SketchBook
Feb 11, 2010

I wanted you to see my direction. These designs might or might not end-up on the runway.

Inside My Bag
Feb 11, 2010

The other day I emptied out the contents of my bag. I find this interesting because as soon as I did, I realized that these "things" represent me, in a way. It says so much about me and what I'm passionate about. Who else carries spools of thread around? If this were a bigger bag I would have had my sketchbook and markers as well.

Alexander McQueen
Feb 11, 2010

I was just talking to my boyfriend Joe yesterday about McQueen apprenticeship on Salvil Row. We watch a documentary on the sundance channel yesterday on The Row. In fact I was getting ready to write a new post post about Hitchcock, Gieves & Hawkes, Alexander Savile Row, Hardy Amies, Richard James Ready to wear, and all other wonderful bespoken Tailor on that street and how I am so very inspired by them. I must say that I am more then saddened by his passing.  Especial if the rumors are true. Suicide? How? Why? How long have you been this sad sad person and no one knew about it. How did you get to this point. SO much in your prime , so on top of your game and even ahead of your time. McQueen started at 16 on salvile Row. His whole life devoted to Fashion and craft. If I'm rambling, I am sorry, I’m very emotional right now. Imagine how I must feel as a newcomer? I hope the world does not eat me up and spite me out. I hope to always have people around me to keep me grounded and happy. Tear. How very sad indeed.

Today's Dress
Feb 08, 2010

I loved the 100% silk beaded & sequenced dress that i wore today! I paired it with my little brother, Robert's Levi Strauss baseball hat, my little brother, Jacob's dark brown Member's Only leather jacket, navy tights, and my favorite black leather and cowboy style boots of the moment.

Campaign Images for FW/10 Collection!
Feb 08, 2010

Photographer Laretta Houston shot this season's campaign. The location was "The Goat Farm" which was the venue for my last show. I love that place, the scene just evokes such an emotion. The team's participants were Val Hamilton (hair), Alexandra Feltovic (Elite Models), Photographer Laretta Houston with her two assistants,and Mara Zal (MUA). Hope you like!

I've been up to a lot lately.!
February 04, 2009

I haven’t posted in a while so I’m going to hit you with a lot of visual information at once. I’ve been a very, VERY busy bee! Designing then constructing the garments for my next collection show as well as conducting the first casting call, shooting the campaign, and persuing sponsorship opportunities.  We’ve already established the fact that I am a very visual person, so I’ll show images that I’ve taken in the past two weeks that relate. The images can probably convey much more then I can say anyway.  Smooches ;)

SHOOTING THE CAMPAIGN

The Team. From left to right : Azede (me), Val Hamilton (hair), Alexandra Feltovic (model), Photographer's Assitant, Mara Zal (MUA), Laretta Houston (photogrpher), Photographer's Assistant

In Hair and Make-up letting Val and Mara do what they do best. I LOVE VAL, she is my personal hair stylist too you know! ;)

FIRST CASTING CALL FOR THE SHOW!

Here are a few of the models that attended the first casting. I must say, we had a good turn out.

LETS TAKE A BREAK TO LOOK AT PERSONAL DAILY STYLE.

GaCityStyle did a blog post on my personal style. Seems they like the way i dress. Who'd thought it...!? Someone other then me likes the way I wear my clothes. Here are a few shots of my style on a daily basis. Visit there blog at http://thepopcouture.com/gacitystyle to read the post.

NEW DRESSES

Just a few looks that I am currently working on.

New Year
January 11, 2010

I realize that being extremely busy for the past few weeks does not excuse my negligence towards this blog. I know that just like the rest of the many other things on my list of self-assigned responsibilities, I must keep it up. I just have to get used to the idea of being a blogger… I guess? It’s a little challenging for me, why!?.. Well I am an extremely visual person. Images convey so much more to me then words ever could. So, as you’ve probably already noticed, none of my previous posts provide more than two paragraphs of explanation followed by many if not at least one image. This will be my first purely text post. Wish me luck! I’ll need it.

Since I just got this newfound inspiration to write, and never got the chance to post my new-year resolutions, here they are: Oh wait I never did that, but don’t throw rocks yet…. I would have loved to post my list of things that I need to do to better myself for the next year of my life; which would no doubt contain past resolutions that I either never fulfilled for no good reason at all or that I just felt became irrelevant to my approach to a new project. Anyway my point is that I couldn’t post a list of my new-years resolutions, I felt at the time that it would have done more harm then good. I did try to write one, unsuccessfully. This year I gave myself a guideline as to what can be considered a resolution. Yes… OK, every year I plan to procrastinate less, read more, exercise periodically, and draw daily. Those things no longer qualify as resolutions… why!?.. Because they are old resolutions, I now can’t repeat resolutions. New-years resolutions, now, should be more specific; more like long and short-term goals. Well, in-between writing my list and posting it I took a break to have lunch with my more successful mentor and friend Cecelia. She said something about my list that got stuck in my head. I completely agreed with her, at the time, that goals sort of put a cap on your capabilities (I really agreed with this of long term goals.)

Example: If I decide to have a goal to be successful at a project, then I must set guidelines as to what amounts to success for that particular project. I’ll be working toward an idea of success that I’ve planned out for myself. I can’t foresee any opportunities that might come along because…. NO ONE .. IS PSYCHIC. I might be so focused on things that will make me successful in my project that I might miss out on some of the best opportunities. I guess what I am saying is that I agree with the ideas that goals might be able to prevent you from doing your best because you constricted to only what you can predict. But, I do think that goals are still important; if one uses them as the minimum achievement required to consider something acceptable.

I will not be posting any goals because, one: I plan to surpass them anyway, two: they will probably change and three: I just don’t feel comfortable with everyone knowing my goals....Way to personal!

“Always do much better then your initial ideal of what you think is your best.”- Azede

UNCF 26th Annual Mayor's Masked Ball
November 04, 2009

The Mayor's Masked Ball is the United Negro College Fund's signature gala and one of the City of Atlanta's premiere events of the holiday season. It is hosted by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta and sponsored by local corporations. Its purpose is to involve celebrities, dignitaries, community leaders, volunteers, public officials, and other supporters in the fundraising activities of the United Negro College Fund. This year I designed the Mayor's dress and was invited as her V.I.P. guest.

This year celebrity guest include: Chris Tucker , Dawn Lewis, Kimberley Coles, Jonathan Slocumb, Kiki Shepard, Ann Maria Horsford, Terri J. Vaughn, Andrew Young and more. Entertainment: En Vouge

Mayor's Portrait Unveiling
January 11, 2010

I was there to celebrate the Mayor's protrait unveiling along with the Mayor and some of her closest friend at Atlanta's City Hall.

My Invitation, It's a little tattered , but still in good condition.

Mayor Franklin, me and and mutural friend and mentor Cecelia C Hunter.

Friends From my High School days with Mayor elect Kasim Reed.

Designing The Mayor's Dress!
November 04, 2009

About a month ago i got an email asking if I would design a dress for Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin to wear to her final Mayor's Ball as acting mayor of the city. Of course I said that I would love to do it. She is such an inspiration and i was honored. I started by meeting with a good friend of hers (a inspiration in her own right), and we talked about what the mayor does and doesn't like in a dress. In a few days I developed a few ideas. We had brunch and together we chose a dress from my proposed drawings. Here is my process.

IT'S FINALLY HERE...

FOOTAGE FROM THE SS/10 SHOW!

December 04, 2009

video credits to Explorefashions.com

A.F.I. hosts "Style Wars"
November 11, 2009

I was invited by the director of Atlanta Fashion Incubator to attend the style wars competition as her VIP guest. I didn't stay too long because my finals were the same week, yet I did find time to mingle, it was a lot of fun.

THRIFT SHOPPING!
November 04, 2009

I really do love going to thrift stores. I find the most interesting vintage garments, most of which are designer.

Shooting w/ Talor-Ector Studios
October 22, 2009

Leah Taylor and Robert Ector are a great team! I really loved working with them on my look-book a few weeks ago. Leah is a local celebrity stylist and her brother Robert is one of Atlanta's best celebrity photographers. This was our first collaboration and I’m sure that there will be plenty more.

Hair: Val Hamilton, Models Madlin Cowart and Chris Howard both with CLICK