UCOF Blog

Follow

By LAURA EUSTACHE

NEW YORK- It all started with a dream; to see fashion created by people who are extremely talented but just needed a chance to shine the same way he was given a chance. With the desire to give back in the arena of culture that matters most to him, Ciano Clerjuste, with Veronica Rovegno, were able to create “United Colors of Fashion.” With the support and help of an amazing team, and a lot of work, the UCOF group is watching their fruitful labor blossom.

In a 12-page spread in the November2011 issue of Vigore magazine, United Colors of Fashion is praised for being an organization of “highly energized professionals.” Clerjuste and co-founder, Ms. Veronica Rovegno, acknowledge that the most rewarding aspect of creating this organization, despite government bureaucracy and attorneys, is being able to use their talents, valuable time, expertise and fashion for humanitarian causes. Vigore´s coverage of UCOF´s success and positive impact mentions how its founders managed to overcome much and is now legally listed as a charitable institution in New York State.

Read more →

Follow

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM UNITED COLORS OF FASHION, INC. (UCOF)

Follow

News By UCOF

Planning a crème -de -la – crème International collective fashion show and Gala requires more than just a visionary and enthusiastic progression of an idea.  For United Colors Of Fashion, finding the right team of people each season is the key for the success to its charity events.

A few months ago, when the founding partners of the organization, Ciano Clerjuste and Veronica Rovegno were brainstorming and sorting out nominees to fulfill the role of honorary chair and stylist for the International Fashion Spectacle and Gala at hand, they had a few options.  The idea was to reach out and invite a well known “It girl “, whom is an extremely experienced individual in the fashion industry- and would simultaneously be an amazing role model for our young and gifted artists and willing to donate valuable time and expertise to help us serve our mission, which is “Fashion For Humanitarian Causes.”

Follow

News By UCOF

Every Fashion week season, Albertus Swanepoel collaborates with a plethora of top designers and custom designs hats for each look of their collections. The awesomely talented and humble Millener, has join forces with fashion icons such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, Carolina Herrera, Peter Som, Erin Fetherston, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, Betsy Johnson, Nathan Jenden, Costello Tagliapietra, Jason Wu and Araks, just to name a few.

A few months ago, The UCOF Founding partners, Ciano Clerjuste and Veronica Rovegno met with Mr. Swanepoel to ask for his support, and he was very welcoming and encouraging. Mr Swanepoel thought the organization’s mission and vision of educating talented youth in New York about fashion was brilliant! And to show his backing, he offered to custom design hats for UCOF to auction off at its Gala Soiree and International Fashion Spectacle.

Follow

NEW YORK, NY (September 12, 2011) -While fashion gurus from around the globe are in New York, the fashion capital of the world for the Spring 2012 Collections, United Colors of Fashion hosted their Gala Soiree and International Fashion Spectacle on Friday, September 9th, 2011, at The Pierre New York-A Taj Hotel.

The soiree was to benefit the UCOF Charity Care Program-Soweto Hospice, South Africa (www.unitedcolorsoffashion.com) and the Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project (www.bbalp.org). Over 400 people attended the event. The organization recruited over 43 fashion students from FIT to work with them this season.

The five unique and tractioned fashion icons, which United Colors of Fashion has prudently selected from different parts of the world to come to NY for their collective show were: Amparo Chorda (Spain), Oliver Tolentino (Philippines, now LA-based), Louda Larrain (Russia, now NY-based), Eric Raisina (Cambodia), and David Tlale (South Africa). Each designer presented twelve looks for the show. The collections were amazing

Follow

JoSunJari© is a sibling string trio of classical musicians.

Joelle, age 19 years, began her study of music at age 4 years on the piano. She was introduced to the violin at age 9 years, and studied briefly at the Harlem School of the Arts. Joelle graduated from a two-year Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School of Music. In Spring 2009 Joelle graduated from Manhattan School of Music (MSM), where she studied applied violin, theory, ear training, and orchestra. Joelle will begin her junior year at New York University in Fall 2011. In addition to her formal music studies, Joelle performed with the City Opera´s “Nutshell” orchestra for 4 years. Joelle enjoyed two years in chamber ensemble at the New York Youth Orchestra, and four years in the New York Inter School Orchestra (ISO), where she also served as a coach in two junior orchestras, and music tutor for two beginner violin students.

Sunnaj, 14 years, began his study of music at the piano when he was 5 years old. He is a student at MSM where he studies applied violin, along with theory, ear training, and orchestra. Sunnaj was honored to serve as the soloist for the Interschool Orchestra (ISO)´s Turtle Bay Orchestra at the 35th gala performance at Lincoln Center/Avery Music Hall in the 2006 performance season. Sunnaj won 2^nd alternate at the Spring 2010 concerto competition at MSM for his performance of Mozart´s Concerto No 4 in D Major!

Follow

NEW YORK, NY (August 5, 2011) – As fashion gurus from around the globe are preparing to hit the ground running in the fashion capital of the world for the Spring 2012 Collections, United Colors of Fashion announces their Gala Soiree and International Fashion Spectacle to take place during the second day of NY Fashion Week: Friday, September 9th, 2011, at The Pierre Hotel.

The event will benefit the UCOF Charity Care Program-Soweto Hospice, South Africa (www.unitedcolorsoffashion.com) and the Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project (www.bbalp.org).

United Colors of Fashion, which hand picks designers with that certain something, has prudently selected five unique and tractioned fashion icons from different parts of the world to come to NY for their collective show: Oliver Tolentino (Philippines, now LA-based), Amparo Chorda (Spain), Louda Larrain (Russia, now NY-based), Eric Raisina (Cambodia), and David Tlale (South Africa). Each designer will present twelve looks for the show.

Read more →

Follow

By CIANO CLERJUSTE

NEW YORK, NY- Jerry Lopez New York is the prominent make-up sponsor for United Colors Of Fashion, Inc. (UCOF) this season. The organization is thrilled about the partnership, and believes Jerry Lopez, whom is going to serve as the Director Of Make-up Artistry, is the perfect choice for the organization this period.

On September 9th, 2011, the world will be watching United Colors Of Fashion Spring 2012 Collective, as its selected awesomely talented top designers send their periodic styles down the ramp.
In order for each model to convey the visual message of the designers, the Director of Make-up Artistry must do a plethora of preparation weeks before the show. The organization believes Mr. Lopez is perfect for creating the new beauty trends for the season.

Jerry Lopez, whom is the founder and Creative Director at Jerry Lopez New York, is very well known and respected in the fashion industry. Mr. Lopez is a licensed International hair stylist and professionally trained make-up artist based in New York. He was born and raised in Lima, Peru. He started his career in the industry at age sixteen, when he enrolled in cosmetology school. After completing his studies, he spent two years working in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While working in this amazing city, he spent a lot of time working on film, fashion shoots, advertising campaigns, and television sets, to name a few.

Follow

NEW YORK, NY (July 2011)-United Colors Of Fashion, Inc. (UCOF) is proud to announce its official hair sponsor for this season, Hair & The City. The trendy mid-town salon will be creating all of the beautiful hairstyles on the runway for the show. The salon, which is a regular at styling models for New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is thrilled about the opportunity, and eagerly looking forward to partnering with the amazing designers who will be showing at this collective show.

The Director of hair for the collective show will be, Nina Bougherara. A native of France, whom has been in the industry for over twenty-five years. Ms. Bougherara started in the industry at age fourteen as an apprentice in France. She is a colorist, hairstylist and makeup artist. She became a colorist expert by L´Oreal Academy De Paris. She has done a plethora of shows in the past during New York Fashion Week. She enjoys what she does to the fullest and excels at it. “I am honored to be working with UCOF on this amazing project. I take the responsibility, which Ciano has given to me very seriously, and plan to exceed his expectations,” said Ms. Bougherara with pride and contentment. To help bring the visions the designers have to reality, Ms. Bougherara will be working with her business partners, Scott Wasserman, another experienced hair stylist in the fashion industry-and Altjana Banja, a veteran of the beauty industry, and has always played an integral role in NY Fashion Week for several consecutive years.

Read more →

Follow

United Colors of Fashion, Inc. announces that South African rising TV star, Lunga Shabalala has been appointed as its ambassador in South Africa.
Mr. Shabalala has set himself apart from his peers with his zealous nature and a hardworking streak. In under a year, he moved from being a soccer and rugby coach in Durban to one of the most talked about and watched talents on the South African entertainment landscape.
Now a presenter of Selimathunzi the popular variety show on SABC1, Shabalala will use his influence to send the message of UCOF to youths in South Africa and be engaged in the activities of the association.
Mr. Shabalala´s value systems resonate with what UCOF is about. He loves life; he embraces worthy causes and through his involvement in TV and fashion as a model is in synch with our mission.

“I am honored to have been chosen as an ambassador of UCOF in South Africa. It has always been my wish to play my part in educating and helping where I can those who are infected and affected by this pandemic. Working with UCOF allows me to witness first hand the damage this disease is doing, but also gives me a chance to be part of a team that´s working towards a solution. I look forward to putting minds together with the office in New York and the Soweto Hospice, which is the main beneficiary,” said Mr. Shabalala.