Have you always wanted to work in fashion? Here is an opportunity to meet some impressive insiders from the fashion industry. Fashion is converging on Stockton for an amazing event and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
On Thursday, September 30th from 5:00-7:00 pm in Danner Hall on the San Joaquin Delta College Campus, four fashion leaders will be presenting their perspectives on the industry, offering advice on getting your foot in the door, sharing insiders' myths about the fashion business and the "real" world of fashion.
"We really want to give access to the fashion industry to Stockton. While Stockton isn't a fashion center, there's no reason we can't create amazing fashion events right here," said Leslie Asfour, Fashion Program Director at Delta College, who, last year, also brought and exclusive showing of the movie, Valentino, the Last Emperor to Stockton, as well as the film producer who held an a Q & A with the audience. She's worked hard to change the fashion landscape of Stockton by using her extensive industry connections to expose, not only her students, but the community to the exciting things going on in the industry. While the students benefit from her trips to San Francisco, Paris and London, they get the most from meeting one-on-one with people who are in the business doing amazing things.
This is the second year that the Fashion Program at San Joaquin Delta College has presented this event. Last year’s event was a standing-room only success. “We were really experimenting with the format and event and had no idea how it would be received,” commented Asfour. “We quickly found out that we had a gold-mine of a format and there was a demand for fashion events in Stockton. Bringing such notables in the industry was a real treat for the community.”
Last year's panel included professionals from many facets of the industry, from styling to modeling to retailing. The insiders shared ideas, thoughts, directions, myths, insider knowledge to a fast track success, and the audience had a lot of fun while learning about the industry from the inside!
While last year’s panel was impressive, this year’s is a “powerhouse.” Bringing industry insiders from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, this year's event will be a dynamic and rare opportunity for those who attend. The Fashion Program is presenting the best of the best in the fashion industry to the audience and bringing some impressive names in the business to Stockton!
This year's panel includes:
MICHAEL PALLADINO:
Michael Palladino has been in the fashion business for over thirty years and is now an Adjunct Professor at both LIM College in NYC and CUNY Kingsborough in Brooklyn.
Michael draws on his extensive background that includes Macy’s, Filene’s Basement, Lord and Taylor, Furrari Furs and his recent post at Henri Bendel as the Director of Client and Studio Services which he held for almost 18 years. It was at Henri Bendel that Michael cultivated a private international clientele and also began working with celebrities and costume designers on wardrobe selections. Some of his clients included Queen Noor of Jordan, Rudy Giuliani, Paula Abdul, Paris Hilton, as well as costume designers Patricia Field and Eric Daman. While at Bendel Michael also did fashion segments on The View, Entertainment Tonight, Sally Jesse Raphael and Access Hollywood. Michael has also been quoted in various publication and newspapers and labeled the “Guru of Fashion”.
He is also on the board of directors of the LIM Fashion Education Foundation and Safe Horizon.
UDUAK ODUOK:
With a passion for law and fashion, extensive experience as a trial lawyer litigating a wide variety of issues in both civil and criminal law; and almost two decades of first hand knowledge and experiences that are as diverse as they are deep in the fashion and entertainment industries (model, journalist, publisher), Uduak Oduok is an attorney who “gets it” when it comes to resolving legal issues for the fashion and entertainment industries.
She has counseled a range of clients from musicians, models, actors and actresses to designers on numerous areas of the law including contracts, business law, fashion and entertainment law, copyright, trademark and intellectual property law.
Uduak earned her B.A. in Speech Communications, with honors, from San Jose State University, with a minor in philosophy. She attended both Georgetown and UC Hastings School of law, obtaining her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) in 2001 from UC Hastings College of the Law. She is also the founder and publisher of Ladybrille Magazine, the first ever publication focused on bringing African fashion and entertainment to the Western masses, Ladybrille. In 2008, her effort was recognized with a feature in the prestigious American Bar Journal. Recently (2010) Uduak was nominated for the Africa Fashion International Africa Fashion Awards for her, “Outstanding Contribution to Fashion Communications.”
She hopes to impart basic fashion and business law principles to Delta College Students to guide them as they prepare to enter the competitive fashion industry.
JENI ELIZABETH:
Celebrity and TV Fashion Stylist, Jeni Elizabeth is based in Los Angeles, California and has trained under some of Hollywood’s best. With over 7 years of experience, her styling can be seen on such stars as Carrie Underwood, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Jeni’s work is everywhere from fashion look books, music videos, and celebrity editorials, to some of the hottest Network Reality Television Shows. Along with these projects, she also enjoys styling her private clients for all occasions.
With an education from FIT in Fashion Merchandising, Marketing and Design, Jeni went on to work at New York’s legendary Boutique, Henri Bendel, where she ran the women’s department for three years. It was there that she met Michael Palladino, the man that would influence her to become one of Hollywood’s best and hardest working stylists in the industry.
Jeni is quickly becoming the “Must Have” in everyone’s fashionable closet before an event. Her fun and crazy personality make her a delight to work with and an instant favorite amongst all her clients. Her passion and devotion are immediately evident and inspire everyone around her. Jeni’s love for her craft gives her the ability to make anyone feel absolutely amazing about themselves after just ten minutes with her.
BILLY HUTCHINSON:
Billy is currently the Assistant Manager of Gump’s in San Francisco.
Billy is also a master Calligrapher/Stationer. He designs elegant stationery, invitations, menu cards and all stationery needs with his own calligraphy for private clients, as well as retail establishments such as Gump’s, ABC in New York, Soolip Paperie and Press in Hollywood, Bloomers and Nest in San Francisco, and Wish List in Stockton. His stationery and calligraphy has been featured in InStyle Weddings, Elegant Bride, 7x7, Surface, and Better Homes and Gardens Magazines, as well a the local San Joaquin Lifestyle Magazine. His clients include fashion designers, celebrities and the elite clients who plan exquisite and elegant events, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and parties for all occasions. He designs invitations, menu cards, place cards, stationary and a variety of interesting fine paper goods.
Billy is a former Delta College Fashion student. Prior to Gump’s, Billy worked as production and design assistant for Slips of San Francisco, and as a manager for Aria Antiques, while also working as a freelance stylists/photo assistant. He spent time in interior design working for the exclusive fine linens and home decor company in their San Francisco location. His experience in fine retailing has allowed for his elegant creativity to become more polished and known.
Attendees at the event will be entertained, inspired and romanced by the personalities of the panel. This year will be even more enlightening, entertaining and insightful!
For pictures and information from last year's event, please visit http://www.deltacollege.edu/div/finearts/fashion/MEETTHEFASHIONINDUSTRYINSIDERS.htm.
For maps, directions, and parking information, visit www.deltacollege.edu
The event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
For additional information, contact Leslie Asfour, Fashion Program Director, San Joaquin Delta College, 209.954.5573, lasfour@deltacollege.edu
