Michael Santo Fajardo, “Siege”

Born Michael Santo Fajardo, “Siege” was raised the Bronx New York until the age of ten when his parents decided to move his family to Kissimmee, Florida in search of better opportunities.  Michael has always taken an interest in drawing and at the age of five began developing his new found passion by video taping cartoons on the screen then holding up a sheet of paper to begin tracing he anatomy and characteristics of the subject.  It was then that he began educating and challenging himself to develop new techniques to improve his drawings.

Moving to Florida presented entrepreneurial opportunities for the shy ten year old.  His only knowledge of meeting new people and befriending them was to draw pictures and attract some attention from it.  Inspired by merchandised shirts of the animated cartoon “The Simpson’s”, Michael began selling his own recreation of “The Simpson’s” shirt by offering marker illustrations of the cartoon characters on white t-shirts that students provided for a fee of $15.  This attracted a lot of attention among his peers and as his reputation grew, so did business throughout middle and high school.  He was often commissioned to illustrate flyers, t-shirts for his high school teams and banners that assisted in the development process of both business and trait.  He received many awards and was published in local newspapers throughout his schooling in Kissimmee.  Inspired by popular clothing lines he was unable to afford, he envisioned creating his own line of t-shirts similar to Marc Echo’s Echo Unlimited to be later named siegeINK.

After graduating high school, Michael now known to his friends as Siege because of his graffiti-oriented illustrations has enrolled to further to further his career in the arts to The Ringling Schools of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.  On of the nations to schools for creative people, Siege’s skill began developing into a professional level earning him a BFA in illustration, it was during college when the vision of creating a clothing line because a turn passion and motivation for purpose.  The creation on siegeINK during these four years of college has translated into something beyond t-shirts.  Siege wanted to wear the clothes he constantly sketched and only envisioned manufacturing.  Receiving a sewing machine as a gift obtained from a garage sale, he began practicing and teaching himself how to sew and use the machine to later create is wearable art.

In 2001, Siege graduated from RSAD and moved back to Orlando, FL to build his professional career and has been commissioned on a variety of jobs for the past nine years including the design of the world re-known time Square Chevy Clock, the brand new Amway Center logo as well as assisted in the development of the newly refined Orlando Magic logo.  His work has been televised, received notable national and international awards, print publication and exposure, all for his illustrations and designs.  His continuation of sewing gained him additional sources of revenue, exposure and experience becoming a wardrobe stylist for Orlando based company Transcontinental Records and furthered his dream to having his own line.  He began styling for music, recording artist, commercials, televised performances and print editorials both nationally and internationally.  His “remixing” style became very popular by embellishing garments for individuals wanting something unique.  Siege quickly became a “jack-of-all-trades-creative” providing a variety of services in Branding illustration, design, wardrobe styling and his signature re-mixed clothing.  Siege and the siegeINK brand has quickly created a bookmark in the industry know to his clients and colleagues as a true “LIFE STYLIST”.

Fabiola Moreno Carrera

Peruvian born fashion designer Fabiola Moreno is an Emerging Designer semi-finalist.  Miss Moreno, who cultivated her passion for creativity at a very young age, was deeply inspired by her Peruvian heritage, an inspiration that is clearly reflected in her original designs. Fabiola studied Graphic Design at the Design and Communications Institute (IDC) in Lima-Peru.  Additionally, she graduated from Nina Design Fashion School also in Lima.  Fabiola excelled above the other students by participating in different events such as "Miss Peru" and "La Fete de la Mode." She also participated in many art and couture courses and workshops with other various academies. 

In Lima, she won first place in the National Fashion Design Contest sponsored by the Association of Fashion Designers ADM and Nina Design.  In 2009 she was also recognized as the best fashion designer during the “La Mode Feminine” fashion show. Fabiola has worked as a Fashion Designer and Fashion Consultant for “Temporade” clothing company in Peru and Florida. She has also worked as a fashion instructor at the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) in Orlando.   

Miss Moreno supports The American Cancer Society, The American Association for Cancer Research, and The Community Partnership for Children for whom she has organized several fashion shows in Orlando.

She has followed her dream of creating her own label, "Carrera Couture” which can be viewed at www.carreracouture.com.

Maria Roman

Maria Roman is from Yauco, Puerto Rico, a town best know for its exceptional coffee of worldwide fame.  From an early age she was drawing sketches, an aptitude she inherits from her grandmother.

She holds a bachelors Degree in Business Administration at Catholic University and Professional Medling in Fontecha Academy in Ponce, Puerto Rico,

It was 1996 when she developed and confectioned her first line of accessories for women, shich gained quick recognition and acceptance in diverse upscale boutiques throughout Puerto Rico.

In 1998, Maria Roman participated in the prestigious International Fashion Boutique Show, held at New York Jacob Javitz Center.  Since then her accessory lines have been featured in runway fashion show by models from Lisa Thon (2000 & 2001), Luis Antonio (2001 & 2002) and Miriam Budget (2005) in San Juan, Puerto, Rico.

Upon establishing herself as a premier designer of fashion accessories in Puerto Rico, Maria Roman decided to further enhance her studies at Centro Moda Lisa Thon’ Fashion Design Academy and she earned recognition as Top Designer Total Look Award with the inspiration and designs presented during the fashion graduation event.

In 2005 and 2006, Maria was invited to participate in the Novel Fashion Group Show in San Juan.  Soon after she was invited to showcase her fashion designs at the Orlando Fashion and Beauty Show in Orlando, earning recognition in La Prensa Newspaper, one of Florida’s premier Spanish-language publications.

Following her presentation in Orlando, Maria Roman was recognized by Dr. Sylvia Caceres, Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, for representing her island with pride and artful contributions.

Since 2006, she has received numerous accolades and publicity by Univision, CMD Magazine and in January 2007 Orlando Cultural, Imagen Magazine, El Nuevo Dia newspaper covered the launch of her new fashion and jewelry line, NAMOR, in Orlando, Florida.

In 2008, she participated at the 25^th Anniversary of the Panamerica Medical Association (PAMA) in Altamonte Springs, Hispanic American Professional & Business Women’s Association, Florida Hospital’s Annual Celebrity Stroll and received publicity by Orlando Sentinel and Orland Home and Leisure Magazine.  She Participated the same year at the Puerto Rico high Fashion Week, one of the most important fashion show on the island.

In 2009 she began working with “Las Mananitas con Lucymar” in the 1440am Spanish radio station, talking about fashion every Friday and Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce.