Janelle Arnold presented a collection of 10 looks from her newly launched ‘Dorotheaa’ fashion line at the event.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Fashion Week is about bringing the fashion community together. As part of that, the work of a young emerging designer based in Portland hit the runway.
While Janelle Arnold may be starting small, she’s already inspiring some big changes. The 24-year-old has always had a flair for fashion.
“I remember even being in elementary school and drawing little figures and outfits — they weren’t great, but it was a start,” Arnold explained.
From those humble beginnings, the Grant High School graduate went on to study fashion design at Marist College in New York. A year ago, she launched her own fashion line called Dorotheaa, featuring bold and highly colorful designs that focus on diversity and inclusion.
Arnold said that this collection, and what it represents, was an important mission for her.
“Just for one thing, growing up I didn’t see a lot of diversity in the fashion industry,” she said. Arnold said that he hopes to bring change to the industry.
The first step toward change began with a 10-look collection that was showcased on the runway at Portland Fashion Week. Bold and colorful looks illustrate Arnold’s passion for diversity in sizes and styles.
“I love having clothes for all women of all body parts,” she said.
Making fashion an option for everyone is what event organizers like to see on the catwalk.
“Dorotheaa’s collection doesn’t just focus on the diversity of colors and fabrics, and the models were intentionally chosen to highlight that diversity,” said Liz Starke, host of Portland Fashion Week.
While the event marked Arnold’s debut collection, it certainly won’t be his last. She’s heading to San Diego Fashion Week in October to show off a new collection, hoping to inspire others along the way.
“Who’s potentially younger or coming after me,” Arnold said, “then (they) see that, ‘Oh, this is something I can pursue, this is something I can do, because I see people who look like me or They have similar backgrounds to mine.
RELATED: Colorblind Designer Sees the Full Spectrum of His Work for the First Time
RELATED: Sneaker Week PDX Gives Designers A Chance To Showcase Their Latest Work
Source: www.kgw.com