Monday, March 14, 2011

YOUNG, BLACK, AND FASHIONABLY TALENTED

Fashion Designer: LaQuan Smith

"Women have always inspired me to create. When it comes to women I understand their essence and my designs allow her to make history".-LaQuan Smith


Tyra Banks in LaQuan Smith
LaQuan's work not only inspired this blog, but his success story really touched my very core!

I would describe LaQuan Smith and his work as FLAIR, FIERCE, & FABULOUS...Check out his story, along with some of his pieces from various collections now!

Born on August 30th, 1988 in Queens, NY

LaQuan has always had a love for fashion and design, but at the age of 13, his grandmother passed on her old Singer sewing machine for LaQuan to practice on. LaQuan began with simple patterns and then reached out and developed his own techniques on creating garments. After a tramautic and difficult battle with a cancer, LaQuan was able to regroup and refocus on his passion- fashion design. In 2007, after graduating from high school LaQuan began working as an intern at a prominent magazine in New York City, Blackbook. Yet, realizing his fashion thirst was not quenched LaQuan soon began exploring his design talents and in 2008, he created his self titled designer brand.

Multiple fashion experiences and pure ambition have opened doors for LaQuan allowing him to work with some of the industry’s top models and photographers. He started off designing custom pieces for an array of celebrities, pop culture icons and artists including: Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce’, Alicia Keys, Julissa Bermudez, Aubrey O’day, Amerie, Cassie Ventura, Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons, top models Tyra Banks, Sessilee Lopez, Amber Rose, and fashion personality Andre J.
On February 15, 2010, LaQuan Smith made his New York Fashion Week debut at the Society of Illustrators in the Upper East Side. The audience for the LaQuan Smith "Water Goddess" Fashion Show was 75 exclusive attendees including top fashion press, buyers, and celebrities. Notable attendees included Vogue Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley, Vogue Style Director, Alexandra Kotur, Janice Combs, Misa Hylton, Semi-Precious Weapons, Prince and the late Michael Jackson's Lawyer, Londell McMillan.

On September 15, 2010, LaQuan Smith's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection entitled "A Storybook Path" allowed guests to enter a fashionable fusion of fantasy, romanticism and fun. This season the LaQuan Smith woman channels the style of Marie Antoinette, who is the courageous muse that enforces the spirit of the art and culture. The "Modern Marie" lives in Manhattan and is inspired by the New York City lifestyle. Never coy, she dons only Haute Couture luxury in the day and mixes warm-hearted gaudiness, accented by jewelry for effect, shimmer and shine. By night, she enriches her lifelike fantasy by arching her brows and connecting with her inner strength, power, and elegance; inspired by tough characters like Cruella D’Ville and Queen Elizabeth. In this new expression, LaQuan Smith's reinterpretation of Marie Antoinette provides the perfect path to modern living in- style. Notable Guests included: Andre Leon Talley, Fashion Designer and CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, Comedian Sandra Bernhard, Rapper & Actor Common, Celebrity Chef and Restauranteur Marcus Samuelson, and guest models included 13-Time WTA Singles Champion Serena Williams, Singer Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura and Grammy Winner & Broadway Star Deborah Cox.

LaQuan has received a tremendous amount of press for his work from Vogue, Vogue Hellas, the New York Times, NY Daily News, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Essence, Ebony, Huffington Post, Elle Korea, TV 5 Monde, Prosieben Television, Tatler, Tyra.com, AOL Black Voices, Flaunt, Daily Candy, YRB Magazine, Jones Magazine, Glossy Mag, Iconography, Ghubar, Iconique, JET, and many more.

LaQuan’s success has allowed him to showcase his collection both domestically and internationally with fashion shows in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Athens Xclusive Designer Week (Athens, Greece), Cayman Fashion Solstice (Cayman Islands), Africa Fashion Week (Johannesburg, South Africa), Black World Festival (Dakar, Senegal), Semana Internacional de la moda de Bogota (Bogota, Colombia), and Summer Sizzle BVI (Tortola, British Virgin Islands). While in Atlanta supporting Foundation F.O.C.U.S, LaQuan received the F.O.C.U.S. for Life Service Award for surviving cancer and not letting the trauma of such an experience hold him back from his passion.

Through his travels, LaQuan was inspired to create a diffusion line for the everyday women he encountered at each city. LaQuan Smith's diffusion line entitled "LQS" was first introduced at Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg, South Africa. "LQS" is an affordable line that is currently inspired by athletic apparel and LaQuan's muses for the collection are the Women's Tennis Singles and Double's Champions, Venus and Serena Williams.

The LaQuan Smith woman, who is the personification of modernity, sensuality, and liberation in femininity continues to rise in the fashion industry. The bold prints, unique silhouettes and unique inspiration will surely set LaQuan’s work this upcoming Autumn/Winter 2011 Season apart from the rest.

This Monday, March 21st tune into BET's Rip the Runway! Showcasing LQS by LaQuan Smith Spring 11 Diffusion.

Cassie in LaQuan Smith
Rhianna in LaQuan Smith


http://www.laquansmith.com/

http://twitter.com/LaQuanSmith