Design by U, By Fatima Samad Fashion Art Exhibit at the Fashion Center

New York, NY, July 14, 2012 – YA IndieGround House Management, LLC is proud to announce DESIGN BY U, by FATIMA SAMAD on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at FASHION CENTER SPACE FOR PUBLIC ART, located at 215 West 38 th Street, within the Fashion District in NYC. FATIMA SAMAD will present her fashion art exhibition from DESIGN BY U with the assistance of TORI FAMUYIWA as creative director and TOMMY MONTAÑEZ as art director.

Fatima Samad is an American born Ghanaian currently based in New York City. Fatima always had a love for fashion. At an early age, she was inspired by her Ghanaian culture and family, and began adorning herself with unusual garments and pieces. She was always the one that stood out in a crowd. It always came naturally for her. She is fortunate to come from an entrepreneurial family where she acquired the knowledge and skills necessary for running a business. She credits her talented husband who is a designer and artist for heightening her creative abilities by introducing her to art. Fatima creates bold one of a kind pieces. She combines natural artistic environments of the East and West, old and new, contemporary and traditional and rustic and refined; to construct attractive pieces that will move your soul.

Fatima has showcased her work at Africa Fashion Week New York, El Barrio Museum (NY), International African Arts Festival (NY), Dance Africa Bazaar (NY), Odunde African Street Festival (PA), and The Style Exhibition (SC). She has also shown her work in Atlanta, Maryland, and New Jersey. Fatima’s work has been featured in Face2Face Africa magazine ,Okay Africa, Fibre 2 Fashion, The Network Journal, The Fashion Records Magazine, Cultural Toast, African Creature, Shadders, Fab Magazine, Manifesto Part 2, Fly Girls, Ms Hale, Galaxy TV, and many others.

Tori Famuyiwa is the owner and creator of Toriola and a creative director with over 14 years of experience in the fashion industry, including show production, visual merchandising and working as a freelance stylist.Tori worked as the creative director for American Eagle for 10 years before moving on to Victoria’s Secret, where he served as their flagship creative director before venturing out on his own. He has 10+ years of styling and show production experience under his belt. Some of his fusion couture designs have been featured in Bloomingdale's, Africa Fashion Week, Essence Magazine, Munaluchi Bridal Magazine, and other fashion publications.

Tommy Montañez is an art sculptor, graphic artist, illustrator, and lighting expert born and raised in New York City. As an accomplished artist, he has worked in the graphic art field for over 30 years and has been recognized for his logo designs and window displays for companies. Tommy’s focus and dedication as an artist in the fields of Arts and Graphic Design includes accomplishments as a Graphic Artist/Illustrator for the Liberty Island Game in 1984, a game board which was sold throughout the country. Recently, Tommy donated three pieces of United States Postal Stamp figurines to The Firemen Museum of New York, The Secaucus Library located in NJ and The Port Authority of NY & NJ. The figurines depict the Firemen Stamp reflecting the event of September 11, 2001, as an American I will never forget. This event is presented and supported by the Fashion Center Business Improvement District.

Sponsored by YA IndieGround House Management, Tori Famuyiwa, and Tommy Montañez. Private reception is from 5:00pm – 6:30pm. Exhibit is free to the public and available for viewing through Tuesday, July 31, 2012.

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT FATIMA SAMAD VISIT: www.designbyujewelry.blogspot.com