Before I kick off my interview series with Pittsburgh designers, I'll start with my own story and connection to Pittsburgh Fashion Week. In 2010, Pittsburgh Fashion Week launched by the visionary founder Miyoshi Anderson. With a background in pageants, as a model, actress, and show coordinator with the Fashion Board at the Mall at Robinson, I signed up to be a part of the planning committee. I was beginning my shift from stage to behind-the-scenes because I knew I wanted a career in the industry.
I was 20 years old. A kid. I was in charge of an entire show: graphics, marketing, PR, staff management, designer communication, talent communication, production and direction, DJ, the works! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Yet, I pulled it off. The show was so successful with 200 attendees that the Founder assigned me to the opening show the following year. I owe Pittsburgh Fashion Week a lot. It directed me into becoming the PR woman I am today. It showed me my talents in production and gave me the ability to bring fashion home, to Pittsburgh. It made me feel like there was hope for us creatives in our Steel city.
I coordinated for fashion week for 4 years. I eventually went on to representing national clientele with a lot of my clients based in NYC and LA, but Pittsburgh remained my home and I stayed loyal to this event over the years with the belief that it would help grow our industry here. I was privileged to be the media sponsor in 2019 and have been welcomed back this year for coverage. This is the first year I am able to sit back and write and I love that I am still able to help our local industry grow, in one way or another.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week has since been taken over by good hands: Diamonds by Rothschild, premier Pittsburgh jewelers, and their trusted Producer Ronda Zegarelli, President of Acrobatique Creative. Ronda was graceful, kind, supportive, and wonderful to work with. She put on a flawless production without a toe out of line and her love for her work is seen and felt. Applauding this year's team, I'd love to begin our first designer interview in the Pittsburgh Fashion Week "Behind the Seams" interview series:
Pittsburgh Fashion Week successfully kicked off on Friday, September 27th at the stunning PPG Wintergarden venue on a crisp autumn evening surrounded by city lights and bustling towners. With the opening collection featuring designs by Michael Nolan Kouri, the bar was set pretty high. I'd describe his design style as haute couture with a great combination of accents. This year's collection was vibrant with color and leather textures that made for a showstopping collection debut. Michael Nolan Kouri was definitely one of my favorites this year with the 80's vibes and I anticipate seeing what he creates next. Let's go Behind the Seams:
Congratulations on a successful show with Pittsburgh Fashion Week, where did you find inspiration for this year’s collection?
I’ve been selected as the featured designer by the Pittsburgh Opera to showcase at their annual fundraiser fashion show next February 2025. Part of my inspiration for that show is the upcoming Pittsburgh Opera production of Madam Butterfly. So to get a head start (that show requires 30 looks), for Pittsburgh Fashion Week I used the inspiration of Madam Butterfly mixed with an 80’s redux. I used a lot of neons, vinyls, and 80’s silhouettes to create a collection with a futuristic Madam Butterfly feel.
Tell us about your journey in becoming a designer, when did you first begin?
I first started sewing in 2008 after watch Project Runway for the first time! I ordered from online a Singer sewing machine and a size 6 dress form and made my 1st garment, a one shoulder, cut out gown made from my purple bedsheet. Towards the end of my time in NYC, I was working as the production manager for Brandon Maxwell’s first three seasons he showed at NYFW.
How long have you been designing and have you always lived in Pittsburgh?
I've been designing part time since 2008, but started working as a fashion designer for myself full time since around 2015. I’ve lived in and around NYC since 2005, and my partner David and I recently moved from Jersey City to Pittsburgh in 2022. David’s family is from Pittsburgh and we wanted to move closer to home.
What do you love about working in Pittsburgh, what needs changed in our home industry?
What I love about working in Pittsburgh is the sense of support and community that I feel from its people and from what I’ll admit, is a small fashion community. Everyone at Pittsburgh Fashion Week worked together to put on a good show, was courteous with each other even in stressful situations, and had a genuine interest in fashion and seeing the event be successful. I teach sewing classes at Cut and Sew Studio in Morningside and I had student helpers interested in pursuing careers in fashion come to my work studio to cut out fabric flowers, prepare feathers, and hand sew sequins. I also had helpers from the fashion programs at WVU and IUP drive over an hour to help. This shows me that the fashion community is here and willing to work. I think what could be better is the communication between Pittsburgh fashion designers and the Pittsburgh fashion elite or those willing to support local custom made fashion. I think what is great about Pittsburgh Fashion Week is that it’s an attempt to connect those two things. But until Pittsburgh is seen more of a fashion leader, I think those clients will go to NYC or LA of their fashion needs.
What continues to keep you inspired?
I’m inspired by my home, here in Pittsburgh, my garden, and friends and family. I’m inspired by my imagination and what’s happening at the moment in my life. I’m inspired to keep learning sewing and fashion and create new silhouettes.
What is next for the future?
I think what’s next for me would be a small store/workspace where I can be creative and sell my work or meet clients. In the NYC area, that was not a possibility because rents are too expensive and the industry too saturated. Pittsburgh is more artist friendly in that regard so I’m excited by that possibility.
BIO: Michael Nolan Kouri is a fashion designer and owner of the Pittsburgh-based atelier design service Nolan Kouri LLC. He has shown at Pittsburgh Fashion Week and Ecolution ’23, as well as constructed garments for his wedding entourage held at the Phipps Conservatory. He continues working with clients from New York, LA, Miami, and now Pittsburgh. Michael also teaches sewing classes at Cut and Sew Studio in Morningside.
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Photography by Hreha Photography.
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