ALL EYES ON AUSTIN – AMERICA’S NEW FASHION HOTSPOT
When COVID-19 began its reign of terror in 2020, many people in larger cities responded in turn by packing it up and bailing to smaller locales that had been building an underground buzz of cool. There they have been able to work remotely and set up shop without having to shell out mega rent and mortgage payments. Nowhere is it more True Fashionista to be designing high fashion right now than Austin, Texas, y’all.
You can find several Austin-based brands from the likes of Brittany Allen and Sergio Guadarrama (both competed on Project Runway) quite frequently at Naples’ best consignment store, True Fashionistas.
Granted, we can’t see a time when New York wouldn’t be the fashion capital of the U.S., but increasing numbers of brands across fashion and beauty are looking at the lower cost-to-entry and flocking to this unassuming town in the heart of the Lone Star state. Long known as a hotspot for live music, Austin also boasts the fourth largest fashion week in the U.S.
Let’s take a look at the buzz around Austin:
ALL EYES ON AUSTIN – JEWELRY BY KENDRA SCOTT
Ms. Scott’s hip, contemporary jewelry designs, available at True Fashionistas, the best designer consignment store for miles, are crafted in her Austin studio. Her popularity is on the rise; along with it is her sense of community and philanthropy.
Established in 2002 when her three boys were young, Kendra’s mom duties shine through as her company directs a portion of their annual proceeds toward “supporting women’s and children’s causes that improve lives, advance knowledge, and unlock opportunity.” (from the company website)
“We make a choice to see the good in every day – in the mirror, in each other, and in our communities. When we see the good that’s possible, together, we can create it.” ---Kendra Scott
Her True Fashionista jewelry pieces push the boundaries of design and innovation while staying true to their principles of color, shape, material, and value.
ALL EYES ON AUSTIN – BRITTANY ALLEN’S HIP DESIGNS
Brittany Allen describes her brand as “if Dolly Parton and Betsey Johnson had a baby who was then raised by Anna Wintour.” Her designs mix powerful shapes with True Fashionista feminine prints. She incorporates French seams throughout every garment to add couture refinement, emphasizing her formal training and techniques, says her website.
An Arkansas native, Brittany is working on her Ph.D. in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design while teaching fashion courses at an Austin university while also designing her clothing line. She has called Austin her home for the past five years.
Ms. Allen says her designs are meant to make women feel more empowered and beautiful. They often incorporate mixing different prints in matching colors for effect. While much of her line is ready-to-wear, she also does made-to-order clothing. Her collections range from evening wear and swimwear to bridal fashion.
ALL EYES ON AUSTIN – Nailah I. Akinyémi-Sankofa
In 2008, Nailah I. Akinyémi-Sankofa founded RunWay Underground Fashion Production Group, Network & Academy. Concurrently, this mother of twins officially launched “Ɲàma Iṣé-Ọná” her True Fashionista fashion and accessories brand in 2009.
Then in 2018, she debuted during New York Fashion Week in February as a backstage coordinator at Couture Fashion Week and designer. Here, she introduced select garments from her Fall-Winter collection and Bata Mojo, her new limited-edition handcrafted footwear line.
A native of Chicago, Nailah is a creative force in the Austin scene not only for her clothing and footwear line but as a published writer and poet, dancer, and choreographer, all from the approach of traditional West Afrikan cultural and historical aesthetics. Her handcrafted line of jewelry and accessories launches soon.
ALL EYES ON AUSTIN
Find Austin-based designers and more at True Fashionistas consignment store Naples. Shop the top designer brands at significantly discounted prices, and consign what you’re not wearing for a closet refresh. Be Austin hip, Naples-trendy, or wherever you live. Shop in-store, online, or in our eBay store for authentic designer fashions and high-end home accessories and accents.