Photo: (Stay By Mar)
In New York, fashion is queen. So when Fashion Week comes around, the city's stylish boys and girls bow at the altars of hot designers like Marc Jacobs, Gwen Stefani and Christian Siriano. But this year, there's a newish clothier in town, and she cares just as much about good as she does about garments...
Her name's Marianne Angeli Rodriguez and she's the designer of the fresh new resort label, Stay by Mar. For her latest collection, on display during NYFW, Rodriguez teamed up with Care For Kenya to create a resort line that not only sampled Kenya's traditional styles but helped to employ its people.
"I took a couple months to teach sewing and design classes to up-and-coming fashion designers in Kenya," said Rodriguez. "And it was these women, many of whom struggled with HIV/AIDS, who helped me to create Stay By Mar's latest capsule collection." Complete with tank tops, kaftans, cosmetic bags and kitenges, the Care For Kenya collection is lightweight, vibrant and totally sustainable.
Proceeds from the sale of her Care For Kenya collaboration will go directly to the organization and hopefully "keep the Kenyan women employed through the upcoming seasons." But for now--standing among a crowd at Nolcha Fashion Week --Rodriguez is happy she can make a different type of statement amid the fashion week frenzy. "My teacher once told me that as a designer I have influence. So if I can pave the way [for other designers] to do a little good, then I'm happy."
Check out some of the designs, and take action below:
Photo: Designs of the "Dream Dress" by students in Kenya (Stay By Mar/Marianne Rodriguez)
Photo: Students in Kenya designing (Stay By Mar/Marianne Rodriguez)
Photo: Designs by Stay By Mar (Stay By Mar/Marianne Rodriguez)
Photo: Designs by Stay By Mar (Stay By Mar/Marianne Rodriguez)
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