Fashion Shows

Diversity on Display at Pop Shop Houston's Summer Fashion Show

Local indie fashion on display was inspired by everything from Southern life to African fabrics.

By Julia Davila June 14, 2017

Born in Cameroon, designer Kristiane Charrier of KAECI Concept opened the show with an array of colorful prints. Charrier started her brand while living in Brazil, and this was her first time showing her designs in Houston, their mix of contrasting colors and textures symbolizing “how harmonious all the contrasts in our lives can be.”

“I believe that diversity in our lives shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a strength because diversity leads to complementarity. What you have I don’t have, and what I have you don’t have, so put us together and we have everything we need,” Charrier says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Born in Cameroon, designer Kristiane Charrier of KAECI Concept opened the show with an array of colorful prints. Charrier started her brand while living in Brazil, and this was her first time showing her designs in Houston, their mix of contrasting colors and textures symbolizing “how harmonious all the contrasts in our lives can be.”

“I believe that diversity in our lives shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a strength because diversity leads to complementarity. What you have I don’t have, and what I have you don’t have, so put us together and we have everything we need,” Charrier says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Born in Cameroon, designer Kristiane Charrier of KAECI Concept opened the show with an array of colorful prints. Charrier started her brand while living in Brazil, and this was her first time showing her designs in Houston, their mix of contrasting colors and textures symbolizing “how harmonious all the contrasts in our lives can be.”

“I believe that diversity in our lives shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a strength because diversity leads to complementarity. What you have I don’t have, and what I have you don’t have, so put us together and we have everything we need,” Charrier says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Born in Cameroon, designer Kristiane Charrier of KAECI Concept opened the show with an array of colorful prints. Charrier started her brand while living in Brazil, and this was her first time showing her designs in Houston, their mix of contrasting colors and textures symbolizing “how harmonious all the contrasts in our lives can be.”

“I believe that diversity in our lives shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a strength because diversity leads to complementarity. What you have I don’t have, and what I have you don’t have, so put us together and we have everything we need,” Charrier says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Born in Cameroon, designer Kristiane Charrier of KAECI Concept opened the show with an array of colorful prints. Charrier started her brand while living in Brazil, and this was her first time showing her designs in Houston, their mix of contrasting colors and textures symbolizing “how harmonious all the contrasts in our lives can be.”

“I believe that diversity in our lives shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a strength because diversity leads to complementarity. What you have I don’t have, and what I have you don’t have, so put us together and we have everything we need,” Charrier says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Born in Cameroon, designer Kristiane Charrier of KAECI Concept opened the show with an array of colorful prints. Charrier started her brand while living in Brazil, and this was her first time showing her designs in Houston, their mix of contrasting colors and textures symbolizing “how harmonious all the contrasts in our lives can be.”

“I believe that diversity in our lives shouldn’t be an obstacle, it should be a strength because diversity leads to complementarity. What you have I don’t have, and what I have you don’t have, so put us together and we have everything we need,” Charrier says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

Next on the runway was Southern-inspired lifestyle brand Grits Co., which has already found a following--their Grits Tribe. “The company slogan is simple: No Grits No Glory, said Toya Levi, who created the line alongside HSPVA alum Reuben Levi. Toya said she wanted to capture a “gritty vintage style” for their first fashion show at Pop Shop America.

“Those stories remind us of a simpler time when anything was possible if you just dreamed it. All you need is some grit to make it happen,” she says.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The next collection transported the audience from the American South to Western Africa with Hannah Ephraim's Westernized takes on traditional African clothing. Her bold colors and patterns made a statement on the runway that visibly wowed the audience.

“All of my [designs] are Ghanaian-inspired, [so] of course our fabrics pop,” says Ephraim, who designs under the label Ansaba’s Etem.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The next collection transported the audience from the American South to Western Africa with Hannah Ephraim's Westernized takes on traditional African clothing. Her bold colors and patterns made a statement on the runway that visibly wowed the audience.

“All of my [designs] are Ghanaian-inspired, [so] of course our fabrics pop,” says Ephraim, who designs under the label Ansaba’s Etem.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The next collection transported the audience from the American South to Western Africa with Hannah Ephraim's Westernized takes on traditional African clothing. Her bold colors and patterns made a statement on the runway that visibly wowed the audience.

“All of my [designs] are Ghanaian-inspired, [so] of course our fabrics pop,” says Ephraim, who designs under the label Ansaba’s Etem.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The next collection transported the audience from the American South to Western Africa with Hannah Ephraim's Westernized takes on traditional African clothing. Her bold colors and patterns made a statement on the runway that visibly wowed the audience.

“All of my [designs] are Ghanaian-inspired, [so] of course our fabrics pop,” says Ephraim, who designs under the label Ansaba’s Etem.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The next collection transported the audience from the American South to Western Africa with Hannah Ephraim's Westernized takes on traditional African clothing. Her bold colors and patterns made a statement on the runway that visibly wowed the audience.

“All of my [designs] are Ghanaian-inspired, [so] of course our fabrics pop,” says Ephraim, who designs under the label Ansaba’s Etem.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The next collection transported the audience from the American South to Western Africa with Hannah Ephraim's Westernized takes on traditional African clothing. Her bold colors and patterns made a statement on the runway that visibly wowed the audience.

“All of my [designs] are Ghanaian-inspired, [so] of course our fabrics pop,” says Ephraim, who designs under the label Ansaba’s Etem.

Photography by Jesse Greene

The final collection of the evening was 8 Palms by Brittney Anele, whose unorthodox perspective set a theatrical mood, with her avant garde designs worn by barefoot models adorned with heavy blush on their noses and cheeks as an ode to clowns.

“I am an artist. Everything I create comes from an inherent desire to challenge ‘normalcy,’ said Anele. “Clowns are absurd, everything but 'normal.' I wanted to sneak that absurdity into my models' appearances. The line implies you are not looking at a model's' face, you are looking at art.”

Photography by Jesse Greene

The final collection of the evening was 8 Palms by Brittney Anele, whose unorthodox perspective set a theatrical mood, with her avant garde designs worn by barefoot models adorned with heavy blush on their noses and cheeks as an ode to clowns.

“I am an artist. Everything I create comes from an inherent desire to challenge ‘normalcy,’ said Anele. “Clowns are absurd, everything but 'normal.' I wanted to sneak that absurdity into my models' appearances. The line implies you are not looking at a model's' face, you are looking at art.”

Photography by Jesse Greene

The final collection of the evening was 8 Palms by Brittney Anele, whose unorthodox perspective set a theatrical mood, with her avant garde designs worn by barefoot models adorned with heavy blush on their noses and cheeks as an ode to clowns.

“I am an artist. Everything I create comes from an inherent desire to challenge ‘normalcy,’ said Anele. “Clowns are absurd, everything but 'normal.' I wanted to sneak that absurdity into my models' appearances. The line implies you are not looking at a model's' face, you are looking at art.”

Photography by Jesse Greene

The final collection of the evening was 8 Palms by Brittney Anele, whose unorthodox perspective set a theatrical mood, with her avant garde designs worn by barefoot models adorned with heavy blush on their noses and cheeks as an ode to clowns.

“I am an artist. Everything I create comes from an inherent desire to challenge ‘normalcy,’ said Anele. “Clowns are absurd, everything but 'normal.' I wanted to sneak that absurdity into my models' appearances. The line implies you are not looking at a model's' face, you are looking at art.”

Photography by Jesse Greene

The final collection of the evening was 8 Palms by Brittney Anele, whose unorthodox perspective set a theatrical mood, with her avant garde designs worn by barefoot models adorned with heavy blush on their noses and cheeks as an ode to clowns.

“I am an artist. Everything I create comes from an inherent desire to challenge ‘normalcy,’ said Anele. “Clowns are absurd, everything but 'normal.' I wanted to sneak that absurdity into my models' appearances. The line implies you are not looking at a model's' face, you are looking at art.”

Photography by Jesse Greene

The final collection of the evening was 8 Palms by Brittney Anele, whose unorthodox perspective set a theatrical mood, with her avant garde designs worn by barefoot models adorned with heavy blush on their noses and cheeks as an ode to clowns.

“I am an artist. Everything I create comes from an inherent desire to challenge ‘normalcy,’ said Anele. “Clowns are absurd, everything but 'normal.' I wanted to sneak that absurdity into my models' appearances. The line implies you are not looking at a model's' face, you are looking at art.”

Photography by Jesse Greene

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THERE SHOULD BE A WORD for the unique experience of watching clothing on a runway; they aren’t just garments, they’re works of art. And for the four Houston designers presenting at the Pop Shop Houston Summer Festival, they were a chance to showcase their creativity and point of view.

“We host the fashion show because we love fashion,” said Pop Shop Houston founder Brittany Bly. “There aren't many runway events in Houston, and certainly not ones that focus on local indie designers. It's such a special way to spotlight the clothing designers you can shop from at Pop Shop Houston.”

Pop Shop Houston, Fashion Shows

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