Nick Goes to Kenya!
Model Katrina shows off a multi-colored paisley and geometric printed mini tunic with side pockets and shrunken "tuxedo" jacket, Suno Spring/Summer '09
...via the
Suno Collection. Read on...
Last Saturday, I attended the launch and trunk show of
Suno's "Out of Africa" Spring/Summer 2009 line. The launch was held at the
Opening Ceremony boutique on La Cienega Blvd.
Opening Ceremony--which also has it's original branch in the Soho area of New York-- is known as the "high fashion version of a cultural exchange program". Every year, owners Carol Lim and Humberto Leon like to showcase fashions from different countries and it seems that with
Suno's Spring/Summer 2009 Collection they are feeling some love for East Africa. The store is currently stocked with lots of chic US, Asian and European brands such as
Alexander Wang,
Lad Musician,
Band of Outsiders,
Comme de Garcons and
Rodarte. But they don't carry my line,
NIKOLAKI (note to self, must meet with their buyers in the near future). Speaking of
Rodarte, I even saw the
Rodarte designers, sisters
Kate and Laura Mulleavy, actually sitting outside the boutique's
"patio" relaxing on this Saturday afternoon, as I walked into the store. Yep, this must be "LA Fashion" central.
Designers Erin Beatty and Max Osterweis pose with their trunk show models, Katrina and Caitlin, and Nick Verreos
As I walked in, I was immediately greeted by Suno designers
Max Osterweis and
Erin Beatty, who were on hand to introduce Los Angeles fashionistas to their wildly colorful line. This summer, the collection was based on the
kanga, a brightly colored cotton wrap worn by Kenyan women on a daily basis.
Osterweis has been collecting these
kangas for over a decade after his mother built a house on an island off the coast of the East African country.
Post Colonial Afrique: Models from the Suno Spring/Summer '09 Look Book
In a perfect collaboration, both
Erin and
Max, returned to Kenya (they are based in NY and they confided that it's a VERY LONG flight!) and began designing what was to be this 1000 one-of-a-kind piece collection. Priced in the $100 to $600 range, the pieces range from shrunken tailored "smoking jackets" with shawl collars and silk charmeuse piping, wildly printed tunic minis with in-seam side pockets (love those pockets!) to dresses, jumpers and blouses galore.
Kanga Sandwich: Nick Verreos poses with Suno-clothed models Katrina and Caitlin, Opening Ceremony Boutique, Los Angeles
In regard to the prints,
Max was happy to educate me and tell me how many of the prints are printed with
Swahili aphorisms, originally worn to send messages to fellow villagers. As an example, he pointed out one that, loosely translated, said: “Watch your roosters, there’s a new hen in town.” Can I have that in a shirt for me? Maybe next year, he'll incorporate some Kanga-inspired menswear, who knows?
You can find the Suno Spring/Summer 2009 Collection at Opening Ceremony, 451 North La Cienega Blvd. 310-652-1120
My friend Amara Wilson just dropped me a "little note" telling me that her little Echo Park Vintage Boutique, Haute Olive, has moved to Downtown LA!
Editorial: Amara Wilson in NIKOLAKI one shoulder silk dress
Miss Amara was my "original" muse back when I began my company, NIKOLAKI, in 2001 and modeled in all my LA Fashion Week runway shows (she used to model in Paris, back in the day). I was honored enough to have been invited to her Birthday Bash back in January at the Echo Park location and got to see for myself all the fabulous Vintage "goodies" her and her minions of super-chic buyers have. 
Runway: Amara Wilson in NIKOLAKI runway show "A Night in Morocco", LA Fashion Week (LA Magazine style editor Laurie Pike--in black top--and singer Nikka Costa--with hat--sitting front row to the right)
When I was there, there were lots of flowy jersey caftans, DVF-looking wrap dresses, great Lacroix-inspired boleros and a mass array of vintage heels. I'm sure it's all made it's way "East" to Downtown and the Downtown fashionista hipsters will eat it up!
The new address is on 838 South Spring Street, Los Angeles California 90014. It's very near the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, so all my FIDM students-on-a-budget should get themselves over to Haute Olive!
