ExcellStyle VOL XX | Page 15

RUNWAY TULSA DESIGNERS K. NICOLE tulsa, oklahoma Kenya Carter, stylist, fashion designer, and boutique owner, is an avid lover of all things pretty and believes you can never have too many dresses! When she’s not giving her clients the latest cuts, color, or textured styles, she’s designing pieces that are feminine, flirty, and fun. Carter soon thereafter co-founded Redz Salon & Spa, a full-service salon/spa that eventually, gave way to K. Nicole Boutique. Kenya has styled for several hair and fashion shows, including New York Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week while starting an annual show of her own, The View, which previews the latest fashion and hair trends for the upcoming season. Understanding the need for mentorship, Carter founded Black Pearl Beauty Camp, a series of fashion and etiquette workshops for young girls in underdeveloped communities. Her latest undertaking, K. Nicole Boutique, happens to be Carter’s own in-house fashion agency...a place where Carter believes hair and fashion can dance under one roof! MOCHA BUTTERFLY tulsa, oklahoma Nikki Warren is the designer and owner of The MOCHA Butterfly. MOCHA is an acronym for Manifesting Our Creative Hidden Abilities. A Tulsa native, Warren is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School and has a Bachelor’s degree from Langston University. She created MOCHA over 15 years ago with the hopes of not only creating clothing for women but also creating a platform to support others tapping into their own creativity. Nikki’s background in fashion design has a non-traditional slant. She learned her sewing skills as a child watching her mother who was an aspiring designer. She began sewing and designing after watching the diverse techniques her mother used in various sewing jobs. Warren’s fashion design journey led her to working with clients one-on-one and focusing her line on more commercial, ready-to-wear clothing. Her line is a ready-to-wear collection that empowers women by giving them the freedom to express their individuality as strong and beautiful. RUNWAY TULSA SPECIAL EDITION 15