New Designers take on Melrose Fashion Week

Eve fong Model and Fashion Designer of ASU FIDM in her own design at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's time at Melrose Trading Post at Melrose at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Los Angeles model and photographer Brooke Irwin walks the runway in designs by Hiroko Hata at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

(L-R) Jess Paul of Pittsburgh & Erika Marks of Chicago both regulars of the Melrose Trading Post atteded this year Runway Show at the 2nd annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Eve fong Model and Fashion Designer of ASU FIDM on the runway in her own design at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's time at Melrose Trading Post at Melrose at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Chelsee Stewart of Georgia modeling a creation by japanese designer Hiroko Hata at the Melrose at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Malayah Lava on the runway in a design by Santa Monica College Fashion & Design student Erica Perla Jimenez at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's time at Melrose Trading Post at Melrose at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Models entering runway in designs by Santa Monica College Fashion & Design student Erica Perla Jimenez at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's time at Melrose Trading Post at Melrose at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Santa Monica College student and fashion majar Erica Perla Jimenez featured her designs at at the Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's first time at Melrose Trading Post & runway debut at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's time at Melrose Trading Post at Melrose at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

Santa Monica College student Alex Anabella Long strikes a pose on the runway as she models in a design by Santa Monica College Fashion & Design student Erica Perla Jimenez at the second annual Melrose Fashion Week Runway Show this was Jimenez's time at Melrose Trading Post at Melrose at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday March. 22, 2026 (Danny Sanchez I Corsair)

On Sunday, March 22, the Melrose Trading Post hosted its second annual runway show at Fairfax High School.

Santa Monica College alumni Erica Perla had her first school runway show at Melrose Fashion Week, showcasing colorful and tropical designs. 

The environment at SMC “pushed me to connect with people and not to be afraid, not to stay in the house with my work, to really get myself out there,” Perla said. The objective for her collection was “look how sexy women can look not with just fabrics, not with textiles but with beading with different colors of yarns,” Perla said.

Perla spoke about how women today “feel a little shameful to show themselves but I’m very provocative in my clothes. I am trying to express that a lot more in my creations as a designer, kind of bring back a very sexy, almost like risqué type of style but with knits.” 

One of Perla’s models, Divine Flores, walked in her first show at the Melrose Fashion Week. 

Flores loved Perla’s work and they ended up collaborating together. Flores said aspiring models should “be yourself and maximize your coolness because we need individuality.” 

The goal for Perla’s models was “to feel really sexy in the clothes.” 

“It’s like I am almost envisioning myself down the runway. Each piece has a different attitude,” Perla said.

Another designer, Hiroko Hata had her first runway show at Melrose Fashion Week. Hata was originally a painter before becoming a designer and said, “I didn’t feel my full potential in the graphic design industry even though I enjoyed making beautiful designs.” 

Hata discovered her interest in designing her own clothes when she went to Goodwill and bought a sewing machine and played around with the clothes she would thrift to make them into something better.

 “I found myself having a great time with something I was already imagining in my head,” Hata said, Hata never went to fashion school. Instead, she taught herself. “I took all the lessons on youtube and how to change the oil in the sewing machine.” 

Hata described her journey on becoming a designer, saying, “I noticed a lot of people doesn’t have confidence because they feel they never go to fashion school, I want to say anybody can do it. That is my goal to let people know.”

One of Hata’s models, Brooke Irwin, said this was her second time at the Melrose Fashion Week. Irwin is a model and a photographer in Los Angeles. “I am very into visual expressions of every kind,” Irwin said. 

The Melrose Trading Post at Fairfax High School is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the public to shop from local small artists and designers.