Radix Collection’s fashion show dazzled guests at NOVA 535 in January

Artists, gallerists and other glitterati gathered at the St. Petersburg venue NOVA 535 on Jan. 21 for the Radix Collection Fashion and Art Show. Attendees viewed the latest designs from Radix Collection, a fashion line featuring the designs of local artists. Before the show started, the emcee shouted the brand’s tagline: “Love art? Wear it!”

Models sashayed down the runway wearing robes, dresses, matching sets, raincoats and bucket hats bearing the designs of artists Saumitra Chandratreya, Kris Meenan and Derek Donnelly. The show was by no means conventional; models did headstands, spritzed perfume and shot fake $100 bills from a money gun on the runway.

The lively and fun show went exactly as the line’s creator, Jane Radix, hoped. Radix, who works in pharmaceutical advertising, is also an avid collector of artwork by St. Petersburg artists. Enjoying the thrill she got from getting to know them, Radix conceived another way to help support them.

“I was trying to think of something that would bring the art that I was collecting out to a wider group of people,” she said.

Her first idea was to put artists’ designs on mugs and tote bags, but those didn’t feel special enough. The idea to create clothing was soon born and she was introduced to the concept of on-demand printing by an artist who designed pieces for the brand’s launch last year.

“Print on demand in general is a nice way to prevent waste because you’re just printing one item,” Radix said. “That in and of itself is more costly, but it’s very environmentally friendly because there’s not all this stock. Also, it’s about not (using) factories in countries where labor is abused.”

Radix found the United Kingdom-based company Contrado, which appealed to her because of its sustainable single factory designed to minimize waste and pollution. She works with local artists to conceive the patterns that will be printed on the clothing Contrado produces. Last year’s launch included designs by Chad Mize, Mark Williams and Wasil. Artists receive 50% of the proceeds.

While some of the artists’ designs are printed on the same items, they couldn’t be more different. In the spring 2024 line, Chandratreya’s patterns, taken from photos from Indian spice markets, adorn silky robes, kimonos and a chic ensemble of a top, pants and long gloves.

Meenan’s retro-inspired designs put groovy motifs on raincoats, skirts and bucket hats, while Donnelly’s iconic scale patterns give edge to swimsuits and slip dresses.

Most items range from $60-$158. They’re meant to be keepsake pieces.

Radix plans to keep the collection going. “I’m hoping to have a real following in the Tampa Bay area,” she said. “And then if it grows outside of that, that’s great. I do see this as a local initiative where everybody can show support for the artists and enjoy (their) work in a different way.”