On Saturday, October 15th, Sonic Eclectic presented “Fash·ion,” a truly unique fashion show. During the afternoon, designers, models, photographers, writers and more creative people took over Appetito Ristorante near Times Square and set about turning the restaurant into a chic venue.
Speaking with everyone involved, it was easy to see that there was something special happening. In the true spirit of the magazine, the show presented an eclectic mix of styles. Each of the five designers (Avril Lemieux, Elena Vasilevsky, Nailah Lymus, Raymond Chow and Domino) showcased lines that were new, fresh, and edgy. Ever collection was clearly inspired by the particular designer’s individual experience and life, yet the show as a whole was coherent and cohesive.
That vibe of togetherness was part of what made this show such a different experience for everybody involved. After attending this year’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Sonic Eclectic founder 7 was inspired to put together a new fashion show that would embody the spirit of what the magazine is about. He chose the particular designers to work with because he could see inspiration in all of their lines. He loved the wearability of the designs, in addition to the looks being unlike anything he’d seen before.
The group of designers were among many this year on the PLITZS Fashion Week showcase, and continued to cross paths in the following weeks. When approached by Sonic Eclectic, they all jumped at the chance to be part of the show. All of them loved the idea of collaborating to create an atmosphere without jealousy. It was obvious that all of the designers, models, hairstylists and makeup artists were fond of each other and happy to be working together, doing whatever they could to help each other. When a fuse blew, causing lights and hair dryers to stop working backstage before the show, nobody hesitated to help out. Some grabbed equipment and started looking for a new place to set up. Others used their cell phones as flashlights so the makeup artists could continue getting the models ready. Over and over, people reiterated that they were honored and proud to be included in the group of talented artists and part of the show.
In addition to the positivity of the overall attitude, subtle touches came to light during the bustling preshow activity which allowed the Sonic Eclectic heartbeat to be heard loud and clear. 7 stated that his goal in everything that falls under the Sonic Eclectic name is “love, education, and growth. The focus should always be on the work – not on big-name financial backers or other details.” To keep the focus on their work, the designers all agreed to have one hairstyle and makeup look on the models. This helped with transitions, and ensured that a spectator’s eye was truly drawn to the designs worn by the models. Everyone was having a great time while working hard, even taking breaks near a snack table labeled “Feed The Models.” It was obvious that the goal of creating something unique and eclectic had absolutely been realized.