Best Fashion Designer 2013 | Tiffe Fermaint | People & Places | Phoenix
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Best Fashion Designer

Tiffe Fermaint

It seems fashion designer Tiffe Fermaint is never not working. She released the first installment of her 2013 collection, which was inspired by digital technology, in February and a glam-meets-futuristic swim line in May, and Fermaint started stitching up a children's line in between. Oh, yes, did we mention she worked a full-time job at H&M and was pregnant with her daughter Violet during all this? Because that most definitely was the case. But the designer isn't running out of material anytime soon. And for that, we are ecstatic. She consistently presents exciting, innovative designs that have us always anticipating what she might do next.

Best Fashion for a Good Cause

The Shine Project

Now, it is true that most nonprofits do not include hair tutorials on their websites. But, hey, maybe they should. Because the ladies behind The Shine Project prove that you can do good and look good at the same time. They employ underprivileged kids from all kinds of backgrounds to make pretty bracelets — hand-stamped, chain-linked, bejeweled — and use the money to help them pay for college. It's a simple concept with beautiful results, in more ways than one.

Best Food for a Good Cause

The Joy Bus

As many people know — many more people than we'd like — fighting cancer is tough. There are countless appointments to make, medications to be administered, and, in short, a laundry list of things that become more important than grocery shopping and food. But one local do-gooder, Jennifer Caraway, set out to help by founding the nonprofit organization The Joy Bus in 2011. Named after a friend whom she lost to the disease, the charity helps homebound cancer patients and their family members by delivering meals directly to their homes. And they don't just offer any meals: The Joy Bus creates chef-inspired eats (in fact, two local chefs Bernie Kantak and Tracy Dempsey sit on the board of directors) that are locally grown and organic whenever possible. Offering three programs from which to choose, the foundation hopes to relieve patients and their families of some of their burden and create a support system for those who might otherwise not have one.

Best Fashion Blog

Phoenix Style Collective

Not unlike Phoenix Fashion Week's aim to create relationships between up-and-coming designers and buyers, Phoenix Style Collective works to connect the city's clothes-minded. With news, boutique haps, and an annual conference, PSC's blog proves to be a go-to for those looking to become a part of the Valley's style scene, whether they're well-dressed tastemakers or business-minded entrepreneurs. The bloggers behind (and on) the scenes include GROWop's Josh Hahn, Tea Talk blogger Chelsea Brown, and A Bit of SparkleFarkle's Katherine Thornhill. With its networking events and workshops, the collective strives to put Phoenix on the fashion map by creating a well-linked community. And it succeeds with style to spare.

Best Lifestyle Blog

CherylStyle

Cheryl Najafi isn't crazy about being compared to Martha Stewart — but it's hard not to think of the Arizona home-entertaining guru in relation to the ultimate domestic goddess. Both pride themselves on throwing beautiful parties in well-run homes. But where Stewart's a hyper-planner, Najafi's more laid back (she also isn't too crazy about cooking). With a focus on DIY projects, simple inspiration, and easy recipes, CherylStyle is a bright, fun guide to hosting decidedly unfussy get-togethers and fully enjoying your home life. On the blog, you'll find everything from how to properly pack a suitcase and pool party game suggestions to tips on looking good sans shower — complete with illustrations from Big Brain finalist Jon Arvizu.

Best Music Blog

PHX Literal Music Reviews

Let's be honest, if there is any type of blog there are too many of in Phoenix, it's music blogs. And after a while, there isn't much left to say, is there? There is a finite number of active bands, after all. Yet, PHX Literal Music Reviews is different, in the same way that Rocky Horror is different from Rocky.

First of all, the reviews are literal, but painfully, painfully so. Like, guitarists are "plucky stick men" and drummers are the "hitters of circles." The main reviewer writer dude, who pens himself as Yulunga Baktai, constantly describes his reactions to live music with aching unembellishment, such as saying things like "I have to say that this show was definitely a show where music was played."

The end result is a blog that is truly reflective, blemishes and all, of the wonderful music scene we're graciously given in this flaming hot Valley. It's more of a love note than biting satire, and, best of all, it'll tickle your insides with those guttural noises we call laughter.

Best Food Blog

Pen & Fork

We love Gwen Ashley Walters' food blog, Pen and Fork — mostly for her incredible smoothie recipes and photos (can we coin the term Smoothie Porn right here and now?) and because it helps us keep up on her writing for Valley publications like Phoenix Magazine and Edible Phoenix. But even more than that, to be honest, we just love Gwen Ashley Walters. As our city takes its place in the national food scene (in a small corner, to be sure, but still, we're arriving), the backbiting, sniping, and questionable ethics among bottom feeders is only getting worse. That's why it's always such a relief to hear from Walters — whether on Instagram (follow her @chefgwen), on Facebook, or on her blog. She's honest, she speaks her mind, and she's got great taste. Thanks for keeping it classy, Chef Gwen.

Best Zine

Roger Calamaio's Sour

A great zine doesn't have to be some monthly Xerox rag full of bad art and poor grammar from self-indulgent poetry majors unleashing their verbal fury. This years' Tempe Zine Convention, which was held in a small shed in downtown Tempe, revealed several promising writers and artists displaying their work in small-press quantities, usually bound and printed by the artists themselves. Although Roger Calamaio went a slightly less DIY route for his zine Sour, which was constructed and released by Workin Nights, a half-Arizona, half-New York printer, the intensity of emotion and general relatability of his discontent made his work stand out above the rest that night. Plus, it's got pictures for those afraid of too much text. Though it's not available for purchase anymore and likely will not be reprinted again, Roger Calamaio definitely is one to look out for in the zine world.

Best Digital Magazine

Emma Magazine

Being a 20-something with Martha Stewart-esque aspirations is no easy lot. For starters, most of us don't have multimillion-dollar companies, our own TV channels, or enough pertinent knowledge to fill numerous bestselling books. Sarah Hubbell realized this, and that's why she founded Emma Magazine for "city mamas, nesting newlyweds, and budding entrepreneurs." The publication goes up online monthly, and print-on-demand physical copies can be ordered via the website. No matter how you read it, the mag is chock-full of helpful how-tos, style guides, and projects that'd make Martha proud — without breaking the bank.

Best Local to Follow on Instagram

Joe Johnston

Where the rest of the world saw a perfect place for tract housing and strip malls, Joe Johnston, the mastermind behind Gilbert's Agritopia community, saw an opportunity for urban farming and green spaces. It almost goes without saying that this guy has a special way of looking at the world, and thanks to the photo-sharing app Instagram, we get a glimpse of that view every time we pick up our phone. From dining adventures in California and beyond to simple shots taken in Phoenix coffee houses and Gilbert restaurants, Johnston's account turns the mundane scenes of life into marvelous miniature works of art. We loved the series of pics featuring his and his wife's shoes (adorably captioned "togetherness"), and the colorful nature shots of Agritopia and Arizona sunsets remind us regularly why it's great to be an Arizonan. He may not be an artist or photographer, but he's talented with an iPhone and some filters, and we love following him.

Best Of Phoenix®

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