VAGADU: Fusing Fine Art, Fashion and Fun

This past weekend I went up to San Francisco for my friend Joui's art-fashion extravaganza, "Deployment in Wonderland."

Models all dressed up and waiting backstage

Joui's clothing line, VAGADU, mixes fine art and fashion, using recycled materials. The event was a true fusion of the arts, with dancers modeling the clothing (a dynamic departure from the traditional catwalk!) culinary art offerings by ChEfrain and the vibrant paintings of miss Kara Maria, the artist who inspired Joui's latest designs.

Dress rehearsal, with one of Kara Maria's paintings in the background

I am blown away by the dedication and vision that Joui brings to her work. It takes a lot of faith to put art out into the world, and even more to co-create with such a large team of people and trust that everything will fall into place.

Some of the models being sassy backstage

It was fun to be with Joui at the "finish line" and see her light up as the magic and flow took over after so many months of hard work.

Watching Joui through this process has taught me more about what it takes to bring our visions into the world. Trust. Hard work. Then a lot of laughing and letting go…

Joui and Andrew enjoying the blissful afterglow of the show