The show opened with the debut of American Apparel's expanded infants' and childrenswear line, Classic Baby, designed by Sandra Martinez. (The Los Angeles based T-shirt manufacturer was one of the sponsors of the show.) Models carrying babies dressed in the designs were clad in American Apparel fashions as well.

Highlights of the show included the insect-inspired designs and wrinkled effects on skirts and hoodies by Carol Young for [UN] Designed; Rigged Tee Shirt Couture, by Barbra Horowitz, who presented an entire collection designed from men's T-shirts, including skirts, dresses and tops in solid colors with such stark adornments as brown tails on bright yellow skirts; and the decidedly feminine fashions from DRC by Darcie Emmerson, with floral prints, pastel colors and lightweight fabrics.

The show included the designs of actor-turned-fashion-executive Ace Ross, whose Ace Ross Studios collection included novelty denim, linen and cotton tops with tie-dyed and crystal washes. The show also featured the work of designer Anne Richardson, who began her knitwear company in 1989, but recently moved to Los Angeles from San Diego to relaunch her self-titled collection of day and evening knitwear in mostly black and brown with angled cuts and circular designs. Included in the show as well were newcomers such as Randa Allen, whose Notice contemporary designs included tanks in pinks and blues paired with denim, and Isabella Blue, designed by Linda Krikorian, which featured flowing dresses with layered bottoms and bold colors on tops and bottoms for contemporary women.

-Darryl James
-Courtesy of Apparel News
Model- Katie Barker
Garment-Isabella Blue
Photo courtesy of Volker Corell

First Published 12/19/2002