fullfillmentco

Angela Watts

Program Advisory Committee / By

Business/Organization: Ragtrade Atlanta

Title: Founder

Email: angela@ragtradeatlanta.com

Biography:

Angela Watts is an award-winning marketing and communications (marcom) executive, and the founder of RAGTRADE Atlanta, a creative and event production agency, which strategically build partnerships between brands and fashion design talent, retailers, and multi-hyphenate creatives through collaborations, brand launches, experiential marketing, content, and business development programs. Currently based in Atlanta, GA, Watts has led strategy for a variety of global brands and agencies for 20+ years. Since starting her marcom and event production career in 2003, Watts has worked with major brands to produce some of the most memorable fashion moments in Atlanta. Brand partnerships include Macy’s, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Lincoln Motor Company, Microsoft, Atlanta Hawks, Bloomingdale’s, Airbnb, United Artist Releasing, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Arts Institute of Atlanta, Bauder College, and more. A few years later, Watts launched RAGTRADE ATLANTA, a fashion organization committed to developing a sustainable fashion industry for the city of Atlanta. Angela’s progressive work for this underserved community garnered her one of the city’s biggest honors, the City of Atlanta Phoenix Award in 2014. In 2017, Watts was approached by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest airport to develop and execute Global Runway, a marketing program that successfully merged fashion and aviation through a unique brand experience that highlighted the diverse fashion, lifestyle and beauty options offered at ATL. Since its initial launch, Global Runway has increased retail profits by millions and garnered brand impressions globally. Two years later, Watts continued advocacy and belief in the city’s efforts to shape American style, Watts and her team announced Atlanta Fashion Week official partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment in October 2019. In 2021, RAGTRADE ATLANTA and ATLFW became a founding member of CFDA Connects; a program that recognizes, promotes, and provides business development support to select Regional Fashion Organizations (RFOs), their Fashion Weeks and the Designers based within these key US markets. Passion for others have always played a major part in Watts efforts to give back to young leaders. With a knack for cultivating strong relationships and leveraging resources, Angela provides quarterly mentorship to support creatives and startups who are striving to make a lasting impact in business and entrepreneurship. Watts studied marketing at Georgia State University and has served on the board for Fashion Group International and Black Public Relations Society of Atlanta. Currently, Angela is a board member with the National Black Arts (NBAF).

Alea Brummell Riley

Program Advisory Committee / By

Business/Organization: ALEIMAN

Title: Executive Creative Director

Email: ariley@aleiman.com

Biography:

As Executive Creative Director of ALEIMAN, Alea Brummell Riley oversees its operations, creative, and development processes. Often referred to by colleagues as the business-minded creative, she leverages her strategic and artistic senses by combining thoughtful garment construction, high-end natural fabrics, and environmentally conscious practices embracing a slow fashion and sustainable focused business model. Riley was immersed in fashion for much of her life. Early on, she attended the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Pre-college program. While attending Spelman College, Riley majored in English and minored in Fine Art and had the opportunity to study Sculpture and Jewelry Design through an exchange program in Florence, Italy. She apprenticed with Master Tailor Jim McFarland, aka Gentleman Jim, and was a consistent student at a local school, Le Fashion Lab. Leveraging this experience, Riley refined her portfolio, applied, and was accepted into the Academy of Art University. She obtained her MFA in Fashion Design and Product Development.

While her career wasn’t design-focused, she worked in B2B technology in marketing, advertising, communications, and merchandising. Her understanding of the arts and design always provided the perspective needed to be successful. She had the distinct honor of being one of the first designers to be featured, and her brand ALEIMAN was showcased as part of the first Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week 2021. Then in the Spring of 2022, Riley was invited to be part of the Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week Spring session sustainable designer panel to offer perspective and best practices. And then, in October of 2022, Riley’s looks hit the runway for the 2nd Annual Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week. This collection was the first of the brands to be designed, produced, and created on-site in her studio. Riley ended the year on a tremendous high when renowned costume designer Lisa Smedley-Calderon featured 4 of her looks in a BET+ Movie, The First Noelle. Like most creatives, Riley pulls inspiration from daily life and her environment. Still, her real inspiration and excitement emerge when she creates a garment at the intersection of beauty, quality, and function. Her internal and external vision promotes sustainability as she carefully curates line of high-end garments that easily integrate into the sophisticated woman’s wardrobe.

Lauren Rutledge

Staff / By

Lauren Rutledge is an administrator at Le Fashion Lab. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in German and lived abroad in Vienna, Austria, where she taught English to primary school students. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. Lauren has approximately 15 years of experience in education administration, primarily in the role of financial aid counselor and coordinator. After seeing the challenges students faced with the financial aid process, she founded her own company, Financial Aid Consulting, Ltd., with the goal of helping students and their families to maximize their financial aid and reduce stress during the application process. More information about the services she offers can be found at www.financialaidconsulting.net. Because of the synergies with her own business, Lauren was happy to join the Le Fashion Lab team. She is passionate about assisting students in attaining their dream of higher education in a warm and welcoming environment that will not risk their financial futures.

Elizabeth Kimsey

Faculty / By

Having loved sewing from a young age, Elizabeth eventually realized she wanted to learn to make her own designs. After weighing the pros and cons of a traditional versus non-traditional education, Elizabeth chose to join Le Fashion Lab’s fashion design & garment construction program. While in the program, she impressed her instructors with her strong technical abilities, coachability, and attention to detail. After completing the program, Elizabeth has continued to build her skills by designing and sewing clothing for clients, as well as by working as an alterations seamstress. She is currently developing an online shop to sell her handmade designs. Elizabeth has a passion for helping students understand the details of sewing and fashion design so that they can have the confidence to bring their ideas to life. She is excited to be a part of Le Fashion Lab again.

Ruchika Arora

Faculty / By

A lifelong fashion enthusiast and extremely talented illustrator, Ruchika has been teaching fashion illustration classes throughout the Atlanta area for over 8 years. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Ruchika has earned a 3-yr diploma in Dress Designing and Garment Manufacturing from Sophia BKS Polytechnic, Mumbai; in addition to having more than 7-years of experience working as a Fashion Designer & Merchandiser in her native country, India. She also obtained a certificate in Quality control of garments and textiles from CMAI (Clothing Manufacturers Association of India) and a certificate in Adobe Illustrator from Arena Multimedia, Mumbai, India. Some of her awards include a Vogue design competition in Mumbai, India in 1999; and a diploma in design excellence, organized by “Sanskriti”, Mumbai, India in 2001. Ruchika is passionate about her work in helping student-designers build their fashion portfolio by bringing their vision to life on paper.

Marvalyn Richards

Faculty / By

Marvalyn’s love story with sewing and fashion began at an extremely young each. Her professional training and expertise spans numerous schools and institutions in her native country of Jamaica, where she advanced her skills in sewing, patternmaking, men’s and women’s tailoring, and machine embroidery; while also supplying her own designs/creations to a local department store. After moving to the United States, Richards enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York City, where she took courses towards certificates in both patternmaking and ladies tailoring. In addition to serving her own clients, Richards has also worked as a tailor for Lords of Tailoring in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about training the next generation of tailors and designers.

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