Designers with Georgia roots show off at New York Fashion Week

Meet Wes Gordon, Amy Smilovic of Tibi, and Azede Jean-Pierre
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(L-R) Wes Gordon, Tibi, and Azede Jean-Pierre

Photographs courtesy of the designers

New York Fashion Week wraps up today, with editors, buyers, and bloggers all moving on to the shows in London. Over the past several days, American designers debuted their spring 2015 ready-to-wear collections, and three of the big standouts, we’re proud to say, have big connections here in Georgia. If you don’t know them already, meet them below—and check the racks for their new collections come spring.

Wes Gordon
The It Boy

Georgia roots: Raised in Buckhead, attended the Lovett School, visits his family now in Druid Hills and at Lake Oconee
A-list fans: Gwyneth Paltrow, Kerry Washington, Michelle Obama
His take on his spring 2015 collection in ten words or less: “Incandescence”
Our take on his collection in ten words or less: Minimal, modern, sometimes sparkly, feminine, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-ish
Front row: The Gordon family visiting from Atlanta; Vogue international editor Suzy Menkes; Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing
Our fave look: A soft-but-sharp pale pink blazer with the sleeves pushed up over a gray knit top and textured denim pencil skirt (pictured above)

Read our feature story on Wes Gordon from May 2014 and see his fall collection currently on racks.


Amy Smilovic of Tibi
The Standby

Georgia roots: Raised on St. Simons Island, where she still has one of her two boutiques (the other is in Manhattan’s Soho)
A-list fans: Blake Lively, Emma Roberts, Heidi Klum
Her take on her spring 2015 collection in ten words or less: “Fusion of Japan’s modernity with the artisanal craftwork from Peru”
Our take on her collection in ten words or less: Relaxed; pretty much everything we want to wear come spring
Front row: It girl Olivia Palermo; Rusty Heery of Heery’s Clothes Closet in Athens, Georgia; Man Repeller blogger Leandra Medine
Our fave look: Tan linen culottes and full, swingy top with frayed edges—earthy but modern—paired with a Peruvian-inspired topper and cream flatforms (pictured above)

Read our My Style on Amy Smilovic from February 2014 to see her favorite things and inspirations.


Azede Jean-Pierre
The Next Big Thing

Georgia roots: Originally from Haiti; attended SCAD Atlanta and started her line here
A-list fans: Michelle Obama (on the cover of this month’s Essence), Solange Knowles, Angie Harmon
Her take on her spring 2015 collection in ten words or less: “Flora, garden, sophisticated, free-spirited, intricate, bold, feminine, sensual, Mother Nature”
Our take on her collection in ten words or less: Quirky, diverse, whimsical, with lace, knitwork, and embroidery that wowed
Front row: SCAD Atlanta professors Kevin Knaus and Pat Trautman; Coca-Cola AVP Kimberly Paige; Style.com editor Emily Farra; plus Shala Monroque backstage styling
Our fave look: A large-gauge knit dress with blue beaded fringe—an abstract take on flowing grasses (pictured above)

Check out a short video of Azede Jean-Pierre’s NYFW runway show on our Instagram.

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