Designers on the Rise

by Jennifer Sauer

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Couture with an edge

Freelance designer and stylist Aisha Amore Perez likes to be behind the scenes, rather than in front of the camera. Perez, age 30 (“but my stage age is always 26”), is a former model for FUBU, one of the first hip-hop clothing lines, and a dancer for such bands as the Wu-Tang Clan. She learned styling tips from the pros at photo and video shoots, but always longed to pull together her own looks. Now she does. Perez describes her line, Amore Couture (www.myspace/amore_couture), as “couture with a rock-and-roll feel to it,” and likens her “trendy, edgy, pop-princess style” to Heatherette and Patricia Field. Everything she makes is custom. “Each piece is a work of art to me … where fantasy and dreams meet reality,” she says.

Similar to a few of the other designers featured in this article, Perez has a traditional art background. In her case, a degree in studio art and a love of sculpture as well as painting can be found in her well-stocked closet. Most comfortable creating among other artists, Perez churns out her clothing designs in Read’s Art Space in downtown Bridgeport. “The space is very inspirational and nurturing,” she says. “We have a gallery on site and set up different exhibitions every month. And the last Friday of February each year, we put on a fashion show.” This year, Perez will reveal about 15 new looks at the show. Always looking to the future, she plans to open her own boutique by the end of 2008. And, maybe, just maybe, she’ll find herself in front of the camera again. She was recently chosen to star in a reality show, “The Godfather of Fashion,” where she will compete against five other designers for the sought-after job as assistant to famed L.A. designer Christian Audigier.