Fashion Forward: Art Basel Couture

WSVN--Art Basel is known as beautiful, eccentric, expensive. But this weekend, it's not only about what you see, but what you wear. If you are looking for a masterpiece, who says a canvas cannot have curves. At Toob Studios in Wynwood, local designers, like Karelle Levy, are showing off their unique styles as part of this year's art couture.

Karelle Levy: "It's exciting to be able to do one piece and concentrate on one piece and make it a little bit more artistic."

Each local designer is unveiling one hand crafted garment. For Karelle, whose celebrity clients include Cameron Diaz, Carmen Electra and pink, her inspiration was a 13-year-old bag of yarn and a crochet needle.

Karelle Levy: "I've had a big amount of yarn and it's like a lot of different colors and I've always had this dress in my mind that I would make."

Sportswear designer Ash Rana is also displaying his one-of-a-kind creation. This dress is not sewn but rather held together by safety pins.

Ash Rana: "It looks amazing on. It's not only for just showing it, but you can actually wear it."

At C. Madeleine's vintage showroom in North Miami, you can catch a glimpse of another art and fashion exhibit, vintage art to wear.

Dina Knapp: "It's mainly clothing that is done by artists. They're usually, in my case, they're one of a kind."

And Dina Knapp should know. She is one of the most respected artists in the art to wear world.

Dina Knapp: "There are pieces I have in museums that are in their collection and they're shown on pedestals as sculptures."

But they're not just art, they're attire... Like this crocheted tweed and mohair jacket...This crochet dress. And this suede and tweed cape, which costs $4-thousand dollars. Dina's pieces have been sold at Barney's and are popular with celebrities like Cher and Paul Newman's wife Joanne Woodward. Even reggae great, Bob Marley, is buried in one of Dina's famous hats.

Dina Knapp: "All I can hope is that I can continue to do my artwork."

The art to wear exhibit will be on display until December 31st. Art couture opens December third, after that you can see it by appointment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: iamor@wsvn.com

Art Couture And Art To Wear Event Info:
www.feinbergpr.com/events.html

Toob Studios/Krelwear Showroom
www.krelwear.com
305-576-7465
180 NW 25 Street
Miami, FL 33137
krelwear@hotmail.com

Ash Rana
ashranainc@aol.com
305-572-9088

Dina Knapp
www.dinaknapp.com
305-531-4309