944

Talent, drive, direction, and, of course, money. Just a few of the things it takes to build
a successful career as a fashion designer today. We scoured Atlanta looking for the newest stars on the scene — those rare few with the potential for success in one of the most cutthroat industries in the world (former Women’s Wear Daily and W publisher John Fairchild’s tome, Chic Savages, is a must-read).

Some are young in age, others young at heart. Some took the traditional route —attending school learning to draw, drape, cut and sew — while others dived in without much formal training at all. But their common denominator is passion. And they’re all ready to show the world what the future of fashion looks like to them.

Reco Crockett can’t stop talking about beading dresses by hand, researching vampires or his parents Vernetta and Lee. “It’s what inspires me,” he gushes. The Bauder graduate launched his line immediately after his senior fashion show, where a guest wrote him a check without hesitation for the five designs he sent down the runway. The clothes in his Ver’Netta collection are seductive and sexy. “I fall in love with every piece as if it were a woman,” he says.

During her four years in Georgia Tech’s pre-med program, Maria Ah was continually told she had the hands of a surgeon. A life-altering experience convinced her they were meant for a different purpose. Now, a fledging designer three months shy of her degree from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Atlanta, she’s itching to find her niche in the industry. “I still have a lot to learn,” Maria says, “but ultimately I want to create clothes that give women options, versatility and confidence.”

AquaPoni is exactly what the name implies — super cute. Swingy A-line dresses, snappy short tunics and flirty little sundresses round out the latest collection created by designers and co-owners Kelli Marie and Theresa Michelle. The pair likes to take fun, colorful prints and patterns and mix them up to create a modern, vintage look. “Our customer is eclectic,” says Michelle. Marie agrees, “We’re always trying to create the unexpected for them.”

“This is my year,” announces Sugar Mafia and Sugar Mafie owner/designer Tasha Harris. She launched two years ago with T-shirts offering flirty, animated graphics paired with sayings like “Kiss My Ass” and “I’m Not Wearing Any Panties.” After posting her designs on MySpace, orders started pouring in. Today, she’s selling to boutiques, creating custom sunglasses and launching a nonprofit called Sugar Free. “My company concept is naughty, but nice — a little bit of shock factor wrapped in girly style.”

At 16, Dexter Minter thought he wanted to be an architect. He quickly realized he was spending more time creating the clothes for the people in his renderings than he was drawing the structures. More than 15 years later, he’s debuting his first collection this month. He describes the Dexter Bernard label as “modern Marie Antoinette.” He explains, “My customer likes to look fashionable without being trendy. She’s fun-loving, energetic and has an open income!”