- Jillian Lewis
AGE: 26
HOMETOWN: Long Island, NY
EDUCATION: Parsons School of Design
FAVORITE DESIGNERS: Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balanciaga and Azzedine Alaia
FASHION MUST: A sweater dress (ideally with pockets hidden in the side seams) worn with opaque colored tights.
Jillian, 26, was born and raised in the small town Selden in Long Island, NY. In 2003, she graduated from Parsons School of Design to pursue her fashion dream. While there, she was honored with the CFDA scholarship award and selected to design the Perrier girl uniform, which was featured as “Parsons Design Star” on the MTV college network.
Jillian is currently working on her own label while consulting for several companies as a designer. Having worked as a concept designer and illustrator at Rugby by Ralph Lauren and as a designer at Searle, Jillian learned the skills of the fashion trade. At Searle, she experienced “the old fashioned way of tailoring” and at Rugby she became an “expert at conceptualizing a full and balanced collection.” Although her experiences have made her a very well-rounded designer, Jillian credits her own talent and personal taste level that sets her apart from the rest.
Art stimulates Jillian’s creativity, as she’s often inspired by the illustrations of Ruben Toledo and Patrick Nagel, the architecture of Antoni Gaudi and Santiago Calatrava, and the art of Egon Schiele. Other sources of inspiration include military uniforms, armor, ballet and the idea of incorporating technology into clothing. Ultimately, Jillian’s designs are her visual poetry of the things she loves and a reflection of the world around her. Not satisfied with being just another name on the tag of another dress, it’s her ambition to be revolutionary, fashion forward and to one day create a fashion empire of her own.
- Kevin Christiana
AGE: 30
HOMETOWN: Fairfield, New Jersey
EDUCATION: Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
FAVORITE DESIGNERS: Alexander McQueen, Jean-Paul Gaultier
FASHION MUST: Cool vintage boots
Kevin, 30, is a first generation Italian-American born and raised in Fairfield, New Jersey, currently resides in New York City. Kevin’s family hails from Ciminna, Sicily and is made up of many tailors and seamstresses. He was taught to sew by his Aunt Ida Lasusa, and thinks its no surprise that his design aesthetic combines classic European tailoring with his own edgy twist. Kevin draws inspiration from daily life in Gotham city and his travels around the world.
Kevin studied at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, where he won the “Menswear Designer of the Year” grant. He worked for his cousin and designer, Susana Monaco, for six years before branching off to start his own line.
Kevin is the head designer and partner of the labels KEVIN CHRISTIANA and KJEANS. Kevin’s collections have sold to approximately 200 boutiques nationwide and KJEANS debuted on the cover of the Victoria’s Secret fall 2006 catalog.
- Kit, aka Christina Scarbo
AGE: 26
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA
EDUCATION: Fashion Institute of Technology, New York and Polimoda Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, Italy
FAVORITE DESIGNER: Viktor & Rolf
FASHION MUST: Balenciaga fringed scarf
A freelance wardrobe stylist and designer of her own line, Kit Pistol™ in Los Angeles, Kit, 26, creates one-of-a-kind pieces for private clients and is currently working on her first ready-to-wear collection.
Kit lived in Florence, Italy for two years, attending Polimoda Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in fashion design. During her second year in Italy, she worked as a trend analyst for Mauro Taliani Design Studio in Empoli. Kit had previously attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York to earn her Associate in Applied Sciences degree, with honors.
Inspired by the surrounding culture in Florence, Italy she created Kit Pistol in 2004. For Kit, Kit Pistol became not only a fun new alias, but also a mantra to feminine strengths and wiles. She says Kit Pistol reflects a continual inspiration from art, travel, world affairs, textiles, and a deeply rooted passion for self-expression; ultimately translating to an aesthetic of serious fantasy.
Kit Pistol was selected as one of three design houses from the West Coast to show in the 2006 GenArt New Guarde. Other exhibitions include Redbull Ascension F05, Beautiful Fighter Gallery Instillation S06 and BoxEight Collective @ LA Theater F07.
- Marion Lee
AGE: 39
HOMETOWN: Tyler, Texas
EDUCATION: Parson’s School of Design, New York
FAVORITE DESIGNERS: Victor and Rolf and Hussein Chalayan
FASHION MUST: Thin stretch suspenders
Marion, 39, was born and raised in Tyler, Texas. He attended Parson’s School of Design in New York where he received the silver and gold thimble awards. After graduating, Marion returned to Texas and took a job as visual director of Stanley Korshak and it was there he started producing custom work for the retailer as well as producing his own line.
Marion has shown his collection for several seasons in New York City and his clothing has been featured in “Bazaar” and “Cosmopolitan.” Marion’s designs are favorites of New York stylists and used for editorial work with Nikki Taylor, Lenny Kravitz, Gisele, and Jade Jagger.
Marion has recently opened a retail store in Dallas, and he refers to his shop as an oversized curiosity cabinet, with a mad sense of whimsy. This is also the site of his new fashion and art laboratory.
- Rami Kashou
AGE: 31
HOMETOWN: Ramallah, Jerusalem
EDUCATION: Brooks College in California.
FAVORITE DESIGNERS: Alexander McQueen, Victor & Rolf, Olivier Theyskens
FASHION MUST A hot pair of leather boots.
Born in Ramallah, Jerusalem, Rami, 31, left his hometown soon after graduating from high school in 1996 and moved to the United States in pursuit of his childhood dream to one day become a fashion designer. Growing up as the son of an eclectic and fashionable mother, Rami was often commissioned by the local town socialites to design their ensembles.
In 1997, Rami began attending courses in design at Brooks College in California. After several months in the program, Rami was ready for a challenge and decided to take a different path. While keeping in the circle of fashion, Rami worked in retail for several years after his departure from design school. Retail eventually lead him to a buying and merchandising position at a well-known boutique in Los Angeles.
After a stint of traveling to Europe as a buyer, Rami bit the bullet and purchased two sewing machines. He vigorously studied pattern making from the local vintage boutiques. After three years of self-education, Rami began creating what would later be known as the “One of a Kind” collection, which was picked up by notable Los Angeles boutiques Aero & Co. and Diavolina.
Known for his dramatic red carpet gowns, Rami has draped the silhouettes of celebrities and trendsetters such as Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez, Portia De Rossi, Fergie, Amy Smart, Lucy Liu, Melanie Brown, Erykah Badu, Tracee Ellis Ross and Shiva Rose. His designs have been seen on the pages of “In Style,” “Flaunt,” “Angelino,” “Interview,” “People” and “Us Weekly.”
Rami’s designs can be found at many notable boutiques including H. Lorenzo, Xin, Diavolina and Inago in Los Angeles, Paper Dolls and Girlshop in New York, Dressed in Santa Barbara, Riley James, Boru, Five Figs and Masha in San Francisco and Harrods in London.