

• Design influences: Denham, 1980's Ralph Lauren; Nervig, my friends, men and women in uniform, cowboys, anime, people on the street
• Design style: Denham, classic American style, but with mismatching elements, something perfect that is ruined ;Nervig, fairly simple and clean, lots of plaids, solids and machine knitting
• Favorite article of clothing: Denham, Western shirts stolen from ex-boyfriends; Nervig, an acrylic knit tank top with a giant picture of my cat's face on front
• Contact: mandy.denham@gmail.com & pearhead0009@mchsi.com

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Sikenomics Clothing and Beth Guinta

by Phil "Sikestyle" Shafer and Beth Guinta

• Design influences: pin-up girls, funk bands, music culture, vintage evening wear, hip hop culture, street fashion
• Design style: fancy, high heels, detailed, urban, hip-hop, current, collage-based
• Favorite article of clothing: Beth, grey, silk, gazar, full skirt with pockets; Phil, custom-painted kicks
• All denim by PHENOM and custom shoes by Evolved Footwear
• Contact: www.sikenomics.com

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Sirens Calling

by Angela Bennett and Andrea Harms

Jewelry by Jamie Brehm

• Design influences: Angela, Marc Jacobs and anything that inspires me; Andrea, nature, architecture, beautiful and powerful women, colors, textures, places, art, electronic music
• Design style: Angela, feminine; Andrea, refined, elegant, minimal, structured
• Favorite article of clothing: Angela, my camel-colored boots, because they go with everything; Andrea, a dress– simple, sexy and beautiful
• Contact: benet26@hotmail.com & andrealynnharms@gmail.comm

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Jamie Brehm

• Design influences: The things that inspire me to create my metalwork: Nature, found objects, textures, forms, colors.
• Design style: I design one-of-a-kind metalwork pieces with organic forms that incorporate found objects.
• My favorite things to wear are accessories- hair barrettes, brooches, and sunglasses.
• Contact: jbmetals@hotmail.com

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Sophie and Gwendalynn

by Amy Collier and Wendy Gillman

• Design influences: Wendy and Amy are inspired by the allure of classic beauties such as Marilyn Monroe, Eva Gardner, Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn.  They also have drawn inspiration from Pin-Ups, especially those of artist Gil Elvgren.  They are also influence by elements of historic fashion and artist such as Edward Degas.
• Design style: Classic and sexy glamour with a soft, pretty side.  Our styles are well constructed and custom fit with a modern and romantic feel.
• Favorite article of clothing: Amy: My Sophie and Gwendalynn apron dress.  I can throw it over jeans and a t-shirt and be instantly ready for a night out! Wendy: My Sophie and Gwendalynn cotton sundress.  It is really comfortable while still being girly and flirty!
• Contact: www.sophieandgwendalynn.com

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*spool

Owner, Kelly Ann Allen

• Design influences: the young and trendy; the coolest kids on the block
• Design style: young, comfortable, brightly colored
• Favorite article of clothing: I can't decide.  I'm dreadfully trendy, and things I liked two weeks ago are long gone today.
• Contact: www.ilovespool.com