Root for Philly native Kristin Haskins Simms on the new season of Project Runway, premiering tonight at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. (Photo courtesy of Lifetime Television)

Philly 360° Insider Rakia Reynolds caught up with Philadelphia native Kristin Haskins Simms, a contestant on the new season of Lifetime’s Project Runway, and discovered the Strangefruit designer’s favorite Philly musicians, restaurants and of course, shops.

Head over to our sister site, Philly360.com, to read the entire exclusive interview.

Exclusive Interview with Project Runway Designer, Kristin Haskins Simms [Philly 360°]

The full schedule of events was released just this week :
*Based in Philadelphia

Thursday, October 8
- Student Designers: Moore College of Art & Design
- Designers: Brooklyn Royalty / Wrath Arcane / Lve Brigade / Palmieri Jeans* / Delicious*
- Entertainment: This is a Shakedown / DJ Alan Astor / DJ Tinypants / Black Landlord*
- Emcee: David Evangelista

Friday, October 9
- Student Designers: Philadelphia University
- Designers: Street Star Custom Clothing* / GAR-DE / 9 Days / S. Love / Triple 5 Soul
- Entertainment: The Model* / DJ Bonics / DJ Phsh* / Tu Phace*
- Graffiti art installation: Dream Like Reality Studios

Saturday, October 10
- Student Designers: Art Institute of Philadelphia
- Designers: strangefruit* / Commonwealth Proper* / Marina Makaron Moscow* / SA VA* / Parke & Ronen / Melani Von Alexandria*
- Entertainment: Rivers Monroe / DJ Dirty* / DJ Jeff Ramos / Ballet X* / The Hustle*

To purchase tickets, click here.

Philadelphia Fashion Week [gophila.com]

Designs from Wrath Arcane (left) and strangefruit (bottom right), both showcasing new lines at Philadelphia Fashion Week. (Images courtesy of strangefruit, Philadelphia Fashion Week and Wrath Arcane)

Ever since I saw The September Issue — the new documentary about Vogue editor Anna Wintour and the fashion world she seems to rule — I’ve been increasingly obsessed with fashion, leafing through Vogue and Elle, making model poses in the mirror and, most of all, looking forward to Philadelphia Fashion Week (October 8-10, 2009) at the 23rd Street Armory.

It will be an amazing (and green-friendly) event, showcasing 15+ local and international designers’ Winter and Spring 2010 lines. Six boutiques (including Delicious, S. Love and Cristina V.) will offer their own wares for sale, local restaurants will serve food and cocktails, and a headlining musical act will appear each night (details to come).

For a schedule of each night’s events, click here.

As Anna Wintour said in The September Issue, “Fashion isn’t about looking back; it’s about looking forward.” Fashion students at Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia University and the Art Institute of Fashion will compete for the event’s Student Design Award recognizing the “next big name” in fashion. Each night of the event, one college will show off 30+ new looks in a runway show, with the winning school announced on the last night of Fashion Week (Saturday, October 10).

More about the Student Design Award after the jump.

Philadelphia Fashion Week
October 8-10, 2009
READ MORE on gophila.com

The winning school will showcase its Spring/Summer 2010 collection in an encore runway performance at Macy’s Center City on Monday, October 13. And from October 13–16, the winning designs will be displayed in Macy’s community window (which will also display “teasers” for Fashion Week starting September 28; go check it out!).

We’ll have many more details about Philadelphia Fashion Week in the next few weeks. Check back soon, and click here to reserve your tickets.

Shopaholics, mark your calendar: Thursday September 17th from 7 pm to 9 pm, preview cutting-edge female apparel line Strangefruit’s new fall collection at Showroom 77. Crafted by Kristin Haskin Simms, a ’93 Penn grad with an MFA in graphic design from the renowned Rhode Island School of Design, the pieces are collectively named “The Regal Warrior” and range from crisply tailored military jackets to statement-making blouses, all in a subdued military green-white-black palette perfect for the cooler autumn weather.

Inspired by her great-grandmother and grandmother’s seamstress skills, Kristin launched Strangefruit as an expression of modern female empowerment and an outpouring of her own diverse experiences. She majored in English and French at Penn, worked in finance in New York, studied art history in Paris and honed her photography skills in New Zealand. Phew.

Unwind with a glass of champagne while you view her latest work. Thanks to Showroom 77, Philadelphia’s first wholesale/retail multi-clothing and accessory label showroom, you will get to pre-order and purchase any piece from the collection firsthand before Kristin debuts her work at Philadelphia Fashion Week on October 10th and NY Fashion Week in February 2010. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP to either info@showroom77.net or info@bestrangefruit.com.

Showroom 77
1520 Kater Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 868-3812
www.showroom77.net

Post by Sara Selepouchin

After completing your MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design, what brought you back to Philadelphia?

To be honest, I had never planned to move back to Philly because my original plan was to move back to NY where I have lived for 8 years. However, after I finished my thesis, I needed a break, and found myself relaxing with my parents in West Mt. Airy. I was pleasantly surprised to see a more cosmopolitan city with new restaurants, great night life, and a greater commitment to arts and culture. Therefore, I stayed and never left.

How did you and your cousin decide to pair up to create KK Designers? Did your families always realize you’re both artistically minded?

It was my cousin Leola who initiated our meeting. She discovered another branch of the family when she attended an event in Atlanta (where our family originated). She met some of the relatives down there who told her about Kelvin and that he was a fashion designer living in Philadelphia. We thought we knew all the family that migrated to Philly. I had to meet him right away.

At this point, I was already making clothes, mostly tops and jackets, out of old Strangefruit Tees but I needed a mentor. And what better mentor to have than someone in the family? After visiting him, I sort of became an apprentice “” learning sewing techniques, pattern making, the fashion business, meeting models, etc. and just getting to know each other. Collaborating was naturally the next step.

Just to give a little more of the family background, my grandmother was a seamstress. She was accepted on a full scholarship to study at Parsons in NY but during that time of racial segregation and discrimination, her father would not allow her to be alone in NY. Since we did not have family in NY, there wasn’t any safety net. My mother always knew I loved to draw when I was a kid but coming from a long line of lawyers, doctors and teachers art was not necessarily considered as a “profession”. But later on in life, with their support I found my way and went to RISD to obtainan MFA in a special 3-year program designed for those who did not have as much experience in art or design. No one in my family is artistic, but they are creative in many ways. They are excellent problem-solvers and with that you need creative thinking.

Kelvin was making prom gowns by the time he was 10 or 11 as he worked with GT Originals in West Philly. He has more artists in his immediate family than I do “” his brother paints, his niece illustrates very well and just graduated from CHAD, one of his aunts on his father’s side sewed, and so did his great-grandmother on our side.

I now use my grandmother’s sewing machine to make my clothes.

You seem to have a flare for really amazing and unique outerwear – what inspires you to create different jackets?

Thank you very much. History. I love colonial jackets and Military gear. At least that is what my inspiration is for the moment. During the American Revolution and the Civil War, Blacks (initially) and women were denied the right to join the fight; Although, some women were able to disguise themselves as men and join the Civil War. My jackets in particular are a small homage to those that were denied the right to wear the uniform of our nation because they were not seen as equal “” you couldn’t wear it then but you can wear it now.. I like to make something historical look more contemporary. It’s all about reinterpretation.

My bottom line of my inspiration “strength” “” The padded shoulders (not like the 80s), high collars to emphasize the neck, and the elongated sleeve.

Where can we find your work?

I’m working on it. I have set up meetings with stores to see if there is interest in carrying the line. We have been invited to do trunkshows in Sept. with local boutiques in the area. If anyone is interested you can sign up to receive our mailing list of upcoming events and where to buy our collections at www.collectionsofk.com.