The latest fashion pioneer to debut a collection in Tampa is New York City's Indashio (aka Brad Batory), a bright young designer who got his start constructing doggie swimsuits and purses from recycled shoes. His sexy urban apparel (for humans) has graced New York Fashion Week and L.A. Fashion Week runways, and this past April, he teamed up with the Make-a-Wish Foundation to make the dreams of three wannabe models come true while debuting his Fall 2007 "To Die For" Collection at a private fashion show held at the former Versace mansion in Miami.
The aforementioned fall collection — inspired by Edward Scissorhands and set to be revealed here this Saturday night — was initially devised after a photo shoot with photographer Kai Regan in which the model was made to look like a skeleton. Realizing that there were many different types of beauty and artistic forms, Indashio was inspired to design some "Tim Burton-like" apparel.
New York provides abundant distractions to a 22-year-old designer who's attempting to produce a new line, so Indashio temporarily abandoned his home and paid an extended visit to his sister in Clearwater. "She is my original muse so … it was perfect," he told me via a recent e-mail exchange. His Edward Scissorhands idea was further motivated by feeling like an outsider while he visited Bay area malls and Wal-Marts. Indashio was also encouraged by the fact that Edward used his handicap to create amazing things. Moreover, Indashio could personally relate to Edward because the people in the 'burbs judged Edward solely based on his looks and began respecting him only after they discovered the talent behind his outward appearance. "Because I am [currently] the youngest designer in fashion week … I feel like others don't take me seriously until they see my work and accomplishments."
The Fall 2007 "To Die For" Collection will feature 25 couture fashions that Indashio crafted by hand, some with only scissors so as to create a shredded, cut-out effect. Prices start at $700.
Indashio Fashion Show, Sat., June 30, 8 p.m., Centro Asturiano, 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Ybor City, $20, indashio.com.
This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2007.