by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionMag.com
Workspace Collective is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a fashion event highlighting some of the clothing you can find in the Danbury venture.
The anniversary celebration is Saturday, Sept. 9.
Workspace Collective offers an opportunity for local artisans to sell their jewelry, sweaters, blouses, and more in a space curated by Meagan Cann. In addition, Workspace also sells garments from brands created by artisans overseas who are paid livable working wages for their efforts and whose supply chain is completely transparent.
Cann, a Danbury native who transplanted to Brooklyn, N.Y. for several years before returning home, decided to open Workspace Collective when a friend told her about a grant that was made available for businesses that had an arts focus.
Workspace Collective, with its focus on selling locally made fashions, made sense for Cann. Her background was in fashion merchandising. And she spent 10 years working in that field, including a stint at Macy’s. Additionally, she had a longtime interest in sustainable fashion.
After a year in Danbury, the collective also is branching out. The collective and two of its designers recently showed in “Fashion Is an Artform” at the New Milford Art Walk.
To celebrate the anniversary, Workspace Collective will host a full day of designers demonstrating their skills; models wearing fall fashion from both local and artisan designers, live music, beverages by Cross Culture Kombucha and food.
Designer lineup and live music
12 p.m. – Michaela Schaum of Synchronicity
1 p.m. – Doreen Breen of Soul Threads
1 p.m. – Crystal Keeler of Meadowlark Handcrafted
2 p.m. – Brian McCarley of Simply Antonio
2 p.m. – Karin Mansberg of Block Printed by Karin Mansberg
3 p.m. – Julissa Cadena of Julissa Designs
3 p.m. – Xoli Ngcoza of Handknit by Xoli
Fashion show and DJ set
4 – 6 p.m. – Music by Xoli Ngcoza
5 p.m. – Fashion Show -See the latest fall fashions from the Workspace Collective designers and more. Janet Dunn, ambassador for LimeLight makeup, will be providing make-up for the show.
Workspace Collective is in the the Gallery, 287 Main St., Danbury.
For questions, further information, or to inquire about selling your hand-made items, visit www.workspacecollective.co or email Meagan@workspacecollective.co.
Model Rozana Tamis, photographed at Black Rock State Park in Watertown/ Thomaston, wears some of the fashions being presented at the Workspace Collective anniversary on Sept. 9.
All of the knitwear was created by Xoli Ngcoza for Handknit by Xoli. Ngcoza was born in South Africa and moved to the United States in 2004 and is currently based in Connecticut. A certified nurse assistant, she learned to knit in 2008 as a way to connect with a patient who had Alzheimer’s disease. Ngcoza, who also is a DJ, noticed some yarn and knitting materials in the patient’s room and asked for lessons. The two subsequently spent their days together knitting.
The coats and jackets worn by Tamis were created by Thomaston’s Doreen Breen of Soul Threads. Soul Threads uses natural and recycled fabrics to create wearable art pieces. The garments are described as eco-friendly and mindful of the disposability in society. Her work uses nuno felting, dyeing, discharging, hand-embroidery weaving, knitting/rochet and embellishments with vintage and ethnic panes and trims. For more information, Breen can be reached at (860) 294-1156 or breendoreen@gmail.com
PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN
