Aidah Collection Maternity featured in Bellyitch Blog

Designer Aidah Fontenot (r) with a model in one of her maternity designs for Aidah’s Collection
I discovered Aidah Fontenot showing off her versatile collection of eco-friendly designs made up of 95% all natural materials during the “Bump the Runway” show at the Baby Bash & Bling Expo and Show in the DC area last weekend.
Fontenot, who has been sewing her own clothes since junior high, started her line in 2008.  What unifies it is her designer signature emblem that appears on each piece. The DC-area based designer said she decided to make maternity clothes out of necessity. 
“It started out of a personal need,” Fontenot told Bellyitch. “I had a son about 16 months ago and I was wearing my collection as I always do and as my belly grew, I was able to keep wearing my collection.
“The designs are loose fitting and wrap around with a belt or tie and some of the material folds.”
Gabrielle Union in an Aidah gown After the models paraded her designs on the runway, Aidah explained that the clothes are met to grow with you as your belly grows and can be worn after the pregnancy.  Now that is versatility. She said eventually her collection will be 100% organic.
  “Aidah Collection’s ethical mission is to empower women and protect the environment through the support of charitable organizations and artists,” Fontenot writes on her site.
Since launch, Fontenot has gotten tremendous amount of positive feedback including from actress Gabrielle Union who chose to wear one of Fontenot’s dresses to a red carpet event benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation in 2010.
The clothes are made to order and can be found on the Aidah website: www.aidah.com

(Source: bellyitchblog.com)

Aidah Collection 2009 Feature in On Tap Magazine

2009
Confident, Unique, Sexy: Aidah Collection

Aidah Fontenot dishes on where her versatile collection and muse will take her

written by Kristina Hernandez

Transplanted California girl Aidah Fontenot imports the sunshine and bright colors from the West Coast into her beautiful and versatile collections. She’s been making her own clothes since grade school and now has her own D.C.-based fashion line. With her dazzling smile and engaging personality Aidah embodies her tagline: be unique, be confident, be sexy. She makes each piece individually to order and hand paints her signature design onto the clothes, giving her clients something different and beautiful every time.

On Tap: Describe the concept of your designs.
Aidah: I want every woman, no matter what her size or shape is - I make everything from petite to plus size - to feel confident and to feel sexy in what they are wearing. I want it to be effortless. I use stretch fabrics, my clothes are super comfortable, easy to dress up or dress down.

OT: What inspires you?
Aidah: Everything I do is inspired by nature and natural elements. When I moved here from San Diego it was kind of a culture shock for me since it’s so urban here, it’s not the beach, so my expression changed when I came here . It’s now a balance of the natural and the urban chic.

OT: What is unique about your collections?
Aidah: All of my patterns and designs are simple. I just pay attention to the way a woman is shaped. The woman makes the clothes rather than the clothes making the woman.

OT: Have your designs been influenced by the recession?
Aidah: It isn’t particularly because of the recession, but I think a lot of designers over-price their clothing, so my dresses and other clothes are very reasonably priced to stay competitive. To be able to dress the everyday woman is my philosophy.

OT: Favorite item in your own closet?
Aidah: The Brooke dress from my collection because it’s extremely versatile. I wear it around the house and then I can just put on a belt and heels and I’m out the door.

OT: Who would you want to dress if you had the chance?
Aidah: Michelle Obama! I thought since she’s the First Lady, she’d be conservative and not want to wear my stuff, but it would go so perfectly on her and fit her so perfectly.

OT: Where will your collections to be in the next few years?
Aidah: I’m now working on my men’s collection. It will be available in the fall and will be loungewear for men: turtlenecks, t-shirts, lounge pants.

(Source: ontaponline.com)

Trunk Sale at Flash Market

Flash Market: A Pop-up Extravagana
hosted by Hillyer Art Space

Saturday August 13th :: 12pm-4pm
at Hillyer Art Space - 9 Hillyer Court NW DC (in the alley)
(Walk from Dupont Circle Metro)

Join Aidah Collection and other local fashion and jewelry designers for a fabulous Summer Trunk Sale with mimosas, cupcakes and a mini-runway show!

Here’s your chance to view and shop the new
Floral Accessories Collection
of handmade brooches and rings and tote bags

Aidah Collection’s floral accessories are the definition of eco-chic style. Remnant fabric is recycled and shaped into petals, handcrafted into a flower, and centered with a coordinating button. These brooches and rings are the perfect way to flaunt your beloved florals and feel unique, as no two can ever be made exactly alike!

RSVP on FACEBOOK

For more details about the event contact Samantha May, Director at Hillyer Art Space (202) 338-0680. Hillyer Art Space is a contemporary exhibition site dedicated to serving the public with quality exhibitions and programming. Established in April 2006, HAS is a program of International Arts & Artists, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally.