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Fashion Designer Icon Rickie Lee a Standout at Oakland Style Week

Sponsored by Visit Oakland, Oakland Style Week, which ran from Oct. 18-22, featured culinary experiences, cultural conversations, art walks, fashion shows, musical performances, haute couture moments, vintage shopping, and more.

Published

6 months ago

November 3, 2023

Oakland Post

All eyes were on Oakland native Lee Rickie, a celebrated fashion designer, at a discussion moderated by fashionista Candase Chambers at the former Joyce Gordon Gallery in downtown Oakland. In a first-ever collaboration between Fashion On The Square and Candase Chambers, founder of Black Is The New Fashion, guests learned details of Rickie’s fashion ascent, which started a little over 10 years ago.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Special to The Post

Sponsored by Visit Oakland, Oakland Style Week, which ran from Oct. 18-22, featured culinary experiences, cultural conversations, art walks, fashion shows, musical performances, haute couture moments, vintage shopping, and more.

All eyes were on Oakland native Lee Rickie, a celebrated fashion designer, at a discussion moderated by fashionista Candase Chambers at the former Joyce Gordon Gallery in downtown Oakland.

In a first-ever collaboration between Fashion On The Square and Candase Chambers, founder of Black Is The New Fashion, guests learned details of Rickie’s fashion ascent, which started a little over 10 years ago.

Rickie described his hard work, drive, and sacrifice that led to him creating styles for many celebrities, including Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs; Tony, Toni, Tone; Common and actor Alex Hibbert from the hit television show “The CHI.”

These celebrities are just a partial list of his designer placements, and there is more in store, starting with his first women’s collection that will go to market in 2024.

The crowd’s exhilarated response upon hearing that Rickie is developing a women’s collection escalated further when Rickie gave a resounding ‘YES’ to include plus sizes in that collection.

So far, 18 of Rickie’s collections have gone to market.

Though he travels internationally to Africa or within the U.S. borders in Los Angeles or Atlanta, GA, Rickie shared that Oakland will always be home.

He is frequently asked why he did not move to a fashion destination city like New York or L.A. but the answer was simple: Rickie said he has been able successful in the fashion industry by staying right here at home.

He encourages anyone looking to thrive in their passion to start at home, wherever that may be, and stay committed to their vision, purpose and passion.

In staying committed and true to Oakland and through the lens of giving back, Rickie hopes to start a non-profit organization to support youth who are interested in the fashion industry. ‘

Given his roots teaching Oakland Unified School District Students sewing and other fashion design techniques during the early years of his fashion design journey, the non-profit would be a full circle moment for Rickie.

For more information, visit www.leerickiecollection.com

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

21 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.