Dallas Designer Venny Etienne to Appear on Bravo's Project Runway

Designer Venny Etienne with model

The wait is over as the iconic fashion competition series “Project Runway” returns to its original home on Bravo with supersized 90-minute episodes beginning Thursday, March 14 at 8:00pm ET/PT.

Having someone you know adds an extra layer of fun to any reality/competition show, so I am SUPER EXCITED to see that our own Venny Etienne is slated to be one of the designers! This Haitian-American designer knew he had a desire to be immersed in the fashion industry when he started styling for local fashion shows in his hometown of Brooklyn at the age of 20.

He attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and later transferred to Wade College in Dallas. He graduated Salutatorian of his class, receiving a BA in merchandising and design and the Founders Award, the highest award given to a student of the graduating class. However, he credits most of his initial creative expertise to Milan-based designer and pattern maker Shingo Sato. Currently residing in Dallas, Venny credits this move for his evolution as a designer. While many thought leaving New York would be detrimental for his career, he was quickly embraced by the Dallas fashion scene and made a name for himself through networking and local fashion shows. In 2018, Venny won the 2018 Fashion Group International (FGI) Rising Star in Dallas. FGI also gave Venny a full scholarship to attend the Paris American Academy in Paris to further his development. To date, Venny has dressed some of today’s trendiest celebrities, including Cardi B and Michelle Williams. He travels to garner inspiration for his Levenity brand, which is part of recognizable American sportswear. Always sophisticated, with an edge that makes it extremely special.

FGI Dallas Celebrates Emerging Talent In Fashion, Beauty, Art and More

Scroll through the gallery for more photos from this event


On Thursday March 1, 2018, Fashion Group International of Dallas (FGI) a global, non-profit professional fashion organization, hosted its 21st annual Rising Star Awards Ceremony at the Design District's Seven for Parties. The fete celebrated the extraordinary accomplishments of Dallas' emerging talents in the areas of Women's Fashion, Men's Fashion, Photography, Art, Fashion Blogging, and MakeUp Artistry. Courtney Kerr of "Kerrently" returned for her fourth year as emcee, with pop-up men's and women's fashion presentations produced by Jan Strimple Productions. Art and media installations were vividly dispersed, reflecting the works of the nominees spanning MakeUp Artistry, Photography, Art, and Fashion Blogging. Guests mixed and mingled throughout, enjoying cocktails by Kruto Vodka and light hors d'oeuvres. Among those in attendance was prior Rising Star Nominee and designer of Smith the 2nd, Charles Smith, Heidi Dillon, Real Housewives of Dallas star LeeAnne Locken, Steve Kemble, musician Larry g(EE), Leah Frazier, Dawn Mellon and Khanh Nguyen, designer of Nha Khanh. A surprise performance by local music artist, HANNA, rounded out the evening, making it one of the most buzzed about events for the season.

2018 Rising Star Award Winners  

Rising Star Winner in Men's Fashion: Jason Simmons of DeadSoxy 

Rising Star Winner in Women's Fashion: Venny Etienne of Levity 

Rising Star Winner in Photography: Aaron Fairooz 

Rising Star Winner in Art: Lindsey Meyers 

Rising Star Winner in Fashion Blogging: Amber LaFrance of DFW Style Daily 

Rising Star Winner in MakeUp Artistry: Jo Franco 

People's Choice Award: Jo Franco 

Photo Credit: Bob Manzano & William Neal

Dallas Takes It All In Fashion X Austin's BLANC competition

Fashion X Founder Matt Swinney, Venny Etienne, model wearing Etienne's winning look, Neil Marek, model wearing Marek's winning look and Bernina representative

On November 6, Bernina Presented Fashion X Austin: BLANC. The event was a one-night fashion spectacle with live fashion presentations and photo shoots from stunning Texas-based designers and pop up shops hosted by over 40 top brands in the local Texas fashion scene as an early “holiday shopping” experience. Each brand offered a unique “blanc” item with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Austin Fashion Fund. 59 entrants had been curated down to 12 garments that were all inspired by the Swiss Alps (BERNINA’s home country). Dallas-based Neil Marek was named the winner of the first ever BERNINA Blanc Design Challenge and was awarded a prize package valued over $20,000. Marek is co-designer of the Marek + Richard line, known for its "funky fresh" line of mens tops, underwear and swimwear. I understand this competition was his first foray into womenswear and it's clear he is headed in a positive direction with this win.

Fan Favorite was Dallas' own Venny Etienne who received a Bernina 1300 MDC serger and coverstitch valued at $2,300. Sweet.  Other finalists included: Alisha Contreras, Hannah Leonard, Amanda Scarlett Smith, Dina Chavez, Kassie Carrell, Kraig Pieper, Marissa Marsh, Samantha Plasencia, and Stefanie Bell. I asked Etienne how he came up with his winning design. "I was particularly inspired by the shapes of the Swiss mountains. That is where I came up with the idea of the triangular motif through the garment. I also knew I wanted to create a piece that was strong but yet still clean. She had to look in charge and tall so I decided to create a 2-piece crop top look." Etienne has had quite a year, from winning RAW artist designer of the year, a Paris scholarship from FGI Dallas along with a serger and cash scholarship, showing his LeVenity SS16 line during Style Fashion Week in LA and now this accolade. So, what's next for this emerging Dallas designer? "I must say this has been an amazing year for me and for my brand LeVenity," muses Etienne. "We are currently starting the pre-order process for our new SS16 line for LeVenity and will be working on the next collection. Soon you will see the LeVenity line on the racks of major luxury boutique stores in major cities near you!"

Click here to head over to Facebook for photos from this fashion competition. Click for more information about Fashion X Austin or Fashion X Dallas.

Venny Etienne Reflects On His Recent Study Abroad Trip To Paris

For many, Paris is a dream destination. For recent Wade College graduate (class Salutatorian no less!) and emerging fashion designer Venny Etienne, the dream became a "life changing" reality after a sports bomber jacket and tailored pants, inspired by athletic shoes translated into ready-to-wear concepts, garnered him the top prize in the Fashion Group International Scholarship Competition. Etienne had entered the prestigious competition twice before but always left empty-handed. The third time was a charm with him taking home three prizes – a cash scholarship and two grand prizes – for the FGI’s Best of Sewing Award resulting in an industrial sewing machine plus the coveted FGI Paris American Academy Couture Award. This past June 30, Etienne packed his bags and headed to the fashion capital of the world for an all-expenses-paid, study-abroad program.

On his time at the FGI Paris American Academy Etienne muses, "The professors at the school have 20+ years’ experience in haute couture - working for houses such as Nina Ricci and Christian Dior just to name a few. My professor, Xavier Brisoux, was chief in pushing me outside of the box. I knew to leave whatever ego or knowledge I had of fashion at the doorstep in Dallas and come to Paris with a clean slate to learn. There were many times I would have a one-on-one session with my professor about an inspiration idea, and he would know how to take it 3-4 steps deeper. Seeing his process of how he dissects a concept to its core was beyond belief to me. He would be able to connect nature with science to pop culture and join it all back to the inspiration. Witnessing this had me reflect on my own design process and how all along, I’ve only touched the surface of a concept.