House of Fashion: Current Designers at House of Fashion

ISHKA by Sharon Donohoe-Gilin (Sammamish, WA)

Sharon grew up in Ireland and graduated from The Grafton Academy of Dress Design in Dublin. Sharon was a designer with a premier designer co-op called "The Design Centre" which is a similar concept to the House of Fashion, in Dublin and Cork. In the intervening years, she's been involved in Illustration, Graphic & Interior Design.

Sharon has also been busy raising 4 children along with her husband, Jack. They moved to Seattle in January 2006 and when her youngest child started kindergarten 2 years ago, she went back to her first love of fashion design and have been successfully producing 2 collections a year.

Her aesthetic is like her logo - ISHKA. (Uisce - meaning water in Irish).

Soft flowing lines with draping and gathering that work to compliment all shapes and ages. Her signature fabric to work with is soft lightweight jersey knits that also combine with silks and faux fur in some pieces. The color palette for fall is light shades of ivory, pale grey, blush pink and darker shades of charcoal and black.

She also has some vibrant multi-color silky prints that work wonderfully in loose kaftan shapes and tops with wide sleeves. One of her favorite pieces in this collection is her loose draping cardigan / jacket with a faux fur collar.

KREATI-KA by Kathy Sabin-Mensah (Bellevue, WA)

Kreati-Ka is a women's private label collection featuring high-end office, casual, and day into evening styles. Kathy Sabin-Mensah is a French designer living in Seattle. The company name, meaning "Creature of Kathy" from the Creole language of her native island of Martinique, describes just what she has to offer: the creatures of beautifully varied colors, textures, and moods from her imagination which clothe her clients in fabulously unique style.

www.kreati-ka.com

NUTTI YOGINI by Jessica Alexander (Tacoma, WA)

Nutti Yogini is a sustainable yoga line of clothing and jewelry inspired by healing and transforming your spirit. It is a new collection that combines the power of "OM" and the healing nature of gemstones that create powerful symbols such as intuition, cleansing and wisdom traits we want to possess. Each delicate necklace designed in sterling silver or 14k gold filled using properties in stones such as Mexican fire opal, pyrite and Smokey topas remain a gentle daily reminder to remain true to ourselves and the healing power that lies within us.

www.nuttiyogini.com

and lastly

KATE CHRISMAN by Kate Chrisman (Seattle, WA)

Following an eight-year career in Architecture, Kate Chrisman was drawn to apparel design for the fascinating and challenging coupling of technical precision and artistic vision. The Kate Chrisman Collection produces the highest quality of garments essential to every woman's wardrobe, allowing her to transition seamlessly from a professional wear to a social attire. Well rounded to meet the needs of any classic wardrobe. Kate Chrisman provides its customer with the special pieces that will define her style.

www.katechrisman.com