Kinship Grand Opening Fashion Show
There are some nights that remind you exactly why creative communities matter, and Kinship’s Grand Opening Fashion Show was one of those. The studio buzzed from the moment the doors opened - designers darting around with last-minute pins and presses, models dancing between fittings, wine glasses clinking courtesy of Buona Notte’s dreamy pours, and a soundtrack by Drip Social that kept the whole space feeling alive. Producer Eliana Kertzer orchestrated the backstage symphony with the kind of calm intensity that only seasoned creatives possess - part conductor, part fairy godmother.
What unfolded was more than a fashion show. It was a love letter to Portland’s fashion scene, stitched together by emerging designers who are rewriting what local fashion can look like.
Luza Rico
Bright. Iridescent. Unapologetically joyful. Luza Rico opened the night with a burst of color and light - pieces that shimmered as they swished down the runway, catching reflections like wearable prisms. The silhouettes played with volume in the most celebratory way: poufed hems, sculptural drapes, and fabric manipulations that felt experimental yet effortless. These are the looks you’d wear to the kind of shwanky party where fun is mandatory and dancing is non-negotiable. Every garment felt alive, as if the designer were inviting us into a more playful version of ourselves.
Photo curtesy of Andra Bradshaw and Charles Shambry
Lokiez
If a denim-obsessed creative attended a fashion show in Seoul and came back with a suitcase full of ideas, that’s the energy of Lokiez. Ben Matarangas delivered a masterclass in functional edge. Think Korean workwear meets underground streetwear. Every pocket, every stitch, every reinforced panel was meticulous - revealing a designer who thinks with both precision and rebellion. The pieces moved with the body like they were built for everyday heroics - urban exploration, late-night warehouse raves, and everything in between. It was cool, intentional, and full of attitude.
Photo curtesy of Andra Bradshaw and Charles Shambry
Prince of Fashion
Crochet has rarely looked this captivating. Prince of Fashion sent down a collection that felt deeply personal - each piece handmade, every loop tied by the designer himself. From chunky sweaters to delicate tops, slinky dresses, and cheerful beanies, the collection was a tactile celebration of craft. These weren’t your grandma’s crochet classics; they were sculptural, modern, and refreshingly emotional. The audience could feel the hours, the care, the devotion woven into each piece - wearable art with soul.
Photo curtesy of Andra Bradshaw and Charles Shambry
Sagradesa
Sustainable eveningwear has a new north star in Sagradesa, whose collection glided down the runway with a presence that was both nostalgic and strikingly current. The gowns carried the romance of another era - whispery layers, heirloom-inspired details - but were reimagined with contemporary silhouettes and sustainable construction. Her dresses shimmered with quiet confidence, offering brides-to-be and formalwear lovers pieces that feel timeless without sacrificing originality. These were dresses for those who want to honor tradition while starting a new one of their own.
Photo curtesy of Andra Bradshaw and Charles Shambry
ELKE
Elke brought range - and the crowd felt it. Her collection moved effortlessly from everyday wear to fully avant-garde moments, yet the through-line was unmistakably hers. Her signature beaded drapery stole the show: strands of pearls and beads stringing from one point of a garment to another like wearable constellations. The effect was delicate, intimate, and undeniably beautiful. She paired these embellishments with luscious laces and silks in floral motifs, creating garments that felt both poetic and grounded. A designer with a clear voice, and a bold one at that.
Photo curtesy of Andra Bradshaw and Charles Shambry
Studio SCS
Closing out the night was Studio SCS, whose cozy-chic mastery wrapped the runway like a warm hug with attitude. Every piece is repurposed - a quiet but powerful testament to sustainability - which makes her meticulous layering and voluminous silhouettes even more impressive. Oversized coats draped effortlessly over lace, plaids mixed with soft textures, and the whole collection exuded this perfectly undone, deliciously comfortable aesthetic. It was the wardrobe equivalent of stepping into a cabin in the woods… if the cabin had impeccable taste.
Photo curtesy of Andra Bradshaw and Charles Shambry
By the end of the show, the energy was electric - designers hugging their models, guests lingering with their Buona Notte wine, and the DJ spinning into the night as if refusing to let the moment end. It was everything Kinship set out to be: a home for creativity, a hub for connection, and a reminder that fashion thrives when community does.
Here’s to many more nights like this - and to the designers, creatives, and supporters who made this one unforgettable.