Fall Collection 2014

Created for our participation in Nashville Fashion Week 2014 and Fashion Week Alabama 2014, our fall collection includes a variety of options from trench/overcoats to red carpet-ready looks.  A few picks from the full fall line.

Black & Gold Leopard Silk Blazer, Jet Button Down and Silk Trousers

American Red and White Stripe Button Down, Jet Eric Adler Denim

Vintage Raspberry Floral Neck Tie, Eric Adler Rose/Creme Pinstripe Oxford

Floral Scroll Peacoat, Black Stripe Button Down, Slate Wool Trousers

Nashville Fashion Week 2014

When you reach the highest high, you must come down to an equally low low to return  to equilibrium. That's how I feel about Nashville Fashion Week 2014. Participating as one of the select designers for the fashion week in my city was such a rush that lasted all week long; Monday to Saturday! But as all wonderful things come to an end, the following Monday and the remainder of the week were like a hangover or some addiction withdrawal. I am writing this on Wed the 16th and I am finally recovering fully from the delightful madness. Just so I know I'm normal I shared these feelings with my good friend Denise Roxenstone, a Swedish designer who presented on Saturday night, and she shared similar sentiments.

The first night of Fashion Week was held at the Zeitgeist Gallery by Fashion Happening Nashville. I went with my girlfriend and connected with Andrew of Any Old Iron Boutique, Julia Clancy, who showed up Saturday night, Kimberly of Sisters of Nature, Sarah of Denim & Spirits, and many others. Thank God for this intimate setting for networking opportunities! Being the first night of the week I was full of excitement and energy, so Hunter Claire of Rouge Rogue Blog did a quick interview and then we got out of there as they were closing down the party. 

Tuesday began the first official night of NFW 2014. It was held at a gorgeous location, Rosewall, an event space connected to a relatively new restaurant in the Gulch Saint Añejo.  Manuel and I had discussed putting on a show there several months before when it was incomplete, but they beat us to it.  The runways were nice and I enjoyed Black by Maria Silver and Pink Elephants showings. The after party was at the always swanky club Citizen where we witnessed a couple getting kicked out for pouring airplane bottle shots into their drinks!

Wednesday was my night, the emerging designer showcase.  All day long I was in and out of the small venue Ruby, across from Vanderbilt, doing fittings, steaming clothes, doing interviews, practicing with models, checking music, styling hair and outfits, etc, etc...Several of my friends were able to get tickets before the show SOLD OUT so that was nice. My parents and my mentor, Manuel also attended as supporters.  When the time came for my models to walk I heard a gasp of awe from the crowd which was followed by cheers for the remaining 4 models. When I walked out I raised my hands the audience started screaming!  What an amazing feeling to walk and feel the LOVE and shake the hand of the man to whom I owe my whole career, Manuel Cuevas. I really feel that I had a very unique collection of pieces from the other designers and it was a mixture of some things I showed in Fashion Week Alabama and some new pieces I whipped up in the month following FWA.  A "Best Of" if you will for my Fall 2014 collection.  Also noteworthy: Fern Mallis, the creator of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week complimented me on a "fantastic collection" and gave me a shoutout on her Instagram later that night!

Thursday was also a fun-filled action! Manuel hosted his event "Manuel's Top Picks" at his studio on Broadway and he invited Jonathon Kayne, Betty Malo, Carlos Bonola, Nina D, and me to show 3 looks in a meet-and-greet style fashion show. It was such an honor to receive an achievement award from such a leader in the Nashville industry.  I was awarded and did a live radio interview that night at the show.

By Friday I was running out of gas. My shows were over and I wanted a break, although there was a nice show outside on 5th Ave N in the Art District of Downtown that featured a longgggg catwalk.  This was probably my favorite show because the models were allowed to walk sexy, bounce to the music, and really make the clothing look good. The weather was a bust.

Saturday was such a good showing! My friend Denise Roxenstone who was accepted 2 weeks before her show and frantically created 16 amazing looks put on a great show. I also enjoyed Jonathan Kayne's razzle and dazzle red carpet dresses. It was altogether a fun night especially because my girlfriend and I finally got to celebrate with my friends, whom we met at the Tippler after the Marathon Music Works show and after party. I wore my favorite jacket from the collection and a brand new custom bolo tie that Paco Despacio, an old hippie button maker from Oregon made me. We met lots of new friends, took fun pictures, and drank some Jack Daniels. Overall the week was a success!

I am glad to finally have connected with Tray Simmons of Bravo Modeling Agency as well as all of the others Eric Adler connected with. I must thank Rachael Moore for being a huge support all week long with her presence as well as my other Rachael, "my work wife" who is such a badass in so many ways.  Connie Chornuk, my talented photographer for getting there early and getting a great spot in the pit.  Thank you Alex Adler for your many helping hands and finally, my great friend Manuel. I think it's always important to count our blessings and be thankful for those who play a part in what we dream up. I remember in 2013, I attended my first NFW event; it was a show on the top floor of the the Pinnacle building. I sat down next to my new friend Phillip Madison, an emerging designer that year, and told him that I was going to be here next year.  What a blessing it was to have my dream made into reality!

Nashville Scene Coverage

This morning I picked up a copy of the Nashville Scene from Manuel, where I am working as a tailor 9-5.  I take a look at the cover image and my pupils dilate to the image of the beautiful Camille Birkhead swirling an elegant scarf and dress in a twirl. I read that there is coverage of the upcoming Nashville Fashion Week and immediately turned to the section. I flip through page by page, looking for at the beautiful spreads of outfits, hoping to see something good.  To my big surprise, I turn the last page and see Camille decked head to toe in Eric Adler! What a rush.

I had been anxiously awaiting the publication because I had been working with Milton White, the creative director of the shoot and he told me the week prior that there were seven designers and only five would be features. I was so nervous, but what a rush it was to see my work featured among other amazing designers.

I was very happy to get this press especially because it shows that this jacket, at least is versatile across gender and season. I create menswear but this was modeled as a girlfriend look. I made this jacket for my fall collection but since it's a corduroy floral, it also works for spring!  This look features a thin lapel corduroy floral/jet dinner jacket. The model is also wearing the Eric Adler peach pinstripe oxford and salt and pepper tweed jeans. What a great honor to be published among the best in the premiere "happening" magazine of Nashville! ENJOY

Fashion Week Alabama 2014

In July 2012, I walked in the door of Manuel American Designs in Nashville, TN, and began my career as a fashion designer interning/apprenticing under Manuel.  To make a long story short, a year and a half later Glenn Wiggins of Fashion Week Alabama knocks on my door and invites me to headline for their 2014 show! I could not have been more ecstatic!

Let me start the story with the intense road leading up to the show. I agreed that I would be able to provide a minimum of 12 looks without really considering how much work would be for me. Due to the inability to find quality sewing skills, I had no help in garment construction up until about 2 weeks before the night of the show.  They were all late nights and early mornings...I will admit that I was a bit slow at times working as a tailor for Manuel, my current day job, for which I do feel terrible.

I have never been afraid of hard work especially when witnessing the creation of something beautiful and well-made from start to finish. Seeing things grow, whether a tree, a child, or a jacket, has always intrigued me. The long days and sleepless nights were more captivating than anything else.

My girlfriend Rachael and I traveled down Friday afternoon from Nashville to Huntsville, a short drive of about 2 hours. We went to the wrong hotel once, got lost, and ended up in a retirement community, whoops! Upon arrival in downtown Huntsville, we changed and made our way to the Friday night VIP fashion show/party.  The scene didn't look too inviting when we finally entered and I was contemplating getting out of there. As we were leaving we ran into a beautiful local designer, Josie Wachi, who insisted on taking us out after the fashion show.

We stayed and the event was very nice. I was able to connect with world-renowned hair and make-up artist/designer Troy Nixon, Head of FWA/designer Ellena LeJeune, and Project Runway's/FWA official emcee Victoria Hensley, among many others. Later we met Josie and my personal assistant Rachael Ragland out for drinks at The Bottle, a classy restaurant downtown, and eventually moseyed over to a live music venue, Humphries, next door. It was nice to experience a bit of the nightlife and downtown Huntsville.

Enough blabbing...I'll get on to the Fashion show. As this was my first real fashion show, I must share all the details because everything was new to me! Saturday was hellish and heavenly at the same time. The models didn't show up for the out-of-town fitting slot at 10 am so I was unable to create a buyer sheet for my looks. Around 4 o'clock the models began to file in one by one. When I removed the garments from their bags, they started drooling! At one point I thought they were going to fight over a few different pieces. This was very flattering.

There were nine models and I had 16 looks ready. Some received 2 looks to model. The show started at 7 and I, being the headliner waited till the last show to present. The models, Rachael, and I were tired and surely hadn't had anything to eat since lunch. A last-minute pep talk right before the show brightened their spirits. I told them how "sexy" they all looked and encouraged them to put their personality into the walks and feel the music. They walked to The Weeknd's "Heaven or Las Vegas" which, I believe, paired perfectly with the looks, the brand, and the mood of the night. As the outfit change came, the madness reached its climax and I felt as if my body was moving a thousand miles an hour.

Overall the show was a success! I made SO MANY new friends, fell in love with the city of Huntsville, and received tons of encouragement and positive feedback. I never would have expected my first show to be the headlining act for a Fashion Week so I must add that I feel blessed to the fullest!

I hope that you enjoyed my accounts and photo narration of the show and I must add many thanks to my photographer, Connie Chornuk, who, despite her illness, traveled to Huntsville to document the insanity. Many thanks to Fashion Week Alabama, especially Ellena LeJeune and Glenn Wiggins, who dealt with my procrastination like champions. I must mention my assistant Rachael because I could not have done this without her. Finally, I want to say thanks to my girlfriend, Troy Nixon, Josie Wachi, all of the models, and the city of Huntsville for their profound hospitality. I think it is truly altruistic to dedicate so much time and money towards the promotion of emerging artists like myself.

Here is a video shot by Fredro Star on the night of my Fashion Week Alabama show. Please click on the link below to view it on Youtube. This was very exciting for me to see since it was my first show and I was in the mix backstage. Good stuff, I hope you like it! Much love...spread it.