March 24, 2010

Michelle Ochs

"The Cushnie et Ochs woman is no wallflower! She is someone with a strong presence, someone definitive who wants to put herself out there."

Michelle Ochs should know. One half of striking design duo Cushnie et Ochs, she embodies the sexy and strong woman she designs for. Razor-edge bob and a megawatt smile, the German-Filipino is confident yet bubbly and warm. With her partner Carly Cushnie, right after winning Parsons' Designer of the Year Award in 2007 (Cushnie placed right behind), went straight to work launching their own line. No business experience, first job straight out of school.

"We’re young, and becoming CEOs basically of our own company, so we kind of liked that aspect of it."

Cushnie et Ochs was immediately crowned the "next Proenza Schouler" by the New York fashion industry, and an Ecco Domani award followed in 2009.

"Few things are more electrifying than bearing witness to the nerves and excitement of a young designer’s first break-out show. It was highly anticipated by myself and the Bergdorf team ... the last girl walks, the curtain closes, they take a nervous bow. Cushnie et Ochs delivered and the label was born!" declared Bergdorf Goodman Fashion Director Linda Fargo. She ordered six pieces from their first collection to hang alongside major designers Marc Jacobs and Prada. Today Bergdorfs and Browns in London carry the collection.

For fall 2010, similar rave reviews were published.

"Watching their tough urban glamazons stalk down the catwalk in their Alejandro Ingelmo wedge-heeled booties and Albertus Swanepoel cloche hats emboldened by a strong-shouldered coat atop skinny leather pants, black leather body-con dresses, perforated leather pencil skirts and a savagely sexy fox-trimmed sweater, our overwhelming reaction was, simply, I want to look like that." - Lauren David Peden, vogue.com

They are supermodel clothes: lean, body-conscious silhouettes. I like a girl who can pull it off: fearless attitude, incredible talent yet feminine. Michelle is a girl who can make it in a man's world.


Cushnie et Ochs





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