Gen Art's Fresh Faces in Fashion

What better way to kick off Fashion Week than with the best of the industry’s emerging talent?

The historic Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center came to life on September 4 as a red carpet spread out to greet designers, celebrities and press for Gen Art’s Fresh Faces in Fashion show.

Presented by Blackberry and T-Mobile, the show featured the Spring 2009 collections of 12 emerging designers: JF & Son, Ideeen, Sariah, Lialia, Richard Ruiz and Chree for womenswear; Hyden Yoo and Philip Sparks for menswear; and Antoinette Lee, Deka Ray, Heutchy and TNC Studio for accessories.

The ballroom was packed with familiar faces, including Project Runway’s Kevin Christiana and Jack Mackenroth; actors Julia Allison, Bethenny Frankel, Graham Bunn and Chrishell Stause; and Miss Teen USA Stevi Perry. Models carried Blackberry phones for guests to take photos at the event and send them out right away to friends.

Attendees indulged in cocktails while browsing the accessories around the ballroom. Antoinette Lee showed soft, neutral colors and champagne-twist leather accents on her handbags. A long line of admirers waited to congratulate Wells Stellberger of Heutchy, whose comfortable and sleek men’s footwear line is already developing a strong fan base.

At 8 p.m., the bars officially closed and the runway opened with a few words by founder Ian Gerard and an introduction by actor Shannen Doherty. Lialia was first, and her collection was a creative play on loose and fitting silhouettes; her opening look was a tight, printed bustier with white, ultra-wide leg pants. There were tiered dresses reminiscent of Herve Leger, and dramatic drapes paired with smart tuxedo jackets.

Everything slowed down for Ideeen’s much softer, more subdued collection. Models walked to serene piano music in flowy blouses, satin drop-waist pants and soft florals. Then it was back to upbeat techno as Hyden Yoo sent down slim, cuffed pants, bowties and blazers with rolled sleeves – all in neutral tones with the occasional splash of bright red.

Sariah was a crowd favorite: bright silks, tiered dresses in jewel tones with interesting prints resembling sea creatures, all paired with strappy patent heels. Chree brought out edgy, structured shapes with black, cropped jackets and capelets over fitted white shirts, tight pencil skirts with exposed zippers, and pants with sheer cutouts that drew applause.

Philip Spark’s olive leather jacket was the perfect opening look to his sportswear collection of soft grays and deep yellows. His closing piece was a well-cut, three-piece suit with everything in gray plaid, including shirt and tie. Richard Ruiz surprised audiences by having his models carry Japanese parasols to match their outfits of whites, grays, deep purples and fuchsias. The Asian influence was obvious in his use of slim stripes, small graphic art and fishnet bags.

Last to show was JF & Son: fish-scale sequins, loose trousers in subtle gray and gold metallics, oversized accessories in bright blue and pink that perfectly complemented the deeper colors of the apparel. JF & Son’s pieces will be available for sale today through the partnership with YOOX.com, the internationally leading online boutique for fashion and design. The decision was made in August by a panel of Gen Art, YOOX.COM and former New York Times Style Editor Holly Brubach.

Gen Art has certainly come a long way since its humble beginning in Gerard’s law school dorm kitchen. It is now the largest national organization made for showcasing the best new talent in visual arts, film and fashion. It has already launched the careers of designers like Milly, Rebecca Taylor and Zac Posen. With that kind of track record in mind, we’re definitely keeping an eye on the future of these latest Fresh Faces.

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-Grace Bahk