New York Fashion Week Fitting

Today's fitting was unreal. It was literally perfect. The lineup of the models worked flawlessly. The shoes that Moses in Kenya made were a range from sizes 8-10. Each pair fit one of the models. The clothing pieces were all different sizes as well (ranging from 0-4). The clothing fit the models perfectly. The looks matched the physical features of each girl. We had models from the Ukraine, Sudan, and Mexico. Rachael Redd styled the show. She did a phenomenal job! Amy Kent kept the list of models organized and documented their looks. Elizabeth Bostwick, Amanda Wood, Lily Mertz, and Flannery Wilson helped with social media.  Ashley Little (Material Concepts) masterfully completed all of the alterations. She is amazing at sewing and fitting models!

The looks are all perfectly arranged for the show. We cannot wait until Sunday!

Rachael selecting shoes to fit the models

A model from Ukraine in sunshine dress 

The model from Sudan. I saw her trying on clothing for another designer beside me. I asked her if she recognized the fabric on my rack. She said she has a dress in the print shown on her skirt at home (in Sudan). Her mother in Sudan wears a dress in the same spun died fabric as the top she is modeling.

We were here favorite designer because wearing her clothes made her feel "at home." We love her!!!

Model from Mexico flown in for NYFW!

Ashley Little (Material Concepts) working on altering pants

A few of the final looks on the models. 

God is going before us! Things are going so smoothly! Thank you to all the people who flew up to New York to help with the J&J show!

Design Inspiration NYC | Pop Art

Pop art is the inspiration for my Spring/Summer 2014 collection. Andy Warhol's artwork created with bright colors with sleek lines and underlying simplicity is the concept that I am using to dress the body. The colors of pop art have inspired several brands. Kate Spade is one of the most inspirational brands. She uses a happy, bright color pallet that pops. The colors of the African fabrics I chose for my Spring/Summer 2014 collection are all brights. I added black and white to create clean lines and frame the colorful African prints. We aim to evoke a philosophy of balance through our clothing. Playful patterns and clean lines. Bold colors and sleek simplicity.

Kate Spade mannequin in her Madison Avenue Flagship Store

Andy Warhol for Perrier 

A cupcake shop in NYC displaying Pop art colors

Judith & James colors and prints

Andy Warhol flower painting

and announcing....

the 2014 Spring/Summer New York Fashion Week Runway Show Invitation 

Two cultures combined

 In New York you can find anything. There are people everywhere. The way people walk and talk and live are all different. Variety is king in NYC. The culture of the city is so diverse that I am always stimulated and never bored. Today, I overheard a group of men beside me all speaking in Kiswahili. I smiled while crossing the four lanes of traffic beside me just thinking about Swahili and Kenya. Kenya was my home for part of my high school and college years. Home is where the heart is, but for me, home can be multiple places. Hearing the men speak in swahili made me feel at home in the land I love. That same day, I felt at home in Grand Central Station (pictured below). The large American flag made me feel a sense of pride. Pride in where I come from and who I am as an American designer.

I could not be happier than I am now. The way I live with two cultures combined is beautiful and wonderful and mysterious. I have two halves of my heart: Kenya and the US. The two halves equal one whole. Meet Judith & James : two cultures married into one beautiful concept that is conceptually pleasing to the US eye, but consciously dedicated to revealing the strength and dignity of widows we train and employ out of poverty in the slums of Kenya.

Kesia, one of the widows who made the Spring/Summer 2014 Collection that we are showing in NYFW in a few days!

Follow us on twitter: @JudithandJames