Washington DC artist Dana Ellyn doesn’t do pastorals. While she paints traditional subject matter for commissioned work, Dana chooses to challenge her audience with her self-inspired art. Much of her work is focused on the plight of animals, her provocative and sometimes uncomfortable paintings giving creatures a strong voice about how they are viewed and treated by humans. Her use of strong hues and beautiful, bright colors accentuates the often dark subject.
For Moda 360 2016, Dana collaborated with London couture designer Lucy Tammam to create beautiful and
Lucy Tammam and Dana Ellyn collaboration
ethereal gowns that expressed the devastating effects of bycatch fishing on the environment. The gowns closed the Moda 360 runway filmed for reality TV.
“Meet Your Makers” by Dana Ellyn
Inspired by the ethical fashion movement embraced by Lucy and other Moda 360 designers, as well as the movie “The True Cost” screened at Moda 360, Dana created two pieces “Fast Fashion” and “Meet Your Maker,” a visual commentary on the cost of fashion on those who make the designs. In both images, the women who work on our apparel are given a front row seat at the fashion show – as long as they keep sewing. Fashion is not presented as elegant or pretty; the paintings give an unvarnished view of a disturbing reality of the global fashion industry, the exploitation and even abuse of the workers who make our clothes. Dana’s art succinctly expresses the
“Fast Fashion” by Dana Ellyn
ongoing mission of the ethical fashion movement, to transform fashion into an industry that respects social and environmental justice.
Moda 360 encourages designers, artists and filmmakers to collaborate in the presentation of their creative work. Taking place during Los Angeles Market Week, designers show their collections to buyers in town to shop with innovative editorial exhibits alongside and along with artists, complementing each other’s inspiration. Fashion videos from international filmmakers are screened throughout the event and short films of any subject or genre are selected for scheduled screening. Designers and filmmakers have presented video collaborations giving fashion at Moda another dimension.
Moda 360 2017 invites international independent creatives to show their work to a growing audience of buyers, press, professionals and public. Because of the extraordinary events that have occurred since the last edition, the 2017 event will inaugurate special exhibits of collaborative work by designers and artists that speak to the issues and movements that have captured attention and have directed current discourse. Moda 360 is committed to providing an inclusive, tolerant platform for creatives from all backgrounds to present their work and grow their business.
Molly’s eclectic background is reflected in her art. Her art style was raised along side her in Santa Monica, California by her two parents: her mother is a fashion designer and her father is a construction supervisor. The family traveled the world looking for inspiration for all their projects, and absorbing the world around them to be translated into their work. They attended Burning Man all throughout Molly’s teenage years, drawing from the free spirit of the event. It was Molly’s father’s personal practice that inspired her in her art (“He’d have me call it “tinkering,” though”). His rejection of fine art elitism inspired her to create art as if it was a human right, a fearlessness that guides her work. Molly’s media is wide-ranging: wood, metal, fibers, written/ spoken word, performance, and found objects, materials inspired by her education at San Francisco Art Institute, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Santa Monica College. The goal of her art is to bring a playfulness into the art community by employing aesthetics of toys, kitsch/camp, or “low-art.” “Art belongs to all of us :).” She is influenced by many artists, among her favorites are Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, and Mike Kelley. Molly is bringing her sculptural works to Moda 360.
Since 1989, when Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon founded Project HOME, 8000 people have been rescued from the cycle of homelessness and poverty, and provided a continuum of care including street outreach, supportive housing and comprehensive services focused on health care, education and employment. Project HOME also works to prevent poverty through neighborhood revitalization in North Philadelphia and works with a variety of coalitions on the city, state and national levels to impact public policies, educate elected officials and maximize resources or housing and services.
Project HOME has accomplished much in its history, providing 621 units of housing, including 572 units of affordable and supportive housing for formerly homeless men, women and families. Through their Social Enterprise department, Project HOME creates and works with social enterprises that provide employment opportunities and workplace skill development for formerly homeless individuals. In partnership with Thomas University Department, the organization provides community-based, high-quality health care and health education services, and with its recently completed, 30,000 sq. ft. wellness center, provides community-based, uniquely integrated health and wellness services targeted to the needs of the North Central Philadelphia Community. Their Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs in North Central Philadelphia offers critical educational and workforce development programs for neighborhood children and families.
Project HOME, most of all, is a pathway to a dignified, fulfilling life for people who are so easily marginalized. Not content to address the quantitative issues that cause poverty and homelessness, Project HOME builds the spirit and self-esteem of the people they serve. Project HOME creates a line of home products – candles, soap, and the best cranberry sauce! – manufactured and produced by their clients, providing not just meaningful employment, but also accomplishment and contribution to their own economy. Art classes allow clients an outlet for expression, and have led to successful art shows for a number of artists.
Bourgeois Boheme was founded in 2005 by ex-Podiatrist and long-term vegan Alicia. With a love for shoes, and unable to find high quality and high style animal-friendly footwear, Alicia developed her own brand. She moved to London and merged her foot care expertise with her vegan values to create luxury animal-free footwear. Not interested in creating just another shoe brand, she has remained true to her founding principles to create perfect vegan shoes without ever compromising on quality, finish or design. All BB shoes are Vegan Society trademarked and PETA approved.
Vanessa Wishart always has an answer to the question “What can you do with this?” She can take the most bizarre and seemingly unredeemable materials (used coffee filters, used pantyhose) and make stunning fashion designs. Vanessa Lee Wishart has been in the Fashion/Costume industry for over 10 years. A graduate of the International Academy of Design and Technology, she introduced her fashion line, Vicerra in 2003, after winning first place in the Art of Fashion competition. Vanessa’s clothing is for men and women who are confident and ultra sexy. Her inspiration for her line is the urban and fetish scenes as well as the world around her. This is seen through her use in color and fabrics used in the garments.
Silver Birches is bringing the art of nature to Moda 360. Under the direction of floral expert Peter Otero, Moda 360 will feature gorgeous splashes of natural beauty. The arrangements will add the setting for Linger Magazine’s Jazz Garden on the runway, and add drama to displays of art an fashion.
Silver Birches is well known for its spectacular event planning, including in its roster of events high profile parties for both the Grammy and Academy Awards. Silver Birches will bring their high class touch to The New Mart and Moda 360 welcomes the partnership this year and into the future to create stunning displays of art and fashion.
Silver Birches is focused on the integration of business and creative thought. Their unique approach to design and production services for corporate events emanates from 35 years of experience in the industry. They incorporate integrity and innovative design concepts to help clients develop a vision that delivers their marketing goals to their target audience.
Creating a fun, compelling and immersive guest experience is the key to any experiential marketing event and their team promotes a smooth creative process. Silver Birches is minority owned with facilities in Pasadena of over thirty thousand square feet of office, production and warehouse space. With a creative and versatile staff of graphic designers, architects, space planners, project managers and production personnel, Silver Birches turns artistic visions into reality.
Andrea Bogdan is a downtown L.A. artist. She generously uses color and motion in her paintings to express the unique life spark of the people she meets and the weird, wonderful and conflicted nature of the human condition. She’s worked in Detroit, the Bronx, Manhattan, Dallas, Prague, Vienna and Los Angeles and extracts personalities for her peculiar artwork mainly from these places. Her art is bold, and is succintly described in her statement: “I choose art because it punches apathy and boredom in the nose and kicks open doors to new worlds like a space ninja.”
Kitty Ferreira is an award winning label that aims to dispel the ‘hippy’ connotations of ethical and sustainable fashion, by juxtaposing city chic with the natural world. The sustainably sophisticated silhouettes are made in London. The multi- product collection has been described by 
Natasha Andreicheva is a London-based Ukrainian-born designer with a passion for ethical design that is both functional and beautiful. Specialising in handbags and purses, Natasha fuses an interest in animal rights and care for the environment with creating elegant one-off pieces. Made from upcycled and vintage materials, her handbags suit a number of occasions, from a casual stroll through the city to a glamorous night out or a wedding.
Since launching in 2009, Swedish designer Cecilia Hammarborg’s collections have become a go-to label for tailored outerwear and statement coats. In true Scandinavian style, clean lines and a minimal aesthetic are the signature of this collection of tailored coats in luxe Italian wools, alpaca and cashmere.Creative design, quality and sustainability are all connected.The designer strives to create garments that sustain:highest quality fashion, and becoming items that will be appreciated in seasons to come, becoming a wardrobe staple.
Bel Esprit's Beautiful World 
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