The MILA MARA Agency Presents: The MOVING FASHION FORWARD Creative Conference Produced By CODEXROSELLA
The Mila Mara Agency brought together fashion industry experts for inspiring discussions and cutting-edge design displays for The Moving Fashion Forward Creative Conference.
The Moving Fashion Forward Creative Conference was held June 17, 2023 at the College for Creative Studies Taubman Center. Fashion Designers, Wardrobe Stylists, Artists, Creative Directors, Buyers, Investors and Representatives from Shinola, Neiman Marcus, Ralph Lauren and more inspired creatives in attendance to grow, develop and master their craft through practical advice on stepping into the future of fashion. Co-Hosted by the Creative Fairy Godmother, Amanda Sweet and Rockie Bonds, model and mom of two, the Moving Fashion Forward Creative Conference featured fashion and fine art showcases from Sabra Skutt-Morman, Sicarra B., Lydra Lyte Fashion House, TMABrand, GCulle, and Solar Flair Eyewear with a special opening performance from Singer and Musician, Maraj Virtuoso.
The @mila_mara_angecy represents independent fashion designers, wardrobe stylists, artisans and brands in the fashion industry. Produced by @CodexRosella, a global entertainment production company established to bring to fruition the ideas and visions of creators and organizations in the form of cohesively operated live entertainment events, the Mila Mara Agency presented a one-of-a-kind experience that gathered fashion industry experts in one room for inspiring discussions on Entrepreneurship, Technology, Growth, Sustainability plus Diversity and Inclusion.
Meet the speakers:
Cederick Campbell
Cederick Campbell— renowned Fashion Stylist and Creative Director, introduced to the field of design while participating in the University of Michigan Architecture Prep program as a junior in high school subsequently leading him to study Architecture in college. The study of architecture enhanced Campbell’s design technique and advanced his level of creative direction, fashion design and styling.
At fourteen years old, Campbell and his twin brother, McKenzie, began designing and constructing clothes for their clothing brand MC2 (formerly known as Trill Billionaire). Now, the creative duo operate as the Cederick & McKenzie Design Firm.
As a freelance wardrobe stylist, Campbell elevates his clients’ taste in fashion, luxury, and lifestyle to best communicate their personal style. As a creative director, Campbell works with Code X Rosella to illustrate his clients’ ideas via 3D modeling, rendering, and sketches.
Dez Delmar
Valdez Hodge is a talented creator skilled in producing art across various visual mediums. the visionary owner and designer behind Detroit's streetwear sensation, Dez Delmar, Hodge started out painting and sketching. The native Detroiter cultivated his natural talents at the College for Creative Studies where he learned to infuse his art into his love of fashion. Dez Delmar promotes originality, authenticity, and a 1 of 1 mentality designing for and inspired by the very city he grew up in.
Ali Omar
Ali Omar is the owner of GODNII (which translates to God In Eye; God In I ; God & I) a luxury handmade eyewear company and sustainable fashion brand specializing in limited batches of handcrafted eyewear made and assembled in Detroit from start to finish.” says Godnii’s Co-owner and president, Keri Roberts.
When Omar was 16 years old he had a dream that sparked an idea to make glasses incorporating technology into its design. Omar worked in telecommunications and business management for over seven years and at age 21 heeded God’s instruction to “Work on the vision”. Omar spent two years developing his own eyewear design process and started designing frames in his garage using wood purchased from Home Depot and a saw. Six years later he secured a materials manufacturer, lens producer and hinge company, became a certified optician and released his first two collections in 2020.
Paying homage to the tangible zeal and creative culture of Detroit, GODNII frames invited you to be a part of futuristic fashion that incorporates historic Detroit motifs. GODNII aims to develop more “high quality, functioning art” progressively utilizing technology to enhance users’ visual experience for aesthetic and convenience, adding its own character to the current line up of eyewear providers like “Warby Parker” and “See”.
BC
Born in the Philippines, to a Congressman and a former Miss Manila Queen, BC is an interior designer, fashion stylist, former designer for Hudson's for two decades, and wardrobe consultant for Neiman Marcus. In 2006 BC opened ChoZen by BC, a home furnishings boutique with “…everything for fine living, from dog dishes to ear buds encrusted with rhinestones for iPods.” BC also curated his own fragrance line, Zents, a luxury scent collection featuring Sun, Petal, Oolong, Water, Ore, Fig, Mandarin and Fresh scents.
Micah Shumake
Micah Shumake is best known as an “expression enthusiast”. Micah’s belief that she “exists to create, cultivate, and most importantly— inspire,” allows her to perform in many capacities. Micah is an image consultant, brand developer, creative director, curator, photographer, Fashion Designer, Stylist, artist, model, and “moment maker”.
Sabriyah Barrowcliff
Sabriyah Barrowcliff is the Director of Visual Merchandising and store design for Shinola, producer of American-assembled luxury goods, and watches.
Tia Fowlkes
When Tia Fowlkes graduated with her Bachelors degree in Computer Science she was the only black girl to graduate from the major that semester. As an Engineer, Tia’s first hardware/software product launch was the Chromecast where she managed the internal testing from the first prototype to on-shelf.
Tia Fowlkes is the owner of HVNLEE, a clothing brand that represents individuality and self-expression. Originated in Detroit, HVNLEE is designed for those who want to rise above the ordinary and feel ethereal in their clothing. Each piece is crafted from textured, high quality fabrics to create avant-garde streetwear with a sense of freedom that comes from wearing clothing that truly reflects who you are. HVNLEE elevates your style to new heights.
Amineh Ahmad
Amineh Ahmad graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit with a major in Fashion Accessories Design. After graduating in 2020, Amineh landed a role as a Women’s Footwear designer for Ralph Lauren, where she continues to learn about the footwear industry through the lens of the iconic American brand.
As a first generation Arab-American, Amineh grew up in a traditional household and was drawn to fashion at a young age because of the strict requirements to dress modestly in her culture, influencing her drive to find individuality in what she wore. She wanted to explore what modesty actually meant to the modern day Arab-American, the relationship between religion and culture, and how accessories can be used as a tool to guide, shape and mold a person’s behavior and identity. Amineh feels that a woman’s accessory is more than just an everyday essential, rather, that fashion accessories could give women a voice to be heard and a space to be seen.
Make it stand out
Stephanie ‘The Bag Ladie’ Bedell is a +Size consultant specializing in plus-sized and thrifted fashion, wardrobe stylist, and fashion coordinator at lifestyle brand William Palmer Homme, one-third of the styling trio 3The Long Way. As a +Size Stylist and beauty advocate Stephanie aids her clients in evaluating and executing their personal style goals with a range of services from closet audits to personal shopping, and continues to advance the narrative of plus-sized fashion in the fashion industry with size-inclusive fashion shows. Stephanie also produces “Rags $2 Riches: A Thrifted Runway Show” held annually in the city of Detroit sponsored by Stephanie’s favorite place to shop, one of the largest thrift stores in the Southeast: The Salvation Army. The runway presentation features thrifted fashion styled by ‘The Bag Ladie’ and local Detroit Designers. Two years in a row ‘The Bag Ladie’ delivered a sold out production.
‘The Bag Ladie’s’ additional services include creative direction, fashion show production, merchandising, model scouting, modeling, on-set styling for photoshoots, and public speaking.
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) located in midtown Detroit, is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business.