New York Fashion Week | February 2019
Meet the Designers
Calysta Chang
Calysta’s work captures her movement between cities and cultures through structure and silhouette. She notes that the opportunity to incorporate this inspiration into her pieces for New York Fashion Week was a highlight of the process. In her spare time, Calysta likes painting, photography, music, and running, which inform and inspire her work by allowing the free flow of ideas. She has her sights set on Parsons School of Design, where she hopes to continue her studies in fashion design. Calysta is currently a student at York House School.
Inspiration: Travel and exploring new cultures
Dream dinner guest: Alexander Wang
Favourite season: Spring or Fall
George Huang
Inspired by technology and the future, George’s first piece takes inspiration from cars with fluid curves that emulate the movement and dynamic sculptural forms of automobiles, while his second piece looks to the future with dark grey tones and a square pattern that give it a modern, mechanical feel. George believes in experimentation and the importance of using environmentally-friendly materials in fashion design. He currently attends St. George’s School.
Inspiration: Fast cars and futurism
Dream celebrity to dress: V (Kim Taehyung)
Favourite season: Fall or Winter
Mika Shimmura
Mika looked to blend current streetwear trends with the sophistication of haute-couture in her work for New York Fashion Week, putting an upscale spin on casual wear. Her designs are born from extensive research into her audience and the fashion industry, as well as her love of music, which often moves fluidly between styles – just like her pieces. Mika hopes to attend Parsons School of Design for Fashion Management in order to put her on a path to establishing her own brand. She currently studies at York House School.
Inspiration: Music; blending high fashion and streetwear
Dream dinner guest: Virgil Abloh
Favourite season: Fall or Winter
Noelle yau
Noelle’s pieces reflect her interest in the way clothing can express the wearer’s feelings, boost confidence and reveal personality. A proponent of inclusivity in fashion, Noelle believes in fashion as a force for change – echoing and commenting on events happening around the world through design. Noelle is also an avid badminton player and track and field athlete, and her love of movement shows in her fashion design. She hopes to pursue Psychology or Social Work at the University of Toronto, and currently attends Crofton House School.
Inspiration: Emotions, self-expression, and movement
Dream dinner guest: Coco Chanel
Favourite season: Spring
Chloe Nakatsuru
Photographer
Chloe is Green Apple Art Center’s photographer for New York Fashion Week. Her biggest inspiration for her work is the Japanese street fashion magazine FRUiTS. Chloe plays guitar, piano, and the drums, and her interest in music also inspires her photography. She currently attends Sentinel Secondary and hopes to attend Parsons and someday work as a photographer at I-D magazine.
Inspiration: music and the magazine FRUiTs
Dream model: Gustav Ahr
Favourite season: Fall or winter