Gen Art Fresh Faces Review - Chicago 2009 Event | Splash Magazines

GenArt Fresh Faces 2009

Gen Art's Fresh Faces is always the must-see runway show at Fashion Focus Chicago. It's a showcase for some of the up-and-coming designers in the industry, and Saturday night's show featured five emerging womenswear and menswear designers on the runway, and pre-show, three accessories designers in standing installations. The good times continued at the after-party at Enclave, where the Richkiddz performed. Tickets sold as high as $110 for this highly anticipated event in Millennium Park.

designer Kristen Hassan

Notable collections at Gen Art’s 7th Annual Show were JLee Silver, Red Doll by Tatyana & Dorsia (menswear designer). Also showcasing her collection at Fashion Focus Chicago was 24-year old Kristen Hassan, you may remember Kristin from Bravo’s reality series ‘The Fashion Show’ hosted by Isaac Mizrahi. Kristin was the contestant whom dropped out ‘voluntarily’ from the show after two episodes, due to the pressures required to be a reality TV show contestant. Kristin’s collection was very Betsy Johnson, minus refined statement pieces.

Dorsia model

Dorsia, founded by Andrei Savtchenko, a Ukrainian menswear designer from Chicago, presented a contemporary collection combining American prep, French chic and Italian tailoring. Savtchenko starting designing clothing for friends, then began designing his first collection a year and a half ago. Dorsia is focused on timeless shirts and sweaters with amazing fit at an affordable price.

Dorsia models

Savtchenko’s Spring 2010 Collection focuses on fit, fine fabrics and detailing.
My favorite pieces included vest with satin lining, plaid shirts and light-weight motorcycle jackets in bright olive.

Dorsia designer

http://www.dorsiacollection.com/

JLee Silver was founded by Jenna Lee Fowler and Melanie Manego in 2008. Fowler & Manego determined to offer chic tailored fashion separates that would appeal to the fashion forward working women. Two ladies after my own heart!

Jlee Silver model

Their first collection was called “The Complete Wardrobe” comprised of jackets, pants, skirts, dresses, tops and jewelry. My first thought when I saw the floppy hat model walking the runway was happy hippy chic. The Spring 2010 Collection was inspired by the beaches of the Hampton's and the dune grass at sunset. The designers used a lot of fringe, which was a play on the dune grass, linen cotton blend that has the texture of driftwood, pretty neutrals like sand and sky midnight blue.

Red Doll model

Red Doll started by Tatyana Merenyuk, presented a sofisiticated ‘party girl’ Spring 2010 Collection at Fashion Focus Chicago. The name Red Doll is a combination of Merenyuk’s love of her birth country USSR and her love of dolls.

Red Doll model

Merenyuk loves the color white and black, which was prominent through out this collection. The occasional pop of bright color also displayed as seen with my favorite long red dress with flower sleeves.

I found the collection fun, flirtly and wearable.

Red Doll designer

http://www.reddollbytm.com/

Overall the collections were insprining and representative of Chicago’s newest designers on the scene. I look forward to seeing what these designers can do with the attention Gen Art provides and hopefully a few new local fans.

Photographs by Mireya Acierto, Steffen Bombeck & Nolan James