Up-And-Coming Houston Designers Take Center Stage at Front Row Houston
By Julia Davila February 6, 2017
War Official
Houston native Charles "War" Johnson Jr., 24, opened the night with his War Official Fall 2016 collection. “I wanted to show the diversity of the brand,” said Johnson. Inspired by nature, Johnson said he wanted to create clothes his clients could wear to make them feel like a warrior.
Photography by Leena Vuor
War Official
Houston native Charles "War" Johnson Jr., 24, opened the night with his War Official Fall 2016 collection. “I wanted to show the diversity of the brand,” said Johnson. Inspired by nature, Johnson said he wanted to create clothes his clients could wear to make them feel like a warrior.
Photography by Leena Vuor
War Official
Houston native Charles "War" Johnson Jr., 24, opened the night with his War Official Fall 2016 collection. “I wanted to show the diversity of the brand,” said Johnson. Inspired by nature, Johnson said he wanted to create clothes his clients could wear to make them feel like a warrior.
Photography by Leena Vuor
War Official
Houston native Charles "War" Johnson Jr., 24, opened the night with his War Official Fall 2016 collection. “I wanted to show the diversity of the brand,” said Johnson. Inspired by nature, Johnson said he wanted to create clothes his clients could wear to make them feel like a warrior.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Preston Douglas
Preston Boyer walked, quite literally, into the fashion industry with an impressive sneaker collection he shared with the world via his YouTube channel. The young designer debuted his his Spring/Summer 2017 collection—his third collection under the Preston Douglas label—at Front Row Houston. The collection, “In The Face of Fear” was inspired by an emotional night when a relative's trip to the emergency room collided with the celebration of being sober for two years. “I designed the majority of the collection that night as I walked through the face of fear in my life,” said Boyer.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Preston Douglas
Preston Boyer walked, quite literally, into the fashion industry with an impressive sneaker collection he shared with the world via his YouTube channel. The young designer debuted his his Spring/Summer 2017 collection—his third collection under the Preston Douglas label—at Front Row Houston. The collection, “In The Face of Fear” was inspired by an emotional night when a relative's trip to the emergency room collided with the celebration of being sober for two years. “I designed the majority of the collection that night as I walked through the face of fear in my life,” said Boyer.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Preston Douglas
Preston Boyer walked, quite literally, into the fashion industry with an impressive sneaker collection he shared with the world via his YouTube channel. The young designer debuted his his Spring/Summer 2017 collection—his third collection under the Preston Douglas label—at Front Row Houston. The collection, “In The Face of Fear” was inspired by an emotional night when a relative's trip to the emergency room collided with the celebration of being sober for two years. “I designed the majority of the collection that night as I walked through the face of fear in my life,” said Boyer.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Richard & Grace
A male model opened Richard & Grace by standing at the end of the catwalk with a large canvas. As he stood there, the crowd became intrigued at the texture and abstract pattern on the canvas. “I wanted people to see 'Chaos' before they saw any clothing. I wanted whoever would be buying the product to see where the concept is originally coming from, and that’s artwork made in-house,” said designer Josh Allen. I want [people] to know what Chaos stands for and what Richard & Grace stands for: it’s an art brand that pushes philosophy. We all go through chaotic moments in our life, chaotic obstacles. Black, white, rich, poor, we go through these things to get us through the next day. We embrace this chaos to grow up.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
Richard & Grace
A male model opened Richard & Grace by standing at the end of the catwalk with a large canvas. As he stood there, the crowd became intrigued at the texture and abstract pattern on the canvas. “I wanted people to see 'Chaos' before they saw any clothing. I wanted whoever would be buying the product to see where the concept is originally coming from, and that’s artwork made in-house,” said designer Josh Allen. I want [people] to know what Chaos stands for and what Richard & Grace stands for: it’s an art brand that pushes philosophy. We all go through chaotic moments in our life, chaotic obstacles. Black, white, rich, poor, we go through these things to get us through the next day. We embrace this chaos to grow up.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
Richard & Grace
A male model opened Richard & Grace by standing at the end of the catwalk with a large canvas. As he stood there, the crowd became intrigued at the texture and abstract pattern on the canvas. “I wanted people to see 'Chaos' before they saw any clothing. I wanted whoever would be buying the product to see where the concept is originally coming from, and that’s artwork made in-house,” said designer Josh Allen. I want [people] to know what Chaos stands for and what Richard & Grace stands for: it’s an art brand that pushes philosophy. We all go through chaotic moments in our life, chaotic obstacles. Black, white, rich, poor, we go through these things to get us through the next day. We embrace this chaos to grow up.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
Travis Cal Styles
Best known for fashion/wardrobe styling and event design, Travis Cal debuted his “My Favorite Things” collection at Front Row Houston. “The inspiration behind this collection is based on strong, powerful, women. I love a clean and classic silhouette that is energized by bold prints, sparkling textures, and glamazon-inspired hair and makeup. I want women to feel sexy, strong, and empowered by my clothing,” said Cal.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Travis Cal Styles
Best known for fashion/wardrobe styling and event design, Travis Cal debuted his “My Favorite Things” collection at Front Row Houston. “The inspiration behind this collection is based on strong, powerful, women. I love a clean and classic silhouette that is energized by bold prints, sparkling textures, and glamazon-inspired hair and makeup. I want women to feel sexy, strong, and empowered by my clothing,” said Cal.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Travis Cal Styles
Best known for fashion/wardrobe styling and event design, Travis Cal debuted his “My Favorite Things” collection at Front Row Houston. “The inspiration behind this collection is based on strong, powerful, women. I love a clean and classic silhouette that is energized by bold prints, sparkling textures, and glamazon-inspired hair and makeup. I want women to feel sexy, strong, and empowered by my clothing,” said Cal.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Travis Cal Styles
Best known for fashion/wardrobe styling and event design, Travis Cal debuted his “My Favorite Things” collection at Front Row Houston. “The inspiration behind this collection is based on strong, powerful, women. I love a clean and classic silhouette that is energized by bold prints, sparkling textures, and glamazon-inspired hair and makeup. I want women to feel sexy, strong, and empowered by my clothing,” said Cal.
Photography by Leena Vuor
AMATI
Nel Gaskin of AMATI showcased her views of how we are not always comfortable with being our true selves with her collection, UNMASKED. “I’m really big on expression of self and I noticed that people have a hard time of doing so,” said Gaskin. “The inspiration behind the name for my brand is actually based off of my artistic skill. I'm a visual artist first before designer, so I paint and hand-draw my creations. AMATI is an abbreviation for Another Making After True Imagination—everything that I create within my imagination, I bring it to life through fabrics.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
AMATI
Nel Gaskin of AMATI showcased her views of how we are not always comfortable with being our true selves with her collection, UNMASKED. “I’m really big on expression of self and I noticed that people have a hard time of doing so,” said Gaskin. “The inspiration behind the name for my brand is actually based off of my artistic skill. I'm a visual artist first before designer, so I paint and hand-draw my creations. AMATI is an abbreviation for Another Making After True Imagination—everything that I create within my imagination, I bring it to life through fabrics.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
AMATI
Nel Gaskin of AMATI showcased her views of how we are not always comfortable with being our true selves with her collection, UNMASKED. “I’m really big on expression of self and I noticed that people have a hard time of doing so,” said Gaskin. “The inspiration behind the name for my brand is actually based off of my artistic skill. I'm a visual artist first before designer, so I paint and hand-draw my creations. AMATI is an abbreviation for Another Making After True Imagination—everything that I create within my imagination, I bring it to life through fabrics.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
AMATI
Nel Gaskin of AMATI showcased her views of how we are not always comfortable with being our true selves with her collection, UNMASKED. “I’m really big on expression of self and I noticed that people have a hard time of doing so,” said Gaskin. “The inspiration behind the name for my brand is actually based off of my artistic skill. I'm a visual artist first before designer, so I paint and hand-draw my creations. AMATI is an abbreviation for Another Making After True Imagination—everything that I create within my imagination, I bring it to life through fabrics.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
AMATI
Nel Gaskin of AMATI showcased her views of how we are not always comfortable with being our true selves with her collection, UNMASKED. “I’m really big on expression of self and I noticed that people have a hard time of doing so,” said Gaskin. “The inspiration behind the name for my brand is actually based off of my artistic skill. I'm a visual artist first before designer, so I paint and hand-draw my creations. AMATI is an abbreviation for Another Making After True Imagination—everything that I create within my imagination, I bring it to life through fabrics.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
AMATI
Nel Gaskin of AMATI showcased her views of how we are not always comfortable with being our true selves with her collection, UNMASKED. “I’m really big on expression of self and I noticed that people have a hard time of doing so,” said Gaskin. “The inspiration behind the name for my brand is actually based off of my artistic skill. I'm a visual artist first before designer, so I paint and hand-draw my creations. AMATI is an abbreviation for Another Making After True Imagination—everything that I create within my imagination, I bring it to life through fabrics.”
Photography by Leena Vuor
War Official
Houston native Charles "War" Johnson Jr., 24, opened the night with his War Official Fall 2016 collection. “I wanted to show the diversity of the brand,” said Johnson. Inspired by nature, Johnson said he wanted to create clothes his clients could wear to make them feel like a warrior.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal Bridal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal Bridal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal Bridal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Chasity Sereal
Majestic Wonderland, Chasity Sereal’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection, was inspired by the movie Alice in Wonderland. “I kind of wanted to play off of [the movie] and make it dreamy, make it fun, make it whimsical,” designer Sereal said. The Houston-based designer closed Front Row Houston with a second collection, her bridal line. “Women were the inspiration behind my bridal line; their curves, their sensuality, their innocence, the joy of getting married,” she said. Sereal will be showing new collections at New York Fashion Week in September 2017.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Diéu Est
French for 'God Is,' every piece in Diéu Est, created by Robert A. Wright II, has an identity. At Front Row Houston, his collection was inspired by comfort, with three segments to his show: The Wraith Collection, The Crochet Collection and The Brave Collection.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Diéu Est
French for 'God Is,' every piece in Diéu Est, created by Robert A. Wright II, has an identity. At Front Row Houston, his collection was inspired by comfort, with three segments to his show: The Wraith Collection, The Crochet Collection and The Brave Collection.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Diéu Est
French for 'God Is,' every piece in Diéu Est, created by Robert A. Wright II, has an identity. At Front Row Houston, his collection was inspired by comfort, with three segments to his show: The Wraith Collection, The Crochet Collection and The Brave Collection.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Diéu Est
French for 'God Is,' every piece in Diéu Est, created by Robert A. Wright II, has an identity. At Front Row Houston, his collection was inspired by comfort, with three segments to his show: The Wraith Collection, The Crochet Collection and The Brave Collection.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Diéu Est
French for 'God Is,' every piece in Diéu Est, created by Robert A. Wright II, has an identity. At Front Row Houston, his collection was inspired by comfort, with three segments to his show: The Wraith Collection, The Crochet Collection and The Brave Collection.
Photography by Leena Vuor
Trevor Walker has been traveling across the U.S., attending fashion shows in cities like Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta with one goal in mind: understanding fashion culture and cultivating it in Houston. Now Walker, the president and CEO of CHKMTE Clothing Co., has taken what he learned and put it to work with Front Row Houston, the first of what he plans as an annual charity fashion show focused on giving a platform to local design talent. Held at The Gallery, the first annual event last week benefitted Mothers 2 Mothers, an international nonprofit organization committed to preventing mother-to-child transference of HIV.
“There’s a lot of great designers here who are overlooked, and I feel like Houston has the next fashion culture,” Walker says. "In Houston everybody wants that exclusivity, they want that feel. ... Who doesn’t want to sit front row?”
