Best Local Designer

1. Samantha Plasencia
modelmayhem.com/samdesigning4u

Emerging local fashion designer Samantha Plasencia cites watching her father create custom paint jobs on cars as early inspiration to pursue a career in the arts. Entering the University of the Incarnate Word's fashion design program, Plasencia barely knew her way around a sewing machine, but by graduation her calling was clear. At the school's Mercedes Benz-sponsored Cutting Edge Fiesta Fashion Show, her well-constructed streetwise denim ensembles stood out in a gown-heavy collection. The ball's been rolling for her ever since with designs — including origami skirts, paper posture collars, and her hardware-embellished T-shirt collection Rock Eyeshadow — featured in the Art of Fashion runway show and the magazines Alt Noir, Auxiliary, Harlow, and Bella Morte. A recent employee of the month at Neiman Marcus (where she works as a visual stylist), Plasencia is currently designing for reality TV personality Angelina Pivarnick (Jersey Shore, Couples Therapy) and awaiting an upcoming spread in the alt-luxury publication Prysm Magazine.

2. Angelina Mata (Tie)
angelinamata.com

Kathleen Sommers
2417 N Main, (210) 732-2207, kathleensommers.com

3. Agosto Cuellar
jiverefried.blogspot.com