Designer Micaela Ezra was born in Sidney, and after finishing school she came to the States to pursue her dream of being a designer.

While most fresh-out-of-school college students may feel that they will get a job right off the bat that pays 60K a year, Micaela knew that a little work may be required before achieving her goals. So, just after arriving in Manhattan, she set out knocking on doors, and she so happened to knock on the door at Cynthia Steffe, who was willing to give her a job based on the talent displayed in her portfolio, as well as her keen knowledge of textile design. As soon as she got the job, she packed up and left Sydney.

What more does a  child need besides a good education and a fabulous pair of shoes based on simple silhouettes and fun, trendy prints?

For those kids who can hardly afford their number 2 pencils come fall, proceeds from Study Footwear,  a mass market sneaker line— about $50 a pair and sold at Foot Action, moxsie.com,  go into producing Study-branded school supplies (notebooks, pencils, erasers, etc) which are then given back to kids who need them.

When I first met Minh Collins at a party on the West Side, we spoke about what it takes to be a true go-getter in this world and particularly, in the world of Hollywood. Although Forward Fashion is technically a fashion publication, we always love to branch out to other industries that the fashion industry works alongside with every day. Our publication is always seeking out the ‘movers and shakers,’ if you will, and in the film industry, Mr. Collins is definitely one of them.

We’ve seen her on TV and can’t help but be intrigued by her overwhelming sense of star power, and not to mention her fabulous hair.

The Forward Fashion team happened to cross paths with Ms. Brig Van Osten one night in Los Angeles, and were invited to tour her salon in Simi Valley. After what Brig warned us was a trip that we would need “a horse, and an over-night pack complete with food and change of clothes,” in order to make it, we did make it!

Most 12 year old Americans live nice on nice streets, eat McDonalds Happy Meals, and are driven to soft ball practice in mini vans. Naida Begeta, the creative force behind Kao Pao Shu, was only 12 when war broke out in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After enduring three years of turbulence in her homeland, Naida was presented with the opportunity to study in Washington as part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation project when she was 15. She describes her life to be a lot like her art: diverse, creative and inspiring.

In the Ribbon Room

I developed a slight obsession with the brand Society For Rational Dress after obtaining a pair of brown distressed leather riding boots from the brand about 3 years ago.  An experience which had opened my eyes to the unknown and untamed, being mesmerized with the forward-ness that the designs encompassed.  It is not so often that you can go into a store and find what you are looking, when that for which you are seeking  has yet to hit any sense of recognition in these global markets of trend zombie’s.