Emerging talents kick of Los Angeles Fashion Week

Image: Ian Morrison for Roark Collection A/w 2010 Look book

Later this week the festivities and the fashion shows will officially begin as Los Angeles Fashion Week gets underway.  Leading the charge for the Fall 2011 season will be an eclectic group of cutting edge Angelinos who are changing the world's perception of what it means to have California style including:

Roark Collective: More multi-media fusion project than traditional fashion label, Roark Collective is redefining what it means to create a collection, incorporating music, film and photography into each "style project" that serves as background for remarkably fresh menswear. Past seasons have shown a variety of unstructured knits, leathers, and separates that feel at home on either coast. Roark Collective Fall 2011 collection will show on Thursday March, 10 at Ace Gallery.

Lavuk: Clean, sleek, stylish without a trace of hippie, LAVUK designer Natasha Gindin has succeeded at creating an eco-conscious line that is actually interesting.  Produced entirely in Los Angeles using "sustainable materials such as organic cotton, tencel, hemp and dead stock silks" Lavuk pieces prove the industry can evolve without giving up style. Lavuk Fall 2011 Collection will show on Friday, March 11th at Ace Gallery.

 Mike Vensel S/S 2011 Image: S. Whittle for Style Wylde

Mike Vensel: Forget everything you think you know about The Fashion Show runaway* Mike Vensel, his style reality has nothing to do with reality TV, and everything to do with creating unique, inspired pieces that strike a fitting balance between earth goddess and urban warrior.  Mike Vensel Fall 2011 collection will show on Friday March 11th at Ace Gallery.

Jen Awad: For Spring 2011 Jen Awad showed  a beach-babes gone bad collection that was as flirty as it was dangerous. Never short on inspiration or willingness to push boundaries, Awad has been building major buzz among Hollywood stars and top models alike. Jen Awad Fall 2011 collection will show on Saturday March 12th at Ace Gallery.

For more information about Concept LA, and LA Fashion Week please visit the official website.

* Honestly, can anyone blame him for quitting Bravo's lame-Project Runway retred? All those forced quips from Iman and  robotic insults from Isaac would send even the most zen like designer heading for the hills, or at least it should.