Pittsburgh Fashion Week Designer's Showcases highlight custom clothing, accessories

Pittsburgh Fashion Week Designer's Showcases highlight custom clothing, accessories
Bradford Mumpower makes garments for each individual model for a runway show.

As one of the featured collections at Pittsburgh Fashion Week's three Designer's Showcases, his line will be on the runway at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Highmark Stadium, South Side.

Mumpower created each piece individually for all 20 women, including having to make an additional outfit when one model dropped out and another took her place. He also fashioned an outfit for Miyoshi Anderson, Pittsburgh Fashion Week's executive director, to wear that evening.

“I like the clothes to fit right, so that is why I make the garment specifically for the model,” says Mumpower, a Highland Park resident who shares a studio with designer Kelly Lane in Lawrenceville. “I want to do the garment justice, and I want the model to feel comfortable wearing it on the runway.”

Mumpower is getting more comfortable being part of a runway show, with this being his second year participating.

Becoming a designer had always been in the back of his mind. He moved to Pittsburgh to study architecture at Carnegie Mellon University, after living all over the world with his Air Force father. It was here he realized his dream was to build garments instead of buildings.

“I am so excited that Pittsburgh has a fashion week,” says Mumpower, who also works as a massage therapist. “It says a lot about our city, and it means a lot to all of the fashion designers here.”

Mumpower struggles to describe his design style. He says he is inspired by African prints, vintage clothing and bright colors.

“I love seeing a woman wearing color,” he says. “It just says she is having a good time. Women are so much more fun to design for than men. And it is so rewarding when you see your design come to life on a model, especially when the garment fits her perfectly.”

Creating that custom garment is the passion of designer Carrie Ann Lehrman, who will showcase a collection on wedding, mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom and prom gowns at the Designer's Showcase on Sept. 22. Other designers include Fine Designs LTD, House of Le'lamone, Runway Couture, Allison Elizabeth Designs and RubyDawn Designs.

Lehrman's Oakdale shop, Dress Haute, carries dresses and customized gown designs.

“It's about bringing a dress to life for the one wearing it,” Lehrman says. “It's about a woman embracing her curves. Every woman is gorgeous and deserves to have the dress she wants for her special day.

“During fashion week, we hope to show an eclectic group of dresses.”

The runway isn't just for showcasing clothing. ReBag, a creative fashion design company, re-fashions apparel into stylish functional accessories such as handbags and laptop covers. Customers can send an item of clothing for re-fashioning.

Owner Yi Wang and her design team will showcase the collection Sept. 23, along with designers L.A.F.A.C.T. by Jacquay, Tamre Adams, Brittany Williams and Mumpower.

This will be the first time ReBag will be participating on the runway versus being a vendor.

“Pittsburgh Fashion Week is great,” says Wang of Squirrel Hill, who started the business while a student at the University of Pennsylvania. “We believe that fashion is for everyone and not just a luxury for the rich and that everyone has their own fashion style.

“Clothing has memories from certain times in your life and inspires who you are. We can take that clothing and re-create it in a different form.”

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