IADT Imagine Design Expo 2012 (Image by: David Alvarez)

Months of preparation culminated in a great fashion showcase for International Academy of Design & Technology (IADT). The Imagine Design Expo 2012 was held on Friday, June 22 at the Hilton Arden West Hotel.

Imagine Design Expo exhibit (Image by: David Alvarez)

An awestruck audience of approximately 250 attended the Imagine Fashion Show and enjoyed an evening of wonderful fashion designs created by IADT students.

The annual event began with an initial model casting in March 31. Magnum Opus producers of Sacramento Fashion Week contributed to the staging of this event.

Magnum Opus reps and friends (Image by: David Alvarez)

The casting was followed by two fittings, a rehearsal and the fashion show itself on June 22.

IADT faculty, student body and supporters put their efforts together to create a triumphant Imagine Fashion show.

The Imagine Showcase Fashion Show has several components that allow IADT students to participate in promoting more than just their fashion designing department.

Kathy Kerr-Carpenter and other IADT Creative Directors and Staff (Image by: David Alvarez)

The Design Expo also helped to showcase other IADT areas of study including Building Information Modeling, Fashion Design and Merchandising, Graphic Design and Interior Design.

The Imagine Design Expo also serves as a benefit event for IADT’s Career Education Scholarship Fund, Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California and Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada.

IADT provided the production team that helped put together a smooth flowing and elegant show. This team also helped with set up, lighting, coordinating hair stylists, designers and make up artists, photographers, ticket sales, catering and there was little that they were not involved in.

Photographers Fred Jennings and Igor Kondrya (Image by: David Alvarez)

Displays from each of IADT areas of study were displayed in the hall outside the runway room. Students were busy helping where they could and served as ambassadors to the school as they mingled with guests.

Jennifer Siopongco (l0 and friend admiring IADT exhibition (Image by: David Alvarez)

A raffle also helped to raise funds where several art supply packages were put together as prizes.

The featured fashion designs were judged in several categories.

The panel of judges included Lyndsey Kacalek, Director of Fashion Design and Development at Apricot Lane Boutique and Julie Vue, Co-owner at BellaVUE Boutique. Joining them were Simone Vianna, Fashion/Wardrobe Stylist for Sacramento Fashion Week and The Stylist on Line, Dericka Porter, Couture Press Editor in Chief, Mario Lugo, French Cuff Consignment Stylist/Blogger and TV personality Courtney Dempsey of Good Day Sacramento.

Judges at IADT Imagine show (Image by: David Alvarez)

Featured designs allowed designers to see their dream creations grace the Imagine Fashion runway.

James Macabago’s designs were outfits that looked like African tribal wear with a fashionable blend of leather giving it a unique style. Brown and black were the primary colors used and leopard or other big cat prints. Each outfit was layered with different accessories.

James Macabago design (Image by: David Alvarez)

Rachael Goldmark’s designed colorful outfits with floral accents and as you admired each piece closer you noticed details not seen at first glance. A beautiful bare shoulder floral top with a layered purple bottom added glamour to another outfit. As the model walked back to the start of the runway she revealed an embroidered backing to her top giving the outfit added elegance.

Rachel Goldmark colletion (Image by: David Alvarez)

The Mey Saechao and Sharon Sutherland designs were beautifully accented by elegant matching jewelry and accessories. The outfits included a two piece revealing outfit with a floral accented top. The beautiful designs had tropical floral patterns and each had an alluring slit bottom that accented the outfits.

Mey Saechao/Sharon Sutherland collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

One of the models from the Saechao and Sutherland designs was Leecy Marie who I talked to the previous week during final fitting.

The young model explained how she became involved in the show saying, “Actually a girl who I model with, Zamar (Mcgodman), called me a couple of days ago and was telling me she was supposed to come to this fashion show but she couldn’t make it because she’s introducing two more models to Brigandis so she asked me to fill in for her and I said yes.”

Leecy Marie models a Mey Saechao design paired with Sharon Sutherland accessories colleciton (Image by: David Alvarez)

As with several of the models who had been there hours in advance, Leecy went through hair and makeup (with Paul Mitchell staff), final fitting, photography, rehearsal and judging before they took the runway.  Leecy also modeled for Alias Pink and continues to work on her modeling at Brandy at Brigandis.

Paul Mitchel hair and makeup (Image by: David Alvarez)

Sabriona Gilliam brought edgy designs to the runway. Reminiscent of Japanese samurai with an edge of royal flair, her black and white outfits were elegantly accented with accessories and different patterns within each fashionable wear.

Sabriona Gilliam collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

The Fashion and Marketing student at IADT, Gilliam noted this was her first show. At the final fitting she relayed, “This is actually my very first show so I’m excited. Hopefully I’ll get my message out there.”

When asked if she’s always been interested in fashion design Gilliam replied, “Yes I’ve always been interested in fashion since I was 8 or 9-years-old. I just didn’t know where to start. I couldn’t find myself after high school. I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I looked back to my past and saw that fashion was one of the things I enjoyed but I didn’t take it seriously. Once I gave it a try I have been in love with it ever since.”

When asked what she called the line she was going to show Gilliam said, “My line right now is called SG Royalty. Basically I used the initials of my first and last name to keep it as my main staple to be known for. I came up with the name because the collection has this royalty feel to it and has a lot of history behind it and I was kind of influenced by it and wanted to bring it to the picture because people wear this all the time especially in Japan.”

Gilliam shared what she was looking for at the Imagine Showcase saying, “I just want people to look at my work as something different and to embrace it. It’s just a message I want to send out just don’t be afraid to be different -- embrace it.”

As the show continued Amanda Gazca’s designs included a pants outfit with a lavish top, a striking two piece outfit with a short skirt and a leopard like print dress that went with a black and pink vest. Gazca’s styles showed great diversity in her design and patterns.

Amanda Gazca collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

Naly Thao showcased an elegant floral dress that was short in front and long in back that accentuated the model’s walk. The floral dress was lined in white and included a black vest. Thao’s designs were also quite different showing a dramatic and artistic range in her designs.

Naly Thao collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

John Thao and Tawnya Jackson’s designs included two male models.

A sleeveless top with parachute pants gave one Thao-Jackson design an exciting debut. Two other outfits were also accessorized with colorful belts and scarves; actually I would describe them more as collar accessories. The outfits worked in combination to give them an exciting and stylish look. Jackson and Thao created a unique line by purposely bringing two different cultures together, Japanese and African.

John Thao - Tawnya Jackson collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

Erika Diaz’s collection included a stunning brown gown that went over the shoulder and draped gown to the ankle. The dress did not have sides on the top but the body was covered by an embroidered liner. A sensual black and gold pants outfit was quite alluring and was accented with gold jewelry for extra glamour. No less glamorous was an elegant black outfit suited wearing at a Hollywood movie premier.

Erika Diaz collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

A live auction was also held where outfits created by AIDT students in response to a challenge to make outfits out of life vests. The challenge was in collaboration with AIDT and local TV channels KOVR/KMAX. Good Day Sacramento’s Courtney Dempsey served as auctioneer.

Live auction of outfits created with life vest as a challenge. Courtney Dempsey serves as auctioneer (Image by: David Alvarez)

After the live auction and a raffle Allison Murphy brought her designs to the stage.

Murphy’s abstract creations were quite dazzling, colorful and used symmetrical shapes to bring attention to her designs. What’s Murphy’s Law? “Anything that can possibly go wrong, does.” Well, Allison Murphy’s designs dispelled that theory and I saw nothing wrong with her unique creations. Murphy's designs worked to captivate the imagination of on-lookers.

Allison Murphy designs (Image by: David Alvarez)

Murphy’s designs also included what looked like a deliciously stunning black leather two piece outfit, a pants outfit and a full body leather dress, again very symmetrical and dazzling.

Eshonna Watson’s collection “Crazy-Sexy-Cool,” brought more glamour to the stage. Watson’s fashionable wear included a leopard pattern skirt with a simple yet alluring see through yellow top.

Estonna Watson collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

Other designs by Watson exhibited exciting creativity in each outfit. Watson has had several shows in the past year in and around Sacramento and each exquisite showing allows her collection to move to different directions that always inspire.

Gabrielle Summers and Carolyn Hearn showcased a simple black dress that was accented by elegant draped patterns on the short in front long in back dress.

Gabrielle Summers and Carolyn Hearn collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

Other outfits included a short black dress hung from one shoulder with a fabric flower accenting a shoulder using the same fabric as the garment itself. A free flowing sleeveless silver dress was showed off as the model swaggered down the runway. Another stunning one shoulder sleeveless dress with a draped collar and a full length dress adorned with bell-like layered patterns with a revealing V shaped front that gave it an alluring design.

Ka Lor’s designs included a spaghetti strap red dress and a two piece black pants piece accented by an intriguing skirt like accent. The outfit was also complemented by see through back.

Ka Lor collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

Another red dress with a short free flowing tail and black pant outfit with a skirt draping were also included. The black pant outfit was paired with a silver top with a zipper in front that could be used as a peek-a-boo accented piece. The last piece in the collection was a silver and black short dress with a free flowing sheer chiffon hanging from waist.

The last designer to showcase his line was Michael Vongphakdy who showed an elegant blue and black dress and two pant outfits one with a blue top and another with black. A strapless and elegant blue dress with a black accented top made for an evening out on the town and a strapless evening dress topped his collection.

Michael Vongphakdy collection (Image by: David Alvarez)

Raffle prizes and award winners were presented after the show. Awards were given to the various disciplines provided by AIDT and that were on exhibit at the Imagine Design Expo.

Fashion awards were given with the Most Innovative award going to James Macabago and the Most Marketable award going to Gabrielle Summers.

James Macabago with IADT instructor and mentor Esther Amato (Image by: David Alvarez)

The Best Construction award was given to John Thao and Best of Show was awarded to Michael Vongphakdy.

Best of show winner Michael Vongphakdy with Esther Amato (Image by: David Alvarez)

In the end all designers were winners and all deserve praise for their hard work.

More pictures can be seen here.