Author: fashionnation1on1

Fashionnation1on1 is a blog for, by and sometimes about the students and instructors of Fashion Technology at El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas. We are just taking off, so come and grow with us. We are looking forward to blogging with you. Trish Winstead

Young Designers of America and Gene Designers 2000 – 2007

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Imagine . . .

Designing clothing – one quarter scale.

Thinking, researching, learning, and inventing.

Design a style that is sell-able, profitable, and produce-able.

Execute the production of a prototype along with the historical story of the garment’s use set in the proper time period.

This all takes place in El Paso, Texas. The first experience is through Young Designers of America with the Center for Career and Technology Education High School (CCTE) Fashion program under Ann Porter with the assistance of the Fashion Technology program of El Paso Community College (EPCC) and the Gene Club of El Paso. The result of the YDA competition – 3 winners. The doll produced was Spotted in the Park, an FAO Schwarz exclusive. Bolero and The Perfect Gift were the outfits produced by Ashton Drake under the direction of Joan Greene.

The following year, Love in Bloom and Special Appearance Violet were winners of the first ever Gene Designers competition, Gene Designers 2000. Although this competition was not affiliated with the company, Ashton Drake purchased and produced those garments by Regina Ganem and Jose D Saenz respectively.

Jose’s Torch Song Violet was from the Gene Designers 2001. Both Love in Bloom and Torch Song went on to become special editions as Love in Louisville and

Ashton Drake “Torch Song” special edition Madra Lord 2002 Gene Marshall Convention centerpiece!

Here is Madra

But let us go back to the beginning… FAO Schwarz exclusive Gene … Spotted in the Park

The Perfect Gift

Above is a photo from a Piano City show. Love in Bloom is the first Gene to appear with Trent in advertising – quite an honor.

Well for now – Hasta luego, amigo. Bolero bids us for now.

Please note: if you are the photographer of any of the above photos (except Piano City shot) please let me know and advise me if I should remove your photograph. In the meantime, thank you.

Young Designers of America

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From 1999 to 2007, we held a fashion doll apparel design competition in El Paso. In the first year, the competition was Young Designers of America, sponsored by Ashton Drake and coordinated by Joan Greene.

In the following years, the competition was run locally and called Gene Designers 2000, 2001, etc. We loved doing it and we have a great history to show for our efforts.

In 1999, an El Paso Texas high school fashion class was chosen to compete in Ashton Drake’s Young Designers of America. It was a great success. Three high school students from the Center for Career and Technology Education had their designs produced in the first year.

The following year, 2000, the competition was run by me and my Fashion Technology students at El Paso Community College, specifically the students in the Fashion Promotion course.

Our competition was open to anyone who wanted to compete so the categories were Adult/College/High School. At the Adult level, Jose D Saenz created the clothing design that would become Special Appearance, the premier of Violet Waters. The High School level winner came with superior credentials since she, Regina Ganem, had designed and created The Perfect Gift which was put into production by Ashton Drake in 2000. In Gene Designers 2000, Regina designed and created what would become Love in Bloom.

Love in Bloom holds a special place in my heart because it was the first Gene costume to appear in a photograph with Trent Osborne. What a privilege. Regina originally designed what would become Love in Bloom in black. It was produced by Ashton Drake in pink.

Enter Love in Louisville, a convention exclusive garment. Back in Black. So beautiful.

Thanks, Regina and Joan.

Tiny Tooloo by Helen Kish

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This little darling looks so adorable in her handmade crochet outfit.

And here she is again wearing a Lori outfit. I used to find these outfits at Target but I have not seen them for a while now.

Helen Kish created these adorable 6.5″ vinyl dolls a few years ago. There is a Tiny Riley, Tiny Tooloo, and Tiny J.

When the Grans come marching in….

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I searched for a Tiny Riley for a while and was finally able to get one a few months ago. As you can see, she is the UFDC version. I just love her. I have loads of clothes for her but find it so hard to change her out of this adorable outfit. Here she is visiting with her “Great Grandpa” (Uncle Norman by Nana’s Family). Riley Kish is enjoying her little sister and Great Gran.

Gene Marshall

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Gene in Smart Set

Is this called Siren Song? I am not sure but I added the green stole.

Not my photo but I had to post this because it was designed here in El Paso by Regina Ganem. L – Love in Louisville, made for a Gene convention R- Love in Bloom.

My choir. Most wearing Vickie Rubie kimono.

The Perfect Gift is also by Regina Ganem. It is so beautiful.