│ Red Carpet │ Cocktail Hour │ Extravaganza │ Entertainment │ After Party │
Thank you
to all the people who make this event possible!
Video Gallery
When you click on each photo you will see the full credits
Olivia Wall is not your average high school student. She just so happens to be an emerging fashion designer whose creations—are under her very own brand, Lauren Wall Designs. The talented teenager has been dreaming of designing and showing her own collections since she was a little girl. “It all started with a ‘time out’,” Olivia says, where she was given some colored pencils and paper…and that was all it took. Olivia has an eye for blending unique textures and colors, using fabrics that most people would not think to put together, to create high-end, high fashion pieces good enough to earn her the attention of the fashion industry. Olivia unveiled her first line, Shady Brocade, during New York Fashion Week 2021 on the hiTechMODA runway.
Regarding her designs, Olivia hopes to create fashion that not only expresses who she is but makes anyone who wears them feel gorgeous and unique. While looking to the future and dreaming of where her talents might take her, Olivia has recently been getting inspiration from past fashion trends. “I love the styles from the 1800s, ’70s, ’80s,” says Olivia, “and the most recent 2000s.” While Olivia is only at the beginning of her career, her spirit is alive and excited, and we cannot wait to see what her next line will be. The entrepreneurial teen is more than eager to show it to the world, “I look forward to creating my own fashion house to take fashion into the future.” Olivia is not only a designer, she is a model. Olivia has been fortunate to have been in several magazines and walked the runway many times. Olivia says that “she loves working with Highlight Concepts, that Jorge and David know how to work with my style to perfect my skills.”
Olivia Wall's Biography
Local & International Fashion Designers
As a child, I always loved fashion. I remember cutting up my brother’s sweatshirts and creating doll clothes for my friends at daycare. I was also constantly sketching what I called “pretty dresses”. I watched pageants and old movies, just to see the elaborate gowns. It wasn’t until much later in life that I decided to pursue my dream. I took a basic sewing class learning how to make aprons and purses. From there I learned basic draping and pattern drafting and began my journey into the fashion world. As a primarily self-taught designer, I strive to learn something new every day. I began my journey in 2015 showcasing at NC Fashion Week. Since then, I have won multiple awards including 2016 Goodwill Rock the Runway and Best Designer at the 2018 Big Hair Ball.
Studio B strives to make every woman feel beautiful and designs for all sizes. A Studio B custom design will always have an element of drama in each of them. I love the unexpected and pull my inspiration from many different areas. All of my garments are created uniquely for the customer, when you order a Studio B garment you will own a custom unique piece, guaranteed to Make a Statement.
Brian Atkins Biography
Venancio Tadeo's
Biography
Venancio Tadeo, originally from the Philippines, came to the United States in 1978, with very little money in his pocket but a big dream in his heart to become a fashion designer and his eyes were focused directly on Hollywood. After spending a few years in the west, Venancio felt a strong desire to travel and dive deeper into the fashion show industry, while studying fashion in real-time, up close, and personal, learning directly from the culture around him, through his adventures around the country.
This was just the platform Venancio needed, as he was now designing and exhibiting on some of the most incredible catwalks, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Montreal, New York, Miami, and Atlanta positioning him as an internationally recognized designer.
Venancio's journey is not close to coming to an end; In fact, he has now decided to call the Charlotte area home, which is one of the greatest powers in today's fashion industry.
Venancio is synonymous with authenticity, creativity, extravagance, and elegance. Each of these adjectives is delicately captured in his designs.
Renowned for his professional career in the world of fashion, creativity, and design, Venancio Tadeo on this occasion makes a presence with his innovative creations at the 2022 Highlight Concepts Fashion Show, showing his exclusive collection for the audience of the Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill area, better known as the triangle in North Carolina.
Itala Flores'
Biography
Itala Flores is a mix of media Artist and fashion designer, native to Venezuela. Itala Earned a degree in Marketing in her native Country, while always keeping her passion for art alive, As time passed she realized the need to come to the USA in order for her to follow her dreams, after some time she met her husband Luis, also an Artist, and Seventeen years later they are still together raising their two boys in NC, As an artist she is the creator of a new pottery technique called DRYPOTT. In 2017 she became an alumni for ArtPop street gallery in Charlotte NC receiving as an award a billboard displaying her artwork for the entire year. In September 2017 she was invited to participate in her very first fashion recyclable runway for Charlotte fashion week winning first place by both, judges and people's choice, which help her find the right artistic direction to continue following her dreams and progress her skills, In March 2018 she presented her first showcase in la mode seen in Charlotte, NC, receiving very
positive critical acclaim, the same year she showcases her collection at New York fashion week and Paris fashion week featuring her dress in Harper Bazar Magazine, At this time Itala is a designer for Opera Carolina recyclable and designer for ArtPop recyclable Fashion show and different National Fashion shows.
In 2020 Itala was selected as an emerging Artist of the year, by con A de Arte/ Art SI, Orgullo Hispano award 2021 by Progreso Hispano News, and nominated as a designer of the year by Level 21 magazine in Charlotte NC. A as designer also Itala have As a community Member also Itala is part of a board of director in a local nonprofit called Teamtopher and a designer at I’m possible nonprofit organization helping special kid to be included at the society.
At this Itala is an active student of visual art, an Active member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, student ambassador for CPCC, and Vice president of the Art Club at her College, and have some permanent exhibitions at CPCC Central Campus, Imaginon Charlotte NC, and steeplechase SC.
Malou T. Cordery's
Biography
Malou Tabada Cordery has had a flair for fashion since an early age. As a young girl growing up in the Philippines, she would cut paper or shape banana leaves to create dresses for dolls. After starting her own family in the United States, she made her daughters play clothes and designed outfits for them as they were growing up, including costumes Malou and her daughters, wore while performing traditional Filipino cultural dances. While Malou works a day job as a “frontliner” at Carolina Medical Center/Atrium Health, she has also pursued her creative talents as a recyclable designer since 2012 for CharlotteSeen, which includes Passport for Fashion and Charlotte Fashion Week, and has won 1st Place by the judges and People’s Choice awards multiple times for her designs, including 1st Place, Best Recyclable Designer in 2015 for The Giving Tree, 1st Place, Best Recyclable Designer in 2016 for Carousel, and 1st Place, Best Recyclable Designer in 2018 for her Nordstrom design (commissioned by Nordstrom for Charlotte Fashion Week and exhibited at Nordstrom South Park). Malou has also participated in many other fashion shows, including the first upcycled fashion show, Color Me Goodwill, held at the Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville North Carolina, where she won the People’s Choice award for her “Blue Collection.” She has also been a participating recyclable designer for The McColl Center for Art and Innovation and Opera Carolina, for whom she designed recyclable gowns for La Traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, and Turandot. These gowns were displayed in the lobby of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and featured in the Elysian and Carolina Women magazines. Her Marriage of Figaro design was also displayed at ImaginOn in downtown Charlotte. One of the highlights of Malou’s career was going to New York City to participate in New York Fashion Week 2017, where Opera Carolina featured designs created by local Charlotte recyclable designers. In 2019, Malou’s Egyptian-inspired design for the opera Aida caused a sensation on the runway at Paris Fashion Week and was featured in Harper’s Bazaar magazine. She also participated that year in the International Fashion Show held at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, as well as Charleston Fashion Week. She has continued to showcase her designs to raise funds for charity, participating in the I’m Possible Fashion Show at Discovery Place, Pearls of Hope Foundation fashion show, and Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful. Most recently, she teamed up with Berhan Nebioglu and Christina Melassaris of 811 Gallery in Charlotte, NC, where Malou showcased many of her award-winning designs in a fashion show to raise funds in support of Ukraine.
Malou’s designs have been featured in numerous fashion magazines and her designs are the subject of photoshoots by prominent fashion photographers, including Daniel Valverde for Boho Chic, Shawn Nguyen, Raymond Patrick, Max Ganly, and Anthony Bolds. She has also been featured in numerous editorials and interviews about her work, including World Class Designers Magazine, and her designs have traveled extensively to Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Charleston, Las Vegas, Montreal, and Paris for various fashion shows and pageants.
Meet Our Sponsors
Singer & Saxophonist
MC
Singer
Singer
Entertainment for this Evening
Our Singers
Brooklyn Monroe's Biography
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My Name is Brooklyn Monroe and I was born and raised in North Carolina. I do not come from a lavish lifestyle and was never able to have proper training but, I have been singing since I was three years old and won my first show in the talent portion of a beauty competition. Though I had no training, I would gain inspiration from my favorite singers, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, and Otis Redding to name a few. I would come into my style of singing and find my voice by mimicking and practicing their songs throughout my childhood and teenage years. My style of singing has always been rooted in R&B but has incorporated pop influences as well. As I’ve gotten older my voice became more powerful and gave those around me the ability to feel something that allows me to connect with my audience. Singing always has been and will always be my passion. I am constantly learning new ways how I can improve my sound and my hope is to share my love for singing with the rest of the world.
Shelby Maynor's Biography
I am from Virginia Beach, VA, and have always had a deep passion for all things music. I began training on piano at the age of 4 and have trained with many schools with vocals, violin, and guitar over the years.
I share my love of music through teaching and performing across the east coast. I find my inspiration through the pioneers of blues, jazz, and rock. I look up to artists such as Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Reading, and alternative artists such as Fiona Apple, Amy Lee, and Nora Jones.
I have over 10 years of performance experience with various bands in the rock, R&B, and alternative genres. I am always looking for new ways to express myself through music and bringing my love for music to the public.
Camilo & Andres
Two artists from Medellín, Colombia - a singer and a saxophone player - have united their talents to bring their Latino energy and culture to our celebrations. In recent years, they have gained the appreciation and love of the Latino and local communities in Raleigh and its surrounding areas thanks to the charisma and creative vibes they bring with their music. They participated in our 2021 HC Fashion Show and will be no exception this year!
Live music during cocktail hour / Red Carpet
