To my mentors with love

Two of my fashion mentors are renowned in the fashion world: (1) Ike Rust, a beloved friend and former flatmate who taught me the basics of design and aesthetics; and (2) Simon Ungless, a dear friend who taught me much of my knowledge in printmaking and applied textiles. They are not your average fashion designers who have established labels in the fashion world, but their impact is seen through the skills and techniques that they bring to fashion in the academic world. Both are academic teachers who day-by-day have taught thousands of students from San Francisco to London. Ike (also known as Ivan) is the head of menswear at the Royal College in London, and Simon is the Director of the Graduate Program (M.A.) in Fashion at the Academy of Art University. Both were graduates of the famous Central St. Martins in London, England, whose graduates include the likes of John Galliano and the late Alexander McQueen—to name a few.


When I first moved to San Francisco in the mid-90s I first worked at the School of Advertising at the Academy of Art University (then Academy of Art College), where Ike was a recent transplant from New York City after working at Calvin Klein and Simon was recruited from London to teach applied textiles. The Academy had a small fashion and merchandising department. With the help of other transplants from England, the Academy has since devolved into a major player in the fashion world and now shows its students' work at New York Fashion Weeks. Every now and then, I come across graduates who are now professionals in the field and work in big fashion houses such as Ralph Lauren and Burberry. Much of their knowledge and skills could easily be traceable to both Simon and Ike and other teachers who unselfishly lent their own skills and knowledge for them to succeed in this world. My skills have been honed by both Ike and Simon. At the Academy, I met many a great friend and artist whose friendship remains until today. 


One thing that I know for sure, if and ever I will have a fashion crisis, I can always call either of them for their frankness and assistance. And forever, I am grateful.


I digress. The reason why I thought of Si and Ike today was because I also learned something new and I thought I would share it with you. I went thrift shopping the other day and came across a few labels that were unknown to me, but the design was very good and the fabrics were exceptionally tasteful. They are currently in our store.  One is a mod minidress from Karla Colletto, and the other is a cocktail dress from a label called Komorov. I thought the cut on the Colletto dress was very chic, and the embellished dress from Romanov reminded me of my lab days with Simon at the Academy, where I learned fabric-embossing techniques.  Well, who knew that both Colletto and Romanov are actually well known in the fashion world? We all learn something new every day. 


Here are photos of these two dresses (1) the mod dress in blue by Karl Colletto and (2) the python embossed cocktail dress by Shelley Komorov.  Both are in great shape and form and are ready for bidding in our store.