2013 New York Update

Hello Gals about the Globe! We've been on hiatus most of 2013, because this little Gal about the Globe moved to New York City. During the last year, I've written for a few websites covering fashion week, travel and even e-commerce. I've also been completing my MFA in Creative Nonfiction at The New School University in New York City. Additionally, I also wrote the Rome Today Tours website and did I ever tell you I turned Gal about the Globe into a nonprofit organization in 2012? Yes, one of my dreams is to find some money to send more women around the world. Finally, I've also been working on a couple of other projects. As you know, I've always been a snarky writer, and as a result I've been writing/taking sketch comedy workshops at The Magnet Theater. It's been so much fun and I'm excited about putting up a show with my sketch writing comrades at the end of this workshop. Anywhoo, hopefully 2014 will be an even better year, but I don't know how it could possibly top the last two. Wait a minute, yes I do; Why not head to Argentina for a month in the new year, to not only get some more writing done, but to hablo my espanol, dance some sexy ass tango and eat some of the best steak in the world, among other things.

Contribute to Kate's Documentary about The Pay Gap:

Log on to The Pay Gap Kickstarter page to get involved.

South by Southwest 2012 is Here

Last year, South by Southwest (SXSW) featured the first fashion component in conference history, “Style X,”. The event included a tour of Austin’s emerging boutiques, runway shows with SXSW musicians-turned-models, and major sponsors like Keds and American Apparel, as well as panels with industry professionals.

This year, Style X is back and it’s free for everybody! The event runs from March 16 – 17 from noon- 8 p.m., at the Austin Convention Center. Make sure you download the lookbook before heading to Austin, for the event schedule and exclusive information.

And don’t forget to check out my slideshow (above) for a taste of last year’s Style X. Hope to see you there!

SAT to NYC Via Fashion!

Photos by Bryan Rindfuss

Dreams do come true. San Antonio native Mandi Gallegos featured her new Mikailee Alton Collection at the PLITZS New York City Fashion Week, “Designer Showcase Presentation,” in which only 36 emerging designers were chosen to participate. The event, showcased in Manhattan’s Fashion district, coincided with the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and allowed up-and-coming designers to affordably produce their presentation to industry professionals, investors, boutiques, buyers, and the media, among other interests.

A personable woman with an infectious energy, Gallegos claims that while she’s returned to San Antonio, she still hasn’t awoken from her dream. With a large dimply smile, she enthusiastically explained, “Honestly, it still hasn’t hit me! Even during the show, I was like, ‘I’m here, right? Is this real? I’m not dreaming?’ I thought for sure I would’ve broken down and cried but it really was so fast and it turned out to be everything I thought it would be.”

The dream began just a few weeks before the event, in mid-January, when Gallegos was “supposed to be taking a break,” or as much of a break as a single mother of three boys can take. “I don’t know how they [PLITZS] found me, but they emailed me directly,” Gallegos recalled. Just a few years ago, Gallegos never thought she’d live to see another day, much less live to see her dreams come true. In 2007, she was diagnosed with a rare brain illness and began chemo treatments. While lying in her hospital bed, she promised her parents that if she were to survive, she’d make them proud. Gallegos’s illness is in remission now, and she actually attributes her success as a designer to her regular doctor visits during recovery.

“When I walked out of the doctor’s office one day, I noticed that there was a mannequin in a window display and I didn’t know what it was. I walked in [the building] and the lady greeted me with, ‘Welcome to the International Academy of Design and Technology.’” Gallegos was given a tour of the school and by the time she reached the second floor, she was in love. She began school the following week. She continued working fulltime as a purchasing agent for Toshiba Business Solutions during the day, a company she’s been with for ten years now. “I’ve pretty much been on the go since my last chemo treatment. I never looked back. I kept going,” she said proudly.

However, Gallegos’s story gets, well, more interesting, as she could not participate in San Antonio Fashion Week (FWSA) a local, low-key event in comparison to New York Fashion Week (what I like to call Fashion Week with training wheels). She was anxious to feature her work, but just couldn’t make it happen. “I wanted to do it. They asked me if I would do it; I just wasn’t financially ready. I didn’t have enough money at that time.” In addition, Gallegos explained that she was “in the back” at FWSA—hard to believe considering that while showing her Mikailee Alton Collection in New York, she was not only approached by an investor, but was also contacted by a Project Runway casting director, who congratulated her and asked her to submit her work to participate in the upcoming season. Gallegos hasn’t decided whether or not to vie for a spot on Project Runway, and admitted with laughter, “I don’t know. I’m still a little nervous about it. I’m still contemplating about whether or not I want to do it!”

I asked Gallegos if she was already thinking about the next New York Fashion Week. But while she hopes to attend, she has her eyes set on producing a show in a place where all her dreams began: San Antonio, Texas. “I really think that having it here would be a blessing to me. If New York wants me, of course I’ll go. But I would really love to show here, a really big collection.”

The Mikailee Alton Collection features a unique array of dresses and skirts made in silk chiffon, baby silk and bridal satin in colorful hues including burgundy, magenta, pink champagne and teal. Most of the looks’ clean lines are accented with hand-made burnt pedals on the chest, back and neck area, while jackets are made with narrow sleeves and flared trunks.