Spotlight on AKD Junior Designer Kayla - Age 7

Blog #4: Following Kayla, Age 7, Chicago: We've been keeping track of our most recent AKD Junior Designer, who is also a Chicago Junior Luvabulls Dancer, where she wears an AKD Role Models design, pictured right. 

See Kayla's Journey

In the past few months, we showed you Kayla's initial designs sent to the AKD office via sketch, as well as her fabric selection and a mini-view of her final costume.

Once you become a Junior Designer, you are part of the AKD family! We are proud of Kayla's accomplishments this year including modeling for AKD at a Chicago pro dance convention and appearing in her first pageant. 

This blog rounds out Kayla's feature as we reveal her costume creation! Kayla's costume includes tricot fabrics in light pink and white, with accents of purple metallic fabric. This metallic fabric is the same type worn by the Los Angeles Laker Girls dancers! 

"Mom, I can't believe my eyes," said Kayla. "My very own creation!! I want to hug and thank everyone at AKD for giving me a chance to really believe I can do anything I put my all in doing and helping me to start living my dream as a fashion designer."

Congratulations Kayla! We are certain this is your first of many creations, and we are proud to help you experience the joy of bringing your vision to life. 

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Get in the Holiday Spirit with AKD

As you're sprucing up your home and your front lawn this holiday season, don't forget to add some tinsel and ornament to your performance wear! 

Angela King Designs creates fabulous holiday costuming including maribou fur, velvet and sequin options, custom hats and more. It doesn't take much to add a little holiday flair like the 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars ROAR Cheerleaders pictured above in custom blue sequin dresses and hats. 

Instead of an entirely new holiday costume, consider enhancing your standard uniform with boot cuffs or trim. You can even add your logo to a holiday hat or boot cuff.

Fur trim, red or sequin boots can be ordered for a team of eight or more with a few weeks notice. Remember to take your order in whole sizes only! 

Get creative and have some fun this holiday season! The Go Wild! Wear Holiday Collection offers a variety of recommended products that will quickly outfit your team. For custom holiday sets, please order four to six weeks in advance - that means NOW! Send your logo or costuming request to our team of Style Pros for a quote or custom suggestions.

Happy holidays from AKD and Go Wild! Wear

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Spotlight on AKD Junior Designer Kayla - Age 7

Blog #3: Following Kayla, Age 7, Chicago: We've been keeping track of our fall AKD Junior Designer, who is also a Chicago Luvabulls Junior Dancer. 

Outside of dance and cheerleading, Kayla is trying a new hobby - pageants! This month, Kayla entered her first pageant with 54 contestants. Our little Kayla was awarded Top Five and will join the winners in Orlando in December! Here she is in her formal wear and casual wear. She actually found a creative way to wear her official Jr Luvabulls uniform for casual wear! Congratulations Kayla, we are very proud of you and proud you chose to wear AKD. 

This fall, Kayla designed three different costumes that were presented to AKD for creation. AKD selected and created one of these costumes for Kayla, and it is off and shipped to Chicago as we speak! In our next and final AKD Junior Designer blog, we will feature that costume creation!  

"Thank you for making Kayla's dreams come true," said mom Felicha.

Thank you to Kayla for being a part of our program! Until we see her wearing the final product, we can only reveal a small bit of the costume, pictured here. Stay tuned!  

Follow the AKD Junior Designers

Apply to Become the Next Junior Designer

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.

AKD Founder Celebrates 49ers Gold Rush 30th Reunion

Gold Rush Alumni Lori Fonzi, Angela and Karen McDonald 

In late September, AKD Founder and CEO Angela King-Twitero returned to Northern California to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleaders. This marked another incredible achievement for Angela and Angela King Designs.

Angela is one of 14 original members of the 1983 team. She went on to cheer for seven years, including three Super Bowls, each resulting in a win for the team and a Super Bowl Ring for Angela. In a natural progression, Angela moved into management with the 49ers, and directed the cheerleaders for five years, which included one more Super Bowl Championship. 

AKD design worn by the Gold Rush in 2010.

During her years with the 49ers, Angela began her career as a costume designer, having the opportunity to design many of the uniforms worn by her team and countless others in the NFL, NBA, NHL and beyond. Today, many continue to regard Gold Rush costuming as some of the most unique and memorable costumes ever worn by NFL Cheerleaders. The organization even featured Angela's designs in a special 30-year tribute display.  

“When I was a cheerleader and dancer," said Angela, "I felt the need for a better costume. As a dancer, my costumes were being made by people who didn’t dance. People who weren’t ever a member of a team, let alone a professional dance/cheer team. I knew something needed to change. That’s why I started AKD. Dancers needed costumes made by a dancer. It was important then and is still very important today.” 

Angela with 1983 teammates in custom AKD jackets

During her weekend in San Francisco, Angela performed alongside hundreds of other alumni cheerleaders during the 49ers - Colts home game at Candlestick Park. Angela was involved in a special tribute to the original 1983 team, presenting each alumna with an AKD bomber jacket customized with their Super Bowl years on the sleeve. 

On behalf of Angela King Designs, we would like to congratulate Angela on this milestone achievement and thank her for years of service to the NFL Cheerleading industry. Thank you Angela! 

Learn More About Angela King-Twitero

See Other Historical AKD NFL Costumes

Angela holds a montage of photos presented to her at the Gold Rush Reunion. 

Angela conducts a TV interview after the halftime performance at Candlestick Park.

Angela performing during rehearsal at Candlestick Park.

Congratulations Angela King-Twitero!

AKD Outfits Miss Grand Prix Contestants

Angela King Designs is off to the races this weekend in Houston! 

As the official uniform designer and runway sponsor of the 2014 Miss Grand Prix of Houston Pageant, AKD is the chosen outfitter of all contestants and 2013 Miss Grand Prix of Houston Angela Anderson. 

CEO and Founder Angela King-Twitero served on the judging panel to select the 2014 winner during the final pageant on October 4. Pictured right on 2014 Miss Grand Prix of Houston Reagan Waters, AKD created one of a kind Grid Suits for the ladies to wear on the track during Grand Prix events. 

Angela King Designs attire were also showcased during the Runway Segment of the pageant, featuring new releases in the AKD Go Wild! Racewear collection. The show included a performance by Creedence Clearwater Revival and appearances by race car drivers such as Helio Castroneves, previous Indy 500 Winner. All events surrounded the official races of the Grand Prix of Houston. 

The new Miss Grand Prix of Houston will reign under a one year contract and receive a prize package valued at $5,000, including two uniforms by Angela King Designs. Congratulations to Reagan Waters! 

Visit the Miss Grand Prix of Houston Website

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Spotlight on AKD Junior Designer Kayla - Age 7

Blog #2: Following Kayla, Age 7, Chicago: Last month, we introduced you to Kayla - our Fall 2013 AKD Junior Designer! Kayla is a Junior Luvabulls Dancer, where she wears an official AKD Role Models junior costume. 

This summer, we asked Kayla to join us in Chicago as an AKD Brand Ambassador alongside National Sales Manager Laura Clark. Kayla visited the Chicago Going Pro Convention in uniform, where she met dancers and cheerleaders and modeled AKD apparel. Here she is with Clark in her Junior Luvabulls uniform. 

"Kayla was an outstanding representative of AKD!" said Clark. "One of the most important qualities of a cheerleader and a brand ambassador is a great smile and willingness to talk to people. Kayla exhibited both of those attributes, and she was a great company representative!" 

The highlight of Kayla's program as an AKD Junior Designer is that she will have her own design brought to life! Kayla submitted three fabulous sketches to Angela King Designs, and one of them will be created just for her this fall! Kayla's inspiration for the drawings roots from her love to dance and cheer. We can't reveal which one will be chosen, but we can show you her creativity! See below for the three designs in various colors and styles. Which is your favorite? 

As we speak, the AKD production department is selecting Kayla's fabrics and matching her sizes to prepare for the prototype production of Kayla's costume. With a wide variety of fabrics to choose from, the professionals are selecting from solids, metallics, prints, and sequins to create the perfect set. 

Check back with us later this month when we will reveal Kayla's selected costume and see her reaction as she receives it in her very own size.   

Follow the AKD Junior Designers

Apply to Become the Next Junior Designer

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.

AKD Holiday Wear Now Available!

With less than three months until the 2013 holiday season, how will you celebrate in style? 

Fans love to see creative holiday costuming! From crushed velvet to maribou fur to leopard fur and accents of red, green or gold - the AKD Go Wild! Wear Holiday Collection offers unique ideas for your team. 

Contact AKD at least 6 weeks in advance for custom holiday garments, and at least 4 weeks in advance for your Go Wild! order. 

Shop the Go Wild! Holiday Collection

Contact AKD for Custom Attire 

Announcing the AKD University Collection

Angela King Designs is excited to present the AKD University Collection! Stay tuned for more products in the AKD University Collection! Follow the link below to speak with a Style Pro about your college costuming needs. 

See AKD Collegiate Customers

View the Style Pro Directory

Shop AKD University 

Meet Kayla, AKD Junior Designer, Age 7, Chicago

Meet our Fall 2013 AKD Junior Designer: Kayla of Chicago, Illinois! At just seven years old, Kayla has high aspirations of fashion and performance, which makes her the PERFECT candidate for the AKD Junior Designer program. 

"Fashion is my dream!" says Kayla. "Someday I will design clothes for real fashion models."

Kayla just completed her second season dancing with the Junior Luvabulls in Chicago, where she wears the AKD Role Models brand while performing on the NBA court alongside the Luvabulls pro dance team. Kayla's favorite thing about being a Jr. Luvabull is that she has the opportunity to look and feel like a star and show off her AKD uniform. And you can't beat the excitement of performing in the NBA - especially at age seven! 

Kayla's favorite colors are pink, white and black. Outside of dancing with the Jr. Luvabulls, Kayla enjoys drawing, playing dress up, modeling and singing.

"I would like to become an AKD Junior Designer because I really like to draw, and I want to be a professional dancer and fashion designer when I grow up."  

Over the coming weeks, Kayla will submit her favorite drawings to Angela King-Twitero and the AKD production department. They'll choose one costume to bring to life in Kayla's size. According to Kayla's preferences, the costume experts will select fabrics, create a pattern and actually create Kayla's costume for her. The exciting moment comes when Kayla gets to receive her very own "masterpiece" later this fall! 

Stay tuned as we get to know Kayla and the AKD Junior Designer process. We can't wait to make your dreams come true!  

Follow the AKD Junior Designers

Apply to Become the Next Junior Designer

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.

Face of AKD to Appear at NYC Calendar Release Sept. 6

For the first time in sports entertainment history, New York cheerleaders have put together a stunning NFL-style swimsuit calendar that is targeted towards the fans of the team they support, but who have no official cheerleaders: The New York Giants.

Entering their 3rd season as the “unofficial” dancers of the Giants, the Gotham City Cheerleaders (GCC) have produced a 12-month pin up calendar for the 2013-2014 football season titled, ALL IN, NEW YORK. The calendar takes an editorial style spin to the paradise-like locations fans have always seen with most NFL cheer calendars. Instead, the calendar was shot and produced in the paradise streets of New York.

As the official uniform sponsor of the GCC, Angela King Designs 2013 Sports Model Search Winner Alexa Kobylarz will attend the release party on Friday, September 6 in New York City. 

The GCC releases their 2013-2014 ALL IN, NEW YORK Swimsuit Calendar on Friday, September 6, 2013 at M1-5 Lounge in Tribeca from 6 pm-10 pm. They will perform various routines and showcase some of their featured swimsuits from various local NYC designers. Tickets are open to the public and can be purchased at www.nyunofficials.com/CalendarPremiere.

Follow Alexa - 2013 AKD Model Search Winner

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