Mikel Marketing Newsletter

lei marco rocks!
by: mimi dinh
photos: zolton

Did you know that some of the biggest names in fashion design got off to a modest start early in their careers? Marc Jacobs was a stock boy for a clothing store; Ralph Lauren was a road salesman for a neckwear manufacturer; Tom Ford was an actor/model in TV commercials; Coco Chanel was a clerk in a hosiery shop; Salvatore Ferragamo was a factory worker making cowboy boots… and the list goes on. Most of fashion's biggest designers weren't born to design royalty or didn’t grow up in fashion capitals like New York, Milan or Paris.

I’ve known fashion designer Lei Marco back in the nineties when he started out right here in H-town, making dresses for personal friends. His reputation for custom designed, Valentino-quality evening gowns quickly spread and Lei became a darling with Houston’s elite social circle.

We lost touch and I didn’t know Lei had moved to Miami and has been living there all this time until recently, when a friend couldn’t stop raving about a fashion show she attended at the Versace house in Miami. When she emailed me some pictures from the show, I immediately recognized Lei in the finale shot. Thanks to Facebook, Lei and I are now “friends” again; thus came about the invitation to his exclusive show that happened to be during my Miami Fashion Week trip.

Although relatively unknown to SoBe when first moved there, Lei quickly had Miami eating out of his hands with his private, ultra-glam parties and fashion shows, using the best models (some flown in from other cities), attended by Miami’s hip scenesters and his circle of celebrity friends.

Lei Marco is now at the helm of a bona fide success story, a powerhouse designer with an international status. His designs have graced the pages of GQ, Esquire, and Elle Décor, and on the covers of Ocean Drive, Sway, Industry, Loft, and other international publications. It’s no wonder Lei’s fashion show was the hottest ticket in SoBe. Although with a tight Fashion Week shows line-up, we made sure to clear our itinerary for Lei’s event, hosted by reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian. It was crazy trying to get into his show, seeing the massive line outside SET, a 1930s Hollywood-inspired Miami hot spot. Luckily, our names were on the guest list and we were able to bypass the crowd. Once inside, we were impressed with SET’s jet-set glamour yet with an intimate ambiance. The club’s luxurious mix of crystals, Pucci fabrics, baby croc and leather, futuristic glass fireplace, vacuum-compressed elevators, eclectic Tinseltown era artifacts and ebony Makassar created a faultless backdrop for Lei’s collection.

The partnership between Lei and SET club was seamlessly shown through his fashion show, combining runway design, music, fashion and technology into a vibrant, immersive guest experience. The liveliness of the club literally transcended onto the runway, where Lei stunned the audience with his dramatic and glam women and men’s collections. We were immediately awestruck as flawless models sashayed down the runway wearing Lei’s sexy swimwear, suits, and cocktail designs. Sizzling hot was the theme for the summer collection of men and women’s casual wear. Models donned a selection of fiery red dresses and little black dresses that displayed effortless style. His men’s suits are tailored to perfection radiating with a European edge all enough to make a Versace suit blush. Land meets sea in the sensual swimwear collection, perfect for a yacht party or cocktails by the pool. One of the many eye-catching moments of the show occurred when a white strapless sequined dress made its way down the runway. The breath-taking clothes paired with the electrifying energy of the models and the unique venue made it the fiercest fashion show I have seen in a while. And of course, the larger-than-life Lei topped it off with an unforgettable finale, where he was escorted by his best model Monica, who walked down the runway wearing only a G-string while her hands artfully covered her upper assets. Only Lei could have pulled this off. It was hot, yet elegant and classy at the same time. I could not have been more proud of Lei!

After the show wrapped, I was consumed with excitement all over again at the thought of finally going to be able to congratulate my friend on a job well done; after all, it had been more than fifteen years since we last saw each other. As I fought through the crowd and countless security guards trying to get to Lei, I was frustrated but it was definitely worth the hassle when we finally found each other. With no time for small talk in the midst of the chaos of the after-party, Lei grabbed me by the hand and led me to his VIP table, where bottle service awaited us along with all of his super gorgeous models.

Delighted by his warm welcome, my friends and I ended up hanging out with Lei and his entourage until the wee hours. Looking as smashing as one of his male models in his own pin stripe suit with a topaz blue shirt and silk tie, Lei looked even more striking than I remember. I told Lei I was a fan because his designs exude grace and refinement, but with a sense of adventure and confidence - what modern women strive for today. But what’s more, Lei also rocks my book because of his magnetic and warm personality. Even though it’s been ages, it seemed as if we haven’t missed a beat as we danced and laughed throughout the entire after-party. It was such a whirlwind evening that I didn’t realize until the next day that I didn’t even pay attention to Kourtney Kardashian to even know what she looked like in real life. Oh well, Kourtney schmourtney. I’m more about Lei Marco anyway.

The next day, Lei called to thank me for coming to the show and let me know how much it meant to him that I was there. Humbled by his grace, we made plans to meet up later at Delano hotel, where we hung out briefly before he had to leave to prepare for another fashion show for Miami’s Winter Music Conference. While we were bidding our farewells, Lei’s generous personality surprised me once again, as he handed me a gift bag.

Much to my liking, I pulled out an absolutely gorgeous shimmering, golden body suit that ended up fitting me like a glove! It’s no wonder he is so good at what he does; Lei estimated my size perfectly just by looking at me. Leaving, I realized what a truly talented friend I really had and how genuine he was, despite constantly surrounded by so much glam and glitz. We even discussed the possibility of working on some events together, either in Houston or Miami. We will keep you posted but in the meantime, check out his ultra sleek designs at www.leimarco.com.

Over the years, Lei Marco has diversified his designs. These days, his firm is growing at a fast rate in the fashion industry, with two impressive showrooms – one in Miami and one in Milan. His contemporary creations are uniquely innovative while mastering the art of combining classic clean lines with just enough twist and edginess to keep things interesting. Lei’s creations are of high value to those with the appreciation of the finer things in life. Mark my word people, a lot more buzz will be generating about this talented designer.