Monique Zhang

Monique Zhang is the designer of the well-known San Francisco fashion establishment, Cicada. Born and educated in Taiwan, Zhang moved to America at age 21 to work in the fashion industry, and launched Cicada in 1998. She honed her craft under styling legend Sandra Sakata and named her business after Sakata, taking the humble Cicada as the symbol of rebirth and “the wisdom of emerging elegance.” Zhang’s designs combine Sakata’s tradition of “exotic glamour” with the uniqueness of the individual personality. Inspired by ancient cultures and by her experience with textiles from around the world, Zhang’s one-of-a-kind pieces reflect the inner being of the wearer for whom they are designed.
www.moniquezhang.com

Carol Chen Couture

As a young girl Carol always wanted to become a fashion designer, but it wasn't until after her studies at Columbia University and Stanford GSB that she finally decided to pursue her childhood dream. Upon graduating magna cum laude from FIDM with a degree in fashion design, her passion to make beautiful, unique clothing has led her to establish herself as an award-winning fashion designer. Her accomplishments include being featured at the de Young Museum, winning a design competition hosted by Project Runway's Tim Gunn, being selected to showcase as an "Emerging Star" at SF Fashion Week, and creating the dress that captured "Best Evening Gown" at the Miss California USA Pageant.
www.carolchencouture.com

Dcepcion

Dcepcion is a street-wear inspired label, established by twins Daniel and David Concepcion, that was created to provide refined, yet creative, ready-to-wear. Their debut collection, “Street Society” pulls inspiration from early 90’s comic books, utilizing graphic elements and a neutral color palette, as well as details from the 1930’s and 1940’s. This debut collection consists of casual and versatile pieces that can be worn from day to evening and has been featured on the front page of the SF Chronical’s Style section.
www.dcepcion.com

OdileOdette

OdileOdette is a San Francisco-based fashion design company created by Nichole Kreglow and Stephanie Bodnar. This dynamic duo met while attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and recognized in one another a keen eye for detail and love of fine construction. Since then, their gowns have been on display at the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, The FIDM campus in San Francisco, the FIDM campus in Los Angeles, and a charity fashion show entitled Project FiveFour07 in the Bay Area. Combining Stephanie's background in writing and costume design and Nichole's background in furniture and product design, the two create clothing with an unique sensibility and dichotomy of style that is unmatched elsewhere. The name OdileOdette derives from the two swans in Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake". OdileOdette is yin and yang. OdileOdette embodies the mischievousness and edginess of Odile juxtaposed against the virtue and romance of Odette. OdileOdette's garments reflect the many contradictions of a woman.
www.odileodette.com