Denveralamode.com, October 2009

GALLERY: Denver’s Rising Stars take to the runway

Ten of Colorado’s top new labels showed off their styles Friday night at Fashion Group International of Denver’s Fashion by Design Rising Star Runway Gala.

Children’s designer Holli Gibson of LamanBlu was named the 2009 Rising Star winner at the fifth biannual event. David Jacobs, the founder of Spyder Active Sports, received the first-ever Star Legend award.

Held at the Mercedes-Benz of Westminster’s showroom, models strutted the catwalk in designs from the finalists, who included:

Susan Kiely/SK Designs – Women With A Cause
Andrea Li – Andrea Li
Stephanie Onmacht — Smooch
Lisa Welch/Julie Hill – BornFit
Maureen de Haan — Denver Couture
Phoebe Stapleton — Sierra Design
Rustin Coburn/Noah Price – DVLP Clothing
Holli Gibson – LamanBlu
Eulanda Sanders — Yo-San Studio
Josh Holleb — Totem Industries
Retail Winner: Mona Lucero — Mona Lucero
Interior Winner: Jeanne Connolly – Vintage Renewal
The event was a fund-raiser for fashion student scholarships throughout Colorado and education outreach programs.