DANCING DOLLS UK'S DESIGNER PAULINAH EBOH- SAMPSON IS NOMINATED IN THE EMERGING DESIGNERS CATERGORY FOR THE MIDLANDS FASHION DESIGNERS AWARDS

O my days! I have been nominated alongside 7 other independant labels, for the Midlands Fashion Designers awards in the Emerging designer catergory.

The show sponsored by Toni & Guy, Pitcher & Piano, Tights Please, LoveLula.com and Lipsy takes place on the 21st October 2011 at the Fazeley Studios in Birmingham and will be the second time for me to showcase creations from my line at this event.

In October, last year I showcased 7 pieces from my first collection 'Doll Domination' for Dancing Dolls UK.

Although, there was a platform for for Emerging and Independant designers to present their work at this event. There was no recognition prizes awarded to designers in this catergory. The opportunity was to give these designers the chance to raise brand awareness for their line.

However, following this presentation from Dancing Dolls UK, I had pieces from my collection snapped up by Alexis Knox- one of the shows judges and stylist for the Clothes Show Live 2010 and subsquently showcased on the main stage theatre at the NEC in December last year.


Dancing Dolls UK @ Clothes LIve 2010. Image: Andy Baines

This time round, I will be showing 6 pieces from my second collection 'The Beautiful Ugly' A/W 20111 alongside: Tonson Sarayi, 'Luna' by Tanya Kornijenko, Angeleen Masih, Emma Curtis, Lueianna Wang and 'Klue' by Kelly Ann by with models supplied by Alan Sharman agency.

A/W2011 'The Beautiful Ugly' Model: Weoannalyn Cutchin by Gregory Mason

The collection- a collaboration between Dark art airbrushing and Dancing Dolls UK- inspired primarily inspired by voodoo dolls and the voodoo culture with subliminal messages of S&M and slavery, centres on deconstructed and juxtaposition pieces combined in unfinished raw edges, heavily spiked/studded and graffiti blemished garments in fabrictions of signature Italian jersey, silk and lace. All within a palette of petrol blue, warm cream, rich red wine and midnight black

For more information on Dancing Dolls UK. Log onto www.dancingdollsuk.com

Tickets for the Midlands Fashion Designer's award can be purchased on line at www.myfashiondesigners.co.uk, starting from £10.00

Credits

Photographers: Andy baines, Gregory Mason

Models: Nehanda Ferguson, Weoannalyn Cutchin

Dancing Dolls UK....more than cloting for dance. Promotional video 2011. Directed by Paulinah N. Eboh-Sampson

So as you all may or may not know. I made my directorial début with my 2^nd promotional video campaign for Dancing Dolls UK in a short video titled:

Dancing Dolls UK....more than clothing for dance. Promotional campaign 2011 filmed and edited to a track performed by Christina Agulera feat Nicki Minaj, called 'Woo Hoo!' from her album 'Bionic'

Considering, all the drama that ensued the run up to the 2 days of filming, I am cannot be more ecstatic at the end result. I love it soooo much.

I am immensely proud of myself for this one. And, yes I am bragging when I am stating- again, that I created the concept, styled the shoot, chose the location, complied the team, arranged the scenes.... and I even sat for the a painful, eternity-feeling amount of hours, with Paul to go through the raw footage to settle on definite sections (including some fancy looking outtakes) to make the final cut.

To combine all my creative direction into making the project work, was quite exhilarating. I did learn a whole lot more things about video making through it mind.....like creating a story board and actually, writing it down, so that it makes sense to someone else other than yourself, namely the videographer!!!

I think I drove Paul Smith (the main camera man) nuts- who captured all the footage and edited the video from the campaign- trying to explain from the story board in my head, the type of direction I was going for with the project.

I think I also drove him mad making him re-edit, and re-edit, especially as it takes a mini eternity for him to privately upload the video to You-tube each time, for me to say yeah or nay to new additions or effects added.

But well done him, for persevering till the end and using his undeniable ability to edit the video remarkably, adding special effects, that I had never even considered, what more knew would give the video the finish it did.

In fact, well done to all the team that came on board across the 2 days, to produce such a fantastic piece for Dancing Dolls UK. I could have not made the small ideas in  my head come to life without you all.

So coupled with a few cheeky images shot on location by Keddy Davies. Here it is! Enjoy xoxo

Dancing Dolls UK ripping the runway

Model: Elena Luzaic by Andy Sudbury. FotoModa. April 2011

Whilst, fashion shows are great for showcasing an up an coming brand such as Dancing Dolls UK; getting your name out to a wide number of people all at once.

The reality is they can also be quite costly- as the fees that are required for some of these shows, although nowhere near the thousands of pounds required to showcase at say, London Fashion Week or to put on your own fashion show- still, do add up.

They are also time consuming, attending castings and fitting or what ever else the organiser, may feel you need to attend to aid with the smooth running of the show. Not to mention, the pressure, you may feel to add extra show pieces to your collection, solely for the purpose of a runway show.

It is definitely, easy to get caught up with doing show after show and losing sight of why you are doing them.

Therefore, I have become very strategic in which shows, I sign up to.

Once I have showcased one collection at a Fashion show. I will not show the same collection again, if approached by the same organiser.

It is nothing personal, as I have all these organisers to thank for providing me with the opportunity to present my work, but I don't want to over expose my line, and exhaust the collection. So sorry to those, who invited Dancing Dolls UK to take part in their show, in which I have declined.

Having said all of this. At the moment, I am still very much heavily involved in Fashion Shows. Its all systems go for promoting Dancing Dolls UK. “Doll Domination” is in effect.

Now after a 3 month break period of Fashion Showcases, Dancing Dolls UK has begun phase 2 of ripping the runway.

First stop was Leicester, to take part in FASHION GIVES BACK- a charity event for Zimbabwe’s forgotten children at The BMW Styner showrooms on 19^th August 2011. The turn out was amaze! Likewise the response to my collection. Good times.

Its Dancing Dolls UK's number 1 fan: me

And yesterday, I was honoured to be part of ArtsFest 2011 first ever fashion show http://www.artsfest.org.uk/, after being head hunted for the event, which took place at the Council House, Victoria Sq. An amazing venue, that funnily enough I had wished, way back when I had to go back to work as an over grown, overworked and underpaid waitress- I had considered it a good venue and wished to showcase at. L.G (Life's good).

Hopefully, I will be getting some images from the event....and some PR from it!

Next stop, Leeds Fashion show on the 14^th October for the 'Dress Me Beautiful' 2011 http://www.leedsfashionshow.co.uk/. Wooo hoo! Excited. Followed by Liverpool Fashion week (Press night) http://www.liverpoolfashionweek.co.uk/ Eek!.....and then back to my home town. West Middy- for the MFDA, even more excited!

Bwoi. I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.

Promotional material for 'Dress me beautiful' 2011. 14th Oct

Promotional material for Midlands Fashion designers awards

Hope you all can make it! xoxo