A Watseka business woman is taking a team of stylists to New York Fashion Week this week.
Andrea Atwood, owner of Do or Dye Hair Salon, is in New York City this week with a team of 25 stylists for the fall/winter fashion week.
“This is my third trip,” she said. “Last September was my first season. I flew in. I was a stylist working underneath somebody else. I then flew in in February and also was a stylist for that season. I’m a lead this time. I have a team of 25 that are flying in with me from all across the country.”
She is also taking all the stylists in her salon as part of her team. Faith Hann and Mena DeLeon are in New York City with Atwood this week.
The stylists work backstage to style the models as the designer wishes. There is a hair team, a nail team and a makeup team. “We all work together,” she said. “We have call time about four hours before the show and all three teams have to have everything done within that time frame.”
Atwood’s week will be different than the last two because she is a lead and will have 25 artists on her team that she picked. “Some of them I met in New York and reached out. Others I used social media as my reach out and searched stylists in the local areas first to get everybody in Central Illinois the opportunity. I kind of used my resources from there and reached out. I went off of artistic ability, personality, what they are showcasing on social media, who they are trying to become and give those people that opportunity. We have people from Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Oregon, Connecticut and other states.
“I’m excited. I know my team is excited. We’ve been doing monthly Zooms and everybody is anxious to meet each other in person and bounce ideas.”
Atwood said the lead is considered the “go to” on the team. “I have to teach them the looks that have to be done by our team back stage. Instead of me one on one styling with models I am going to be mentoring 25 upcoming, inspiring stylists to do the looks and create it. I have to give the final proof in order for them to go to the back and get ready to go.”
Atwood will be working with the designer. The designer submits looks and nothing is shown until the teams fly in. “This season I am doing hair couture. I will be styling a model by myself and I will be walking the runway with her. This is something new for me and I’m very excited.”
A photographer and videographer from Carmel, Indiana, will be capturing all the excitement, she said. The Australian company bhave is the product sponsor.
The team could be called to do the stylings at any time of the day. “In our world you kind of run on adrenaline and that thrill of not knowing and what to expect, and knowing that when you get there it’s show time.”
The team will start prepping on Tuesday and the shows are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Atwood just celebrated 10 years with Do or Dye Salon. Hann is from Donovan and DeLeon is from Watseka. “2024 hit 10 years of business for me and I knew that I wanted to move Do or Dye into a different direction,” she said. “I wanted to expand our knowledge and our education behind the chair and make people feel pampered more than they ever had.” She said her Do or Dye team is traveling around the country for further education. The salon has a new luxury product line that they are using and has partnered with local company Sugar Creek Trading Company for special items for clients.
