The first RH was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and ever since, we have found various nonprofits and causes to help. Tell me about Runway Houston's Philanthropy. I usually pull designers from "Project Runway" and hopefully some from "Making the Cut" soon, but nothing beats the homegrown talent we have here in our fantastic city. I often look to social media to see what the kids and influencers wear. I think it is essential to keep your finger on the pulse of the industry and what is current in trends and style. How do you find new designers for this event? While the designers for Fall 2022 have not been revealed yet, I am very excited to unveil a specific designer I have had my eye on for a while. For example, we had our first streetwear collection on our runway last season. What can you share about the designers this season?Įvery designer brings something new and exciting each season. Now I see it as a responsibility (although fun) that offers opportunities to multiple people across various areas of interest. The influx of designers from around the country that started presenting collections and the celebrity that came with it made me realize the impact the production had on the community. Why is Runway Houston important to you and the community? After the 3rd one, it took on a life of its own and became biannual. Initially, RH was something fun that I did once a year. After seeing what other productions were doing, I decided that my 31st birthday would be a fashion-themed party that would become the first RH. I used to be a photographer shooting for various media outlets in the Houston social scene. Although the fashion show aspect could be considered the main attraction, RH platforms presentations of all types and mediums beyond fashion such as sonic, art, lighting, gastro, mixology, etc. It is a production that does not target any specific demographic but attempts to present an experience that can be taken in by all. Final designs are judged in a runway show on their design, craftsmanship, construction, and relevance to their assigned theme.RH is the largest fashion show in Texas. Products range from flooring to quartz, tile, lighting, and wood. Product Runway pairs teams consisting of Houston area designers, architects, students, and industry partners to create showcase garments made from standard architectural finish materials used every day in their fields. “Just as the louvers, we hid LED light sources throughout the garment for all the light to be seen but making the “source” unnoticeable. “We took advantage of being given a lighting garment label as our ‘hard good’ by emulating the use of the iconic louvers of the Menil,” said Krista Thomas, Architectural Intern, VLK Architects. Finally, Jasper Furniture Group provided fabrics to create a sleek, modern suit. The garment itself was lined with electrical wire and the shoulder piece, carved and wrapped with Barrisol lighting provided by CW Lighting, was used to mimic the louvers. Paying homage to the unique lighting provided by the louvers at the Menil, lighting from CW Lighting was used to add hidden LED lights throughout the garment. Hundreds of small triangles were cut from three luxury vinyl flooring planks to create an arm piece that replicates the medieval sculptures one would find at the Menil. Inspired by the Andy Warhol Pop Art piece Portrait of Dominique, named after the founder of the The Menil Collection, the VLK team used carpet yarn from manufacturer Bentley Mills to create the face of Dominique de Menil on the back of the coat. ![]() These artists utilized unique uses of color in their work, and VLK represented that in their final garment. As prominent artists featured in The Menil Collection, the VLK team chose Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol as their inspiration. The VLK team included model Mikhail Abad and garment designers Colette King, Krista Thomas, Michelle Gabriel, Luis Luna, Clarissa Quintana, and Chris Lyner. This year, the theme of Product Runway was ‘HOU, I love you’ which allowed each team to design garments inspired by icons throughout Houston. Houston, Texas -On Friday, April 26th, VLK Architects competed in the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Product Runway show for the third year. Photo courtesy of Andy Phan and Law Stewart VLK Emulates Artists Warhol and Pollock at the IIDA Product Runway
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