Longtime designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Kimora Lee Simmons unveiled her new Spring / Summer 2018 eponymous RTW collection today at New York Fashion week. The presentation casts the spotlight on Simmons’ daughter, Ming Lee Simmons, who at 17 is following in her mother’s footsteps as a model and burgeoning creative director. This season’s collection, staged at the iconic Bowery Hotel, plays off of the juxtaposition of strong, vivid color against softer, easier travel-ready styles designed to empower.

The color story and novelty fabrics from Spring / Summer 2018 are inspired by the vibrancy, textures and colors of Morocco. Colors such as desert pink, electric blue, sunrise orange, magenta, and medallion green bring this vibrant vision to fruition. Basket weave novelty silk, desert striped silk, multicolored tweed, embellished eyelet, Moroccan textured multicolor lace, and fringe stripe are all presented in her SS18 collection. Marrakesh’s gardens also serve as a reference portrayed throughout the collection, represented by chunky crystal accent flowers that seemingly come to life amidst the sounds of the presentation’s Moroccan drummer.

The Kimora Lee Simmons collection celebrates structured tailoring and body-conscious silhouettes. This collection marks a movement toward a hard-meets-soft focus on for the line, using Moroccan dresses as inspiration. Romantic, soft lines are met with traditional tailoring – it’s this cross section of structure and romantic, sexy lines that truly defines the Spring Summer 18 collection.

“My travels often serve as design inspiration, and today I place a higher value on travel than ever,” comments Simmons. “Whether it’s Marrakesh or Kenya, Paris or Houston, travel is essential to shaping your world view, and to empowering with awareness of how we each individually can make the world a better place.” Each season Simmons takes a dedicated approach to casting a multicultural and diverse group of models in an effort to promote inclusivity.

Kimora Lee Simmons and her daughter Ming just arrived back to NYC after spending time in Houston (along with Ming’s sister, Aoki and their brother, Kenzo), where the family pledged its support to those
worst-affected by the devastating flooding from Hurricane Harvey. In partnership with The Unmentionables (www.theunmentionablesglobal.org), a non-profit whose specific purpose is to provide undergarments and personal hygiene items to displaced people worldwide, Kimora Lee Simmons visited Houston September 9th-10th to help hand out these necessities to those in greatest need. This humanitarian aid comes in addition to a $25,000 donation to support The Unmentionables’ lasting charitable efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

About Kimora Lee Simmons

Raised in a northern suburb of St. Louis, Kimora was quickly embraced by the fashion community. Her arrival onto the modeling scene at age 14 featured an exclusive contract with Chanel as a muse for Karl Lagerfeld, along with multiple magazine covers across the world. Her modeling career was followed by Simmons’ success in building Baby Phat into a powerhouse brand as Creative Director, and then in 2007 she took over as both Creative Director and President for its parent group, Phat Fashions owned by Kellwood Company.

Launched in 2013, the Kimora Lee Simmons collection is showing remarkable growth despite headwinds in the retail industry. In the past year alone, the KIMORA LEE SIMMONS brand has tripled its department store doors with locations in Bloomingdales, the newly-launched Designer Dress Gallery at Lord & Taylor in New York, many independents, as well as on www.kls.com. Kimora penned Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It, published by Harper Entertainment, and also launched a plethora of successful fragrances. She starred in her eponymous reality TV show, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, via the Style Network.

She has established the Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund for students at FIT pursuing careers in fashion (bolstered by a commendable personal donation of one million dollars to the cause) and is an active supporter of Amfar, The G&P Foundation, Keep a Child Alive, Hetrick-Martin Institute, Rush Philanthropic and The Unmentionables.