Name:  Yvette Craddock

Profession: Founder and owner of ShopStyleFolio.com

Fashion Industry Experience:  My experiences in the industry include working as a professional model, image consultant, fashion journalist (print and television) and a fashion show producer.  I sketch and design my own clothes, and work with my tailor to bring them to life.

What do you think of the current state of minorities within the fashion industry?:  In researching the minority network of fashion industry talent, I am proud to discover so many incredibly talented people at established and emerging levels. I think that it is essential that we seek each other out and support each other to the best of our ability. I also encourage minorities, like myself, to continue to help each other develop our industry talent and business acumen. 

Aspirations/Goals: Build ShopStyleFolio into a style megabrand.

Contact Info: www.shopstylefolio.com  define@shopstylefolio.com

A little background on yourself/company:

My parents agreed to accept an invitation to have me model when I was five years of age. That experience set me on my path to a lifelong love affair with fashion and visual style. Throughout the years I’ve modeled and immersed myself in various fashion-oriented outlets and opportunities.

The impetus to my full-time foray into fashion was just being present in my life and listening and watching how other people responded to my self-packaging, namely my bold, beautiful jewelry.  After fielding questions of “where did you get that” for about five years, I decided to channel my hobby into a world-class, fun and thrilling business. Building a brand from scratch is a challenge that has continuously piqued my interest –especially so since I have had my own advertising agency for over six years. 

Thus, ShopStyleFolio.com is my vision: a one-stop accessories destination for the woman who owns her personal style.

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Name: Gayla M. Rogers

Age: 36

Occupation: Fashion Designer

Fashion Industry Experience: After completing design school, I was hired at my school as a teacher’s assistant. I haven’t interned with any design houses, but I have worked with other designers as a seamstress and pattern maker. Over the years I have found that there is always something new to learn by working with an individual clientele. You get a better sense of what will sell, as well as a hands on grasp of possible fitting problems in garment design.

A little background on yourself/company: I was born in Louisiana and raised in Missouri by my maternal grandparents. I’ve been sewing since the age of 12, when my grandmother taught me. I obtained a Bachelors of Architecture from Southern University, and A & M college in 1995. Afterwards I went on to receive a certificate of Fashion Design from Fashion Careers of California College in 2001. I sold my designs to boutiques and individual clients in San Diego. I then moved the business to New Orleans, and finally Atlanta, where I currently reside now. Between raising my 4 kids and running my design business, life is always busy, but beautiful. 

Aspirations/Goals: I would like to open up boutiques in New Orleans, and Atlanta that provides a unique and fulfilling shopping experience for customers. My goal in every design is to help people express their beauty inside and out. 

What do you think of the current state of minorities within the fashion industry?: We are seeing more of ourselves out there, but we still have a long way to go. 

Contact Information: gayla@gaylarogerscollection.com or (678) 614-7609

Name: Eugene Frimpong

Age: 24

Profession: Clothing Designer

Background: I was born in Ghana, West Africa and I am now based in Chicago, Illinois. I have an unfulfilled desire for perfection. I look for it in my designs, and also in the women and men wearing them. I design for night and glam and try to maintain an impossible balance between current and retro. My style is influenced by the mixture of African and Western culture, to me they are the epitome of everlasting glam.

Goals: My goal is to create a highend fashion empire with a unique style. I want to be like D&G, but better.

What do you think of the current state of minorities within the fashion industry?

Minorities have come a long way in the fashion industry, some of the worlds top models are minorities. As minorities we need to continue to grow and make the fashion industry more ethnically diverse by promoting models with different skin tones, shape, size and have them master the run walk. With St. Frimpong design I will help pave the way by creating avenues for models from ethnic minorities to gain access to the fashion industry by wearing my design which is influenced.

If you would like to contact this designer please call, (267) 912-7812 or (773) 216-8611.

 Email: kmal34@gmail.com