PRESIDENTIAL FASHION SHOW DESIGNERS

The designers of the Presidential Fashion Show represent some of the best designing talent in the nation's capital as well as the fashion industry's best selling high end labels. Listed below are the official bios provided by the designers.

 To see photos from the actual show Click this link : RUNWAY SHOTS

   ANDREW NOWELL MENSWEAR

    This New York City native’s design philosophy is rooted in the music cultures of Hip Hop/R&B and Rock. After receiving a degree in Menswear Design

    from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Mr. Nowell fine tuned his design skills at some of the most influential and creative Menswear

    design companies in New York City. 

    Over the years, Andrew Nowell Menswear has developed a solid reputation and thriving private clientele that includes celebrities, professional athletes, 

    recording artists and musicians.

  ANTHONY EASTWICK

   Urban couture that shows the extravagance of rich colors, patterns, fabrics and all that represents glamor and mysticism. His inspiration came from 

   various designers, but those of the 50's & 60's really piqued his interest. His designs have been seen at various venues including the MTV Music  

   Awards, BET Awards, Stella Awards, Grammy's (1999), Fashion Cafe NYC, American Cancer Society, VH1 Fashion Awards, Black Expo,

  Congressional Black Caucus and many others.

BETSEY JOHNSON

 New York designer Betsey Johnson has built her long-standing career in fashion by following her own set of rules. Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over the top, Betsey has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960. Her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has afforded Betsey continued success in an industry known for its fickleness. Her ability to change with the times while keeping her designs pure has not gone unnoticed. At the 1999 CFDA Awards, Betsey was presented The Timeless Talent Award created especially for her, which recognized her influence on fashion throughout her career.

 "Making clothes involves what I like ...color, pattern, shape and movement... I like the everyday process... the people, the pressure, the surprise of seeing the work come alive walking and dancing around on strangers. Like red lipstick on the mouth, my products wake up and brighten and bring the wearer to life drawing attention to her beauty and specialness...her moods and movements ...her dreams and fantasies." Betsey Johnson

CORJOR INTERNATIONAL

Using his two oldest sons' names, Corey and Jordan, Ean Williams came up with Corjor as his label's name. After landing in the pages of Upscale Magazine (Feb 2004) and the front page of the Prince George’s Gazette, Ean Williams wants to go one step further and enable the world to see the great designing talent that is here in the nation's capitol by producing and sponsoring DC Fashion Week. He is dedicated to helping other aspiring designers show their collections and build their businesses. He is also an advisory board member for the Black Fashion Designers Association, Inc.  In 2003, Ean Williams won the "INDIE Best Menswear Designer" award in  New York. Corjor International has three brands, Corjor Sport, Corjor Menswear and available by special order -- Corjor Couture.

DIALLO

A native Washingtonian, born the son of a great artist, Diallo felt naturally inclined to be involved in the arts. Diallo excelled in such area's as   drawing, sculpting while other talents he kept secret such as writing, and composing music, and poetry. With his love for design, Diallo received a certificate in architectural drafting which didn't really excite him. So in 1998 he joined the craze of hand painted t-shirts which Diallo's works of art were distinct among the common cartoon character. So there did his start in fashion come. He absolutely loved to go out in the public scene and see people wearing his pieces, but Diallo yearned to see his creation in more sophisticated settings. So he transitioned from an urban t-shirt designer, to an upscale dress designer. Studying at the "Academy of Art University" Diallo learned the basics of fashion design, fascinated at the process of creating full lines. In the early 2000's he began making a name for himself in DC as one of the premiere Couture designer's in the area with his vision, and style, and his renowned "I know what looks great on a woman" attitude. With his relentless creative ability, the sidewalks will never be the same, as we make way for "The Diallo Woman". She is unpredictable, sexy, strong and confident.   The woman who looks at herself, and loves what she sees. 

EBANNISTER

Self-taught designer and acclaimed couture fashion designer teamed with two other designers in 2004 to open Park Avenue Custom Design Center. A couture design center where he specializes in custom-made and couture apparel, formal wear, bridal wear, and suits for men and women. Since the beginning of his career, he has been given many credits, awards, accolades, achievements, and commissions. Some of them are: Featured Designer in The Absolut Africa Tour in the USA, The National Congressional Black Caucus Fashion Shows, and The Bronner Brothers Hair and Fashion Shows. Additionally, his designs have been seen on The Ricki Lake Show, The Jenny Jones Show, and Homicide. His celebrity clients include: Dru Hill, Ultra Nate, 4pm, The Choir Boyz, Sommore, and The Man of the Year 2004 for John Blassingame.

PHILLYGURL

A Philadelphia native, Donita Vann..... better known as "neet",grew up in the historical and culturally rich hub known as Germantown.With it's own bustling avenues and parks, G-town(which it is affectionately known) was just bursting with color and style.It is this environment that captivated her. Add that to being surrounded by all the famous singers and jazz musicians, some who stayed at her house when they were in town performing at the  Historic Uptown Theatre, she couldn't help but add her signature flair to the Philly streets. Designing clothes just came natural to Donita. Her mother,Doris Elaine Vann (with whom she shares the same middle name) was very creative when she was growing up. She decorated the whole house with a can of paint, velvet contact paper and some scissors!. Donita started making her own clothes by reconstructing thrift store findings or garments she created with a sewing needle and thread at the age of 14. She has since conquered every genre of media that has crossed her path, be it as a fashion stylist and designer for print (Sister's in Style,Today's Black Women and Jet.) etc. to television (MTV,NAACP Image Awards to name a few).Donita is now starting a new journey into the exciting world of theatre with a new line of clothing aptly called 'phillygurl' which is forward,fun and exciting-just like Donita! She is also working on a summer and fall men's line of dress casual for 2009.From the Philly streets to the streets in your part of the world.

STUDIO D-MAXSI

My inspiration for my collection and the colors it comes with is from my birth place Ghana, West Africa. I grew up in a very unfortunate situation where life was basically a struggle and fashion has been my narrow escape. My interest in fashion started when I was very young. I took to needles and threads to make bags and little clothes which had generated a lot of comments. Peoples curious comments about who and what I was wearing inspired me even more to take the products of my 'needles and threads' to the next level.

As the CEO of STUDIO DMAXSI DESIGNS, I have been privileged to be a part of many fashion events. One of my very first fashion shows to be a part of was DC FASHION WEEK. I have also been a part of fashion shows held in honor of charity work like Fashion Fight Poverty, Steps to the Cure, Fashion Fusion and Fashion for World Peace. The Channel 9 news station (wusa9) and the WBAL TV as well as WBFF TV in Baltimore featured me on interviews in relation to fashion events. Dmaxsi has been a fashion contributor to COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE. Last but not the least; I have also been featured on a TV interview with the AFRICAN TOUCH. Dmaxsi is mainly for the bold, confident, chic, classy and sexy woman. 

TSYNDYMA

Tsyndyma was born in  Siberia .  After studying in  Moscow , and receiving a degree in Engineering, she acquired a love for Fashion. Infusing mathematics and geometrical precision into her designs, the couture fashion designer, Tsyndyma, was born. After maintaining a celebrity clientele in  Moscow  and  Paris , she relocated to  Washington ,  DC  in 1999. Believing in the use of luxurious fabrics, and capturing the unique and simple essence of a woman, Tsyndyma realized that her core value was beauty.    Her philosophy is: “Anything can make you beautiful, as it makes you happy”.

YOSOY FASHIONS

Luciana Tiktin was born 1975, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, one, if not the most, fashionable cities in South America. She started at a young age in the fashion industry, working retail for Stone Island which is one of the most successful brands of sportswear in Argentina. Luciana then moved to the states where she studied Fashion Design at the International Fine Arts College in Miami, Florida. While in school she collaborated with Collective Vintage, who supplies vintage garments to NY, LA, Europe, and Japan. To gain perspective and inspiration, Luciana traveled to Thailand, Japan, and South Africa and enjoyed soaking in the different cultures. She continued to broaden her scope in the industry by working as a professional wardrobe stylist for Eduardo Verastegui (in video clips) and for agency photographers in Miami (in print). Her work has been featured in Tear Sheet Magazine and D'vox Magazine, as well as in catalogues for brands such as Club del Sol and Studio Italia.

 Later at Jormar, a resort and beachwear wholesaler, Luciana gained experience in sales and distribution. In 2001 her dreams were realized when she created her own line, YOSOY. The name comes from putting together the Spanish words YO and SOY, from the powerful affirmation 'I AM'. Luciana says "I create designs that reveal the best of the true self". YOSOY delivers urban and funky designs that transition beautifully from day to night. By creating an Avant garde for sidewalk that offers futuristic European looks, YOSOY has been compared to D&G, Diesel, and Miss Sixty. YOSOY is featured in stores in major locals such as; Miami, NY, DC, MD, Aruba, and Buenos Aires. YOSOY has exhibited at both the Magic show In Las Vegas and the Surf expo in Orlando. Luciana is excited about the vast potential of the Washington, DC area Fashion industry.

 Luciana is also Co-owner of DEKKA, the first coop designers’ showroom in the DC Area that features all local artists, designers and local fashion businesses, for clothing, handbags, jewelry and art. Dekka is located on the historical U street corridor in Washington, DC. For more info, please, visit www.dekkafam.com Luciana is involved in different fashion events, were DC’s fashion industry is exposed.