"Mission Religious Group Found Alive"

In Los Angeles there was a group of thirteen cult-like church members who went mission but were found Sunday afternoon on September 19.  The group was traveling in three separate cars and were all immigrants from El Salvador.  They were found in the Jackie Robinson Park after a desperate search after the husbands reported their wives missing.  The wives had left behind letter in English and Spanish that were describing the end of the world.  This lead them to believe they were on some sort of suicide mission.

The leader of the church, Reyna Marisol Chicas, 22 was claimed by one of the husbands to be brainwashing their wives.

Saturday night at three am, before the group was reported missing, a Sheriff's deputy came across the group in a parking lot outside Knight High School.  When the deputy asked what they were doing they responded by saying they were praying to stop violence in the schools and for people to abstain from sexual activity before marriage.  There were children with them, their ages ranging from 3 to 18.  The five women were ages 33-39.

After the search with helicopters, horses and police on foot in the Vasquez Rocks area they were found.  Authorities said they found no specific evidence that the group had any intentions to commit suicide or were anticipating violence.

New York Times by Adam Nagourney




I am curious to know if it is difficult for the authorities to put so much work, time and money into search and rescues such as this and feel like it was a waste because these women are somewhat radicals from the sounds of this report and they were just fine.  Sending their husbands for a loop and possibly putting their own children in danger.   It's difficult for me to understand, maybe I'm just being judgmental.

"Asian-Americans Climb Fashion Industry Ladder"

Jasion Wu, Richard Chai and Alexander Wang.

Three Asian-Americans won awards at the American Fashion awards ceremony.  Richard Chai for men's wear, Jason Wu for women's wear and Alexander Wang for accessories.  Why is this important? It was the first time all three awards went to three Asian Americans, there was also three $25,000 scholarships given out that night, all to students with Asian backgrounds. There is a new fast pace increase of Asian-American designers in the industry, they are recognized quickly for their skill and understanding for fabric and fashion.  

Many of the major fashion schools have seen a recent influx in Asian-American and Asian-born students since the 90's.  Parsons New School for Design now has aprox. 70% of their students from Asia and the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T) out of 1.200 students about 23%.  

There have been waves in the past from Asian, but they were much smaller, such as in the 80's which resulted in Anna Sui and Vera Wang coming into the industry.

in 1995 there were 10 Asian-American members on the Council of Fashion Designers of America, now there are 35.

This could be happening for the same reason there was an increase of Jewish decent designers in the 80's  Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.  In the 20th century Jewish immigrants built their way up in the fashion industry in New York, starting as laborers, factory owners, manufacturers, retailers and eventually designers.

Similar to the Asian-American designers now who's previous generations were involved in the production of clothes.  "I grew up around clothes," Mr. Lam said  "it was like a default.  Fashion became on of the few outlets for Asian-Americans who wanted to put their name out there." 

I love seeing designs progress and what designers can come up with, and how they can come up with things so quickly.  Their ability to be inspired and to transform it into clothing and accessories really is impressive to me.  Anyone who can do that on such a fast pace and in a lifestyle that is so demanding is to me, talented.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/fashion/05asians.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper 

Alexander Wang

Jason Wu

Richard Chai