SUIT UP 2013 ~ a visual diary ~ Artful Gentleman and Cari Borja/clothesmaker

“We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight,
somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.” ~ Dostoevsky

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c29How do we get from there to there, and now here? Those three points for Jake Wall, the designer for Artful Gentleman and myself are the SNOW runway show we met at January of 2013 (left), the first Human Right’s Campaign SUIT UP FOR EQUALITY  runway show last August of 2013 (images below), and right now, a week before the second HRC SUIT UP show. Of course there are points in between, but I’m always filled with wonder at how two people can meet, a relationship begin and continue, and all that is produced in between, for us that means suits, gowns, separates and ideas, admiration, respect. Inspired by a trilogy of Hitchcock’s films ~ To Catch a Thief, Strangers on a Train and Notorious, last year’s runway show was filled with stunning wool suits, and dresses made from the silk linings of the suits. For this year’s show I use cotton ~ plaid, striped, herringbone. Below is a visual diary of some of my favorite moments that brought the collection to life through different prisms ~ on the runway, backstage, and editorial shoots shot by Kelly Puleio. With collaborators that ranged from hair and make-up to models, choreographers, dressers, writers Sylvia Rubin, Leah Garchik (lead photo by Leah) and Tony Bravo, and all the many others it takes to put on a show. We’re so excited to see it all come together once again on the third floor of the McCroskey Mattress Factory in San Francisco, August 14th, 7-10pm. For tix ~ $45 General Admission, seated VIP ($65/95), and after party at Daniel Patterson’s ALTA ($85).

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Above ~ photo: Kelly Puleio, shot on location at the Legion of Honor, SF. Featured in the SF Chronicle.

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Above ~ Hitchcockian inspiration…

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“What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out…” ~ Hitchcock

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Above ~ Charleston Pierce directing models.

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Above ~ Artful Gentleman’s Jake Wall and Nathan Johnson and I making decisions…

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Interpretations, by Kelly Puleio

“If I won’t be myself, who will?” ~ Hitchcock

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“In the end all collaborations are love stories.” ~ Twyla Tharp

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Special thanks ~ Jake Wall and Nathan Johnson of Artful Gentleman ~ for inviting me into this collaboration…Robin Azevedo of McCroskey Mattress Factory, Heather Freyer of HRC; photographer Kelly Puleio and asst Nicola Parisi; Tamara Costa; my assistant designer Racheal Matthews, assistant Joy Brace and intern Anna Kell; choreographer Charleston Pierce and all of his amazing models he brought into the production. Lead dresser Mary Elyse; Hair by Rebecca Rebecca Beardsley for the show, and by Pretty Parlor for the editorial shoot. Make-up by SFIEC for the show, and Casandra Salazar for the shoot. And thank you to the lovely models, in particular Kimberly Rosselle, Mellissa Gray, Amanda Alicia, AC Carlsbad, Yulia Riera, Robert Sydney Mull III, Cory Schisler, Helena Martin, Beanie and the many other collaborators in front of the camera and behind the scenes …

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1 Comment

  • Reply August 7, 2014

    Mira Musank

    Cari, this is so awesome! Can’t wait for next week’s fashion show!!

    Sincerely,
    Mira

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