I have been in the publishing industry for over 10 years. It started with ISM. We had just graduated college and were searching for something to inspire us. What began as a concept with simple business cards developed into an internationally recognized movement and arts non-profit, welcoming all to share their creative ideas, giving a voice to many who shared a passion for art with no avenue to explore their talent.Our mission is to support collaborative creativity by producing international art experiments and providing free public programs.

My past training and education affects who I am today, and I express who I am today through my design choices and fashion creations. The passion, expression and emotion I experienced through my training in theater, television; painting and ballet comes out with my fashion creations. The work discipline from being a practicing dental surgeon affects my strong work ethic.

Over the last two years, we have witnessed what amounts to an explosion of African fashion around the globe: Ghana Fashion Week, Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion in South Africa, and Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria, all in October. Across the ocean in New York, we had Adiree Fashion Week in July, Arise Fashion Week during September New York Fashion Week, and Africa Fashion Week LA in October.

If any fashion sector has managed to stay in the news over 2012, it has definitely been the Plus Size industry. Every month seemed to bring about a new brand’s Plus Size collection and a new repetition of the “market facts & figures,” including the piece de resistance fact that 60% of the American women are overweight and are an average of size 14.

Suzanne DeLaurentiis is an accomplished, award-winning filmmaker who’s worked on over one hundred feature films throughout her 30-plus years as a filmmaker and received numerous awards. A powerhouse of activity and inspiration, she is also a tireless humanitarian and philanthropist, actively contributing to over 30 charities. As she talks about her work as a producer and her work with veterans, one cannot help but be inspired to push forward.

Fabric manipulation, in all its forms, was the guiding thread throughout martinMartin’s Spring/Summer 2013 runway show at Concept Fashion Week: draping, stitching, folding, crinkling, wrinkling, crumpling, to create an origami-like feel, or simply to amass texture . . . to a great effect, most of the time . . . Focused more on structure rather than drama, and notwithstanding a few men wearing pants that looked like long skirts (would those be called culottes?), the collection offered some strong, sculptural pieces.

Nuvula’s Spring/Summer 2013 installation channeled the 60s. The collection featured fabric inserts and contrast piping in some playful dresses that ranged from fitted bodice, Barbarella-type dresses to loose-fitting piece.

The Exchange LA was the perfect setting for the designer’s eponymous Spring/Summer 2013 collection, providing the lucky guests with the usual pre-show circus.

Designer Alexandria Belle Norman’s second season, Spring/Summer 2013, showed six looks that featured her trademark looks, including jersey and satin with leather accents. The fitted jackets were well executed, particularly the leather jacket, which was beautiful . . . alas, the fit of the pants was less than perfect, and less than flattering.

Inspired by Alien and Blade Runner, all the pieces in this debut collection by Venezuelan designer Camilla X Castillo revolved around the main theme, a leather panel with twisted strips, creating a spiny, very Alien-like effect.