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cM is awarded 2012 Impression Award!!!

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:48:51 +0100

I was recently awarded by the Garment District and Power and Light in KCMO the 2012 Impression Award for excellence in Fashion, Art, and Design. This award is given annual at the Rock the Block Fashion Show in Power and Light and I was humbled to be 2012's recipient. Thanks to all those who support and continue to support me and my label, thanks to the Garment District and Power and Light for the award, and thanks to my wife for sticking with me through all this crazy life has to throw at us. It's been one hell of a year!!!!!!!!!

OFW Recap Part 1

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:51:37 +0100

Omaha Fashion Week was Wed. – Sat. March 21^st – March 24^th; my show was set for the last night of shows Sat. March 24^th at Kaneko in the Old Market of Omaha, NE. This was a first time for me to show with Omaha Fashion Week and from day one after being selected to participate was looking forward to this show more than any other. OFW and producers Nick and Brook Hudson have been putting this show on in Omaha for the past 5 years and OFW is by far the premier fashion show in the Mid-West, they are truly light years ahead of us in KC. Our plan was to leave KC and drive up early Sat. morning, which I did with with only 3 hrs. of sleep as I was up til 3 am the night before finishing my final runway look, get into Omaha around 11:30 and check into our hotel room at the Magnolia Hotel. We got the car all packed and hit the road by 8:15 am. Omaha is about a 3 hrs. drive and went by fast as the day was beautiful and company in the car was great. We got into Omaha right at 11:30 am and checked into the Magnolia Hotel, a recently renovated boutique hotel that was beautiful and comfortable in every way. I can-not say enough about all the staff at the Magnolia from the valets to the fleet service people to the front desk and of course bar staff, if you ever go to Omaha stay at the Magnolia. After checking into our room we headed over the Kaneko the show event space for a lunch and meet and greet / Q & A with Project Runway All Star Jerell Scott. Was great to meet with Jerell in person as he and I both shared a moment chatting before the formal sit down Q & A outside smoking ( dirty smokers J ) Was great to hear him speak about the biz and fashion industry, his personal experiences, and advice. I was a little surprised by how many designers kept asking questions about Project Runway “ is Kennly really a bitch, how much time do you really have to sew, etc. “ I mean with the opportunity to speak with someone like him my questions would be and were about the industry and advice rather than reality TV. We had to leave Q & A early as it was time to round up my men and head to hair and make-up. Let me say that my hair stylist bailed on me Tues of runway week, but I was able to find a replacement as one of my models manages Tru Salon and Spa in Omaha and all of the team at Tru did an amazing job. They literally saved the day and I cannot say enough about the whole team from Tru Salon and Spa. Along with hair was very talented and dear friend Allie of Grace Designs and Ascetics, she is a huge talent and wonderful to work with. LOVE U GIRL !!!!!!!!! I left all my men in the capable hands of Tru and Grace and headed off to DSW to meet with my official shoe provider for the event, which I also found week of after my first provider bailed. What can I say about DSW aside from the literally saved my life, thank you so much to Charlotte and DSW Omaha NE. From there we wrangled up all the men and headed over to the event space to get checked in with my team and get ready backstage at Kaneko. Only a few hrs. from runway time and fittings to do, got everyone worked out and all things started falling into place.

OFW Recap Part 2

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:52:51 +0100

Designers showing on Sat. night March 24^th OFW 2012 Fall/Winter - Christian Shuster for ChristianMICHEAL, Just Because by Kate Walz, Terri Jen Bucker for NueVintage Apparel & Accessories, Amanda Clark for I Design with Love, and Bertiher De La Cruz Trinidad. Doors opened to the public at 7pm and shows started at 8pm. I was 4^th to show of the 6 designers and around 7:15 pm we started getting the men dressed, thank you to all my backstage hands for all the help and putting up with me and my craziness during 0 hour. The time came for us to hit the runway, the lights dropped, music hit and we were on stage! My first model hits to the runway and the crowd bursts into applause, crowd applause is the only way I can judge response of my collection bc as a designer I don’t actually get to watch my own show L All 11 of my models are done and we line back up for our collection precession, I lead my men back out on the runway for the precession and again the crowd bursts into applause. I make my way half way down the runway to see Jerell from Project runway on his feet giving me a standing ovation and 2 thumbs up………pretty cool. Back off the stage and the moment is complete, so much work for 8 minutes on the runway but so is the life of a fashion designer. Post show we get all the looks back on to hangers and all show designers roll garment racks out onto the floor for show patrons to come by and check out our work. Shook hands with many great folks and got a great response from all those who came to see me after the show. Great job to all designers, all models, all support staff, all interns, and everyone involved. It was a hell of a night and defiantly the biggest moment in my design career to date. NOW IT’S TIME FOR A DRINK!!!

OFW Recap Part 3

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:25:13 +0100

Official after party for OFW was held at House of Loom and from the second I walked into the door I was greeted and shown to my reserved table and complimentary bottle of champagne, don’t drink champagne but the service was great and they made me feel special. My whole team was in the house for the party and we threw down hard, was a great end to an awesome show and awesome event. Spend most of the night shaking hands and collecting compliments which honestly does feel great and makes one feel appreciated. Got some 1 on 1 time with Jerell from Project Runway and by the end of the night he had given me his business card and told me to “ Call him after the show, let’s work together” We all had a great time and shut the night down in style, was the perfect end to an awesome day. Now on to the important part – THANK YOU’S – Thank you to my whole team, Models: Levi, Don, Justin, Buddy, Scott, Brandon, Brian, Alex, Zach, Jordan, Drake. Hair: Tru Salon and Spa. Make Up: Grace Designs and Aesthetics. Shoes: DSW Omaha. Photographer/Videographer: Jenny Wheat and her whole team. PA’s Allie, Bella, Charlotte. OFW Producers: Nick and Brook Hudson along with all OFW Staff and interns. MOST IMPOTANT my beautiful, supportive, and very pregnant wife. I love you so much honey and none of this would be possible without you. They really do it right in Omaha and I look forward to showing with OFW in 2013, what a show and what a night!!!!!!!!!!

Omaha Fashion Week here we come

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:25:05 +0100

Omaha Fashion Week has started and cM will be showing on the runway Sat. night March 24t @ Kaneko in the Old Market of downtown Omaha Nebraska. Omaha Nebraska ????? You say, YES Omaha Nebraska!!!!!!!!! Omaha Fashion Week has been happening for the past 5 years and is the Mid-West's premier Fashion Week Event. I am so very excited to be a first time designer with this show and consider showing with Omaha Fashion Week to be my crowning achievement as of yet. KC was great but truly just a dry run for Omaha Fashion Week. Post show recap along with pics and vid from the event to follow. Hope some of you can make it to see my collection hit the runway. For more info on the show and tickets check out www.omahafashionweek.com

KC Fashion Week Recap

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:52:29 +0100

Well KC Fashion Week has come and gone, and what an event!!!!!! My show was on the first night of shows Friday Nights Red Carpet Gala. I showed my 2012 Fall/Winter Men's Wear collection with 10 looks on 10 models. Friday night show also had collections by - BMDesigns, Haus Designs by Sierra Moses, Oblivion Clothing, OlaSTYLE, and Evil Pawn Jewelry with performances by Quixotic. The day started with us checking into the Hotel at Harrah's Casino and going straight into rehearsal with my models. Got everyone feeling good on the runway and then went straight into hair and make-up. Doors opened to the public at 5:30pm and my show set with scheduled for next to last around 9:00 pm. I still had last minute sewing and buttons to add so I was locked inside my hotel room putting finishing touches on last few looks. Got everyone done and headed down to our staging room with all my models and support staff to start getting dressed 1 hr. prior to hitting the stage. We got everyone dressed and ready to hit the runway, made our way backstage and got all lined up. I was able to come out and introduce myself and my collection along with making a small speech and dedication of my collection to my wife and my unborn son..........LOVE U SO MUCH HONEY :) Then it was time to hit the runway, the lights dropped, music started, and my first model was on stage!!!!!!!!!! It's amazing that 8 months’ work of work, 400+ hrs. of sewing and, many hundreds of dollars in material lasts on 8 min. on the runway but so is the life and times of a fashion designer. My last look walked and then all of us came out lead by me to collect applause for the final precession. Off the stage and deep breathes all around as it was finally over. I could not have been happier with the way the show turned out and have many people to thank for making this collection a reality. #1 and most important my lovely and supportive wife. #2. the entire team from KC Fashion Week and all the hard work that went into putting on a great show. #3. my hair and makeup teams from Evolve Hair Salon and Lora Ness Artistry. #4. my shoes and boots provider to all my models (WHO I DID NOT THANK ON STAGE :( ) ALDO SHOES on the Country Club Plaza KCMO. #5. by backstage assistant Tammy Saum of SaumFrock #6. to all my models who killed it for me #7. to my photo and video team from Wheat Photography #8. all my family and friend who supported me by attending the show. All in the entire event was a great success and highlighted some of the great talent we have here in KC and in the Mid-West. I was a little surprised by how many loose threads, unfinished seams, and pins I noticed on the runway in some collections.............but I'm just overly critical bc of my own personal attention to detail in my collection. I look forward to many more years of this event and think KC has done very well in putting together a professional and creditable show to build on for the future. Again thank you to all involved and thank you to all members of my team, no on to OMAHA FASHION WEEK !!!!!!!!!!!

cM and ALDO Shoes for Fashion Week

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:37:24 +0100

I am very excited to announce that ALDO Shoes on the Country Club Plaza will be partnering and supplying all boots and shoes for my models at KC and Omaha Fashion Week. I could not be happier with this partnering and look forward to spending a evening with the ladies of ALDO picking out shoes and boots for my models !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cM and Lora Ness Artistry

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:32:07 +0100

My make up team for KC Fashion Week is Lora Ness Artistry. I'm very excited to be working with Lora for the first time and from the few converstations we have had our creative minds are both on the same page.

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Look #6

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:25:47 +0100

Just finished look #6 last night for Fashion Week Collection, still lots to do but love how this turned out and started to get real excited about how the whole collection is looking. Cheers.........cM

cM & Evolve Hair

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:31:49 +0100

Kansas City Fashion Week has paired christianMICHEAL with the team of stylists from Evolve Hair Salon located in Blue Springs MO. I am very excited to be working with owner: Justin Callahan and his talented team at Evolve Hair Salon for the KCFW 2012 runway show. For more info on Evolve Hair Salon check them out at http://www.evolvehairkc.com/index.html