Born in Scotland, Alakazia has lived in some 40 countries to date. His mother was from Africa, and his father was from India. In Paris, he worked with Ungaro, Valentino, and Armani. He is also an incredible illustrator. He recently self-published his first book. Seven children and ten grandchildren later, Alakazia has ventured into a new and very long-awaited chapter in his life, designing hats.

Directives West First LA was held March 14, 2011, on the patio at the California Market in Downtown LA. The Fall 2011 lineup included fashion designers who were selected to showcase the seasonal trends on the West Coast. A video was shown before the runway started with a resounding message that Los Angeles is the most creative when it comes to fashion, that the consumers will invest in statement pieces, continue to spend money on clothes, and that LA is the contemporary capital.

Ina Soltani launched her collection of “siren” evening wear on March 18, 2011, at Vibiana in Downtown LA on the closing night of Style Fashion Week LA. This collection was inspired by the designer’s homeland and its dramatic narratives and artisans’ traditions, and a lot of old Hollywood glamour.

You might not recognize his name, but I bet you’ve heard his music. Preston Glass is a songwriter and a producer who has written over 30 R&B hits and 5 top ten hits with artists such as Whitney Houston, Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, and more.

Stervinou recently exhibited at Agenda Loft in Downtown LA, and now his paintings will be moving west (to Sunset Blvd.). His art inspires and stirs emotions. With his bold splashes of colors and abstract forms, Stervinou’s paintings are a real “impressionistic” contribution to our Los Angeles landscape.

Former top model Robyn Peterson has written a riveting one-woman show that recounts the trials and tribulations of a young girl and her journey up the ladder to success in the world of modeling, from her daring mad dash to New York to her first experience on the professional catwalk.

Reading about relationships has become a rite of passage in these sexually complex times. Nobody seems to know anything about the opposite sex anymore. Numerous books on dating and mating have hit bestseller status, while others like “He’s Just Not that Into You,” and “Sex and the City,” have been made into blockbuster movies. Now, a Los Angeles author (and also one of our contributing reporters!), Marilyn Anderson, has turned her best selling relationship book into a comedy web series.

“I am a Christian, and the day I gave my heart to Jesus was the most memorable moment of my career. Music is the most important thing that I’m doing now. The more my relationship deepens with Jesus the more my music changes. Things come out of me musically that I didn’t even know existed.” –Freddy Washington Jr., Recording Artist

For the kickoff of LA Fashion Week on March 12, 2011, Project Ethos at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood was the place to be. Aside from the intimidating long line, which literally wrapped around the building with guests and press clamoring to get in, one could feel the buzz of electricity emanating, anticipating the upcoming shows that evening. Red carpet arrivals were busy posing for media, and the fashion portion of the show was backstage, preparing for the emerging designers’ debut of their collections.