FBI Goes Chinatown
Those jaded by the routine of couture fashion shows found a change of pace at FBI Goes Chinatown, an event laced with liberal amounts of stomping tigers, sword-brandishing and tap dancing held Dec. 8 at the Chung King Road plaza in Los Angeles’ Chinatown.
For co-sponsors the Fashion Business Incubator (FBI) and the Chinatown Business Improvement District (BID), the fashion show provided a win-win situation. The FBI had a chance to showcase the wares of its recruits—new and emerging designers looking to boost their business acumen. And, the newly formalized BID made sure to promote its planned 10-year effort to revitalize the community.
“This was just the perfect venue for us,” said Frances Harder, FBI executive director. “It’s quite a little hip area and it was a great tie-in with our fashions.”
The seating was scarce as more than 1,000 people gathered—including local representatives from Mayor Jim Hahn’s office—to view the looks from eight FBI design members: Liya Cynamone, Belek, Katherine Lee Knitwear, Penelope Starr, Suzi Click, DRC, Mona & Co. and Couture, the Clothing Co. A special bonus was a modeled eveningwear collection from David Cardona, also a Los Angeles designer, who did not attend the event.
Liya Cynamone’s flowing designs included a sleeveless lace blouse worn with an asymmetrical skirt and a one-shoulder shirred dress. Skin received strategic display in an off-the-shoulder front-tie top and low-rise pants with a side cutout.
Designs from Belek, creations of Polish eacute;migreacute; and former mechanical engineer Wes Stengel, bordered on the flamboyant. A one-shoulder leotard worn with a tuu tuu and a strapless, lace-overlay pink zebra-print dress were among the racy, ballerina-inspired looks that contrasted with the elegance of a sheer mesh blouse matched with full pants.
Knits and velvets took on new interpretations with Katherine Lee’s backless cropped sweater and clingy, blue knit dress and Suzi Click’s velvet apron tops accented in Indian embroidered motifs.
More dramatic looks came from Mona & Co.’s sheer ruffle blouse matched with cracked-glass patterned pants and a white tuxedo blouse paired with a cracked-glass lace skirt. A standout was the scarf blouse wrapped in a back bow worn with a layered, flower-burned-out skirt.
A sea of glamour awaited Cardona fans. A sleeveless burgundy gown with a button-front collar, a tie-dyed slipdress and a satin skirt worn with a V-back sequined blouse were a few of the highlights
Before the modeling began, entertainment ranged from the traditional Chinese—tiger-costumed dances—to the avant-garde, with a multimedia dance created by Los Angeles artist Sheinina Raj. The number involved three dancers clad in white unitards who swayed with the aid of a 20-foot stretch of fabric in front of a mosaic of patriotic messages. Fashion also took a break when dancers from the Kennedy Tap Company broke out into hip-hop moves. —Nola Sarkisian-Miller
