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Be your own model and fashion designer. You can have your cake and eat it too! That’s how Vancouver area models and fasionistas have fun.

At the Empress Spring Fashion Soirée 2012, a group of models, beauty pageant contestants and friends gathered together and enjoyed an evening of show-off your own fashion and style on runway, music and good food at the 0755 Restaurant & Lounge in Richmond, BC on April 19, 2012.

The evening’s activities was hosted by Lingli Kong, a Vancouver TV personality and a founder of Empress Communications. Increasingly, this westcoast Canadian city is having more and more of this type of events that can attract a diversity audience from different communities for people who are seeking entertainment, fashion, music, style and glamour and audience participation.

Each year, Vancouver-based Empress Communications organizes the World Music Fashion Festival (http://wmff.ca/about) and tours China with an ensemble cast of international models and fashion designers to put up catwalk runway shows in different Chinese cities. In 2011, its inaugural year, the WMFF 2011 visited Shanghai, Dalian, Chengdu, Neijing and Hangzhou during August and September.

VIDEO – Empress Spring Fashion Soirée 2012
[Video by Ray Van Eng, V21 Media.]

0755 Restaurant & Lounge, 3779 Sexsmith Road, Richmond BC.

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At the Closing Ceremony of the 2011 Hangzhou Fashion Week 天堂丝绸武林衣秀 杭州时装周闭幕 on Sep 23, 2011, the World Music Fashion Fest (WMFF) models and designers made an appearance on stage to say farewell to the Chinese audience. First up were model and designer Jen Walls and Kyuin Chae. Then Katryna Lonsdale and Fala Chien, Charlotte Lind-Petersen and Arid Chappell, Anna Robinson and Evan Biddell, Alana Douglas and Paul Hardy, Chinese model and Alia Juma and other Chinese models and designers. The event was broadcast on live TV in the Hangzhou, China area.

Other 2011 WMFF models also present were Jenn Kroeker, Stephanie Hood, Stacey McKenzie, Nadege Lauren, Meredith Anne-Harper, Pacifica Grace Chen, Leah Vairo, Stacey Armstrong, Ashley Hynes, Lu Gina, Star Martin and Adrianna Edwards.

WMFF 2011 Models & Designers Bid Farewell to China

Hangzhou, China

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The 2011 Hangzhou Fashion Week Closing Ceremony on Sep 23, 2011 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China with 24 models walking the catwalk as an opening. 杭州时装周闭幕晚会，天堂丝绸武林衣秀，２４位模特儿康定情歌大汇演。Musical tracks included the famous Kang Ding Qing Ge, a folk song of south-western China in the Sichuan province and near Tibet.

VIDEO – Hangzhou Fashion Week Closing Ceremony 杭州时装周闭幕晚会

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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Each time Jacqueline Conoir launches a new collection, it is more than a fashion’s nights out. This was certainly true on Oct 25, 2011 when the Vancouver-based design powerhouse presented its Spring/Summer 2012 (S/S 2012) collection of Jacqueline Conoir and Jac clothing lines. For the invited guests, the new JC Studio located on 164 West 5th Ave. with its wild graffiti façade became a place for fashionistas to meet with longtime friends and make new acquaintances. And on this occasion, a brand new Jacqueline Conoir publication in a newspaper format also debuted which quickly became a collector’s item for those who treasured designer Rozemerie Cuevas’ fabric creation.

Jac & Jacqueline Conoir SS 2012

Jacqueline Conoir, 164 West 5th Ave. Vancouver BC

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Top Canadian fashion designer Evan Biddell was in Hangzhou to take part in the fashion week 杭州时装节 天堂丝绸武林衣秀 and put on a catwalk runway show that gained him plenty of fashion admirers in China. Biddell was a participant of the 2011 World Music Fashion Festival (WMFF) organized by Empress Media of Vancouver. WMFF brought together an international team of fashion designers including Paul Hardy, Juma, Fala Chien, Arido Jewelry & Kyuin Chae from the U.S., Canada and France. Musical groups Isis Salam and DJ Fathom and Behind Sapphire were also invited to perform in five Chinese cities during the month-long tour that concluded in Hangzhou on Sep 26, 2011.


Evan Biddell in Hangzhou, China

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In Neijiang, Sichuan, U.S. fashion designer Juma put on a special presentation of its clothing line and made good use of the talent of a local aspiring model-dancer named Fei Fei who did a Michael Jackson Moonwalk number on stage as if to emphasize the youthful appeal of the New York-based fashion line.

The evening’s performance was part of the 2011 World Music Fashion Festival (WMFF) tour organized by Empress Media of Vancouver. WMFF brought together an international team of fashion designers including Paul Hardy, Juma, Fala Chien, Arido Jewelry, Evan Biddell & Kyuin Chae from the U.S., Canada and France. Musical groups Isis Salam and DJ Fathom and Behind Sapphire were also invited to perform in five Chinese cities during the month-long tour that concluded in Hangzhou on Sep 26, 2011.

Juma Fashion & Fei Fei Moonwalk, Neijiang, China

Neijiang, China

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Wrapping up a special two-night engagement in Neijiang, Sichuan, China, the 2011 World Music Fashion Festival (WMFF) models and crew bid an emotional farewell to an enthusiastic crowd who showed up to enjoy an evening of western culture, music and fashion design. And what a finale! First, hip hop electro rap singer Isis Salam joined forces with Canadian experimental pop band Behind Sapphire, DJ Fathom and backup singers to perform a number of songs and then the models, crew, and all the designers — Paul Hardy, Arido Jewelry, Evan Biddell, Juma, Kuyin Chae and Fala Chien went on stage to say goodbye. Major sponsors such as China Unicom, China Eastern Airlines and others also joined in as well.

Isis Salam and Behind Sapphire in Neijiang, China


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In Neijiang, Sichuan, China, Arid Chappel of Arido Jewelry and Supermodel Stacey McKinzie of Walk This Way Workshops were interviewed by Empress Media host Ling-li Kong. It is all part of the 2011 World Music Fashion Festival (WMFF) tour that brought together an international team of fashion designers including Paul Hardy, Juma, Fala Chien, Arido Jewelry, Evan Biddell & Kyuin Chae from the U.S., Canada and France. Musical groups Isis Salam and DJ Fathom and Behind Sapphire were also invited to perform in five Chinese cities during the month-long tour that concluded in Hangzhou on Sep 26, 2011.

Arido Chappell & Stacey McKenzie Interviews in Neijiang, China

Neijiang, Sichuan, China

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It’s the Vancouver Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 Opening Night Runway Show on November 03, 2010. Jacqueline Conoir’s contemporary and causal wear. Valerio Moda’s custom made leather apparel. Michel Tudour’s super-sexy summer dresses accessorized might just make Michel’s home country of Trinidad a hot new tourist destination. Last but certainly not least is Patricia Fieldwalker whose lingerie show gave a new meaning to First Night at the Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW). The event was held at the Empire Landmark Hotel.

VIDEO – Vancouver fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 OPENING NIGHT CATWALK!

Empire Landmark Hotel, 1400 Robson Street, Vancouver BC

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NY fashion designer Dana Lee and VFW producer Jamal Abdourahman


I literally ran into Vancouver Fashion Week producer Jamal Abdourahman at the Gala Opening on Nov. 02. Standing next to him was this “very famous” (Jamal’s words) New York designer Dana Lee. I chatted with Dana about The Big Apple which I had been to on a number of occasions. The last time was in 2000 when the World Trade Centre (WTC) was still around. I was passing through Lincoln Tunnel and exited the New Jersey Turnpike. It was late evening and when I looked back at NYC, I saw the twin tower looming over the Manhattan skyline with a big fat moon hanging high above. It was early fall and New York looked picture perfect, yet within a year the WTC was gone.

Ten years later, some sadness still lingers. Even for someone like myself who doesn’t call New York home. Speaking of home, I was in for a surprise when Ms. Lee told me that she was originally from Vancouver.

I replied instantly, “Welcome home.”

And congratulations too, Dana. It was always nice to see a homegrown talent making it big. In NY, no less. As the saying goes…if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Something for the local designers to aspire to.

The Vancouver Fashion Week runway show starts tonight 7-9 PM at the Empire Landmark Hotel.
Empire Landmark Hotel, 1400 Robson Street, Vancouver BC

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