FGI DC Honors ‘Rising Stars’ of Fashion

DC fashion “Rising Stars” shined bright Tuesday evening at Fabio Trabocchi’s Casa Luca, as the local chapter of Fashion Group International (FGI)  hosted its inaugural awards event to honor Washington, DC’s emerging talent.   Overflowing with city style setters and tastemakers, it was a chance for DC to toast its own rise in the ranks of the fashion industry, emceed by NBC4 Anchor Eun Yang.

Rising Stars, nominated by the FGIDC board and members, were honored in the categories of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Men’s Ready-to-Wear, Fine Jewelry and Accessories, Beauty Entrepreneur, Fashion Photography, Home and Interior Design, Media, and Fashion Stylist.  As has been done with the national group’s Rising Stars awards for some 17 years, this first local event identified emerging talents with creativity and vision.  Joseph Altuzzara and Jennifer Fleiss & Jennifer Hyman for Rent the Runway are just a few Rising Stars honored by FGI before they became fashion “it” brands.

Presented by notable names like Theo Adamstein (Founder of FotoDC), Carl Ray (Make Up Artist to the First Lady), and Lynda Erkeletian (Founder of T.H.E. Artist Agency), the following 2014 Rising Star winners made tears in the audience a trend as they offered moving acceptance speeches, basked in the wonderment of their win, and maybe even did a little dancing:

 Rising Star 2014 Winners

Accessories

Camille Gabriele,  Camille Gabriele Designs

Beauty

JoElle Lee, JoElle Skin Care

Interior Design

William McGovern, McGovern Design Studio

Jewelry

Sophie Blake, Sophie Blake NY

New Media

All Things Fashion DC

Menswear

Pranov Vora & Philip Soriano, Hugh & Crye

Photography

Violetta Markelou, VM Photography

Stylist

Ariella Toloza, Ariella Faith

Womenswear

Tashia Senn, Tashia Senn Design