The CAAFD, Council of Aspiring American Fashion Designers, again unveiled various emerging brands during New York Fashion Week. CAAFD welcomed six approved and selected brands from around the globe representing their country of residence or origin, showcasing their spring/summer 2020 collections.
Egyptian designer Farida Temraz opens the show with flare and elegance. With a total of 24 pieces, the collection consisted of evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and bridal couture. The color palette picked by the designer was mostly pastel with the occasional electric blue and white seen in a couple of pieces. Temraza’s common thread was the floral element which Farida Temraz used in almost all her pieces, giving them a refined and elegant touch.
Phoenix Ba presented 15 pieces in her collection and showed surface textile techniques. Her opening piece was a double-breasted dress with floral motifs on warm tones. The collection consisted of evening wear with A-line and sheath gowns. She incorporated the floral theme throughout the collection as each piece had intricate floral work in it. A lot of different materials were used like mesh and tassels in a couple of pieces. Phoenix Ba’s love for hair accessories was also on display as each model walked with floral hair bands or other floral hair accessories matching their outfits.
Paraguayan fashion designer Maria Sonia brings ‘hope’ to the mood and climate of the world. The colorful collection has been inspired by the designer’s roots and the scenario was quite different from what you generally expect at a fashion show’s runway. The models walked boldly, freely on the runway, lifting their trains and showing them to the audience. It was a rhythmic dance as the model twirled around to fully show their outfits. Maria Sonia wanted to focus on the evolution and empowerment of women and on the runway, she did just that. Her collection is bright and playful.
Yufash showcased unisex collection. The designer exhibited a mix of casual, dressy and evening wears with simplicity in mind. Using various colors from dull to the brightest you can find on the color spectrum, Yufash brand executed elegance with minimalism. The designer, Kadri Klampe is an Estonian-born, founder and designer who created Yufash as a unique and forward-thinking brand made for the confident and powerful women of the world, with all garments fabricated exclusively in England.
A Humming Way is an Indian brand inspired by the old world regalia of the state of Rajasthan in India. The collection was titled “Matsutake,” and represented the mushroom’s characteristics of adaptability with utmost brilliance. Matsutake is also known to spread a feeling of hope and that is what Sweta Agarwal tried to emit through her showcasing. The collection had a mix of cocktail dresses, gowns and jumpsuits all in a palette of soft pink, browns, gray and white.
Moon Chang, showed its personal journey during the time she was going through PTSD. The models make-up was done in a way to make their eyes look swollen. She presents a collection of 11 pieces with the focus color being black. Moon Chang described how she survived the death situation with the words “Being Cute.” In her collection, she incorporates cuteness with the use of ribbons, ruffles, and flowers. The cute elements with her oversized dresses created a contrast of cuteness in ugly places which is what the designer wanted to show through her collection.
What’s CAAFD?
Council of Aspiring American Fashion Designers is a non-profit organization founded through a collaborative effort by a few key pioneers in the fashion industry with the ambitious goal of promoting designers who aspire to expand their brand awareness and do business in the United States. CAAFD educates, promotes and empowers aspiring designers and fashion professionals in gaining a foothold in the fashion business, giving them every opportunity to become the renowned designer they yearn to be.
