Salute to Our Military This Veteran's Day

Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear would like to say Happy Veteran's Day!

We are proud to outfit many professional, semi-professional and collegiate performance teams who support our military through game day performance, USO tours and local base visits.

The AKD Go Wild! Wear "Patriot Collection" provides a percentage of sales to The Wounded Warrior Project to support our veteran soldiers. The collection features military influence in a variety of camo fabrics as well as a large assortment of red, white and blue costumes.

This season, we added the camo boot cuff which has created a quick costume change for teams without a large expense. View the boot cuffs here!

Patriot Collection costumes are available for teams within about four weeks, as well as individual order. Oftentimes teams create their own custom costumes, a service we proudly offer with many years of experience. Just contact AKD with your costuming needs.

We also give a special thank you to our Style Pro Sandy Charboneau! Outside of her work with AKD Go Wild! Wear, Sandy has dedicated her career to entertaining the troops.

As a former cheerleader and director for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, Sandy developed a passion for entertaining U.S. military bases located around the world. In 2010, Sandy formed Pro Tour Productions, offering entertainment tours featuring a variety of NFL cheerleaders, NBA dancers, professional athletes, musicians, comedians and other performance groups.

Earlier this fall, Sandy toured Djibouti, Kuwait and Bahrain. Here's a photo of her players and cheerleaders (wearing AKD custom dresses) alongside our national heroes.

 
Thank you to all who serve our nation at home and abroad. We are proud that Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear is MADE IN THE USA and always will be.

Spotlight on Model Search National Top 10 Winner Kari of the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders

In March 2012, Angela King Designs named the National Top 10 winners of its first Sports Model Search. Over 200 applicants submitted photos, applications and videos to be considered for prizes and glory within the cheerleading and dance industry. One member of the Top 10 was Kari K., an alumna Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader. Kari cheered on the NFL sidelines for four seasons, appearing in swimsuit calendars, on television and radio. But there is much more to this top ranking sports model!

 

In recent months Kari added the title of "Coach" to her resume. In summer 2012, she returned to her alma mater at the University of Central Missouri to direct the "Mulekickers" dance team. In addition to leading this talented group of collegiate performers, Kari enjoys running races with her husband, with whom she just celebrated a one-year anniversary.

Since cheering three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and appearing on ABC's The Bachelor Season 13, Kari has discovered her natural talent in runway fashion, print and commercial modeling. The AKD Sports Model Search photo submissions were just a small taste of Kari's work.

 

Recently, she has appeared in many fitness and bridal advertisements. She enjoys modeling in charitable runway shows including "Martinis Women & Shoes" to support Heartland Women's Leadership Council.

 

It's clear why Kari was selected for the model search and that she will continue to find success. "It was an honor to represent such a well established brand in cheerleading, dance and fitness - three things I love!" said Kari of her final rankings in the 2012 AKD Sports Model Search.

Watch for the official registration of the next AKD Sports Model Search to begin in January 2013! It could be you!

Spotlight on AKD Junior Designer Julia - Age 10

About the AKD Junior Designer Program: Our intentions in creating the AKD Role Models "Junior Designer" program are to promote design and creativity in our society's youth. We want to reach out to young designers and help them to realize their goals of becoming future fashion leaders. We hope that these Junior Designers will influence more children and teens to become young leaders and encourage them to follow their designing dreams.  

Blog #1: Following Julia, Age 10, Italy: Our first AKD Junior Designer is Julia, age 10, from Italy. Julia enjoys sports and learning about health and nutrition. She loves cheerleading and gymnastics and is very excited to be one of our designers! Julia will have the opportunity to have a hands on experience in the world of designing by creating her own custom costume and seeing it come to life in the AKD production office! Since she has experience with drawing pictures and sketching her own designs, we feel that this will come very naturally to her.  


Over the course of a two month period ranging from the beginning of November till the end of December, we will be documenting her AKD designing adventure. We will be sending her swatches of fabric, receiving her sketches, making the garment, and finally, sending her the finished product (our favorite part!). We are so excited to be a part of this journey with Julia and we can't wait to see the costume once she finally gets to wear it!

Julia has expressed her enthusiasm about being the first designer for our Role Models program:

"I am excited about being an AKD Junior Designer because it is a great opportunity for me to learn more about becoming a designer. This experience will provide me the chance to see how fashion designers do their job and what steps it takes to make a cheerleading uniform. I think it will be amazing to see how much time and hard work it takes to be a fashion designer, and I hope my imagination and creativity will help me design a beautiful and colorful cheerleading uniform.

I look forward to seeing how the uniform I design comes out and then seeing how it is liked by others. My goal is to learn as much as I can as a Junior Designer and decide if this is the path I should take as an adult."

We are so happy for you, Julia! To learn more about our Junior Designer program, visit the Role Models website and see more about Julia as well as our other designers!

Angela King Designs, Inc.

Spotlight on Sports Model Search National Top 10 Winner Karielle of the University of Missouri Golden Girls

In March 2012, Angela King Designs named the National Top 10 winners of its first Sports Model Search. Over 200 applicants submitted photos, applications and videos to be considered for prizes and glory within the cheerleading and dance industry. One of those top 10 was Karielle, a member of the University of Missouri "Golden Girls" Dance Team.

We caught up with Karielle this fall, just about 6 months since she was named to the AKD National Top 10. Karielle graduated with a degree in Communication from the University of Missouri or "Mizzou" as those crazy Tigers like to say. Since dance performance is in her blood, Karielle wasted no time in joining a new performance group. In May 2012, Karielle auditioned for the St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders and made the team! She was proud to list National Top 10 in the AKD Sports Model Search on her NFL audition application. Now in a new city, Karielle wore the AKD brand as a Mizzou Golden Girl and wears a beautiful AKD design cheering for the Rams!

As a Rams Cheerleader, Karielle is getting to experience another realm of performance and team spirit. She has appeared in their 2013 Rams Cheerleaders Swimsuit Calendar (pictured here - yowza!) and recently visited London to cheer on the Rams vs the Patriots in the league's only 2012 overseas game. Even though the Rams had to fly home without a victory, she is optimistic they will continue to do well in 2012.

We could tell you much more about Karielle - but we'll let her tell you herself. She's been featured this week by the St. Louis Rams organization. Click here to "Get to Know Karielle!" Best wishes Karielle as you continue to achieve in cheerleading, dance and beyond! 

The Art of Ice Girls Fashion

Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew wearing AKD

Angela King Designs has a strong history of outfitting many of the hottest NHL performance teams including the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, the Philadelphia Flyers and more. Recent additions to our Ice Girls customers include Quinnipiac University (CT), the Saginaw Spirit (MI) and the Glitz Girls (NY).

Ice Girls customers come to AKD / Go Wild! because we understand that their needs are different than the average performance team. Skirts must provide more movement and costumes accents should aid in making their skating patterns even more beautiful. AKD reaches this goal by adding dangles, sequins, rhinestones, and reverse color skirts.


New York Islanders wearing AKD

Skating customers can find many fashion options through the Go Wild! Wear collection, then customize the design to fit their skating performance needs. One great example of this is the photo here of the Islanders Ice Girl wearing the "Starbright" design modified to a skater skirt style.

Because comfort and ease of movement are important to Ice Girls customers, popular styles include the sport crop top, football pant (not necessarily used for football!), the V-pant and other jersey styles.

AKD also provides customers with options to display the logo of their team or sponsor. Patches, lettering, and embroidery are used to showcase branding - an essential part of sports entertainment!

See AKD's history of NHL designs
Shop online at Go Wild! Wear
Contact AKD to outfit your Ice Girls



Presenting AKDRoleModels.com and Junior Designer Program

Angela King Designs proudly releases a new new website dedicated solely to the AKD Role Models junior division: www.akdrolemodels.com

Visit the Role Models website to browse youth program designs including the Carolina Panthers "Topcats," the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders, the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, the Chicago "Luvabulls" and more.    



AKD Junior Designer Julia

AKD also announces the selection of three inaugural Junior Designers - kids who will turn their fashion dreams into reality from drafting a sketch to selecting fabric to actually producing performance wear by Angela King Designs!

Check back next week to meet our first Junior Designer Julia, age 10, who resides in Italy. Julia is the daughter of a military family. She enjoys cheerleading and studying health and nutrition. 

Browse all the Junior Designer profiles and learn more about becoming a Junior Designer at the new Role Models website. 

Spotlight on Sports Model Search National Top 10 Winner Stephanie-Jill of the New York Islanders

In March 2012, Angela King Designs named the National Top 10 winners of its first Sports Model Search. Over 200 applicants submitted photos, applications and videos to be considered for prizes and glory within the cheerleading and dance industry. One of those fine ladies was Stephanie Jill, a representative of the New York Islanders NHL Ice Girls.

We caught up with Stephanie this fall, just about 6 months since she was named to the AKD National Top 10. Stephanie celebrated her last year with the NHL and has been busy busy busy! She says, "Great things do continue after you retire as a cheerleader. (Even though I'm so sad and miss everyone). I am excited to share that glow with others."

One of Stephanie's major projects has been forming Glitz Entertainment, a New York City-based talent network of ice dancers and brand ambassadors. Glitz Girls appear at many charity events including Men Love Pink at Bounce Sporting Club, Rock Asylum - a music program in schools, and Orange Event for Parkinsons. Her Glitz Boutique offers crystallized gloves and skating tee-shirts for sale at competitions.

Some of her favorite projects are Glitz Fitness events, which are aimed to educate children to be committed to a healthy lifestyle. "As a former health and PE teacher, my passion is to teach children," says Stephanie, "and what better way to do it then through education especially when healthcare is becoming a huge concern."

Not only did Stephanie wear AKD as an Islander Ice Girl, she earned $150.00 in Go Wild! credit through her Top 10 model search placement, so she chose to outfit her Glitz girls in the brand she trusted! Stephanie's girls truly glow in these neon pink logo sets. The girls also have a similar set in silver metallic!

Thanks to Stephanie-Jill for joining us and be sure to watch for the 2013 AKD Model Search - It could be you!

2013 Sports Model Search Begins February 1!

Mark your calendars for February 2013, when Angela King Designs will once again accept applications for its Sports Model Search. See the 2012 website for details, and join our mailing list to your right to get updates on the 2013 contest.

In spring 2012, Angela King Designs welcomed its first Sports Model Search winner - Toni Damico of Denver, Colorado! Selected from over 200 applicants in the collegiate, semipro and professional performance industry, Toni is now serving as the 2012 Face of AKD and Go Wild! Wear.

Model search contestants submit photos and applications between February 1-28. In March, the public gets the chance to vote online for their favorite contestants, narrowing the field to 60 women. Then a panel of high profile judges review each contestant to select 30 semi-finalists. Semi-finalists submit an "about me" video to be considered as a member of the National Top 10. One winner is announced to become the 2013 Face of AKD, including a trip to Texas to appear in our product photo shoot, $500.00 in merchandise and more. Sponsors and AKD provide unbelieveable prizes during each round of the contest from t-shirts to tote bags and water bottles. Even the winner's cheer or dance team gets a prize - practice wear for the entire team!

According to one model search judge Fred Guadelli, Producer of NBC Sports Sunday Night Football, "The contest for the New Face of AKD was both fun to be a part of and impressive to observe. The quantity and quality of the women who entered was in direct correlation to the excellence of the AKD brand."

Check back for more updates and browse Toni's most recent product photos at www.gowildwear.com.

AKD and DBC Celebrate 20 Years!

This weekend, the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders welcomed over 120 alumni for their 20-year cheerleader reunion!

 

Angela King-Twitero, the founder of Angela King Designs, attended the reunion behind the scenes to celebrate the anniversary and watch the festivities, which included a performance by alumni on field when the Broncos beat the Raiders 37-6.

Angela King Designs created the original DBC uniform in 1992, and after 20 years, is still their costume designer!

 

Wishing a very happy anniversary to the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders organization. Here's to another 20 years of excellence on and off the field!

 

Angela King Designs, Inc.

We Love Our College Teams!

Here at Angela King Designs, we create custom made cheer and dance outfits for a number of College and University teams. We value these teams not only because they are great customers, but we feel that they are some of the up and coming women in professional dance. Some of our most recent collegiate customers include Tennessee State University, University of Central Missouri, Kennesaw State, and University of Utah, to name a few. If you feel like your school could use some AKD flare, just contact us or one of our style pros to explore the possibilities!


Take a look at what we've designed for these teams:

TSU vs. Jackson State game in which they were voted "Best Dressed" in our blue sequin leotards!




 

 Tennessee State University Dance Team

 

 

We offer a variety of styles, fabrics, and colors to accomodate your team's needs. We can elongate skirts and tops for more modesty and even add your school logo or mascot.

 

 

Kennesaw State University Owls

 

 

One of our more local teams is the Univeristy of the Incarnate Word located in San Antonio, TX. For them, we made halter jumpsuits in their school colors and included their Cardinal logo.  

 

 

 

UIW Cardinals Dance Team

 



 

If you prefer the glitz and glamour, we can use sequin fabrics and rhinestones for your outfits. We realize that you want to look your best at games and provide a solid team image with a little extra pizzazz! Here are some of the gorgeous girls from the University of Utah:

 

 

Utah Swoop Dance Team

 

 

Whatever your needs are, we look forward to designing your next school dance team outfits! To find out more about what we can do, visit  the Go Wild Wear website to contact us or one of our sales reps.

 

 

Angela King Design, Inc.