Korto Momolu

I love Project Runway! its hosted by Heidi Klum, the judges are Nina Garcia of Marie Claire and Michael Kors. I became devoted to it in season 5. Season5 was such a beautiful season, it was interesting and the designers were amazing. Some designers I loved are: Leanne Marshall (winner), Jerell Scott and Korto Momolu(1st runner up and winner of fans choice award). There were loads of other wonderful designers like Kenley Collins(2nd runner up), Blayne Walsh, Terri Stevens, Stella Zotis, among others. But one designer that stood out for me was Korto Momolu, not just because she is from Africa but because her designs were impeccable, her dresses were glamorous, sophisticated, chic, colorful and completely wearable.

Her final collection for the show at Bryant Park featured elegant and graceful dresses with an African essence. My favorite dress was the long green dress with the beads that go around the neck. And one of my best Korto Momolu moments on the show was the challenge when they had to make something out of car parts and she made a beautiful coat out of seat belts.

I decided to write my first blog about her because she inspires me and I think she is an inspiration to a lot of Africans and a lot of designers. She was born in Monrovia Liberia she lived there with her family until 1990 when they moved to Canada. She studied fashion design at the L’Academies des Couturiers Design Institute in Ottawa, Ontario. She worked as a designer for a while and she continued her education at Parsons School of Design. She was introduced to the world in the 5th season of project runway and she stood out among the other designers because of her love for bright colours, bold prints, eye-catching accessories and her dexterity in designing.

Although she did not win Project Runway, the show served as a stepping-stone for her to rise into fame, recognition and for her to grow as a designer and this is exactly what she has been doing. Since project runway, she has been showcasing her designs and creating new accessories, she partnered with Madera Exotic Woods to design The Saba Collection- an exclusive line of fashionable eco-friendly jewelry, after appearing at Project Runway All-Stars. She helped to rejuvenate Dilliard’s, a store reputed for their old fashioned bags, by styling a line of hand bags and jewelry that appeals to the youth. She received a commission from the Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to design a gown, her home town of Little Rock officially declared November 13, 2008, as “Korto Momolu-Briggs” Day. She has been featured in a lot of magazines and the requests for her designs keep rolling in!

On February 15 2010 she launched her fall 2010 collection at the Union Square Ballroom, an event that is part of the Fashion Week festivities in New York. This collection is more subtle, it contains darker colors, heavier materials, sweaters and pants as opposed to the soft flowing bright colored gowns that Korto is famous for; this shows progression and growth in the designer. The collection also has some colorful pieces and her signature bold accessories. All the pieces in this collection are à la mode and have a cosmopolitan appeal to them.