ONES TO WATCH

BY GARY WASSNER

STUDIO 189

Studio 189 represents everything good about fashion. The clothing is artisanal, authentic, sustainable and lovely. Co-founded by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, the brand is about empowerment, job creation and maintaining heritage and tradition, utilizing techniques we rarely see any more like hand-batik fabric and kente weaving. Craftsmanship is critical to the DNA. Everything is made in Africa by artisans using natural plant-based dyes.

I’ve been following this brand since its beginning and in addition to the admirable core values, the clothing itself has evolved so significantly. Incorporating Jackets to shorts to dresses to coats, each piece remains vibrant and happy. An epiphany of prints dominates the collection. Layered, loose fitting, pleated and gathered, many of the outfits juxtapose, in some cases, three bold and totally different prints against one another to create harmonized ensembles that bring smiles of joy to my face. I couldn’t help but stand up and applaud this artistic triumph. Those who choose to wear it will be grinning from the inside and beaming from the outside. The collection is a true celebration, full, from head to toe, of love.