UCOF Blog

Sunflowers in Summer

In Trends / July 23, 2014 / 0 Comments
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By: Gabriela Herstik

Summer days are made for creating memories and draping yourself in beauty. They’re for sunflower fields and apple picking and wearing things that remind you of the sun’s warmth. Sunflower prints mix our love for all of these things. Sweet pairings of warm yellows and soft tangerines that paint these flowers on a stark black background create the perfect pattern for crop tops, circle skirts, and dresses. Tune in to your inner crystal child and wear pieces that make you feel at home on this earth.

Interview with Oda Nigist Wigstøl: “Create your own trends, be original”

In Look Du Jour / July 22, 2014 / 0 Comments
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Name: Oda Nigist Wigstøl

Age: 17

Country: Kristiansand, Norway

School: Vågsbygd videregående skole (High School, School of Arts)

Major: Music

 

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Where did you buy your clothes?

Dress: H&M
Jacket: Cubus
Shoes: A Norwegian shoe store

Most of the time I buy my clothes abroad. I like to go into random clothing stores in foreign countries, to make sure that no one will wear the exact same clothes as me when I get home. But of course I buy some of my clothes in Norway as well. I like places like H&M, New Yorker, etcetera.

How would you describe your style?

I can’t really describe my personal style, because my clothing style depends on my mood. You know that you can tell a lot about a person through the way they dress. Of course you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but it says a lot. When I feel really sad, I do everything I can do to look as pretty as possible. I don’t know why I just feel like if I at least look like a decent person, my mood will follow.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2015 Review: Minimale Animale

In Blog,Look Du Jour / July 22, 2014 / 0 Comments
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By: Gabriela Herstik

If there is one word to describe Minimale Animale it is indeed minimal- not in concept or aesthetic, but purely in design. Instead of sleek minimalism like the name hints at, Minimale Animale is all about minimalism in coverage, meaning the more skin there is showing, the better.  Whether it was a gold lame bikini with sheer black detailing, or a topless model wearing nothing but a strappy black bottom, the urban edge of this collection was striking and to die for. Cassandra Kellogg, the mastermind and designer behind the brand, has truly created a collection for the daring woman who is not afraid to get down and dirty with her fashion.Minimale+Animale+Backstage+Mercedes+Benz+Fashion+kfGD5pGJ1ZUl  The 2015 show even went so far as to include motorcycle helmets, which serve as the perfect over-the-top accent to an incredibly minimal bathing suit. This season’s offerings included a lot of harnesses and of course, the classic mesh and leather combination, redone and revamped for the season of course. Although we love the itty-bitty bikinis, we can’t help loving the Minimale Animale leather jacket even more.

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Look Du Jour: Nicholas Rodriguez

In Look Du Jour / July 20, 2014 / 0 Comments
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Name: Nicholas Rodriguez

Nicholas Rodriguez

Nicholas Rodriguez

City: New York, NY
School: Borough Community of Manhattan
Major: Liberal Arts

Ombré: What is the inspiration of your look today?
Nicholas: My overall inspiration was grungy street wear. I paired my distressed shorts with a colorblock tee. I wanted my outfit to be casual while keeping some edginess to it.

Ombré: What’s your favorite piece in this photo and why?
Nicholas: My favorite piece from this outfit would have to be my shorts. I bought them as regular jeans from a thrift store for eight dollars. Then I watched a youtube video to learn how I can distress jeans. A scissor and several rips later I turned the ordinary jeans into a grungy distressed jean short.

Ombré: What is the trend you follow?
Nicholas: One trend I think I follow is contrast. Since I wear mostly black and white I like to bring different texture and elements together in order to not have a dull outfit.

Ombré: What’s one trend you will never follow?
Nicholas: One trend I will not follow is anything camouflage or floral. I tend to stay away from prints.

Nicholas Rodriguez is a proud student of the STAND (Students Training Arts and Design) Program at United Colors Of Fashion (UCOF Academy).

Trend; Chunky Sandals for a Sweet Summer

In Trends / May 14, 2014 / 0 Comments
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By: Gabriela Herstik

Summer calls for iced coffee, berry popsicles and listening to music on your hammock. It’s a time of reminiscing, of remembering every summer in grade school where you spent late nights playing in the park, catching fireflies. Summer conjures up a magical feeling of when time stops and you can truly enjoy life. Although summer vacation may be a figment of our imagination (or may be close approaching to being a figment of our imagination), our fashion choices can still be reflective of a time when we so effortlessly wore what we wanted and pulled it off. Chunky sandals have a very strong 90s vibes; thick stacked soles and Velcro straps call upon the days when Justin Timberlake was in a boy band and Britney Spears reigned supreme. Chunky stark white or midnight black sandals are the perfect accessory for summer because they have such an effortless and playful feel to them, while still managing to look grown up and chic. Pair a big, clunky sandal with some vintage shorts, a crop top and a kimono and you have an easy, breezy and comfortable summer look. Delicate pieces look ace with a thick shoe and the contrast works wonders for an interesting and dynamic outfit. Wear a light airy skirt with a tank top and big hat and you’ve got yet another style to rock your sandals. You can even wear lacey socks with these sandals! Just make sure you don’t rock them off.

Ombre is Now Taking Submissions!

In Look Du Jour / May 13, 2014 / 0 Comments
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Ombre is Now Taking Submissions!

Feedback from Our Students

In Blog / May 11, 2014 / 0 Comments
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For many who have dreams of choosing fashion as a profession, a long difficult road lies ahead. The progression of the fashion industry has led it to create a partition between the elites who made it in and newcomers who aspire to get in. The partition proves, for most, to be a challenge too hard to confront.

It is for this reason that President of United Colors of Fashion (UCOF) Academy; Ciano Clerjuste started this one of a kind organization four years ago. His dreams of becoming a fashion designer were unfortunately deferred due to a personal tragedy. Although he chose a different career, he never forgot his dream and instead of wallowing in bitterness, he chose to invest in the dreams of the many young people who have their hearts set on the same journey.

Today, UCOF Academy actively helps under resourced youth in the tri-state area gain exposure and opportunities within the fashion industry in various fields. As interns of the UCOF Academy Educates: STAND (Students Training Arts and Design) program, which is the only one of its kind offering free training to students, these fashion hopefuls get the opportunity to learn everything about the industry. The experience they take from UCOF Academy equips them with the understanding and resolve thrive in fashion.

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UCOF’s STAND Program Interns Produce ARSHEL

In Blog / May 4, 2014 / 2 Comments
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BY: Monde Mtsi

CAPE TOWN – Recently, interns at United Colors of Fashion (UCOF) participating in the STAND Progam (Students Training in Arts and Design) were prescribed a brief to break away in two groups and conceptualize and launch two companies. One group, composed of Wilanda, Rose-Ann, Paul, Winifer, and lead by Norha Kavanagh, put their heads together to create a design house called, ARSHEL.

ARSHEL is a design house which produces womenswear, as the simulated work states. Its vision is to empower young women by creating innovative wardrobe essentials that replicate their personalities of boldness, fierceness and soulfulness, to name a few. The team worked through processes that involved understanding how textiles and design work hand-in-hand; Business Development, Marketing and Communications, and even event production. Some key findings by the group included identifying when presenting to a selection of buyers, what they would need to do to stand out and which retailers their brand would best fit with: These included Variazioni, Edit Boutique and Nordstrom.

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Look De Jour: Miranda Feneberger

In Look Du Jour / April 22, 2014 / 0 Comments
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Name: Miranda Feneberger
City: Athens, GA
Age: 19
School: University of Georgia
Major: English

Ombre: If you could name your personal style, what would it be?

Miranda: This is a hard question. I love comfy clothes, and I love being casual, but put together. I love pieces that are a little unique, and I’m a big fan of cool T-shirts. I think my style would be best described as “Casual Cool” if that’s a thing. I also love menswear, and I think there’s always a bit of a menswear influence in my clothes.

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Icon of the Week: BANGS shoes

In Icons / April 18, 2014 / 0 Comments
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BY: Anna Mathias

Columbia, SC native Hannah Davis proves that you can be your own boss in your 20s and more importantly you can also create change. As the founder and president of BANGS Shoes, the 26 year old uses her company to mix fashion with social causes. “BANGS isn’t just a shoe company,” Davis said. “There’s a huge mission behind the brand. It stands for a social change that we are trying to put into effect.”

In 2009, after graduating from Clemson University, Davis traveled to Jiangsu Province of Eastern China to teach English. While living there, she noticed many of the Chinese workers and farmers wearing olive green army-style shoes. This working class staple sparked Davis to form a brand that promotes and supports social issues through retail. The company’s name derives from the Chinese character for the word help, which is spelled b-a-n-g. In June 2010, BANGS Shoes was born.

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