Fashion Show Program - Athena Project Festival

Festival Staff
Angela Astle........................................................Executive Producer and Founder
Amelia Retureta………..…………………………..Festival Production Coordinator
Connie Findley………………………………………………….……Director of Marketing
Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski………………………………………………Literary Manager
Gloria Shanstrom……………………………………………………………………….Publicist
Sharon Smith………………………………………………………….Volunteer Coordinator
Nancy Davis…………………………………………………….Opening Night Coordinator
Alicia Wheelock………………………………………………….Hospitality Coordinator
Katie Smith……………………………………………………………Graphic Design Intern
Anne Meyers…………………………………………………………………………..Athena Angel
Rachelle Cole………………………………………………………………………...Athena Angel
Ellen K. Graham…………………………………………………………………….Athena Angel
Curator
Caroline Smith
Janie G. Couture
Crew
Amelia Retureta………………………………………………………………….Stage Manager
Kenny Storms……………………………………………………………………..Board Operator
A Louise………………………………………………………………………………………………..DJ
Maniac Productions…………………………………………………...Lighting and Sound
Program
Welcome
Bella Diva Dance
Kirstine Hanson, Ionita Pierre,
Chyna Bronson, Caroline Smith
Intermission
Bella Diva Dance
Carly’s Boutique, Enuma Duhu, Darlene C. Ritz
Closing Remarks
With musical interludes by DJ A Louise
Bella Diva Dance
Bella Diva Dance is a Denver-based world
dance company that strives to bring the
magic of movement to Colorado women,
while also creating a community for these
women to be part of.
We strive to bring culturally authentic
world dance forms to Denver and provide
unique performance opportunities for our
students in the form of two yearly
Student Showcases held at popular,
various Denver venues.
Kirstine Hanson
Kirstine's studies in architecture struck a chord with
fashion design while researching her masters thesis at
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in
2010. Manipulating fabrics into geometric forms led her
to make transformative garments that encourage a
relationship with nature.
She continues to merge the two disciplines in her work as
an architectural designer and in making garments part
time. She relishes the overlap between fields and the
ways in which it informs the design.
Her garments are often inspired by menswear,
mathematics and origami. The materials include cotton
knits, kite materials and paper.
Ionita Pierce
Elle Muse 1961 is a unique clothing brand that
provides Minimalist, bohemian, indie, classic, sexy fashion pieces.
Our contemporary style collections are designed by Ionita to
celebrate every woman's free spirit and divine passion for
LIFE. Ionita Pierre decided to purse other passions before falling
back into the fashion. Although, she has always had a passion for
passion for fashion and design. Most of her career has been
focused in healthcare, and after receiving a Masters of Public
Health she focused her career on improving the state of
healthcare and public health throughout the United States.
Eventually, Ionita's dreams of designing her own clothing line
became more pronounced and hard to ignore.
"I've always wanted to create clothes that are easy to wear, ironic,
minimal, and with a sensual vibrant twist. The pieces I design and
sell online could be worn day to night. The pieces will make
you feel comfortable and sexy. My clothing is for all shapes and
sizes, not one body type is excluded. I design with the intention
that quality is equally as important. My mantra has always been
"Be You. Be Goldyn."
Chyna Bronson
Chyna Bronson is the owner of Chi Marie Fashions. Her
hometown is the Bronx, NY although she was pretty
much raised here in beautiful Colorado. She modeled
for years, and grew tired of not being able to walk the
runway due to her height not meeting model standards
for shows. This is why she started Chi Marie. She
designs for short, curvy petite women; women who are
fed up with not being able to find the right outfit that
fits the way they want. All of her designs are custom
made to fit and to please the client. Her goal is to
eventually run her very own boutique within the next 5
years, where women can go and receive skin care and
makeovers, wardrobe change that fits their shape and
soul pampering. She is determined to get short, petite
women in the fashion door so we can prove short is
beauty!
Caroline Smith
While in college at the Sewanee: The University of the South pursuing a
degree in economics, Caroline Smith fell in love with costume design,
and became very active in the university’s theater department. Upon
graduation from Sewanee in 2007, Caroline took her creative passion to
Manhattan, where she obtained a degree in Fashion Studies from the
prestigious Parsons School of Design. After internships at the design
houses of Kay Unger and Yigal Azrouel, Caroline moved to Florida’s
Emerald Coast. She worked as the costume designer for the Seaside
Repertory Theatre, and began making custom dresses for friends and
family. Knowing that this was more than just a hobby, Janie G. Couture
was born in Fall of 2009. The label, named for Caroline’s grandmother,
Janie, was inspired by the beautiful gowns that Janie had made over the
years. Some of Caroline’s fondest memories as a child came from
playing dress-up in these beautiful, one of a kind creations. Since its
creation, Janie G. Couture has been featured in publications & fashion
shows around the country, as well as merchandise marts such as
America’sMart Atlanta and WWDMagic. Her dresses are both chic and
timeless, and she has become known for her updated twist on classic
patterns made from fine silks and linens. In November 2012, Caroline
relocated to Denver, and is currently expanding her label nationwide
and working as a regular costume designer for The Edge Theater
Company and The Aurora Fox Theater. For more information about
Caroline and Janie G. Couture, visit us at janiegcouture.com.
Carly’s Boutique
Carly's is a women's clothing store located
in the heart of Olde Town Arvada in a
beautiful Victorian home. We carry
clothing for a wide range of age groups,
style, and sizes. We have something for
everyone.
Darlene C. Ritz
Darlene C. Ritz is the Chair of Fashion Design at RMCAD. After several
years in New York, LA, and San Diego, she returned home to continue
the development of the new Fashion Design BFA for campus and online.
She is a Colorado native, born and raised in Arvada, CO. After graduating
from Colorado State University with a bachelor degree in fashion design
and a minor in theater, she moved to New York City where she designed
women’s sportswear for several private label accounts including Uniqlo
of Japan. She then moved to Los Angeles to open the West Coast office
of European Textile Collection, where she served as Director of Sales
and Marketing. It was in Los Angeles that she began teaching and found
her passion for educating the next generation of fashion industry
professionals. San Diego became home after the birth of her son and
she continued her career in fashion education. As the daughter of a
World War II Veteran and an educator in the San Diego area, a city
known as a military town, she has worked with military students and is
committed to bringing our soldiers all the way home. She holds an MBA
with a marketing concentration from Argosy University and is pursuing
her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership (ABD).
Enuma Duhu
After years as a closet ‘fashonista’ with a science degree, Enuma
decided to pursue fashion in 2008 and continues to learn new
things every day. A fan of color, prints, and accentuating the
female body, she started the AudryMarie line to initially make
tall pants and simple women’s clothing with a twist. Enuma was
able to sell in 2 stores but took a break to start raising her kids
and then back to work. For years, she has been missing a huge
puzzle in her life and decided to rekindle that passion of sewing
and design. Enuma will continue to work with dedication and
patience as her flower blossoms.
O.P.
Cuban born Osvaldo Perez (better known as O.P), has been part of the beauty industry for
over 25 years. He was trained by the House of Chanel, YSL, Christian Dior and Guerlain.
While living in South Beach, Florida in the 80's, OP began to be involved in editorial work.
House of Chanel in the 90's noticed his talent and offered him a position as a National
Makeup Artist. In the mid-90's, O.P had the opportunity to meet his mentors, Dominique
Montetouis and Heidi Hoartz, the creators of Beaute for the House of Chanel. In 1994,
Dominique gave O.P his passport as "Citizen of the World" for House of Chanel, where he
and other "Citizens" meet to collaborate for Chanel Beaute. In 2010, O.P decided to leave
Chanel and start a new venture as the Executive Director of Beauty School of America,
where he noticed that what was challenging for many makeup artists was to produce a well
blended finished makeup. He found that there was a great need to create a professional
quality luxurious line of makeup that would produce a polished look. So, he created O.P
Makeup Studio Cosmetics, a one stop shop for affordable luxury cosmetics.
In 2012, O.P started O.P Makeup Studio Productions. O.P Makeup Studio Productions have
produced many fashion shows such as the Cancer Society Luncheon for the past 2 years,
Make a Wish Foundation, Cefin, and many local and National shows. His biggest
accomplishment is Miss Universe 2014, where they gave him the opportunity to show the
world his mission statement "Making the World More Beautiful One woman at a Time" and
now he can claim "Making The World More Beautiful One Woman At A time"
During his years of experience, O.P developed his own techniques. He wants to share his
techniques with the world. His approach to educating everyone is to keep it simple and
easy. He has created a method of instructions that anyone can follow and enjoy doing.
Special Thanks To
Chris & Karina Marconi
Marc Stith & RMCAD Marketing Team
Carrie Mesch & Bill Marino
Carly's Boutique
Jessica Frenkel
Kerry Miller
Darlene C. Ritz
Whitney and Paul Mitchell The School
Osvaldo Perez
River North Brewery
Alaskan Brewing Co.
Trenton Gills & Clint Findley
Happy Leaf Kombucha
Wong Way Veg
Maniac Productions
Lana at SAVA Catering
Bella Diva Dance
Our models, dressers,
vendors and designers
Kenny Storms
Stevie Caldarola
Dani Dauz
Rachelle Cole
John Glabach
Reuben Ortiz
Ellie Kastner
Rochelle Myers
Alicia Wheelock
Ashley Bowerman