2012 Fashion for a Passion Sets New Organization Records

DALLAS, TX – Non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions hosted its 4th Fashion for a Passion (FFAP) charity event on Saturday, Oct. 13th at The Dallas Contemporary Museum in the Dallas Design District. The show set a remarkable new organization record, with nearly 400 guests in attendance who helped to raise nearly $30,000 net, 100% of which will go toward for ATG’s supported orphanages in Asia, scholarship fund and year-round outreach programs. From FFAP veterans to first time guests, Dallas united for a very worthy cause.

Presenting Designers (left to right): Sophia Wu of Leprosy, Jerry Matthews, Joanne Hong of JOLYNN, Danh Ta, Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh
Photo © Chi Tran

 

The sold-out venue. Photo © Chi Tran

Upon entering the Dallas Contemporary, which was appropriately decked out in the audacious fashion photography of Inez & Vinoodh, guests got to enjoy the stylish ambiance set by Lumiere Lighting & Drapery and tunes by DJs Super T and Prada G, tasty food by DC’s Catering, cocktails by Ben E Keith and dessert by Yogurtland. Hung from the rafters with red rope hangers were the seven designer’s t-shirt design pieces. The work of six Exhibiting Artists Fur Face Boy, Ann He, Anh-Thuy Nguyen, Tam Nguyen, ATG Artistic Scholarship finalist Melissa Woodbridge and ATG Artistic Scholarship winner Thoa Nguyen work were displayed, flanking tables of silent auction packages. Gorgeous models dressed in auction looks accompanied designers to mingle amongst the crowd. Pre-show musical guest performers were from ATG’s community partner Kollaboration Dallas and included Peter P & Robbie G, iCare and The Plinth. As guests took their seats, President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee and Community Outreach Director Jared Rehberg honored the two 2012 Artistic Scholarship winners Thoa Nguyen and Britt Espinosa. Espinosa’s Washington-based band, The Exchange, got the crowd riled up with a 10-minute musical set before the runway show started. The evening was emceed by actress/model LeeAnne Locken and entrepreneur Sam Liu, who made a hilarious appearance as Psy. Guests were kept on the edge of their seats with a stunning runway show with models by Campbell-Wagner and Page Parkes and live auction from seven Presenting Designers, including Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh, Jerry Matthews, Danh Ta and NYC based designers Joanne Hong of JOLYNN and textile designer Sophia Wu of Leprosy.

Photo © Chi Tran

Said President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee, “Going into our fourth year, we had a lot of high expectations on how to improve the show and the event for our guests. This night was an accumulation of so much work from a very hard working volunteer team, months of planning and coordination. It has been truly a blessing to see everyone come together to break records and donate so much back to our cause. It is a testament that our vision is being seen and shared by all.”

Joanne Hong of JOLYNN’s T-shirt Design Photo © David Loi

Programming/Events Chair Kim Nguyen helped to spearhead the organization of the occasion to a complete victory. “Words can’t explain how proud I am of this year’s 2012 FFAP, and it is an honor to be part of such a passionate organization with a great cause,” Nguyen said. “This was my first year planning and attending FFAP and although it was super stressful at times, it was all well worth it in the end to see it executed so wonderfully in addition to how much money we raised for the orphanages and scholarship. Next year will be even bigger and better!”

Director of Fundraising Patrick Su said, “FFAP continues to improve every year. I am very excited to be a part of such a passionate organization that dedicates their time to helping those in need. I am looking forward to the continued growth of the organization.” Su was a past guest to the well-known charity event, and this was also his first year to help organize it as a Board member.

Dress by Joanne Hong of JOLYNN
Photo © Chi Tran

Designer Joanne Hong of JOLYNN added a new twist to Fashion for a Passion, presenting the very first collection to include a children’s line, and the little darlings stole the show. “Being part of Fashion for a Passion was such a great experience. I loved meeting the ATG team as well as the other designers and artists,” Hong said. “It was an amazing event that really exceeded my expectations. Sharing my love of fashion while helping others is what following my passion is all about. I couldn’t have asked for a more organized and successful show.”

Jerry Matthew’s T-shirt Design Photo © David Loi

First-time presenting designer and recent Art Institute graduate Jerry Matthews said, “It felt so wonderful doing something that I really love while being able to give back to a great cause at the same time,” Matthews said. “It was my first year presenting a collection for this show, and I am so grateful for the positive response and support. I will definitely remember this for the rest of my life. It was such an amazing life experience and I cannot wait to see what other great accomplishments Against The Grain achieves in the coming future. Also, I look forward to supporting this cause again!”

Thoa Nguyen, one of the 2012 Artistic Scholarship winners and freshman Radio-Television-Film major at the University of Texas at Austin, experienced her first fashion show event and got a chance to exhibit her own art work. “I was honored to have been a part of [the event]. It was incredible to be around so many inspiring artists coming from so many different perspectives and meet the amazing people who make ATG Productions what it is,” Nguyen said.

The night’s top bids went to Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh for her beautiful red Milace Dress, whose line was recently announced to be carried in Saks Fifth Avenue and Sue Gragg Precious Jewels, a Highland Park based custom jewelry designer.

Dress by Nha Khanh
Photo © David Loi

 

Photo © Chi Tran

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see photos from the evening’s event, please visit the ATG Flickr site.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. In addition to giving out an annual scholarship to exemplary Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts, they also produced the feature documentary, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, which has screened at over a dozen film festivals nationwide and received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

ATG board, creative team, and volunteers.
Photo © Christopher Rich Pics

 

The Dallas Morning News: Musical Groups

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/deborah-fleck/20121017-south-vietnamese-fighter-pilots-gather-for-reunion.ece

Written by: Deborah Fleck

Musical groups

Last month, Kollaboration Dallas showcased the area’s top Asian-American talent. Three groups that performed at the event shared their music at Saturday’s Fashion for a Passion event, a benefit for Against the Grain Productions. First up were Peter P. and Robbie G., also known as Peter Phoutthavong and Robbie Guanlao. They were followed by iCare, whose members are Aria Cundick, Dmitri Ukraintsev and Robin Ahmadi. The third group to perform was The Plinth, which is made up of UT-Dallas students Nate Bleker, Lakshman Manjunath, Usama Siddiquee and Dennis Roy.

A fourth band, called The Exchange from Silverdale, Wash., also performed. Member Britt Espinsosa received a scholarship from Against the Grain Productions. The sold-out fundraiser drew about 300 guests and had more than 100 volunteers helping out.

Asia World Media: Fashion Worthy of Its Cause

http://www.asiaworldmedia.com/main/archives/4238

Courtesy of AsiaWorldMedia.com, Photos by Calvin Tran

As the sun set over DFW high risers on a Saturday night, cars pulled-up to the Dallas Contemporary Museum for the 4th Annual Fashion for a Passion charity event, a fundraiser that brings together the talents of emerging Asian American fashion designers.
Raising money for orphanage, guests decked themselves in their best attire and lounged with shiny credit card ready to bid on one of a kind designer dresses. While guests munched on hors d’oeuvres, had their thirst quenched with cocktails and shopped on silent auction goods, models strutted the floor in styles from upcoming designer’s creations.
In a show that was well worthy of its cause, the 2012 ATG Fashion for a Passion is made up of an eclectic mix of designers with diverse styles, influences, educational backgrounds and Asian ethnicity. This year’s roster of talent includes Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Jerry Matthews, Danh Ta, NYC based designers Joanne Hong of JOLYNN, textile designer Sophia Wu of Leprosy, and FFAP regular Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh.

DFW Style Daily: Designers Unite at Against The Grain’s 2012 ‘Fashion for a Passion’

http://dfwstyledaily.com/2012/10/16/designers-unite-at-against-the-grains-2012-fashion-for-a-passion/

Written by: Heather Lettieri

On Saturday, October 13th, Against The Grain Productions (ATG) held its annual Fashion For A Passion fundraiser. For this completely sold-out event, a very stylish crowd packed the Dallas Contemporary in support of the organization’s fourth showcase.

A leader in representing, promoting, and providing educational opportunities for the Asian American community, ATG is a Dallas-based non-profit group. Every dollar raised by ATG funds outreach programs and scholarships, or goes to assisting orphanages in Asia. Fashion For A Passion is an all-volunteer effort.

The evening included fabulous food and cocktails, live music, a designer t-shirt raffle, and a silent art auction, but the real show-stoppers of the night were seen on the runway. Hosts LeeAnne Locken and Sam Liu presented a fashion show and live auction of seven designers, including a DFW Style Daily designer crush, Nha Khanh. Arriving fashionably early, we caught up with all of the designers, as well as Ms. Locken, for a little Q&A before the show.

LeeAnne Locken

DFW Style Daily: You’ve volunteered to host this event three years running. How did you get involved with ATG, and what do you love about the organization?

LL: “What I love about ATG is the fact that Tammy Nguyen Lee, who is such an amazing woman and a good friend of mine, decided she was going to pick up the cause and do something, and created this foundation all on her own.”

Why do you think it’s important to link charity and fashion?

“Oh my God, because fashion is universal. Fashion transcends all generations, languages, and ethnicities, and creates a melding of everyone. It allows us to share not only different opinions but similar ones, and it brings us together.”

What is your favorite element of fall fashion?

“Tights and miniskirts! What I really love about fall fashion, though, is the challenge of taking something that’s completely covered and making it look elegant and sexy at the same time.”

Joanne Hong of JOLYNN (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“The woman I design for is a confident, sophisticated, young professional. I like to create a lot of day-to-night looks that can transition from work to an evening or charity event.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Sweet. Charming. Feminine.”

What was the last dream you had?

“Actually, I haven’t been sleeping well! So, my last dream-come-true would honestly be tonight and being here with my parents. Because of work and travel, this is the first event they can both be at to support me, and it’s an amazing feeling!”

Jerry Matthews (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“She’s a strong, confident woman who can be daring with her fashion sense. She’s a little edgy, but still feminine.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Simple. Clean. Daring.”

What was the last dream you had?

“Oh my gosh, it was a really funny one! I was watching television prior, and the dream basically mimicked what happened. In it, my ex-partner told me he was dating one of my old art teachers. It was really confusing — it was a nightmare, actually.”

Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“Someone who is elegant, proud of who they are, and willing to try something new. As a designer, I like to accentuate a woman’s figure to bring out her personality.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Intricate, flowy, and a little edgy.”

What was the last dream you had?

“I was watching YouTube, and I had a dream that I was on a date with my husband at Starbucks. Ellen DeGeneres showed up to prank me and I chased her down laughing. Yeah, I chased down Ellen.”

Danh Ta (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“She’s definitely bold, very confident, and proud of being a woman.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Luscious. Floral. Aquatic life.”

What was the last dream you had?

“It was actually two nights ago! I was in prison for a crime that I never committed. I don’t recall what [it was], I only remember being in trouble for no reason, and the relief I felt when I woke up.”

Sophia Wu of Leprosy (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“Boyish. I like to express my femininity in a masculine way.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Experimental. Masculine. …How about just two words?”

What was the last dream you had?

“It was on the flight here from New York, and I dreamed that my hotel looked exactly like my apartment. Really my studio is beat-up and doesn’t look like The Lumen at all.”

Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“We design for the girly-girl and any girl can be a girly-girl at any age.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Anna Karenina dates a Kennedy.”

What was the last dream you had?

“That I won Texas Next Top Designer. It honestly was. I’m a contestant this year, so hopefully it really happens!”

Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh (designs pictured above)

Who is the woman you design for?

“She is the woman with confidence. She knows exactly what she wants, but is still very playful with fashion.”

Describe your collection in three words.

“Lacey, flowy and feminine.”

What was the last dream you had?

“Oh my god, what was the last dream I remember? I haven’t really been sleeping, so I haven’t been dreaming. But, I remember my last dream-come-true, and that was learning that I will be honored by Fashion Group International of Dallas next month with the Rising Star Award in fashion. I daydream a lot, but this one came true!”

All photos, credit Heather Lettieri for DFW Style Daily. For more information on ATG, visit AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.

 

D Magazine Style Sheet: An Enchanted Affair

http://stylesheet.dmagazine.com/2012/10/22/an-enchanted-affair-2/

Thank you so much again to Against The Grain for the 4th annual Fashion for a Passion showcasing Asian American designers. It was an evening filled with vibrant colors, great ambition, and incredibly inspiring stories.

La Mode Dallas – Fashion for a Passion: Well-Seasoned

http://lamodedallas.com/fashion/fashion-for-a-passion-well-seasoned/

Written by: Jackelyn Vorce

Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Khanh of Nha Khanh and emcess LeeAnne Locken and Sam Liu

October 13th marked the fourth annual Against the Grain’s Fashion for a Passion event. It was created with the purpose of bringing together emerging Asian American artists, fashion designers and musicians to raise awareness for Asian American culture and arts. The celebration was held at the renowned Dallas Contemporary where its current Inez & Vinoodh photography exhibit served as the perfect backdrop for the lively event. From start to finish, the evening was designed to keep guests interested and entertained. Informal models, donning upcoming designs from the fashion show, mingled throughout the space, offering more information about the designs and designers they were wearing. Prior to the fashion show, guests enjoyed savory bites and cocktails by DC’s Catering, along with a Yogurtland station filled with an assortment of its most popular flavors and toppings. There was a generous variety of silent auction items to meet anyone’s interests, along with a truly unique opportunity to choose from and bid on an ATG t-shirt given to each presenting designer one month prior to the event to recreate into a masterpiece of his or her own styling.

Exhibiting artists included Fur Face Boy, Ann He, Anh- Thuy Nguyen, Tam Nguyen, Thoa Nguyen, and Melissa Woodbridge. Musical entertainers Peter P & Robbie G, iCare and The Plinth gathered guests toward the stage before the runway show. As everyone took their seats, the last band, The Exchange, had event-goers clapping and singing along, anxiously awaiting the start of the show. Introducing and narrating the catwalk was Dallas’ own LeeAnne Locken and Sam Liu. Presenting designers included Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh, Jerry Matthews, Danh Ta and NYC-based designers Joanne Hong of JOLYNN, and textile designer Sophia Wu of Leprosy. After seeing each designer’s creative lines, a live auction was held over one of each designer’s donated pieces, and things quickly turned competitive with bids getting as high as $1,000 for a single dress. All proceeds from Fashion for a Passion go toward benefitting Against the Grain Production’s supported orphanage outreach programs and ATG’s scholarship funds. After such a well-organized and fulfilling night, it’s hard to believe this event is only four years-old.

Photos courtesy of La Mode Dallas, Dallas Does

Musicians Ready to Rock the Runway of 2012 Fashion for a Passion

DALLAS, TX – Dallas non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions’ much-awaited Fashion for a Passion charity event not only combines emerging fashion and art, but also brings together live musical entertainers to set the stage up for an unforgettable entertainment experience. The 4th annual event, which will be hosted at the Dallas Contemporary on Saturday, October 13th from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM, will feature four musical entertainment acts to kick off the evening’s celebration of Asian American talent.

Three of this year’s performers were selected from ATG’s community partner, Kollaboration Dallas, and include Peter P & Robbie G, iCare and The Plinth. The fourth and final performer will be The Exchange, the band of ATG’s 2012 Artistic Scholarship winner Britt Espinosa. Each musical act includes young entertainers who have followed their path to go against the grain.

Peter P & Robbie G

Peter P & Robbie G both started out their musical career as solo artists and now have been performing together for two years and counting. An elaborate description of their music is that it’s “high energy Dance/Pop with an array of slow melodic love songs,” and they perform with charismatic personalities. Said the duo, “What [does] our music means to us – Music is us, and we are music. We create music because we love doing it. We do it to inspire, to relate and to make people feel good. Our performance means a lot, because we always want to put on a good show, and we always strive to do better than our last. With our high energy songs, we hope the crowd will have a good time with us. Maybe even get up and start dancing – but if not, we will settle for smiles on faces and nodding of heads.”

The Plinth

Music is known to be shown on a variety of levels, and every member of The Plinth brings something unique to the table. The Plinth’s musical talents create something unique that truly characterizes their musical styles. Audiences will love their innovative and fun use of sound and beats. The band’s known multi-talented beatboxer Usama Siddiquee says, “Funk. Jazz. Hip Hop. Soul. It’s what we’re all made of.”

The Exchange

ATG is again lucky enough to have both of the 2012 Artistic Scholarship winners present at FFAP. Washington state native, Britt Espinosa, and his band, The Exchange, will be FFAP’s final musical act.  Espinosa, along with other scholarship winner and exhibiting artist, Thoa Nguyen, will be recognized before The Exchange performs for the audience. Espinosa started the band in 2010, and over the years, the group has performed at almost one hundred events, playing shows, youth camps and conferences through the West Coast. Espinosa realized through these experiences how much he enjoyed leading young musicians on a musical team and was challenged by the business aspects of leading a band/team. The Exchange’s energetic, live show with guitar swings, jumping and unbridled energy creates an atmosphere where everyone wants to join in. Bridging the gap between the stage and audience, The Exchange quickly created a community that readily absorbs their optimistic music. Said Espinosa, “The Exchange is very excited to be a part of FFAP this year. It is a great honor to play at an event that holds so much meaning and does so much good! We love music! We love to play it, perform it, sing it. Wherever we play, our hope is that our love is seen and that the audience experiences some of that love as well.”

Tickets to Fashion for a Passion range from $50 to $100 and are on sale exclusively at the FFAP Event Page.  For more press/media information on the event, please contact pr@againstthegrainproductions.com.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. In addition to giving out an annual scholarship to exemplary Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts, they also produced the feature documentary, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, which has screened at over a dozen film festivals nationwide and received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

Orphanage Update: Harvest Moon Festival

ATG recently received an update email from one of our supported orphanages in Vietnam (names have been abbreviated to protect their privacy). We wanted to share this with you and show you just how your dollars are going to help support and make the lives of these orphanage children better!
Dear ATG Family,
We received from the ATG family a sum in the amount of $VND 10 million ($480 USD).  We understand that you want to use this sum to buy needed items and winter clothes for the children of UD, and also to support UD to help the children of UD and those of disadvantaged families near UD to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (Children’s Festival).  To follow your wish, PT has used the money for the following items:
1) 50 pairs of sandals (for the children to go to school):  50X $27,000 = $1,350,000 (US$64)
2) 300 packages of milk, supplies and treats for the children during “Tet Trung Thu” (Harvest Moon Festival) X $15,000 = $4,500,000 (300 X 72 cents each = US$216)

The remaining amount will be used to buy warm clothes for 40 children of UD for the coming monsoon season. PT will send pictures of the children in warm clothes later for you.

We appreciate the ATG family very much!  During the past many years, ATG has always been walking side-by-side with UD in the mission to care for the 

lives of the orphans.  You have also followed each step of the ways for the less fortunate children of UD and helped them step into life with confidence.  This time, you also extended your arms and helped PT to reach out to the other even less fortunate children outside UD and brought them a little joy and hope during the Harvest Moon Festival for the children at such a tender age….

Your concern and thoughtfulness during this occasion have just added the needed fuel to the “camp fire” to make the Mid-Autumn Festival for UD more warm and celebrated!

PT

2012 Fashion for a Passion Exhibits Work of Emerging Asian American Artists

DALLAS, TX – Dallas-based non-profit ATG Against The Grain Production’s upcoming annual charity event Fashion for a Passion has become known not only for the exciting runway show, but also as an event where guests can enjoy and even bid to own emerging Asian American art.  This year’s Exhibiting Artists are an eclectic group that include graphic artist Ha Mai aka “Fur Face Boy,” 17 year-old fashion photographer Ann He, recent  SMU MFA Meadows graduate Anh-Thuy Nguyen, Tam Nguyen (brother of designer Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh),  ATG Artistic Scholarship Winner Thoa Nguyen and Artistic Scholarship Finalist Melissa Woodbridge. Each artist will exhibit a piece as well as donate a piece of their original work in the silent auction. This exhibition, along with musical performances and a runway show, takes place at the Dallas Contemporary at the Dallas Design District from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM on Saturday, October 13th.

While the name of the event connotes the focus on fashion, the addition of art has become just as much a part of the night’s experience to celebrate Asian American talent.  This year, President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee tasked and worked with Marketing/PR Director Nikki Duong Koenig (who works professionally as the Creative Director of Envision Interactive and is the founder of Cykochik Custom Handbags) with finding a diverse slate of artists who had a unique point of view, strong and thought-provoking work and who represented the spirit of the organization’s mantra of ‘going against the grain.’ Said Koenig, “I’m truly inspired by this amazing group of young visual artists for their talent, passion and generosity to pay it forward.”

Fur Face Boy

Ha Mai (also known as “Fur Face Boy“) was a kid who loved cartoons, comics, toys, video games, quirkiness, art and style, which led to constantly doodling and drawing whenever and wherever. Like many other artists from Asian families, Mai strived to prove to his parents that he could make his career as an artist and to make them proud. Said Mai, “I’m very excited to be a part of an event that recognizes and celebrates Asian-American artists. I’m hoping that my art / design will remind everyone that I’m still very proud of my Vietnamese roots, values and heritage. Growing up in America with American peers and culture can tend to make you forget about your background, but it can also fuse together to create a bigger meaning to art, life and personality. I hope everyone sees that my art represents that I am not just a single-sided Asian or a single-side American, but Asian American.”

Anh-Thuy Nguyen

From photography to video to performance and sound art, Anh-Thuy Nguyen is a multi-media artist who envelops her work to convey an assortment of feelings and desires. She is a recent MFA graduate of the SMU Meadows School of the Arts. Said Nguyen, “Petite Houses Series is an investigation of miniature houses that I have been working on since 2010. These houses represent one’s dream home, a place full of joy, laughing and love, yet it is just a dream.”

Tam Nguyen

Tam Nguyen comes from a talented family. He is the younger brother of FFAP veteran designer Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh. Said Nguyen, “I’m totally grateful for this opportunity to be a part of ATG. Most of all I’m looking forward to checking out all the creative talents. Being around designers and artists at these events can be very energizing and inspiring, especially to fellow creatives like myself. At the moment, I am in love traditional media. I simply paint and draw portraits obsessively.” He will exhibit a stunning portrait piece of his mother, who undoubtedly must be proud her talented son and daughter.

Melissa Woodbridge

This year, several of ATG’s Artistic Scholarship applicants were visual artists, and two were selected to exhibit pieces as a part of the organization’s mission to support the work of young talent. Finalist Melissa Woodbridge is a sophomore at the University of Georgia, and Scholarship Winner Thoa Nguyen is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. Both are pleased with the chance to share their work and attend and their first Fashion for a Passion in person. Woodbridge said, “I am incredibly excited to be apart of this amazing event that involves so many passionate, talented people, and I hope that I will be able to contribute with my own love for art and community.”

Thoa Nguyen

Added Nguyen, “It is an honor to be a part of the sea of talented artists featured at the Fashion for a Passion event. Making art has always been such a personal experience for me, so I am grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to share my point of view with other inspirational artists.”

Already starting out at a young age, Ann He of Dallas, TX, calls herself a “full-time nerd” and “a proud Trekkie,” while pursuing being a part-time fashion photographer. She is a senior at Highland Park High School, and remarkably juggles her schedule through cross country, academic decathlon and being a photo student. She has already been featured in several publications, such as Photographer’s Companion (China), Vogue Girl Korea (July 2011) and Elle Girl Korea (January 2011).

Tickets to Fashion for a Passion range from $50 to $100 and are  on sale exclusively at the FFAP Event Page.  For more press/media information on the event, please contact pr@againstthegrainproductions.com.

2012 Fashion for Passion Designers Prepare to Take Stage

DALLAS, TX – Dallas-based non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions is in preparation to host its much awaited 4th annual Fashion for a Passion charity event, a fundraiser that brings together the talents of emerging Asian American fashion designers, artists and musicians. The event takes place at the Dallas Contemporary Museum in the Dallas Design District from 6:30 pm – 10 pm on Saturday, October 13th.

This year’s line-up of seven presenting designers includes Lizzi Cook of Lizzi London, Hanh Dang of Lucy Dang, Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh, Jerry Matthews, Danh Ta and NYC based designers Joanne Hong of JOLYNN and textile designer Sophia Wu of Leprosy. Each designer will have the opportunity to share his/her latest collection and will donate pieces that will be auctioned off live that night. In addition, each designer was given one month to complete a Project Runway-like challenge to recreate a signature ATG t-shirt into a masterpiece of their own styling that will be on display and auction. Online voting begins later this month, and the winning piece will be announced at the event.

President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee has high expectations from the designers, whether they are new or returning veterans. “Our team hand picks designers we feel possess not only design talent and a unique point of view, but also the ability to represent ATG’s attitude of ‘going against the grain’ in their philosophy.  Being invited to participate in this event is an honor and carries with it a responsibility, as we invest so much in giving these designers not only a platform for their work, but who they are.”

Graduates from the Art Institute of Dallas, Jerry Matthews and Danh Ta will have their lines on the FFAP runway for the first time.  Matthews said, “I’m very excited to be a part of this year’s Fashion For A Passion Charity event. I’ve attended and donated in the past, but I’ve never shown my [full] collection. This particular charity is so great, and I definitely have a passion for both the cause and fashion. I feel as if this is going to be an awesome event and life experience. I look forward to raising awareness for this cause and doing what I love at the same time.” Added Ta, “I am honored by this opportunity to represent artists and inspire creativity using fashion as a medium.  As a first time designer for Fashion for a Passion, I hope to captivate the audience with my new 2013 S/S collection.  I’m excited and intrigued to meet everyone that shares a common interest in fashion and help share my voice and story along with Against The Grain. ”

Joanne Hong of JOLYNN will be the first FFAP Presenting Designer ever to share a children’s wear collection on stage. Hong said, “I’m so honored to be a part of Fashion for a Passion.  I look forward to helping ATG raise money for an amazing charity while seeing other talented Asian American designers. Through my designs, I hope to inspire and bring awareness to the Asian American communities all over the country.”  Sophia Wu is the final newbie who rounds out the line-up with a unique perspective and experience in textiles. “ATG not only provides a platform for new artists and designers, it gives us an opportunity to be aware of and to be involved with the plight of orphans in Southeast Asia. I’m grateful to be able to invest my time and energy to support this worthy cause, and I hope that through this event, we can encourage more people to join us in turning our concerns into actions to make a real difference in the lives of children.”

There’s a reason why designers want to return to Fashion for a Passion. It’s not only for the welcoming audience and the incredible exposure, but also for the cause itself that becomes close to their heart. Lizzi Cook (also known as Lizzi Tran) is a returning face who has evolved since presenting her collection a the inaugural event. “The whole preparation and production of collaborating with creative artists makes this event come alive to raise as much funds as possible. For every small step we take, we can influence another for the better. I don’t expect anything more than seeing the love of each individual’s knowledge, professionalism and creativity in each talented artist to come together to have fun from beginning to end. “Returning for her second year is Hang Dang of Lucy Dang. Said Dang, “Last year was a blast, and I am very proud to be a part of an organization that does this much good. Lucy Dang was given a great launching pad with our debut last year and it is going to be a great opportunity for all our new coming designers to showcase their work. I know this year will be breath taking to watch, so let’s aim to break another record and make this the best FFAP ever!”

Dallas design star Khanh Nguyen of Nha Khanh is a 4th year veteran who has presented her collection with FFAP since its inception and gave her a launching pad that has established the brand today. Her work has been featured in numerous publications over the years and was just recently launched in Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.

 Tickets to Fashion for a Passion range from $50 to $100 and go on sale exclusively online starting Thursday, September 13th at the FFAP Event Page. 

For more press/media information on the event, please contact pr@againstthegrainproductions.com.