CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Mellissa Jochele Miller (she/they) is the Creative Director and Lead Designer of MJOCHELE. She is a self-taught designer and her expertise in garment construction, embroidery, and needlework already spans over 2 decades. She started MJOCHELE the fall of 2017, and by the summer of 2018 was invited to participate in several NYFW events. In September 2019, MJOCHELE was officially invited to showcase their “Amity” collection & its runway debut was received to cheers & applause.
Mellissa is the central Ohio regional ambassador for Fashion Mingle, a powerful networking platform for fashion industry professionals.
She is also co-chair of Passport to Fashion, an official Fashion Week Columbus runway show & platform for designers and consumers of all races, ethnicities, body types, gender identities, and lifestyles. She additionally volunteers time to the Columbus Fashion Council’s Marketing team, handling their social media & website.
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Aditi Bhatiya (she/her) is the owner of the Columbus based creative marketing agency Spice Age, as well as co-owner of Events Amplified, a premier event management company specializing in luxury events. In addition, she is the Marketing Manager for the Columbus Fashion Council & Fashion Week Columbus.
She is also the Founder and Co-Chair of Passport to Fashion, an official Fashion Week Columbus runway show & platform for designers and consumers of all races, ethnicities, body types, gender identities, and lifestyles.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
EDEN ESTES
Eden Estes (he/him) is a trans photography business owner based out of NYC. He specializes in portrait, editorial, fashion, and runway photography, and occasionally models on the side. He was voted in, and is active as Vice President of the Cincinnati. Ohio based non-profit organization Black Power Initiative in 2020.
He volunteers on the MJOCHELE advisory committee as an LGBTQ+ diversity expert.
Caressa Brown (she/her) is a former model who owns & runs the CFDA Connects partner organization Dayton Emerging Fashion Incubator, the education arm of House of Defiance which is an interdisciplinary fashion and design co-working space located in Dayton, Ohio.
Caressa utilizes her years of experience within the fashion industry as a business mentor & advisor for emerging fashion designers and models.
CARESSA BROWN
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