Young & Able's Emerging Designer Spring Gathering + Kahri Fall 2014 Preview

Posted by Jalisa on Apr 04, 2014

Hello Ladies!

As many of you know, I had a house full of colds and flus of all sorts, which unfortunately effected me having a video up for you guys this week. However, I was able to attend the Young & Able's emerging designer spring gathering and I took a ton of photos to share with all of you. Before I get into each designer I had the pleasure of meeting, I want to explain what Young & Able is. Young & Able is a platform for emerging designers of all sorts (beauty, clothing, and accessories), as well as a retailer for each of the brands who work within the Young & Able community, so if you are interested in any of the brands or pieces shown in this post, you can view more photos and learn more about the details behind those brands on their website, Shop Young & Able.

DLC: DLC is an acronym for Dirty Librarian Chains, a unique accessory brand founded and designed by Susan Domelsmith in Brooklyn, NY. Susan hand makes all of her pieces, with the help of her assistant, from USA made materials dating back from the 1960's to the 1980's. Her company is based on a zero waste design model, which is a holistic approach that can help eliminate textile waste. Since this approach is used, each piece is unique in it's own, a true one of a kind. Each piece is also considered a limited edition; after the materials used in constructing a piece is gone, it is no longer made. Her collection has caught the eye of celebrity fashionistas, such as Jessica Alba, female rapper Eve, Anne Hathaway, Debbie Harry, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Princess Superstar, and Emily Deschanel. Her pieces have also been spotted in the pages of: British Vogue, Elle, NY Magazine, The Huffington Post, WWD, and Teen Vogue!

Susan explaining her brand's concept and focus:

RICHARDS: A clothing line founded and designed by Sara Leslie Richards in 2012, which officially launched in the spring of 2013. Although her brand may be fairly new, she has quite a bit of experience in the fashion industry, having worked alongside some of the most well respected names and brands in fashion, such as: Tory Burch, Diane Von Furstenberg, Peter Som, Proenza Schouler, Opening Ceremony, and Doo. Ri. Her collection is inspired and influenced by social media and technology. Many of the pieces feature digital prints and optical illusions, functioning as wearable pieces of art.

Here are a few of my faves from the collection

Speaking with Sarah about her collection and aesthetic

ANNE YEE: Founded and designed by Anne Yee, this brand combines chic, comfort, and practicality in each piece in her collection. What I loved most about her display was that not only could they easily transition between seasons, they can also easily transition from day to night, ideal for that city girl on the go! Plus, the luxe fabrics and inviting and warm neutrals make easy for mixing and matching with other pieces within her collection or to be blended with those in one's current wardrobe.

This short suit was my absolute fave and one I could totally see myself wearing with a pair of red sandals! The photos printed were taken by Ann's brother, capturing the very busy and city life of Detroit, her home town/city, how creative?!

Speaking with Ann about her line and inspiration behind the collection

TABII JUST: Founded and designed by Tabitha St. Bernard, Tabii Just is a stylish and fashion forward brand that caters to the eco-conscious woman. What inspired Tabitha to develop this line was when she learned that 15% of the fabric used in making clothing was often discarded! STOP and think about that. If you consider the brands and designs out there and how fast paced the industry is, this is truly alarming to consider how much waste of perfectly usable fabrics there is. Tabii Just has gained the support of Lenay Dunn, host of MTV's 10 on Top and the face of Macy's American Rag. Not only does she like the brand, she considers it one of her favorites! Another notable fan of the brand are Fatima Ptacek, the voice of Dora the Explorer and Emma Rose Kenney from Showtime's Shameless.

Here are a couple of my fave pieces from the collection

With Tabitha

KAHRI BY KAHRIANNE KERR FALL 2014 PRESS PREVIEW:

Founded and designed by Kahrianne Kerr, KAHRI is a hip, funky, rocker chic sophisticated brand. Although she is not affiliated with Young & Able, she was previewing her fall 2014 collection at The Carlton Hotel, where the Young & Able event took place, so I headed upstairs to take a peek and I'm so glad I did! This brand I would say captivates my personal style or what I would tend to reach for the most. There wasn't one single piece displayed that I couldn't envision myself wearing! The brand focuses on edgy, yet practical designs for every day wear, including for the office, a girls night out, or special occasion. Her clothing has been worn and spotted on many celebs, including: Colombian actress Danna Garcia, Paris Hilton, and The Stoop's Cat Greenleaf to name a few.

Here are some of my faves

With Kahrianne Kerr

SOME SHOTS OF THE OUTFIT I WORE:

I wish each of the designers I had the pleasure of meeting, all the best in the establishment and success of their brands and I hope to one day to collaborate with each!