NEW YORK — Tereneh Mosley of Pittsburgh's North Side is no stranger to creating collections bound for New York Fashion Week — and this time she brought a piece of it home with her.
At an intimate presentation Monday night in lower Manhattan, Ms. Mosley unveiled the Blue Collection, a nod to all things blue and Pittsburgh's three rivers. Her fashion line, Idia'Dega, is an eco-conscious collection she produces in collaboration with the Olorgesailie Maasai women’s artisan group in Kenya and artisans from the Oneida Indian Nation in New York.
"Every time I go to Kenya I get inspired," Ms. Mosley says.
Sales from the collections are shared with her global collaborators, who use them to help support their families.
"I think about them every day. It's a great responsibility to be part of a community of women who are trying to help each other."
Most of the time, Ms. Mosley comes up with the concept for a new collection and turns to these artisans for input and assistance on how to make it happen. This time, though, the OMWA group in Kenya approached her about making the spring collection a salute to blue, which represents generosity in their culture.
The result is a mix of relaxed and more structured dresses and separates in navy and softer shades made from sustainable fabrics. Exquisite beading trims and accents several pieces, including the confluence dress, a tribute to Pittsburgh's waterways. Three sections of the dress, done in blues with mossy green undertones, intersect at the shoulder. At each point, strands of blue beading drape the body. Some garments incorporate materials from the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse in Point Breeze.
The evolution of the line is perhaps most noticeable in the jewelry, which is more streamlined this season. Chokers, rings and cuffs blend traditional elements of bold Maasai jewelry with delicate details such as butterflies and teardrops.
Pittsburgh will get a chance to browse the collection when it's on display at the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse from Sept. 21-Oct. 26. Place an order at idiadega.com.
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: September 12, 2017, 4:00 p.m.
