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Catou (@catouwear)
9 Sep

These Men’s Fall 2020 Fall Fashion Trends Are on Fire

by Ronda Bowen
Blog, Uncategorized
Soon, we’ll be having the last campfires of the season, the last trips out in the kayak, and we’ll be moving back indoors. As things cool down outside, things are heating up on the runways as men’s fall fashion is popping up in stores and online. Here are the pieces you need to have in your closet to keep the summer heat turned up through the fall and into the winter.   Fuchsia and Red   Source: Stylecaster   Fuchsia might be an unexpected fall color, but it’s fabulous. Red is also big this season. If you want to really be on-trend, go head-to-toe in these attention-grabbing colors. If you’re feeling like head-to-toe pink or red is too much, invest in a...
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30 Aug

Spotlight on Sustainable Fashion | Dawn Murtaugh’s ‘Jean Therapy’

by Kacie Clark
Blog, Uncategorized
There's no denying that fashion is art, uniquely allowing each wearer to express themselves through color, shape and texture–but for Dawn Murtaugh, fashion is art of a whole new kind: textile art. The Indiana-based artist is using old pairs of denim to create beautiful gallery pieces and tell a story about just how much the textile industry is negatively affecting our fragile ecosystem. As the world's second greatest source of pollution, the textile industry is known to produce upwards of an entire garbage truck full of waste per second. Midwest Fashion Week Director and fashion designer Berny Martin recently came across Dawn's beautiful collection at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana and we knew we needed to share her art...
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26 Aug

Women’s Fashion Trends We’re Loving for Fall 2020.

by Ronda Bowen
Blog, Uncategorized
As the summer days start to wane, and we move into crisp morning breezes, we’re all starting to get antsy for pumpkin spice lattes, transition outfits, and evenings spent taking in the cooler air. Naturally, that means it’s also time for my personal favorite item to come in the mail – the September edition of Vogue. While many of us are still spending the bulk of our days working from home, it’s still good to keep up with fashion and what’s “in” – if only for the sake of our own mental health. We’re starting to see the 80’s and 90’s trends of seasons past die down, and style this coming season is once again more eclectic...
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12 Aug

Shop Midwest: J.Benzal

by Kacie Clark
Blog, Uncategorized
When we think about boutiques, womenswear typically comes to mind; small shops stocked with the latest trends, home goods and accessories. But more than a decade ago, a stylish man with an eye for detail and a background in textiles and design saw a growing need for menswear in Indianapolis and decided to try something different – and J.Benzal was born! A private label menswear boutique with three Indy-area locations, J.Benzal takes men’s desire to be fashionable and stand out with an edgy and sophisticated style, and makes it affordable and accessible in the Midwest. We recently sat down with owner and designer Ben Diallo for a quick interview about his brand, what makes J.Benzal different, and the one piece that every...
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6 Aug

These Designers Are Making Masks and We’re Here for It

by Ronda Bowen
Blog, Uncategorized
Why settle for a plain blue mask when you could have a fabulous designer mask? That’s the question many fashion designers have been asking. From 2021 prom dresses that will have matching masks to masks complete with satin and ruffles, designers know that for the foreseeable future, the right mask will be the perfect finishing piece for your outfits. Here are some of the designers we’re watching.   Tokyo Twiggy Tokyo Twiggy is an Indianapolis-based fashion designer. Her mask designs, all made from custom textiles, are colorful and fun–plus, they’re reversible! All of her masks are machine washable and come up over the nose as well as cover the chin, making them as safe as possible. And, paparazzi alert: one of her mask...
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20 Jul

Black Fashion Designers You Need to Know | Part II

by Ronda Bowen
Blog, Uncategorized
In part one of our Black Fashion Designers You Need to Know series, we met some amazing fashion designers you may not have previously heard of. From Berny Martin at Catou to Akosua Afriyie-Kumi with AAKS and from Carlie Cushnie to Fe Noel, these fashion designers are bringing the heat to both the runway and print. Now, it’s time to continue our list of the black fashion designers you should know–let’s dive in!   Laquan Smith Laquan Smith started his brand in 2013 when he was just 21 years old. He learned patternmaking and sewing from his grandmother and developed a passion for design. Laquan Smith loves glamour and he creates garments with an amazing attention to detail from his studio in Long...
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8 Jul

Melissa Lockwood | Garments Made from Salvaged Fabrics

by Kacie Clark
Blog, Uncategorized
Sustainable fashion is a hot topic in the industry right now–and for good reason. The fashion industry alone is responsible for a staggering 10% of annual global carbon emissions. That's more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined(1). Additionally, nearly 60% of synthetic fabrics are made of fossil fuels and 85% of that material will end up in landfills, where it won't decay or decompose(2). As designer collection launches become more frequent than just seasonal, the problem is accelerating and designers are looking for ways to slow the damage it is causing the environment. Melissa Lockwood is one such designer.   Melissa Lockwood is a conceptual artist and the self-taught fashion designer behind IQTEST, currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. A...
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1 Jul

Black Fashion Designers You Need to Know | Part I

by Ronda Bowen
Blog, Uncategorized
You’ve added new books to your “to read” list. You’ve added social activism tasks to your “must-do” list. You’ve learned the names of all of the black representatives in your state. Now, it’s time to get familiar with the black designers who will have you looking fabulous the next time you’re ready to dress to impress. Ade Hassan Ade Hassan launched lingerie and hosiery company, Nubian Skin, in 2014. She wanted to fill a need for women with darker skin to have lingerie and hosiery with four skin tones to help women find their own “nude” color to wear under other garments.   Akosua Afriyie-Kumi Akosua Afriyie-Kumi founded AAKS to share weaving techniques from Ghana with the world at large, while also creating a sustainable...
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