Reflections on 2008

Well, the X-mas season is in full swing. Production has been going along with great anticipation. Sales have been picking up the closure I get to Christmas. This weekend, I will be making an appearance at the Keshmish Festival in Window Rock, AZ at the Navajo Nation Museum. December 5th & 6th.

I will be highlighting the Southwestern and Semi-Traditional apparel. Not a lot of people know that I have designed (which have been copied-poorly, and knocked off by my lesser competitors) and produced a lot of traditional and southwestern designs. I’ve made the Southwestern and traditional apparel available since the inception of Nizhoni Way Apparel. I never really highlight these designs in fashion shows because I felt I would rather highlight my talents for the broad range of clothing I do.

With my other label, DKC*fx(which also started another trend in the Native Market-SPIN-OFF COLLECTIONS), I have the outlet to do the designs that I havealways wanted to do while with NizhoniWay Apparel will be more conservative-yet elegant apparel without the vulgarity found in other collections. As I have said, “nudity is not a selling point-it’s sexy without the boobs and butt poppin’ off all over the place.” Women can be sexy without being a “tool” or a man’s “plaything” in a thong or just plain naked.

In the coming New Year, I will be implementing my next “ground breaking” project with Native Models. “Project: Model Portfolio,” the working title for now. What is it exactly and why is it going to be ground breaking? I am working with some Native American Models and a couple of photographers to help them build on fashion editorial photo shoots. I am providing real Native American fashion couture for Native Models so they can expand their portfolios.

What I’ve noticed from Native American models is that a lot of Native American models lack the fashion editorial shots they need to show high fashion designers they have the range to carry evening wear. I’ve noticed that a lot of Native American models wear a lot of their own clothing for photo shoots and let’s be honest-most models are on fixed incomes that don’t allow them to just throw away $300 on a moderate high end gown. So for my part to support the native market and expand into the mainstream market, I have been sending out (or will be sending out) original Fashions to these Native American models in hopes that they will get the photos they need to complete their portfolios. This is not a talent search or model call. The models have already been chosen and I am not accepting applications–so please spare me the emails on how to apply to break into modeling.

Why is it ground breaking? Because I’m doing it first. What other Native American designer do you know who is doing this or can rock modern fashion? Of course, it will be copied by other Native Designers and t-shirt companies and not to mention-Native Modeling agencies- and all will be insisting it’s their idea.

“Project: Model Portfolio,” has been something I ‘ve always wanted to do and something I have been doing on a smaller scale. Just look at Glacsy, they were unknown when I started working with them and I provided a great deal of fashions for their models and inspired other designers to work with them. After much disappointment from Models asking how I could help them, when these faux modeling agencies were doing nothing to promote them, I felt that it was necessary to think on a grander scale and gear my talents towards making the Native Fashion Industry about the business aspect rather than who’s the bigger “player” and who can bring the biggest “drama” to the scene.

Just like the NativeJewelry market, big institutions, legit show producers, and marketing corps are seeing the need to sign artists rather than those who are just “dabbling” in the art. The latest I’m hearing is that places like Santa Fe Indian Market and The Heard Museum are turning away from booking Native T-shirt companies from appearing in fashion shows and in their art markets but would rather have real fashion designers who sit down and sketch out their collections and go through the process of producing their lines rather than sitting at the computer, downloading images, and with a few clicks of the mouse, they have their line of t-shirts, hoodies, and sweat pants.

I know, it sounds like dissing and maybe it is, but when you spend the time on designing as I do and have someone come along and belittle what you do by taking the easy way out…trust me, you’d feel the same way. It’s not a bunch of undo grips. As I mentioned, In the Jewelry arts, a lot of the artists are up in arms about these “quick buck Charlies” who use artificial stones and prefabricated settings and pre-assembled components to produce cheaper and lesser opulent versions of their high end counterparts–while real artists are sitting at their work tables welding, and shaping stones to settings or settings to stone, and filing down stones to make a detailed facets.

I’ll admit that I have “dabbled” in the jewelry making arts but I never copied for looked to others as inspiration. I may have worked with acrylic stones and base metal pin heads and such, but the work I produced was original and never insisted that the general public pay me the same price tag as the finer artwork found in award winning jewelry work. If anything, it’s heightened my fashion designing and has broaden my design capabilities. I have much respect for those who work hard for at their art.

One thing that will change in 2009, I will not be looking to mentor anymore future designers. The Ingenue program I had going is going to no longer be…I know, I’ve been wrestling with this for the past year but I want to concentrate on Nizhoni Way Apparel and the business of Nizhoni Way Apparel. Believe me, I would like to keep inspiring and helping young Native designers to realize their dreams but someone told me that I have been spreading myself thin. Hopefully, when I have finally hired someone to do the sewing, I can re-ignite the “Ingenue Program” and have the right licensing to find sponsors. I will be finishing up with “Destiny Evolved,” in May 2009. Between now and then I will be helping Cameron finish his upcoming collection. I’m not going to completely abandon promoting great talent, I’m just going to promote them in a way that helps promote me.

With the election of the first African-American president, I do feel that anything is possible. And I feel that I have not stepped up enough to get NizhoniWay Apparel to the general public-does this mean that I will be working withevery tom, dick and Native Model Studio? NO! It just means that I will be working for myself to promote and get myself to a broader audience. If anything that I’ve learned from Myspace and from doing public appearances, is that there is a broad market for what I do and that if more people knew about me, they would buy Nizhoni Way merchandise (merch).

In 2009, Any fashion shows I appear in will be Nizhoni Way Apparel productions. I spent the first half of 2008 trusting in on organization and helping produce a show only to have them sell me short, try registering my ideas under their name, and pushing me aside to take all the glory–never-minding the fact that I was responsible for finding the talent-only to have the show flop under their “management.” Sales did suffer while I was planning and holding meetings–which they were habitually late for, while I was always on time for their meetings only to havethem keep me waiting for up to four hours and never even bothering to call me once, to let me know they were late or they were on their way! Oh yes, and let’s not forget them questioning my professionalism because I decided to move on from their lack of professionalism. They even tried insulting my design talents and boast about how much better they were at designing! It was almost worth the unpleasantness just so I could LMFAO!

Once I saw that all these people with absolutely no fashion industry experience were producing these shows-shows that were okay, I felt that with what i know about fashion show production (because that’s what they teach you in design school) and modeling casting that I would be able to produce some pretty decent fashion shows myself. So 2009 should be an interesting year.

 

ENDNOTE:  I am happy to report that someone in the Native American community has finally stepped up to become an actual registered modeling agency.  VIEWFINDER Photography has become VIEWFINDER PRODUCTIONS.  Best known for their calender, “NATIVE SKINS”, Viewfinder has been handling thier Native American talent for the past year and is expanding to include all Native Talent.

Life is good!

I am working on new stuff and getting some really great projects. As I told those in the past, “I have everything to gain my telling the truth while others have everything to loose by speaking one once of truth.” It really is nice working with the pack of new people I have become acquinted with. It has inspired me to move on and the new network is paying off in dividends!

It is a great weight not having to be the one that was carrying people with absolutely no talent. I really am working with a more talented group of people. We are all like minded individuals who really want to bring real fashion designers and real artists to the forefront of the Native American Market. There is a small legion of actual Native American Fashion Designers all ready to take a stand and move towards changing the Native American Market and make it a viable commodity to sell to mainstream fashion.

The market is currently congested with these faux modeling agencies who really have no clue what it means to be an actual agency. I have heard from a couple of those models who were signed with said modeling agencies and have all said the same, “What a jip it is to be sold all these promises only to find out that it was all hype and that I was the one that had to work to get myself noticed. If I had known that from the beginning, I wouldn’t have signed with them and I would not have had to turn down much better offers because I was signed with them.”

I really don’t believe in spreading rumors when the truth is so much more effective. Others take advantage of people entering the Native American Fashion Industry because everyone is just waiting to see who they can use. I’ve worked with enough people to know who not to work with and who not to trust. I’ve even learned that even if you trust them they are just waiting to cut you up. I have the talents that have made it possible for me to weather all the negativity that others choose to spread. It’s because of my talents that people want to work with me and choose to continue to work with me. It’s my talents that book designers, models and photographers!

I am excited with future prospects and all the new and interesting people I’m going to be working with. Talent inspires talent and I have been challenging myself greatly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you spell Tacky? G-L-A-C-S-Y!

Well, I’ve decided to make it known to all models and potential models that they will not be considered for any future projects with Nizhoni Way Apparel if they are affiliated with Glacsy. Why? Well, Tionne Linder decided to write a ominous email to the marketing director of an event (that I am taking part in) in regards to a photo the taken by Glacsy but was paid for by the featured designer of the event.  Glacsy claimed copyright infringements. First off, the designer paid for her services and also paid other fees for other services which Glacsy has not yet honored. Her response was that she only took those photos because they were only meant for the designers personal use. DUH? This show is an event showcasing her talents and she was using the photo-which she paid for-to promote her show. If Glacsy does not want their photos to be used in this capacity then they should not bother to take photos. After all the drama and BS, and after reminding Glacsy that they were paid for the photo and that they still owe the designer services, Tionne Linder dropped the matter and simply commented, “I just wanted to be asked if it was okay.”

WHAT! You create all this drama and claim copyright infringement only to back down and give some weak stuff like, ” I only wanted to be ask.”  By the way, if you go to the U.S. Copyright office website and search the data base for Glacsy-you’ll find nothing listed.  I know that they did this only because they saw my name on the flyer and they did it out of spite. I personally will not put up with such BS. I have made it known that I will not use Glacsy models in any future projects because their public images are owned by Glacsy and if they are going to run around screaming “Copyright Infringement” why would I or anyone want to work with Glacsy affiliates? Ray Linder talked about how I was destroying myself by ending ties with Glacsy. Things have only gotten better since vacating them from my life. I’m actually booking shows in which I am being paid for my appearances! Ha, ha!

Native American Fashion week was a bust because of Ray Linder and his lack of people skills. If I really was the problem and they were the solution then why is it that every designer I booked for their show canceled? Why is it that I am hearing from models that didn’t bother re-newing their “contracts” with Glacsy are coming to me to help them get back on track by referring them to other modeling agencies. They just don’t get it. I brought far more to the table than they ever did. No on wanted to work with them and no one takes them seriously. 

Karma is a little witch, y’all

The press is in and as I predicted, Native American Fashion Week was a complete failure. An event that boasted designers from Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Denver-when I was on board with the event, was reduced to only glacsy and grand falls creations. Tionne Linder blamed the promotion of the event for the low attendance. The truth was that the event was doomed from the beginning due to the lack of people skills of Ray Linder. Making outlandish requests and demands of the designers drove them away in droves! More than likely, they do not want to see this as a failure because of their egos but when the papers report only 60 people a show, versus the costs to produce the show-It’s a dud!

“Not all that!” was the report from some of the attendees. The sad thing in all this is that this show could have been a major knock out of the park if Glacsy had not decided to sneak around an make an enemy of me. I’m sorry but when I drop a show or a network people take notice and based on my design capabilities, more credence is given to me more so than someone like Glacsy with their mediocre photography, sub-standard fashion designs and models-who they claim they train every weekend before shows, that can’t walk or hit their mark–trust me, I’ve seen the video.

I did mention to them that they had been a long time liability to me and only jeopardized by credibility with other organizations. I was their #1 advocate because they needed one. No one wanted to work with them and I had to make the hard sale convincing people they are worthy. They wanted to insist that their actions did not disrespect me the way my departure did them. I was not the one sneaking around registering my ideas under their name. It’s vindicating that the input I have had in previous shows has been made apparent with the failure of this show. They complained that I was not doing my part and they can see now (which I doubt they will) what I contribute to the shows.

I am moving into more fashion show production and hope to produce shows for the designers I promote and these are designers who have the educational background to have a successful career in the fashion industry and not a bunch of fakes who think that by watching “America’s Next Top Model “and “Project Runway” constitutes “industry experience.”

I know they are going to respond to this because they just have to know everything their “competitors” are doing. Of course, they are going to be all, “I know you are but what am I?”

 

 

 

 

This is the last post on the matter.

Yes, Glacsy is holding my personal designs hostage and refuses to release them.  They alledgidly claim that they came out to return my stuff to me but no one was home to receive said belongings. Especially when it was advised that they not appear without first notifying me by phone or email as they were not welcome without invite.   According to bulletin posts last weekend-which they claim they dropped by (June14),  I was busy working on an order due last Monday (June 16th).  I was here all day that day.  As a matter of fact I was sewing in front of the TV which is conveniently located by my front doorstep.  Also, the drapes were drawn open and I was facing said door stop and at 2PM-the alleged time of first arrival, I did not see anyone pull up.  They also claim a 10PM visit as well and also chose to implicate one of their models in this alleged visit.  I still was in front of the TV-not sewing but, watching a mini-marathon of “Kimora: Life in the Fabulous Lane.”  Before that, I was watching “The Medium”-cause I love me some Medium!  It was an episode I missed when it originally aired-ROSANNA ARQUETTE!

I did send them emails and over the phone asked them to mail out my stuff and relayed to them that would be the best, most convenient, and cheapest way to draw this matter to a close.  They refused to comply.  When expressed to Tionne Linder her response was, “You can pay for the postage!”  My response was, “Fine, send it C.O.D.”  Her response was that I was being childish and unprofessional and that I <b>HAD</b> to come out to there residence and receive my property myself.  I did express to several people I felt that this was an attempt at luring me into an unsafe situation for their final confrontation-they concurred.

I was doing fine getting on with the business of Nizhoni Way Apparel and Wednesday evening,  I receive a slue of insulting and threatening emails from Ray Linder about law suits.  I was confused as to where this was all coming from.  Then it was suggested that I check and see what the latest news was on NAFW.  To my surprise, they had absolutely no designers booked for the show.  The only clothing that was to be seen was from Glacsy.  It had become apparent that the handling of designers (some of whom appeared at L’Oreal Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, Phoenix Fashion Week, and Scottsdale Fashion Week) had taken a turn. 

The one complaint that they told me as to why  they decided against doing the show-the outrageous request of Glacsy to drop their lives and attend their model workshops.  One designer was touring California and could not make the workshops-they were dropped from the show.  Another designer was in the process of moving and could not attend because they were given a deadline to be out of their apartment or they would be charged a whole nother month’s rent, they couldn’t make the workshop-they were dropped from the show.

I had gotten top quality designers for NAFW not to mention a bevy of size 2, 4, and 6’s-which is the preferred sample size of most designers.  They were all coming out from all parts of the U.S.  But because Glacsy decided to pull a nasty power play and demand that models and designers travel all the way out AT THEIR EXPENSE to window rock to attend their workshops, all decided that it just was not worth their efforts.  Especially those who have worked major industry fashion shows-<b>and again, by industry, I do not mean, Santa Fe Indian Market, Gathering of Nations, the Window Rock Museum, The Window Rock Sports Center, or The El Morro Theatre in Gallup.</b>  They all had to work and could not get the time off.  They rely on thier jobs and businesses to keep them out of the red as they pursue crossover success-which I am also in pursuit of.

I did not tell anyone not to do the shows or to cancel.  As stated in earlier post, I encouraged fashion talent to participate and even continued to sell the show to other designers.  I even stated that I would like to see Native American Fashion Week prosper and succeed.  This current event has taken a vast step back-in my opinion, without the content of real design talent, a fashion week will on succeed-something Glacsy refuses to see.

The future of NAFW  is questionable as of now.  I do hope that in my endeavors to promote and move into producing fashion shows that these last few months, will not reflect on my events badly.  My hope is that people will be able to make the distinction between my work and those I am working with from Glacsy.

I have fully moved on but according to emails sent to me this past Monday Glacsy refuses to let it go.  My hope is that they will realize their errors and continue with honesty and integrity.  I have wondered as a result of these dealings if Glascy had been embellishing the business practices of Native Model Studio and Larry Price–I wonder if my involvement with their smear campaign was yielded by half or untruths on part of the owners of Glacsy.

New Horizons!

As I turn the page on a new chapter of the “Nizhoni Way” story, I have learned a great deal about the Native American Market. I have always contended that if I were going to advice someone when they first enter the market, I’d let them know the truth to help them better navigate through the BS!

First thing, DON’T TRUST ANYONE WITH LESSER TALENT THAN YOU! They are only looking for a way to use you to make a name for themselves. Second, Never share your ideas or thoughts with anyone–no matter how nice they try perceiving themselves, they are only listening to see what they can use against you and what ideas they can claim as their own to try and make themselves seem more legit. Third, LISTEN TO THOSE AROUND YOU! If everyone around you is telling you not to work with someone because they are not professional-then move on! Again, they only want to use your talents to make them seem more professional. Fourth, and probably the most important, if they do not have the background experience don’t waste your time. You’ll spend more time catching them up to you while ignoring your needs. If I had reasoned with the fourth logic, I could have saved myself so much time, energy, and money!

Business is an ugly thing. It’s not all puppies and unicorns. You can try willing it all you want but that’s the way it’s going to be. The bottom line is money, and If I had kept that in mind I could’ve saved so much of it! Donald Trump once said that success is not measured in the victories but in the defeats because it’s from the defeats that you learn the most. I’ve also heard that from other successful entrepuneurs.

That almost seems kind of depressing but I do understand the logic. I know what to do and what not to do. It has made me stronger and has taught me to up my own personal best–to challenge myself to see what I’m really capable of.

New Network; New Ideas!

I’m not a stranger to working with new networks.  I am entering a new phase and feel that this is the evolution of what is to come next.  I have gone from humbly offering the public my skills to hoisting my ideas and notions of style and fashion on everybody.  I am doing more couture stuff and hope to continue elevating the levels of design in the Native Market while (finally!) getting for myself what others have been using me to get for themselves.

I am going to promote Nizhoni Way Apparel with great fervor.  I want to get back to the money making aspect of why I started this.  I spent so much time the past couple of years worrying about promoting shows for other people or fending off the pariahs of the Native American Market that I’ve lost the attention to design I have always had in the past.

I am looking out for myself and those who have vested interests in Nizhoni Way Apparel.  People have been asking “if these people are creating a ‘fashion’ name for themselves and growing and making money-AND, have no fashion experience why can’t you do the same?”  I thought, “why not!”  I did attend Fashion Design School and I did work in the actual fashion industry and have far more knowledge of the Fashion Industry than most out there.

I am continuing with NuGen Productions and I do hope to represent fashion talent and eventually nurture the future of the Native Market.  Get people use to the notion that high fashion shows are done to make money for designers and not a means to promote a calendar, new t-shirt lines, or modeling agencies.

The Nizhoni Way Ingénue “program,”  I’m not sure if I will continue with that.  Its basically something that I started back in 2006 to mentor young fashion designers who were interested in entering the fashion field but weren’t quite sure how to go about it or what it entailed.  I have worked and featured two young designers who are currently making themselves known in the Native American Market.  I do feel that to change the market to a viable commodity, I do have to take an active role. The Ingénue program was my way of doing that.  Giving young individuals the opportunity to see exactly what the whole process requires.  If a am going to continue the program, I will be making drastic changes in how I deal with the new young designers and a selection process would go into effect.

Designing Nightmare!

This is a dress I designed while I worked with Navajo Spirit back in 2002. The original design was quite dated and looked like something Blair Warner would have worn in “The Facts of Life!” I felt that if we were going to be designing something for royalty then it should be something modern and stylish and something she could pull out of her closet ten years from now and still feel like it’s something she could wear.

I know that it was a challenge getting this dress made. Not because the pattern was particularly difficult but because of the staff at the time were quite lazy and really didn’t want to undergo any new endeavors. Wow, I made this dress super simple to sew up and there were so few pieces. It was a simple sheath design with cutouts in the back. All in all, it had a total of 4 self pieces, 5 interfacing pieces, and 3 lining pieces. It was a simple side zipper-no invisible zippers! The seamstress actually did not know how to sew it up! It was ironic because she use to walk around talking smack-off handedly, about my skills as a seamstress, patternmaker, and designer. I did a contoured collar and she insisted that the collar was all wrong because it didn’t fit her fat neck! I told the boss that it wasn’t made for her neck but for Onawa’s neck which was slender and swan like.

The seamstress threw a hissy-fit over the dress and collar! I just threw my arms up and the air and told the boss, “Let her sew it up however she wants! It’s only your reputation that’s going to suffer-not mine!” Of course, the seamstress got so frustrated with the collar and dress she gave up! She left for the day and told me before she left- “You didn’t even make that collar right! It’s your problem don’t bother me with it!”

Stress time? Oh, did I mention that Onawa was coming in that day for a fitting and we had no dress for her to try on! Well, I simply got up from my design table calmly walked over to the industrial sewing machine and took the pieces of the dress and proceeded to sew. An hour before Onawa came in, I had a complete dress! Zipper and everything! The only thing the seamstress managed to sew up was the dress darts! I had time to clean up the dress (cut off stray threads, do the hem-invisible hem-BY HAND, and steam the thing)!

I remember when she walked in. I gave her full on VIP treatment! I remember she mentioned she like this “NO DOUBT” t-shirt I was wearing. She commented that she was going to see their concert-I don’t remember where she was going to attend the concert-I was nervous about the dress. She was my first VIP client with Navajo Spirit. She like the entire outfit I wore that day-I told her I designed it myself. She said, “Oh, you’re the designer?” I told her, “Oh no, I’m the assistant designer.” At the time, I was doing all the designing. Onawa came in, tried on the dress, and was smiling ear to ear! She loved it and it fit her to perfection! The only thing wrong was that the seamstress had not done the darts right. So all’s the alterations it needed–fix the darts.

I of course took care of that myself because the seamstress was not going to like the fact that I not only did my job, the job of my boss but her job as well and would purposely ruin the dress just to make her self seam more important. The boss pretty much left up a lot of the designing to me while I was there. I gave her advice on how to improve her business and she knew that if she wanted to take everything to the next level she would have to make the changes I was telling her. She did do one thing before I left that I felt was taking a step in the right direction. She got rid of the seamstress in question and hired a seamstress who had actual production experience. She use to work as a seamstress for a major clothing line. I was impressed and got along fine with her!

Working there was okay. If I had to do it all over again, I’d re-staff and demand that the boss train me on the cash register. The employees there showed up physically but mentally they were all vacant. Which would explain the overcharges made to the customers and the cash shortages in the dailies. On one event, the second in command (the cutter), confessed that she came into work intoxicated and even passed out at the cash register while customers were coming in! One of the customers woke her up! The staff I worked with made that job hell! Even with the setting my own time card, vacation time whenever I pleased, and extra long lunch breaks-the job just was not worth it.

I did see my ex-boss while I was out doing my shopping this past Monday. One word-AWKWARD!!! I was ready to say hi to her and let bygones be bygones-all the accusations about me stealing patterns and unsubstantiated rumors that I was using her designs to start Nizhoni Way Apparel. What did she do when she noticed it was me. She turned her nose up in the air and flipped major attitude! I should have tripped her! Ha, ha! No, I wouldn’t have done that. She is still a Navajo Woman and deserves respect-oh, not from me but from someone-you knew I was going to stick that in! LOL! All jokes Aside from all the jokes, if it had not been for me working there, I would not have had the courage to start Nizhoni Way Apparel, DKC*fx, and NuGen Productions!

Below is a sketch of the gown both front and back!  Both front and back pieces are all one piece.  With the exception of the diamond stairstep piece.  That was separate.

What’s next?

What’s next for Nizhoni Way Apparel?  Well, developing DKC*fx.  I personally feel that I am entering the next phase in my plan.  I knew that I would eventually have to switch gears with this “new phase” coming up.  So much is changing.  I’ve been challenging my creative nature and seeing just how far I can take it.  Now that I have no disruptions or distractions, I can really concentrate on designing and generally giving to myself-which I have not done in like TEN YEARS!

As much as I did not want to admit that I just was not ready for the third installment of Native Fashion week, I reluctantly decided to drop out of the show because it was just wearing me thin.  The work I do with Nizhoni Way Apparel and the demands of clients left no choice but to drop out because the craftsmanship in my own work began to suffer.  Compromising the integrity of my talents.  When I decided to do this as a full time thing one of the promises I made myself was that I would not fall victim to the idea of shortcuts.  I am a designer of haute couture caliber and it really sat uneasy with me that I was not using my skills but rather relying on “the home sewer’s technique” which is not high fashion.

Nizhoni Way was to be a ready to wear label with great fresh new designs for the mature woman while DKC*fx was to be for the younger woman.  The two were always in constant conflict with one another.  Working with the people in the past really did not help me make the delineation clearly because of the locations booked and the crowds played to.  At some point, I began to rely heavily on “knock-offs” to present collections at dive bars and second rate fair shows.

I knew that the one of two things had to change.  One, stop designing or two, stop working with the people I was working with.  Of course, we all know I chose the later.  Now that I am embracing the full creative side of design and coming up with more avant garde and experimental pieces, I feel that I have come full circle-returning back to my dance club days and designing garments that look good on stage as well as walking the streets of Melrose.

I do feel that DKC*fx will over shadow Nizhoni Way simply because of the creativity.  Who knows DKC*fx might help breathe new life into Nizhoni Way Apparel.  In any event, It will be an amazing proposition to see what the end result ultimately is.

The Year So Far!

Not much to report.  Designs are plentiful!  I’ve been working real hard on Nizhoni Way Apparel and DKC*fx.  Two labels that are to represent the extremes of my design talents.  Nizhoni Way is for the more mature and conservative individual while DKC*fx is for the more daring fashionista!  I’ve been hit with a great deal of creativity as far as what to do with my next collection(s).

 Interest in my design talents have been peaking.  I was recently asked to register for L’oreal Fashion Week in Canada.  I’d love to but it’s less than a month away and hardly enough time to get ready but I have not abandoned the idea of attending as a spectator. 

Still writing.  I recently wrote an article for a local paper covering a charity fashion show I produced.  Many cancellations by models mostly-they wanted to stay in the cities to get drunk and get laid at the superbowl parties-I guess.  The funny thing is that they begged me to book them for my next show.  Needless to say, that those models will never be working with NuGen ever!

Fall/Winter 2008 Native American Fashion Week (NAFW).  With Glacsy relocating to Tucson, NAFW will also be heading into Tucson as well.  Tionne from Glacsy will be scouting locations for the event.  She will be working with MAC cosmetics beginning in April.  Glacsy is simply relocating and not closing up-to the chagrin of Native Model Studio!

Speaking of the Devil, Native Model Studio thought it would be a good idea to have a “Model Workshop” in Phoenix in the last weekend of February.  Despite the fact that they have no industry experience or industry connections, they are charging models $200 for attending.  I feel that this is morally wrong because they are offering something they cannot deliver.  They are taking advantage of inspiring models desperation to “break” into the industry.  I have personally been campaigning to put a stop to this and make more people aware.  By letting them know of such organizations as: Northern Styles, Spirit Model Executive.  Also, directing models to Modeling Advice to give them legitimate advice on breaking into the business and how to spot scams.