Fusion Fashion Show

FUSION 2011 TICKET SALES

Mishka — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:13:03 +0000

FUN FACTS ABOUT FUSION!

Mishka — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:16:24 +0000

So, I know you always hear me talk about the designers who have gone on to do quite well after Fusion, but here are some fun facts that I got to thinking about while looking over the website…

1. In all the press I do, I say it’s Fusion’s 11th year, but when you look at the website there’s already been 11 shows. That’s because, Fusion’s first year the show wasn’t called Fusion, it was called “Wearable Art.” David Yassky, a good friend of mine and one of our judges for this year’s show, suggested the name Fusion to me because we brought the two schools together.

2. If F.I.T. wins this year, they will have evened the score at 6 wins for each school. This is after they lost the first three competitions!

3. Out of the 11 Best Designer winners at F.I.T., only two have been female!

4. In the 12 years the show has taken place, only once has a judge not showed up… We won’t give away their name though.

5. Fusion has had 3 former contestants appear on Project Runway, with the best showing by Jillian Lewis making it to the final three on Season 4, the same year Christian Soriano won.

6. Tim Gunn judged Fusion for the first 3 years it existed and then went on to be a part of Project Runway!

7. The second year Fusion took place, we weren’t prepared for the crowds and the line stretched out the midtown campus building and down 7th avenue, colliding with the musical RENT’s line, which created confusion.

8. Finally, the first two years Fusion existed, I had to beg designers at both schools to do the show. We only had 10 applicants from each school express interest and there were 20 designers who showcased 3 outfits each.

Well, that was fun for me. Can’t wait to see you all.

—JIMMY

Fusion 2010 is here…

Mishka — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:12:51 +0000

Good day to the few Fusion fans who read this blog! Fusion 2010 has been up and running for some time and we are so excited for the show this year. After some help from some very dedicated F.I.T. designers and students, we finally have a F.I.T. advisor. Her name is Karen Middleton and she is a dream come true. She is enthusiastic, supportive, a proponent of talent, and extremely nice. Thank you, Karen, for believing in the show.

The designers this year are exceptional and leading the charge are more menswear designers than we’ve ever had. At least 6 designers are doing mens, and we couldn’t be more excited. Of course, that means male models and we are excited for them too!!!

As of right now, we are searching for more judges and sponsors. Damien Nunes, an old friend and fashion editor of GQ, has agreed to judge the show. We are thrilled. MaryKate Steinmiller from Teen Vogue is also on board for the second year in a row. We absolutely love having such a prestigious publication participate in your judging process and look forward to Teen Vogue igniting many careers by their very presence.

Our model casting call was a fun, interesting one. Too bad we don’t allow childrenswear, because an 8 year old model came in, walked like you’ve never seen, and stole the show. We found a lot of great models and truly appreciate the time and energy they put into the show.

Finally, I would like to welcome Jovana Mirabile to the fashion team. She is working on our Public Relations and you won’t find a more dynamic, hard-working, sweet person around. I’m excited to see the impact she has on our show!

See you soon,

- Jimmy
Fusion Director

Fusion Family Updates

Mishka — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:32:26 +0000

Good day Fusioners! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted and a lot has been happening here in the Fusion world. First, our designers at both F.I.T. and Parsons have proven to be dedicated, enthusiastic, and full of talent. Both schools have such diverse talent and I know everyone will enjoy seeing the creativity and passion all 30 of them will be showcasing on the runway.

Our model casting call was a lot of fun and we had a huge turnout. The line of beautiful people was never ending and we ended up with about 40 amazing girls and a few boys. Thanks to all who tried out and supported Fusion. The models are, of course, crucial to the show and my appreciation to them is hard to put into words. We did have Fusion veterans show up like the exquisite Stephanie, the perfect Mallorie, and so many other fresh new Fusion stars. Work it out!

The Fusion family had a party for the holiday that was also a fitting. Jovana from Parsons was able to secure the room and is one of the nicest people I’ve met in some time. It was great to see some former Fusioners like Chilali, Jack, and Angie share their stories about Fusion with the others. Michelle, our assistant director, is doing a great job as always. Heather and Caitlin, the F.I.T. and Parsons coordinators, are both fantastic and I look forward to them leading their teams to excellence.

Our show is only a couple months away and now is the time where we start reaching out to judges, companies, and clubs for participation in what will be our 10 year anniversary. I can’t believe it has been 10 years. I look back and get so nostalgic. The past is so important to a show like ours because it demands we look to the future. Many of the designers from past Fusions are doing very well. All we need to do is look at Chris Benz, a former roommate of mine and the talk of the fashion world right now. I can think of no one who deserves it more. He is joined by such fashionistas as Alex Wang, Prabal Gurung, Miguel Pena, Jillian Lewis, Wells Stellberger and so many more. For the past two seasons of Project Runway, a former Fusioner has appeared. We are everywhere!

So, it’s time for me to rid myself of nostalgia and start thinking about which of this year’s 30 designers will do amazing things in the demanding world of fashion. All of them have the talent and the education to back them, it’s the passion that will be put to the test. I get my first look at their clothes in February and I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say about it. Until then, read their bios on our website and save the show dates. We are doing FOUR this year. See you soon.

- Jimmy

Fusion 2008 Results

Mishka — Sun, 25 May 2008 10:29:54 +0000

It’s been awhile, but I know it’s never too late to offer a big congratulations to F.I.T. on their big win with Fusion 2008.

It’s the first time F.I.T. has won two years in a row and it was well deserved. I remember being pretty hard on them at the dress rehearsal and telling them to get it together and they did. Parsons put up an amazing fight and had enough talent to make it an exciting, extremely close race. Our judges, Atoosa Rubenstein, Nole Marin, Austin Scarlett, David Yassky, and Sarah Hartshorne, were all impressed by the caliber of craftmenship and innovation.

They were also bombarded with requests for photos and autographs, with which they graciously accepted. I want to say thank you to them for their time and support and kind emails after the school.

The runway was full of beautiful, fresh, cutting edge designs, and Sawa Takai led the pack for F.I.T.. Sawa picked up the Best Designer Award for that school with her crowd pleasing collection and seemingly perfect tailoring. On the Parsons front, Samantha Hyman won Best Designer with her colorful, ready-for-Barney’s collection that I called the winner a few weeks before (once I saw it, I knew and only told my closest friends ).

Michelle Larsen, Fusion’s assistant director, was key in making this one of the best Fusion’s ever and I’m glad to report she will be back next year. Heather Berkowe, F.I.T.’s coordinator, and Yinan Xia, Parson’s coordinator, did an excellent job bringing the best out of both schools. They are both headed for stardom.

In closing, I want to say this year’s team felt more like a family than ever before. I received some incredible emails from many of the designers describing their experience as “amazing, the time of their life, educational, and important.” It really touched me in a way that’s tough to describe.

I just keep thinking about the last image I saw of Jessica Velez, a F.I.T. designer who won the Fusion Award and the Designer’s Designer Award. She was in tears and I was thinking that she wasn’t happy with something and she came over to me and said, “Thank you so much for this. I’m going to miss everyone so much. This was an incredible opportunity.”

Her reaction, her growth during the competition, her passion for fashion, her desire to succeed, her willingness to make new friends, are reasons Fusion goes on. It’s our heartbeat. People often ask what happens after Fusion and I can tell you that several of the designers from this past year have already felt the ripple effects Fusion has had in the industry. Three of the designers went on interviews for jobs and were interviewed by former Fusioners.

Many of our former Fusioners are heads of major clothing lines or have their own lines, and if you watched Project Runway this past season and loved third place finisher Jillian, well, she is a former Fusioner as well. The longer this show goes on, the more apparent it becomes that it does help. You get a taste of the spotlight and you want it even more. I love that.

Fusion will be TEN YEARS OLD this coming year and it will be the biggest show yet. We are inviting past winners to attend to celebrate them and we are also going to get some incredible judges. I’m looking forward to a huge applicant pool at both schools and seeing the best talent to date. Keep your eyes open for important dates and join our Facebook or Myspace page for the latest news. Until September, thank you to both schools and to all our fans out there.

- Jimmy

Five

Mishka — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:34:03 +0000

Five. It’s a number that seems to be in my life a lot these days. Like right now, it’s 5:00 am and I have Fusion on the brain. I’m sitting here wondering which designers, if any, are still up working on their brilliant designs and…yep, I just got an email from Simone Mudrik from F.I.T.. I knew there had to be at least one. It’s usually Marc Sebastian Faiella from F.I.T. who I have late night Fusion chats with, but I’m thinking the fatigue of so many late nights to get his collection perfect has finally caught up with him.

Five is an important number to Fusion this year. In my last blog, I stated we’d be doing four shows, but it’s now five. I can’t even begin to think about doing five shows, but it’s happening. The designers and Fusion staff are so excited and we are all thrilled to show off this talent to as many people as we can. Space was an issue, but we decided to have almost everyone be able to sit this year, which reduced our occupancy. We had to increase the number of shows to equal the same number of patrons as last year. Tickets will be even harder to come by this year than last. The support we get from the students at both schools is just so amazing. With less people in the auditorium, we want you all to be ever LOUDER! Let us hear who you think should win.

Five is also the number of judges we have and the lineup is blowing my mind. Chris Benz, a dear friend and brilliant talent, has agreed to judge the show. Chris holds a special place in my heart and I could not be happier with his success and spotlight. From the day I met him, I knew he would be one of the great ones, and he is. I also had that feeling when I met Prabal Gurung, another Fusion judge. He’s one of the most genuine, kind, and beautiful visionaries you’ll ever meet. Teen Vogue is on board this year and I’m about to burst at the thought of their presence. So many of us cherish the publication and to have their eyes on the Fusion designers is an honor. Horacio Silva, from the New York Times, is a trailblazer and a man we all respect and admire so much. I can’t wait to meet him. Malan Breton, a former Project Runway designer, is just about one of the nicest people I’ve never met and I’ve heard he’s a fan of the show. I am thrilled to have him participate. To all of our judges, thank you. You’ve ignited many careers by your very presence.

As the show gets closer and closer, I can’t help but feel grateful and honored to produce Fusion. I get to see these young designers come into their own and it is so thrilling to witness. I look back at the feeling I described when I met Chris and Prabal for the first time. We were so young and wide-eyed, living in New York City and going to fashion school. It was a dream and I can honestly say I had the time of my life. They were both in the design program and had it much tougher than I did. When I met them, honestly, from the very second we shook hands, I saw their ambition and talent, I saw their love for beautiful, fresh clothing, and I saw them demanding that their dreams be a reality. I now look back to my first meeting with the designers from this year’s Fusion and my first hand shake or hug with some of them.

I see the same look. I hope you do too.

- Jimmy

Big Update…

Mishka — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:28:20 +0000

It’s been awhile. So much has happened since the last time I posted a blog. First, the model casting was great. We had so many people show up and I couldn’t be more grateful. So many beautiful people to support our show, it was just so fantastic to see. We had some familiar faces in the bunch. The gorgeous Aleksandra is back along with some other one or two year veterans, however, no one defines that category more than Yana, who was in Fusion’s second show eight years ago. She still looks perfect and I appreciate the time and effort all of our models put into this production. They sell it. They work it. We love it.

The designers are a great group this year. They seem much more like a big team than ever before. Group emails are sent about sewing circles, model questions, and support. Zaida, a F.I.T. designer, is full of life and is reaching out to everyone as are our Fusion veteran designers, Kelly Frappier and Ted Allegrini. I have fun when I’m with them and, more importantly, I’m INSPIRED. I know how drained they all must be, but they keep going. Some things people wrote for their website bios were so inspiring. When asked what they were most excited about with Fusion, Julie Baik simply put “growth.” I love that. That is what this experience is all about…evolving philosophies, improved technical skills, internal debates, and honed self awareness.

I am also inspired by how excited they are about the show. I’m fairly removed from the everyday life of a Fusion designer. During the first 3 years of Fusion, I lived in the residence halls, Loeb Hall to be exact, and I witnessed firsthand the all nighters, the craftsmanship, and the lure Fusion had on all of us. I was part of the endless conversations about the show and heard people I didn’t know talking about it seemingly everywhere. I miss that. I miss being in the mix. However, to my surprise, I know it still is happening 5 years later. I look at designer profiles on Facebook and Myspace and read on electronic walls the growing anticipation they have. It makes me smile every time.

With the help of one of our designers, we also have our first judge, Atoosa Rubenstein. We couldn’t be more thrilled. She is an incredible role model and fashionista. We are in the works on getting others.

Tickets will be going on sale soon (get them early) and the show is creeping up on us so fast. My excitement will continue to grow and all Fusioner’s workloads will increase. I may not be there in person in the halls or at the schools to witness this firsthand, but all I’ll need to do is sign on to my computer and read. Keep sewing designers. Keep your spirits up. Keep blogging. It helps more than you know.

- Jimmy

Bigger and Better

Mishka — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:26:44 +0000

Bigger and Better.

We say it every year and mean it. Each year since Fusion began 9 years ago it has gotten, well, bigger and better. It always grows by a small margin and we always improve on things, but this year all I can say is wow. We have grown in ways I couldn’t even imagined. Let’s look at numbers. As as right now, our Fusion facebook group has 932 members. F.I.T. was on target with about 90 students attending the information meetings. Parsons, which previously had recorded a best of 90 students attending, shattered their record with 223 attending the information meetings. I have received over 71 emails from students from both schools requesting applications, which is by far the most I’ve ever received. And, OSTN and Mood are back as our official sponsors and contributing funds and dvd’s and fabric to participants. I’m blown away.

There are many people to give “shout outs” to, but no one deserves it as much as Joe Hosking, our Parsons adviser. He has been on board since day one and this year reached out to all students who qualify for the show via email. He is a huge supporter of the show, of talent, and for me. Also making huge strides at Parsons is our Parsons coordinator, Yinan Xia, who has been one of biggest Fusion fans and is now leading the designer pack.

At F.I.T., Heather Berkowe, a former Fusion designer twice over, is doing her job and doing it well as the F.I.T. coordinator. Her passion, knowledge, and belief in what Fusion stands for is evident and I thank her for all that she does.

This year, we have an Assistant Director in Michelle Larsen, also a former Fusion designer (F.I.T.) and our webmaster. I always look for someone who is as excited about the show as much as I am for this position and Michelle is. She is going to do great things to make this show, well, bigger and better.

We are all so excited at the level of interest this year and truly believe it will be one of the best experiences for those who participate at both schools. Former fusioners have always told me that being a part of this show was the highlight of their college careers. To prove this I must tell you that SEVEN designers from last year attended the information meetings this year wanting to reapply. Another record. Another testament to the experience this kind of competition provides.

I am so excited to see the applications submitted. I have no doubt we will receive the greatest talent both schools have to offer. Right now, Fusioners from years past are designing their own lines, heading labels like Bill Blass, are being featured in magazines, and are editors of fashion magazines. The industry finally knows who we are and they, the people who have made this show what it is, deserve it.

Bigger and Better. It has a whole new meaning this year.

- Jimmy

The Results are in…

Mishka — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:24:05 +0000

The show was a hit! From the opening collections of last year’s winners Rachel Nachmias and Kooan Okawa to the brilliant concepts of F.I.T. and Parsons, this was one of Fusion’s best years (to me, it was the best.) The talent was exceptional, the designs were fresh, fun, and thoughtful and the friendships/memories made will last a lifetime.

Congratulations to F.I.T. for taking the Fusion crown back. It was well deserved. Congratulations also goes to Parsons for making this one of the closest Fusions in recent memory.

Atsuko Yagi, Best Designer from Parsons, showcased her talent with innovative, yet wearable animal/creature inspired outfits while Madalyn Conforti, Best Designer from F.I.T. wowed the crowed with beautifully tailored creations. Madalyn also became the first female from F.I.T. to win the award in the 8 years of Fusion.

The show was magic and I couldn’t be more proud of the all those who participated in Fusion. Annie Lim and Richard Lowe, the coordinators, did a fantastic job, and Michelle Larsen really did so much with the website.

I’m already looking forward to next year.

- Jimmy

First Look.

Mishka — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 10:22:50 +0000

Wow. I just had a meeting with the designers and got my first look at some of the collections. They are so beautiful and thoughtful and I couldn’t be prouder. I really enjoyed this past meeting. There were a lot of smiles, hugs, and conversations. It seems like we are really coming together as a group, which I always look forward to. It puts the competition on the back burner and puts creativity and friendships first. It always takes awhile to get there, but we always DO get there.

It seems as if Fusion is entering a new era. For the first time, it seems as if we might have a few sponsors. Mood fabric has always been on our side, our biggest fan, and we love them. Now it seems others may have caught on and we are talking with a few companies. It is to be seen whether is all pans out, but at least this year we are really extending ourselves and getting the recognition these designers so deserve.

Ticket sales are coming up and I’m so excited to see the turn out. Right now, the designers have a certain number of tickets to sell, but many of them are already asking for more! We don’t give them more, but it just goes to show how in demand this show has become.

Around this time, after I first get a glimpse of the talented collections, I always, always, always get a gut feeling on who I think will win. I have been wrong only once in 8 years and this year that feeling just hasn’t come yet. Fret not, it will, but it seems my instinct is having a tough time calling it this year. But, no matter, I would never share it with anyone anyway. You be the judge.

As it gets closer to craziness, I always forget a few things. I’d like to take this time to thank Mood Fabric (sponsor), Ellen Wagner (music), Sayed Saber (tickets), Michelle Larsen (website), Richard Lowe (coordinator), Annie Lim (coordinator), Joe Hosking (advisor), Eileen Karp (advisor), Rob Mango (assistant), all our models, and the designers. It’s almost here.

- Jimmy