Bunker Hill Magazine » Trends » Jen Awad/title> <link href="../../main.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="../../favicon.ico"> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="../../slideshow/mootools-1.2.1-core-yc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="../../slideshow/mootools-1.2.2.2-more.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="../../slideshow/Fx.MorphList.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="../../slideshow/BarackSlideshow.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="../../slideshow/demo.js"></script> </head> <body> <div id="wrapper">  <div id="navOverlap"> </div> <div id="navEnd"> </div> <div id="content"> <div id="header"> </div> <div id="nav"> <div id="navDividers"> <ul id="navList"> <li><a class="navHome" href="http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/"></a></li> <li><a class="navFeatures" href="../../features"></a></li> <li><a class="navBeat" href="../../thebeat"></a></li> <li><a class="navLookout" href="../../thelookout"></a></li> <li><a class="navTrends" href="../../trends"></a></li> <li><a class="navTaste" href="../../taste"></a></li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div id="leaderboard"> <div class="leaderboard">   <script type='text/javascript'></script> <a href='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?n=ad9be1a6&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=1&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=ad9be1a6' border='0' alt='' /></a></noscript> </div> </div>  <div id="mainContent"> <div id="titleTrends"> <img src="../../_images/trends.png" width="42" height="42" style="margin-left: 142px"/></div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <p><a href="http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/">Home</a> > <a href="../index.htm">Trends</a> > <a href="../08-2010/jen_awad.htm">Jen Awad</a></p> </div> <div id="artTitle"> <h1>Jen Awad</h1> <img src="../../_images/jenawad_article.jpg" alt="Jen Awad" width="550" height="367" class="mainImage" /> <h2>L.A. based fashion designer, Jen Awad</h2> <h2 style="color:#000">By Miranda Valentine</h2> <h4> Jen Awad, Los Angeles’ youngest and hottest women’s wear designer, is standing on the Third Street Promenade, wearing a polka dotted romper, striped blazer, jaunty hat, and vintage Chanel sunglasses. A man, at least 65 years old walks by, and does a double take. “You,” he says looking at Jen, “have great legs.” “Hey, thanks man,” she replies in a casual, raspy voice, and blushes. </h4> <p>And that’s how Jen Awad takes all of the accolades that come her way. Whether it’s acclaim about one of her last three collections, backstage during L.A. Fashion Week – no small feat for a 22 year old – or appreciation for her gams on the Third Street Promenade, she takes it with her trademark cool humility. </p> <p>Which is surprising, based on the amount that she has accomplished, just two years after graduating from FIDM in 2008. While most of her classmates went off to learn under established sartorial masters, Jen struck out on her own. “Luckily for me, I’ve been fortunate enough to go right into it. And you learn a lot either way, let me tell you.“</p> <p> Learn a lot she did, because Awad is the undisputed designer darling of the L.A. Fashion Scene. She showed twice during the Fall 2010 fashion week this past March, and her “Post-Apocalyptic 1940s Barbarella” themed designs sent the fashion-blogger-and-editor-filled front row atwitter. The collection was an array of fine feminine fare, ranging from a golden metallic vinyl mini skirt with matching jacket, to a gorgeous, swinging 1940s silhouetted black frock, with the sweetheart neckline that launched a thousand blog posts. </p> <p>“Oh, the black dress! I felt so great about all that. That dress is one of the first designs I made for that collection [Fall 2010]. I wanted to do something that was my interpretation of a geometric, futuristic collection, but keep traditional silhouettes intact,” she says.</p> <p>Jen’s interest in designing pieces that look to the future and past simultaneously may be influenced by her connection to her Peruvian roots. Although she grew up in the Valley, with her Egyptian father and Peruvian mother, she’s been traveling to Peru since she was a child, and now creates her collections there. When she talks of Peru, she’s rapturous.</p> <p>“There’s a garment district, kind of like a Maple/Ninth Street here in L.A. It’s called Gamarra. It’s like downtown L.A. but with dirt roads. It’s pretty grungy and it’s gated off. And, once you leave that sector, you’re screwed – you can get robbed, whatever. So, you have to leave before six o’clock. Get in, get out, that’s it. But I love it, love it, love it. Any local person who lives in Peru, and I tell them I’m going to Gamarra, they think I’m crazy, because it’s that dangerous. They have these underground fabric shops, where you literally go downstairs, and they have all of these amazing, amazing silks and embroidered fabrics and lots of colors. It’s perfect.” </p> <p>Perhaps as another expression of what motivates her self-described “moody” collections, Jen is not just a designer, but also a musician. After four years as the vocalist and guitarist for the band The Great Entity, Jen has struck out on her own yet again: “It’s just me and my guitar.” But if forced to pick between the two, “I’d pick fashion. Music has always been like the bad side of me, it’s the rock ‘n’ roll band, it’s crazy, but it really takes a lot out of you. For me, fashion design is more creative and constructive, whereas rock ‘n’ roll can be a bit destructive.”</p> <p>Asked if she feels like she’s “made it” based on all the fuss about her designs, she says, “No, never. Of course, I always think about when I first started, and how much it’s evolved since then, and I’m proud of myself for sticking it out, because I’ve gotten quite a beating. You know, because I’m doing a ready to wear, high-end label – if you don’t come out with a t-shirt line, you’re not making it in L.A. So, I’m trying to push against that. And it’s slowly but surely happening, and I’m grateful for that. I never expected to do my own runway show, or get the recognition that I have in such a short time, so yeah, I’m very flattered. I just want to keep going, do my best.”</p> </div> </div>  <div id="medRectangle2">   <script type='text/javascript'></script> <a href='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?n=ae12f69b&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=2&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=ae12f69b' border='0' alt='' /></a></noscript> </div>  <div id="popular"> <p><img src="../../_images/popular.gif" alt="Most Popular" width="200" height="30" class="title" /></p> <p><img src="../../_images/hrule_260b.png" width="260" height="5" style="margin-top: 5px" /></p> <div id="most_read"> <ol> <li><a href="../../features/08-2010/mallika_sherawat_01.htm">Mallika Sherawat</a></li> <li><a href="../../thelookout/08-2010/double_standard.htm">Review: Double Standard</a></li> <li><a href="../../taste/08-2010/association.htm">Review: The Association</a></li> <li><a href="../../thelookout/08-2010/foals.htm">Review: Total Life Forever</a></li> <li><a href="../../photos/08-2010/july_release.htm">July Release Party</a></li> </ol> </div> </div>  <div id="halfBanner"> <p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> <div class="halfBanner">   <script type='text/javascript'></script> <a href='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a1ee142b&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=4&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=a1ee142b' border='0' alt='' /></a></noscript> </div> </div>  <div id="medRectangle2">   <script type='text/javascript'></script> <a href='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?n=ae12f69b&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE' target='_blank'><img src='http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/openx/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=2&cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE&n=ae12f69b' border='0' alt='' /></a></noscript> </div>  <div id="spacer"></div> <div id="footerLinks"> <div id="cover"> <img src="../../_images/augustcover_sm.png" width="107" height="160" alt="August 2010 Cover" /> </div> <div id="issue"> <h1>AUGUST 2010</h1> <h2>The Film Issue</h2> <p>This issue features an interview of emerging Bollywood actress, <a href="../07-2010/mallika_sherawat_01.htm">Mallika Sherawat</a>, as well as a review of upcoming Australian crime drama, <a href="../../thelookout/08-2010/animal_kingdom.htm">Animal Kingdom</a>, and an original fashion spread by photographer Ash Gupta called <a href="../../photos/08-2010/kiras_closet.htm">Kira's Closet</a>.</p> <p>We hope you enjoy this month's issue and feel free to let us know what you <a href="../../contact.htm">think</a>.</p> <p style="font-style:italic; margin-top: 15px;">-The Bunker Hill Magazine Staff</p> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <div id="footerText"> <div class="floatLeft"><p style="margin-left: 20px;">© Bunker Hill Magazine - All Rights Reserved</p></div> <ul class="floatRight"> <li><a href="http://www.bhmediakit.com/">Advertise</a></li> <li><a href="../../about.htm">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="../../contact.htm">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="../../newsletters">Newsletters</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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