Winner Phuong Minh Nguyen specializes in wedding gowns with oomph. Her signature styles include dresses in red, champagne, and blush shades.
2Dream Dresses by P.M.N. by Phuong Minh Nguyen
Winner Phuong Minh Nguyen specializes in wedding gowns with oomph. Her signature styles include dresses in red, champagne, and blush shades.
3Dream Dresses by P.M.N. by Phuong Minh Nguyen
Nguyen is also an expert in placement. Her designs (each gown is made to order) are incredibly considerate of the female form and aim to accentuate a woman’s best assets.
4Dream Dresses by P.M.N. by Phuong Minh Nguyen
Nguyen is also an expert in placement. Her designs (each gown is made to order) are incredibly considerate of the female form and aim to accentuate a woman’s best assets.
5Varsha by Varsha Agrawal
Runner-up Varsha Agrawal transformed during the process of the competition. The panel commented that she had truly come into her own by September, with a sophisticated line that was modern, yet wearable.
6Varsha by Varsha Agrawal
Runner-up Varsha Agrawal transformed during the process of the competition. The panel commented that she had truly come into her own by September, with a sophisticated line that was modern, yet wearable.
7Varsha by Varsha Agarwal
This coat/vest was one of Shop Talk‘s favorites of the whole evening. And the faux-fur pockets mean there’s no need for a handbag.
8Varsha by Varsha Agarwal
This coat/vest was one of Shop Talk‘s favorites of the whole evening. And the faux-fur pockets mean there’s no need for a handbag.
9Daniel Ressa
Still a student, Daniel Ressa impressed us with a level of refinement and modernism far surpassing his experience.
10Daniel Ressa
Still a student, Daniel Ressa impressed us with a level of refinement and modernism far surpassing his experience.
11Daniel Ressa
Each of Ressa’s pieces feel characteristically Northwest, with cool, grunge accents and updated silhouettes.
12Dawson and Deveraux
What you couldn’t see from the sidelines: Dawson and Deveraux designer Sophie Cantwell actually used textured drawer liner as a material in some of her pieces. This gown in particular—with mixed materials of painted silk and the foam liner—was a show-stopper.
13Dawson and Deveraux
What you couldn’t see from the sidelines: Dawson and Deveraux designer Sophie Cantwell actually used textured drawer liner as a material in some of her pieces. This gown in particular—with mixed materials of painted silk and the foam liner—was a show-stopper.
14Dawson and Deveraux
Pieces like this are what got the line into IDRS from the get-go. We loved the wearable sequin frocks in modern, well-fitting shapes.
15Dawson and Deveraux
Pieces like this are what got the line into IDRS from the get-go. We loved the wearable sequin frocks in modern, well-fitting shapes.
16Cute Like Mad by Jeanette Svensk Li
Designer Jeanette Svensk Li featured pieces with duality, often going from day to night or offering reversible elements.
17Cute Like Mad by Jeanette Svensk Li
Designer Jeanette Svensk Li featured pieces with duality, often going from day to night or offering reversible elements.
18RO2 by Rana Ottaviani
Throughout the competition, the panel kept repeating that Rana Ottaviani was an artist, constantly bring in punchy, thoughtful, and very European designs that stood out from the crowd.
19RO2 by Rana Ottaviani
Throughout the competition, the panel kept repeating that Rana Ottaviani was an artist, constantly bring in punchy, thoughtful, and very European designs that stood out from the crowd.
20Victoria Postolit
Evoking an updated Mad Men style, Victoria Postolit’s pieces feature subtle accents like braids and pocket piping.
21Victoria Postolit
Evoking an updated Mad Men style, Victoria Postolit’s pieces feature subtle accents like braids and pocket piping.
22Iris Klein
Designer Iris Klein brought her exceptional construction to a line of vibrant coats and outerwear.
23Iris Klein
Designer Iris Klein brought her exceptional construction to a line of vibrant coats and outerwear.
24Daniel Ressa
Each of Ressa’s pieces feel characteristically Northwest, with cool, grunge accents and updated silhouettes.
If you missed the Independent Designer Runway Show at Bellevue Fashion Week on September 23, never fear. We were on hand for the big to-do (which was, truly, one of the finest displays in the city, to date). First, a recap of all the local designers participating in this year’s competition:
As for my humble opinion: This was my first year serving on the panel for IDRS. Having attended the past three years’ shows and covering all the excitement on our Shop Talk blog, I knew to expect a tremendous level of talent. What I hadn’t anticipated was the serious challenge of crowning a champion after five-plus months with this crew. Terri Morgan of TCM models (in charge of the entire production—a feat in itself) has historically commented that she doesn’t envy the job of the panel. I understand what she’s saying now. The designers were sophisticated, modern, open to critique, and genuinely pleasant sponges in the way that you hope any up-and-comer would be. Each of them took our comments about execution, style, and cohesiveness with a final result that felt unique to the designer, yet distinctively progressive from the day we met them. How does one choose?
Our runner-up, and consequently the people’s choice medalist, was Varsha Agrawal of her namesake line, Varsha. The former East Coaster popped on our radar from the get-go with her immense business sense and thoughtful construction. Look at her to replace J. Crew as the name for beautiful women’s workwear.
The rest proved more difficult for us judges. Would we choose Daniel Ressa’s distinctly Seattle ready-to-wear garments? Affordable, glamorous gowns by Dawson and Deveraux? Rana Ottaviani’s Euro-style separates? It was nearly impossible. Yet we did, in the end, settle on one talent in particular.
Phuong Minh Nguyen is the 2015 Independent Designer Runway Show champion. In the end, it came down to these questions: “Who is pushing their respective field to new heights? Who can we see as the designer of the future?”
It was clear. In a field with an extreme sense of tradition and ritual, Nguyen broke the mold by showcasing elegant gowns with modern accents, colors, and styles. Not to mention that her tailoring was impeccable and her understanding of the female female form outstanding.
Click through our slide shows for images of all the designers’ runway looks.
