Fashion Business, Inc. in conjunction with the California Market Center’s Winter FOCUS | Apparel & Accessories Show was delighted to present the “DESIGNER LAUNCH PAD” fashion show. The FOCUS show featured emerging designers alongside established brands in the loft-like setting of the California Market Center’s penthouse showrooms.

Frances Harder, Jacquelyn Umof and Erin Wieczorek of FBI along with stylist and producer Leila Baboi, former West Coast Market Editor of Women’s Wear Daily and the great team from California Market Center put on a fantastic show featuring seven promising new designers. The show took place Saturday, January 16, 2010 in the California Market Center’s penthouse location for the FOCUS show. It provided an exciting setting for a great show, with expansive views of Downtown Los Angeles’ twinkling city lights. The show sold out quickly and was standing room only.

Some of the designers were showing their lines for the first time. Others are already experiencing success at retail. Even more exciting, many of these designers are manufacturing their designs right here in California. We thank all of the designers, Leila Baboi, FOCUS Apparel & Accessory show and especially California Market Center for all of their hard work and effort in putting on a great show.

Featured designers included:

ALTHEA HARPER COLLECTION (www.altheaharper.com) – a collection of ready-to-wear styles in soft, drapey fabrics, gorgeous colors and body skimming silhouettes. Many people are familiar with Althea as one of the finalists from Project Runway, season 6. Her premier collection of designs did not disappoint her fans or those who have just discovered her.

ANAHI BLUE (www.anahiblue.com) – a swimwear collection by designer Michele Sparks. Michele’s designs are a welcome addition to the swimwear market. Elegant, classy, fashion-forward swimwear that provides coverage and even a bit of camouflage for those of us with less than swimsuit-model bodies. Her styles made a great SPLASH! on the runway.

CAMELIA SKIKOS COLLECTION (www.cameliaskiknos.com) – a collection of ready-to-wear styles in beautiful silks, some with leather accents. Her designs have a strong, geometric feeling to them, influenced by modern art and sculpture combined with the softness of silk and feminine curves. Camelia produces all of her designs in California.

DUSTIEDOLL (www.dustiedoll.com) – a collection of contemporary fashion presented in knits and jerseys, adorned with studs, chains and other hardware. Dustie is a local Southern California designer and is manufacturing her products locally.

LI CARI (www.shoplicari.com ) – a collection of ready-to-wear designs from Jazmin Whitley. The Li Cari collection was filled with fantastic styles and inspired silhouettes. Jazmin is a young designer with a huge celebrity following and is well known from her MTV reality TV show “MTV’s House of Jazmin.” She produces her products in the U. S. and Italy in order to ensure all labor law compliance.

RISSA BY MARISSA ERSKINE (www.lovelyrissa.com) – a contemporary collection from Marissa Erskine. The RisSa collection was filled with beautiful dresses and knitwear in exotic, colorful silhouettes.

ZA ZA ZSU (www.zazazsu.net) – Sahar Hersel describes her collection as “Sunday Sexy” and that it was! Luxurious fabrics combined with elegant, effortless styling created a cohesive collection of pieces. Sahar produces all of her products domestically.

We welcome these designers to FBI and look forward to many more great collections!