Aya Yoruha
Aya Yoruha is from a lovely place called Hong Kong in China. It took Aya quite some years to finally make up her mind on becoming a fashion designer. Once her mind was made she attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising to learn about fashion design. Aya was trying to establish her own style, fusing Chinese and Japanese style together and mixing it with a Western feel. Aya is very excited to show people what she has been designing. It will make Aya’s day just to see people with a smile on their faces when they see her designs.

Cake Carlos and Patrick Steber of Kajan Padraig
Cake Carlos and Patrick Steber have been designing together as Kajan Padraig since 2009. Our passion is couture and have made gowns for the annual San Francisco Opera Gala, weddings, and other events in the Bay Area and California. We also create and offer a full womenswear collection to compliment the made to order designs. Our philosophy on fashion is to create beautiful clothes that make women feel confident, regardless of trend.
nikki use photo from interview

Catalina Alcala
Born and raised in California, graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. After exploring distant parts of the world, she began working with companies throughout the Bay Area as a freelance designer. Assisting both technical and design teams, she is sought for her sketching ability to her creative writing. Her personal style and creations are driven by color and a quirky edge. She debuts her first collection at the Give Back Gala.

Ericka Engelman of Ericka Engelman Couture
Ericka Engelman is a 1978 graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. She believes all women deserve beautiful clothes that really fit, not just their bodies but their lifestyles as well. She has been designing for an international clientele for the past 25 years at her salon, Ericka Engelman Couture located in beautiful Carmel California. You can contact her at www.erickaengelmancouture.com.

Indu Arora of RockChiq
Indu Arora is the Creative Director, Owner and Lead Fashion Designer of RockChiq. RockChiq is an urabn sophisticated colorful Ready To Wear line for women of all ages. Indu comes from India and has lived the South Bay for more than 13 years. Designing her passion. She gets inspired by all genres of people and her surroundings. Her motto of RockChiq is “BE FASHIONABLE!!”.

Jennifer Ly
Jennifer Ly is a fashion designer form California, who designs childrenswear professionally. This is her first womenswear collection. She designs with a feminine and modern point of view using simple clean lines and a variety of texture through fabric or application. Her goal is creating clothing for women that have an effortless sexy and sophisticated confidence.

Jess Lindgren
After growing up in rural Minnesota Jessi Lindgren headed to California to study at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Jess has been producing made to order designs over the past couple of years. She recently created a Ready To Wear line that will debut at this year’s Give Back Gala. Her collection brings sophisticated color palettes and silhouettes to life.

Tiana Vega
Born and raised in Northern California, Tiana Vega initiated her interest in the fashion industry at a youthful age.While attending FIDM, Tiana turned her design interest towards evening gowns, bridal wear, and custom pieces. Upon completing FIDM, Tiana has participated in a number of fashion shows, gained publicity through several magazines such as Sactown and Sacramento, and also produced the Designing Dreams Fashion show at the Memorial Auditorium which became the largest fashion show in Sacramento to date.

Varunee of Sincerely, Varunee
Varunee, a Thai Language Instructor-Cum-Fashion Designer, is from Bangkok Thailand. Upon graduation from university with a degree in English and Linguistics, it seemed her life was set as a teacher, but her love for fashion design intervened and the inevitable prevailed. Another graduation, this time from fashion design school, Brooks College in Long Beach California meant Varunee was on her way. Varunee has progressed into a multi-talented personality with her RTW designs and her custom creations branded under the label Sincerely, Varunee.

Wilson Kong
Wilson Kong is a product development graduate from the FIDM professional designation program. He also has a bachelor’s in business. He is currently employed full-time in the Sourcing department of Levis. This is his first collection.

Y. Sharon Peng
Y. Sharon Peng is Taiwanese designer local to the San Francisco Bay Area. Having graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising with a portfolio emphasis on Theatre Costume Design, she specializes in custom design work, tailoring to client specifications. She has a love for detailed construction, and her designs reflect this with stylistic seamlines and embellishments, drawing inspiration from history and culture. Sharon’s resume, samples of her work, and contact information can be found at her website http://heulangel-designs.net

ABOUT: The Give It Back Gala. The event will take place on Saturday April 2, 2011 at 6:00PM at the J.W. Marriott Ballroom in San Francisco, CA. To inquire about Press Passes please contact Nicole Lindgren nicole@stylebust.com. Thanks to Owen Geronimo of SFFAMA and Jo Gruszka for their event production sponsorship.

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