Just an expression

Designer shares her runway looks to promote healing.

When Kenya Carter returned from styling hair at the 2014 New York Fashion Week with the dream of fashion design, the then-hair stylist and salon owner thought the idea seemed “a little far-fetched.” 

However, fueled by inspiration, she enrolled in the fashion design program at Clary Sage College in Tulsa. She graduated in 2014 and launched the View Fashion Preview, which debuted her first fall collection. She now owns K.Nicole Boutique. 

Today, the 42-year-old Tulsan is not only creating runway designs, but also lending her gifts to help others heal. Carter will join five designers and 20-30 artists showcasing their work at ARTSCAPE, the annual fundraiser benefiting the Tristesse Grief Center, a Tulsa nonprofit that provides grief counseling to adults and children. 

Art expression plays a healing role at the Grief Center as a tool to help adults and children process feelings, says Community Relations Director Carolyn Yoder. 

Although the show has always featured various forms of visual arts, this is the first year it will feature wearable art and a fashion show. 

“It’s a totally different event this year,” says Yoder, who is organizing the fundraiser. “It’s always fun to throw a party that you’d want to go to yourself.” The event also includes silent and live auctions featuring a range of artwork.

Carter plans to debut a 10-piece spring/summer line of mostly dresses at ARTSCAPE. Inspiration for the line comes from the concept of having few earthly things but being rich in spirit. “It’s all me, from inception to completion,” she says. “For me, fashion is a form of self-expression.” 

APRIL 28 — ARTSCAPE

6 p.m., cocktails; 7 p.m., event. Bond Event Center, 608 E. Third St. Tickets are $150 and include dinner, two drinks and the fashion show. Visit artscapetulsa.com or call 918-587-1200.  

The Tristesse Grief Center was founded in 2002 by Laura Gonsalves, Lynetta Clark and a handful of others to honor Gonsalves’ daughter, Tristesse Gonsalves, who lost her battle with cancer at age 14. The Grief Center’s mission is to be the primary community resource for comprehensive grief support, advocacy and education to individuals ages 4 and older. Services include individual and group counseling, monthly workshops, memorial events such as Survivors Suicide Loss Day, training and education sessions for local businesses, and Camp Erin, an overnight bereavement camp for kids and teens.