Michelle C. Gibson (MCG)
Michelle C. Gibson, a 2013 Howard University fashion merchandising graduate, started her career as a designer during her sophomore year of college. MCG’s current collection, “Explosive Serenity” is hand-dyed and customized to every customer by the designer herself. Gibson explains her collection inspirations: “The rippling effect of water; then the song ‘Explosions‘ by Ellie Goulding, a song I listened to when I was sketching; and third, the emotions you have after your dream is captured.” You can clearly see Gibson’s vision on the prints themselves, which exude bright, vibrant neon colors on different types of silk, which are then juxtaposed by more muted colors.
Gibson’s design aesthetic also comes from being an eco-contemporary designer. “As far as fabrics, everything is natural as far as the silks and cottons, some of the cottons are organic from the suppliers themselves, and the prints are custom-made, using water-based materials. I always try to find the best products while using the least amount of materials possible.” Gibson says she designs for women who are constantly in the spotlight and for those who want to feel extra confident while wearing her creations. She is currently working on getting a collection ready to show at New York Fashion Week in February 2016.
Arreit Nicole
Nicole Oliver is an FIT graduate and the Maryland-based designer behind Arreit Nicole. Her love of fashion started since an early age thanks to her mother. Oliver explains: “My mother traveled a lot for work, and when she would come back, she would bring back luxurious fabrics, and we would make doll clothes. The love for fashion just stuck from childhood and just never went back.” Oliver had been designing and constructing pieces since October 2012.
“This collection’s inspiration was architecture, [for instance] metal beams and how the sunlight hits them and it reflects off the metal. I have jackets that have different cuts inspired by architecture; my collection was inspired by unfinished buildings. The more I go out [and] the more I venture in the city, the more ideas I get,” Oliver explains. The designer also tells us that the woman behind her design creations is someone who wants to stand out and refuses to blend in with the crowd, and it doesn’t matter how old she is because she is able to transcend her pieces by mixing them within her wardrobe. Currently, Oliver is in talks with local boutiques to stock Arreit Nicole, and customers can expect to see the brand in D.C. stores during Spring 2016.