
04:22:25 / NEXUS MODA LINE UP
FEATURED talent
PANEL 1 / 11AM
A discussion w/ Elizabeth Schmidt & Marina Leight
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Elizabeth Schmidt is a seasoned marketing executive and fractional CMO with over 18 years of experience driving growth, brand loyalty, and innovation across fashion, e-commerce, and retail. With a proven track record in scaling brands, optimizing digital ecosystems, and leading high-performing teams, she has played a pivotal role in shaping consumer experiences for some of the world’s most recognizable names.
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Marina Leight is a designer, educator, and advocate for ethical fashion. Trained under a Savile Row tailor, she earned an MA from Accademia Koefia in Rome. She ran a luxury LA design agency for a decade and now mentors emerging talent as a professor at ASU FIDM. She co-founded Showroom 316 and Nexus Moda and operates her own labels, MLA and Marina Leight.
PANEL 2 / 12PM
ALGORITHM VS AUTHENTICITY
- HOW DO BRANDS CREATE IDENTITY IN AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL WORLD?
MODERATED BY SHANNON REEDY - Trend Forecaster, Designer & Writer. @shannreddy
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Michael Cherman is a designer and entrepreneur known for founding Market Studios (fka Chinatown Market) and the reflective-wear brand ICNY. He gained industry recognition through work with Nike and Kith before launching Chinatown Market in 2016, turning it into a streetwear staple through bold designs, creative marketing, and high-profile collaborations.
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Khanh Ngo is the founder and Creative Director of N⋆G⋆O (Nothing Grows Overnight), a brand that serves as a storyboard of his life. Based in Los Angeles with Midwest roots, his passion for vintage, upcycling, and cars shapes his designs, with travel being a key source of inspiration and personal growth.
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Creative Director and Designer behind Knorts, the pioneering brand redefining denim through knitwear. As an early innovator in the knit denim space, she has been at the forefront of textile experimentation, blending the structure of denim with the stretch, comfort, and sculptural potential of knit. Her vision bridges high-concept design with everyday wearability, challenging the conventions of both denim and knitwear. Through Knorts, Guthrie continues to push boundaries with tactile storytelling, original fabric developments, and a singular aesthetic that merges form, function, and future-thinking craftsmanship.
PANEL 3 / 1PM
GARRETT LEIGHT
AN L.A. BORN FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF HIS NAMESAKE BRAND GARRETT LEIGHT CALIFORNIA OPTICAL (GLCO), A DISCUSSION ABOUT Building a brand from the ground up & the importance of cULTIVATING Community with ARAS & CHRISTY.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Christopher Fenimore
Aras & Christy DAWN Baskauskas
POWER HOUSE COUPLE - FOUNDERS OF CHRISTY DAWN, vintage inspired clothing. “There is something beyond the fabric I can hold on to. Something honest about vintage. Something classic. Something timeless, that reminds me of home.”
made by local artisans in Downtown Los Angeles, sewn with longevity in mind. We use deadstock fabric as to minimize our environmental footprint, and instead of creating thousands of garments at a time, we sew a limited number of pieces, numbering every dress we make.
PANEL 4 / 2PM
DENIM DUDES - FUTURE FORECAST PRESENTATION
AN intersect OF macro trends, cultural shifts and consumer behavIOUr to anticipate change within the denim, casual and streetwear markets.
PRESENTED BY Shannon Reddy
INDEPENDENT DESIGNERS
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NATASHIA.
Natashia creates innovative, artistic, and timeless evergreen collections for the modern individual who demands exceptionally finished pieces. A unique take on fashion, her creations build a bridge between innovation & functionality in a playful way. Always experimenting with new techniques, collaborations, & unexplored territory.
Natashia is a true industry leader. She draws inspiration from her British heritage, American lifestyle, and Japanese study of traditional artistry techniques. You can see these attributes in her attention to detail & refined craftsmanship, which have become a big part of the international name she has made for herself. -
PHLEMUNS
James Flemons, Designer and Founder of Phlemuns, brings gender-fluid, sustainable design to the runway -blending inclusivity, originality & cultural influence.
The Heritage (PH) Lemons by James Flemuns patches together the Phlemuns Universe - Merging personal identity, archival designs and celebrity projects into a bold, performance ready collection.
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LUXI DENG / ASU FIDM
Luxi Deng will be graduating from ASU FIDM this May. Since childhood she's had a love for ink painting, which has given her a deep connection to traditional Chinese art. Inspired by this, her collection draws from traditional Chinese ink painting, Her main influence comes from Wu Guanzhong, The soft blending of ink, the use of empty space, and layered textures are brought to life through fabric, tailoring, and structure. Luxi's work creates a fresh aesthetic, paying tribute to Chinese culture while exploring new possibilities for Eastern art in contemporary fashion.
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Maya Peats - DY / OTIS
Degxnerate Youth (DY) embodies originality & nonconformity through unisex, avant-garde fashion featuring upcycled materials. Maya Peats, the Founder & Designer, has been diligently refining her craft to solidify the brand’s position within the contemporary fashion world. Olivia Peats, Art Director, creates visually striking elements, including backdrop graphics, and editorial shoots. Luca Accad, Legal Consultant & Client Agent, navigates the intersection of fashion & law, ensuring Degxnerate Youth’s protection in the evolving landscape of fashion & art with ethical practices.
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Jay Tryon / LATTC
Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, where fashion has always felt like his second language. My love for it began through visits to local thrift stores with my grandmother, Beatrice Tryon. This experience sparked my passion for fashion and storytelling.
"Lost Nature” fuses the raw beauty of nature with contemporary design. It celebrates breathtaking landscapes and natural elements, reimagined through innovative, sustainable fashion. The collection incorporates ethically inspired designs and mindful production practices. With a focus on rich textures, minimalist silhouettes, and modern sophistication.
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Nola Hill / ASU FIDM
Nola Hill is a recent design graduate specialising in women’s apparel, tailoring, storytelling and craftsmanship. Her design philosophy is about individuality, longevity, and re-wearability, as these are some of the highest forms of sustainability. Nola's philosophy on fashion’s role in self actualisation, emphasising how expression is vital to the human spirit. Through thoughtful craftsmanship, she strives to create garments that become an extension of the wearer’s identity, evolving with them over time.
ARTIST INSTALATIONS
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Amber Kollar / SPICIE AMBIE
Amber Kollar is a crochet designer and the creative force behind Spicie, a brand that elevates crochet to the realm of high fashion. At just 24, Amber has redefined the art of crochet, transforming it into a luxurious, timeless heirloom. Spicie specializes in custom couture for celebrity clients and special events, merging intricate craftsmanship with modern elegance. With a passion for pushing creative boundaries, Amber’s work proves that crochet is more than just a craft—it’s a statement.
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Alex Casillas
Alex Casillas is a multi-disciplinary audio & visual artist based in Southern California. His work explores connections between natural elements primarily through texture, form, and movement.
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Madison Jewelinski
Madison Jewelinski is a designer, a creative, and a storyteller at heart, drawn to self-expression in all forms. She began in dance where movement was her first art form, but over time found that her true creative outlet was in what people wear. Her brand follows the evolution of that journey - where clothing isn’t just something you put on, but a story you step into. Built on bold individuality, effortless cool, and rebellious creativity, Madison Jewelinski merges high-fashion artistry with the raw energy of street culture, creating pieces that don’t just make a statement - they make you feel something.
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Laura Stewart
Visionary Artist. Designing with Life. On a mission to transcend realms and witness the fabric of the universe. Laura is a Visionary and Installation artist based in Los Angeles, CA. With a specialty in creating three-dimensional works that are often site specific, she is able to transform the perception of space through her use of color and light. Her most recent collections incorporate a broad range of natural materials and introduce the use of BioMaterials as an art medium. Clients include Private Collectors, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons Resorts, Revolve, Apple, Google, Coachella, Cotton, Tatcha, Joes Jeans, and many more.
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Shelby Stasenka
After leaving the fast fashion industry as a visual merchandiser to start a family, Shelby is tiptoeing her way back into a creative space. Her art is a reflection of sustainability and resourcefulness, often incorporating recycled materials to craft intricate, textured compositions. By using what is available to her, Shelby not only brings new life to discarded objects but also encourages a dialogue about environmental consciousness. Her pieces echo the things she experiences in everyday life and the layers that come with raising a family, while giving a second chance to materials that would otherwise go unnoticed.
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PENNY GAC
Penny is the founder and lead designer of Jupiter Botanical, a floral and meditation studio. She was born second generation into a mystical Ukrainian and Native Mexican lineage. Raised with a deep connection to the natural and spiritual worlds, she is a professional florist, installation artist, psychic reader and energy healer. Her work is at the intersection of immersive experiential, spirituality and social justice as a regenerative movement. For over a decade she has cultivated love and expertise for Floral Design, Organic Flower Farming, Natural Dye Techniques and the Healing Arts. Jupiter Botanical is a home for all of her offerings as an artist, florist, clairvoyant, and teacher.