Artopia dresses you for spring and summons Katherine Dunham’s dancing spirit.
- Photo by Chris Mullins
- Juanita Carter leads Artopia’s awakening.
Call it a throwback.
In the beginning, Artopia’s fashion show gave designers all the love. The past few years, it showcased boutiques. Saturday, though, Kansas City designers reclaim the runway – a resurgence that intensifies the local spotlight.
“For me, this year it’s about making sure the local designers are supported again,” says Courtney Perry, who’s directing Artopia’s fashion show for the second year. “After all, Artopia is all about focusing on supporting the artist.”
Perry has been an Artopia staple since its inception and is no stranger to embracing the individuals fueling the city’s creative scene. She’s the jewelry and accessory designer behind House of Cochon, and she directs other shows, including Fashion on the Fringe. With her husband, Alex Perry, she turned an abandoned church into the Arts Asylum, a visual- and performing-arts center.
For this show, she has sought variety from several strong designers. The resulting lineup: Wendy McMillian of WM Couture, a veteran designer known for her fun party dresses; Michelle Kleineweber of Little Shell Designs, who transforms sheer fabrics into youthful, feminine looks; and Emma Lammers, a student making a name for herself with her London-circa-1960 flair.
