In my eyes, El Paso has always been known for the borderland culture. From its border cuisine to expansive city views, El Paso is unique from the rest of Texas. Now, it appears to be making space for individual fashion culture. In recent years the city has embraced the growth of local fashion designers. Here’s a look at three brands that are gaining buzz.HYONÖSISDesigner Nathaniel Espinoza is an El Paso Community College media advertising major whose work has been seen on several celebrities.
Lowriders siguen plasmando huella
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EL PASO, TEXAS – Nos llaman la atención de vez en cuando. Son carros de los años 50 a los 80, con llantas pequeñas, colores llamativos como amarillo y morado. Los Lowrider siguen una tradición que refleja la herencia Chicana en la frontera hoy en día. “Es algo bueno para la comunidad en los jóvenes que en vez de andar haciendo cosas malas es mejor trabajar en un carro”, dijo Eduardo Becker, un aficionado a los Lowrider que trabaja en atención a clientes. Fue este mensaje uno de los principales objetivos que llevó a los miembros de clubs Lowrider a reunirse en las instalaciones administrativas de El Paso Community College en marzo para dar conocer su importancia en la comunidad.
Border tattoo artists pleased to see their work gaining ‘fine art’ recognition
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In recent years, tattoos have transitioned from taboo to mainstream and are now being embraced by the art world, much like graffiti. “Tattoos are a part of pop culture now,” said Chris “Drts” Aragon of Sun City Tattoos. “They are so common nowadays that they actually make people more approachable.”
The growing popularity of tattoos is evident in reality television shows such as “Miami Ink,” “Ink Master,” and “Tattoo Nightmares.” Some advertisers are now also legitimizing tattoos by using tattooed models to sell products like perfume and clothing. “I think tattoos are seen in society with a more open mind nowadays,” said Myker Yrrobali, another artist at Sun City Tattoos.
‘Scandal’ fashion hits the racks in El Paso
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By Estefania Y. Seyffert
EL PASO – Fans of the hit ABC TV series “Scandal” have been delighted to find the fashion of their favorite character available in a local store. Scandal joined forces with The Limited Store’s head designer Elliot Staples, costume designer Lyn Paolo, and actress Kerri Washington, to create an affordable collection reflecting the style of Washington’s character, Olivia Pope. “People want to dress like Olivia Pope, they want to be Olivia Pope,” said Sarah Perez, sales lead manager at The Limited at Sunland Park Mall
Although most of the collection is made to resemble the type of clothing Olivia Pope would wear, some highlighted pieces such as a crème wool coat and a charcoal jacket are as seen on the show. Some pieces have tags that inform shoppers which articles of clothing have already been seen in the series
Fashion Merchandising student Claudia Garza at Texas State University in San Marcos explains how the extensive detail and neutral color palette gives the career clothes a more feminine feel. “Sometimes people think career clothes or professional attire would age somebody, however this collection brings about some modern twists,” Garza said.
Bhutanese visitor sees home in unique Texas university architecture
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EL PASO –Sweating from a three-hour rehearsal of George Fredric Handel’s opera Acis and Galatea, Bhutanese performer Tshering Goen, dressed in blues, yellows, and deep reds began to prepare for a second round of practice. Goen, a director of the Bhutan Royal Academy of Performing Arts, came here to perform at the University of Texas at El Paso, a campus filled with buildings inspired by Bhutanese architecture. The Kingdom of Bhutan is at the eastern end of the Himalayas in South Asia. “I feel as if I am back in Bhutan,” Goen said with calmness in his voice as he donned an animal mask to continue with the rehearsal of a classic Western opera in Bhutanese dress. Related story and video: Love and Death visit Handel’s Acis and Galatea in a Bhutanese cremation field
The Bhutanese interpretation of the classic Handel opera fit perfectly with the architectural history of this campus, nestled in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains in the Chihuahuan desert.