Featuring: Bruce Brown, Marlo Carter, Bruce Davis, Tiena Gwin, Amber Henson, Reia Janay, Braylin Ousley, (not pictured) Ty Brooks, Lyza Faye, Tierra Macon
Hosted by Timmons Arts Foundation, Designers Choice Fashion Preview showcases creations by emerging and nationally-recognized designers < with a heart for Arkansas > combining the best of fashion + artistry for an unforgettable extravaganza. Proceeds from the evening’s festivities support the Timmons Arts Foundation Cultivating the Arts Youth Summer Camp – providing children from underserved communities an opportunity to experience the arts through educational and enrichment programs.
The Timmons Arts Foundation is dedicated to promoting + cultivating the arts in Central Arkansas – nurturing the talent of artists through its support of the arts in local schools and afterschool programs. The foundation provides additional art supplies and musical instruments to supplement existing programs in schools.
BRUCE BROWN
Bruce Brown is an Arkansas born, multifaceted creative with tenured experience & expertise in the spaces of fashion styling & interior tailoring amongst several other creative giftings. Bruce says his natural gifts and gravitation to fashion and style was identified as early as 4/5 years old as his parents gave him the freedom to choose what he wanted to wear at an early age He’s always had a unique & undeniable admiration for beautiful accessories, and has always gravitated to color, prints/patterns and a vast mix of both contrasting & complimentary textures for clothing and accessories. As he got older a well curated mix of all those things continued to be perfected and refined and all are now known to be signature elements to his style aesthetic.
The past 20+ years have been spent operating in the duality of a corporate career in management in the mortgage lending and finance industry balanced with a dual active pursuit of his passions in the arts. December 2022 marked a significant pivotal shift of his transitioning out of corporate America to pursue his passions and establish a more define stamp in the arts and creative spaces. His first major project is launching his brand Tribe Aesthetic to be known as a lifestyle expression of Kindred Energy, Culture and Creativity starting with bold, texture rich accessories and will branch out to unique apparel, wearable art and home decor.
He will be debuting his brand Tribe Aesthetic accessories at this year’s DCFP show on 04.20.24 Creative career highlights include styling look book photoshoots, gallery style fashion events, NYFW & LA Fashion Week shows as well as international fashion productions. Bruce’s personal and brand motto is: “The best way to ensure we are excellent stewards of all the light and magic we’ve been entrusted with by the Most High is to share it authentically and consistently by living life out loud and in full color, unapologetically. DO YOU, REGARDLESS!!!”
MARLO CARTER | CEO – Lolo’s Collections & Accessories
Marlo, affectionately known as “Lolo” is the founder, and creative director of Lolo’s Collectionone of the first local on-line boutiques founded close to 18 years ago. Lolo- started out with unique statement jewelry pieces and handbags. Pieces that are not only “wow” factors, but literally show stopping pieces that made people gasp and say “where did you find that” the highest compliment that all women love to hear!
Marlo was inspired by her mother at an early age, who encouraged her to always present herself as a lady and to never leave home without lip stick and earrings. Marlo, the only girl of four boys, has always been treated like the princess of the crew. Marlo’s favorite past time as a young girl was to “play dress up” with the most unique pieces of jewelry. That past timetranscended into Lolo finding creating “Lolo’s Collection”.
Marlo’s energy has always been to find unique and bold pieces- as her motto in all things in life is to “dare to be different.” Life often influences fashion and for Marlo- life should be lived out loud and bold. It is with this mindset that Marlo serves as creative director for Lolo’s Collections.
Marlo started with unique jewelry and quick moved into fashionable unique clothing pieces. As she grew the business by attending expo and vendor day opportunities across the country it was then that she truly decided to go full steam ahead with an on-line boutique. And hence lolocollections.com was birthed. Definitely the place, “where funky meets fashion with an edge” Being a woman, whose skin is smooth and silky, and the hue is the color of dark chocolate, Marlo has always sleeked bold and bright colors. Marlo encourages all her customers from the CEO to the girl going on her first date, to step out of her comfort zone and be bold! Marlo’s success can be attributed to her commitment to customer service and “seeing” her clients as the unique individuals that each of them are!
While she has participated in 100’s of shows over her 18 years of business, she recognizes that each show is not always about the sales, sometimes the connection between her and her clients is immeasurable. These connections have led to countless referrals, educational opportunities, and panel discussions. Marlo’s collection welcomes all body types, sizes, gender and non-gender specific. We only ask that you be ready to be bold and to be you!Marlo’s collection: Where funky meets fashion!
Let’s Get Social: | IG: Lolos_collect1 | Facebook: Lolo’s Collections
AMBER HENSON | Amber Pete Designs
I founded this brand in 2020 as the culmination of a dream I have had since I was a little girl. I started drawing dresses at 11 years old, imagining myself as a confident, glamorous, and powerful woman who lived a fabulous life in great clothes.
What started as a figment of my imagination grew into a hunger to learn what it takes to bring my drawings to life. As I studied my craft I realized, I started drawing dresses, a shy little girl as a love letter to my future self. Designed and constructed in small quantities by me, you won’t find these items anywhere else. Each piece is my love letter to you. You are EVERYTHING. APD is a brand that values the empowerment of women and the transformational nature of fashion.
Let’s Get Social: IG: @amberpetedesigns | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amberpetedesign
BRAYLIN OUSLEY | Scumbag Denim Supply
Redefining Fashion Through the Lens of the Colorblind
Braylin is an Arkansas born designer by way of Holly Grove who will destroy and reconstruct the limits in which you understand garment construction. His designs come into fruition through his early life influences thru art, film, and fashion he has observed from his family as well as epic literature. He seamlessly blends the macabre and bizarre into pieces with an extreme focus on detail and assembly. A melding of his own cultural influences and the historically attractive silhouettes that we’ve witnessed before. Each collection is a reinvention of what each decade has possibly seen into a beautifully disorderly masterpiece. Many examples of This display of Controlled Chaos can be seen throughout his Instagram Account. Each shoot carefully curated and directed by Braylin and shot exclusively on 45mm Polaroid by his photographer PAIMON (Instagram: Blessedbypaimon). Career highlights include showcasing his work alongside the 22nd Element Forty piece “Bloom” Collection in the S/S 2023 DCFP, as well as the 2022 Live Art Experience for 22nd Element at Crystal Bridges Museum. In addition, he will also be showcasing his first solo ten-piece collection titled “Hellraisers: WIP” inside the upcoming Designer’s Choice Fashion Preview on April 20th. Stay tuned for more shockingly beautiful displays of the bizarre as Braylin brings you into the world that is Scumbag Denim Supply.
Let’s Get Social: IG: @father.busta
TIERRA MACON | www.thetierramacon.com
Tierra Macon is a ready to wear brand that creates timeless womenswear pieces. Tierra’s inspiration is drawn from everything around her. From nature, to travel, & even something as simple as a feeling from a specific moment in time. Her career highlights include the Charleston Fashion Week Emerging Designer Competitor in Charleston, South Carolina in 2017 as well as a featured designer of Designer Choice Fashion Preview 2023.. Fashion is a form of expression & Tierra Macon strives to create perennial garments for women to beautifully & confidently express themselves.
Let’s Get Social: IG: @thetierramacon
T I E N A | www.tienaofficial.com
T I E N A is for the modern woman who has an eye for design and who is looking for stylish yet timeless pieces. She is looking for clothing that she can wear with many things and in many ways. She is not trendy but is a woman with her own sense of taste and style. T I E N A embodies clothes that pull at your heart strings and evoke the spirit of expressing your most feminine self. Eclectic, Memorable, Daring, Sophisticated, and Long-Lasting Pieces are at the heart of what T I E N A expresses to the world. Tiena Gwin is the Designer & Creative Director of T I E N A. She is inspired by nature and strong women figures. She is also a huge proponent of dreaming big and utilizing one’s talents. T I E N A was launched in the Summer of 2016. Tiena is a past 5-year participant in Memphis Fashion Week which gave her the confidence to further pursue her childhood dream. After getting laid off from her job while expecting her second child, she decided to put all of her energy into her childhood dream and hence emerges T I E N A. Tiena’s professional experience is in Real Estate Development and Project Management. Tiena learned garment construction, pattern making, and draping at the Arkansas School of Fashion in Little Rock, Ark. Tiena was so determined she would drive to Little Rock every week from Memphis for 2 years. Since the brand’s inception, we have been featured in local publications such as R.S.V.P. and Click Magazine and the Memphis Flyer; also Feroce Magazine, and Marjene Magazine, as well as a brief mention in WWD. In addition, featured on the local ABC 24 and CBS Live at 9; a participant in Harlem Fashion Row; one of 10 Finalists for Belk’s 2017 Southern Designer Showcase; and has also showcased 4 seasons at NYFW.
Let’s Get Social: IG: @tienaofficial
REIA JANAY | allurebyreia.com
Reia Janay is a native of Arkansas based in Atlanta, GA. Art has always been her passion, and she has pursued it since she was young. Her incredible journey began with designing jewelry using sustainable materials, even before sustainability became a trend. Later, she moved to Atlanta to study fashion design at the Art Institute of Atlanta. After graduation, she launched her first solo collection under her brand, Allure by Reia, and later partnered with Shein. Through hard work and dedication, Reia has become one of the top ten globally among 3,000 designers through Shein’s program Shein X. She continues expanding her reach by collaborating with other brands and working on her fourth solo collection inspired by those who look like her. Reia’s design aesthetic is whimsical and chic, and she loves to push the boundaries of classic silhouettes with bold colors and unique details. Her passion for fashion and art has been the driving force behind her work, and she is committed to creating pieces that are not only beautiful but also sustainable and give women confidence. Reia recently launched her consulting firm to help minority designers, artists, and those in a rural area bridge the gap between fashion and art. Her inspiring journey is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and following your passion.
Let’s Get Social: @AllurebyReia
BRUCE DAVIS | 22nd Element
Aesthetic of Design: Specialize in Ready-to-Wear Apparel with a touch of edge & class
After studying the Periodic Table in chemistry, one could engender similarities with chemical elements and fashion. Bruce Davis received inspiration from the constituent of titanium; a strong and lustrous metal. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bruce always had an appreciation for self-individualization. 22nd Element Clothing and Accessories is all about giving those who are daring, a fresh perspective of what the future can be for Ready-to-Wear apparel. Beginning his designing journey with just bow ties January 18th, 2014 with his companion, Ms. Keinona Davis, Bruce is steadily continuing to give fashion moguls a strong and lustrous image. His aesthetic is ready to wear with a mixture of both edge and class. Bruce believes that fashion should go beyond turning heads. It should be the manifestation of one’s true self.
Let’s Get Social: IG @22ndelement | Facebook- 22nd Element