UPDATE: Check out this photo, above right, of West Seattle fashion designer Justin Bartle standing beside Ghizlane Morlot, the wife of the Seattle Symphony orchestra's new music director, Ludovic. This photo was taken the night of last Saturday night's opening gala at Benaroya Hall, as mentioned below.
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When world-class conductor Ludovic Morlot takes the stage in his first concert as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for Saturday night's opening gala at Benaroya Hall, he will be presented with wife Ghizlane to an audience of 2,500. While all ears will be on the musicians, all eyes will be on the symphony's new first lady and her orange gown.

The edgy but classical flowing creation is designed by West Seattle resident Justin Bartle, 21, one of 400 students at the Art Institute of Seattle School of Fashion on Alaskan Way with classroom windows that offer a scenic view of Elliott Bay and Alki beyond.

"What's unusual about this collaboration is that Mrs. Morlot is the wife of Seattle Symphony's new, world-reknowned conductor, and the fact that she chose a student to design her dress when she could have had any designer," said Karin Wu, Academic Director of Fashion at the school who has taught 21 different courses there. "This is a big deal," she added pridefully. "She is very down to earth and has impeccable taste, in my opinion. She didn't want the typical red or black ball gown, but (wanted) something different. She is very beautiful, very stylish, and I think this is going to look amazing on her.

"She contacted us," said Wu. "She had asked the PR people at the symphony to look for a student designer. We held a competition internally. She came in and chose Justin's design. I think she really liked how fresh his style is. He's very daring in his designs. There were a lot of other good designs, too. She is choosing another designer for a future event. I think it's fabulous. She is encouraging the arts with these collaborations."

Mrs. Merlot gave Justin a $1,000 scholarship for the dress.

Bartle was born in Tacoma and grew up in Monroe. He has lived in West Seattle for two years and said he enjoys hanging out around Alki Beach...when he is not busy with school. He often wears a pair of whimsical but practical Creative Recreation Velcro High Top sneakers, and a fedora. He explained that he loves certain hats, like the kind Humphrey Bogart wore.

"I don't do baseball hats," Bartle said.

His interest in fashion began at 17.

"I wanted to do something with an artistic background and make good money at it," he said. "There is good money in fashion. I love evening gowns, my specialty. When you work with a client like Mrs. Morlot you sketch the design out for her and she tells me what she wants. She visited three times, and will return for a fitting Thursday.

"The Seattle fashion scene is small but growing," he said. "Everybody knows everybody. Once your name is out you get more shows. You get clientele from other cities. New York is the best one in the U.S. In Europe, it's Paris, it's Italy. Asia is growing strong but I am more concerned with the European tradition. Asian is a different, aesthetic. They have their own views.

"Right now edgy is what's in style," he said. "Lady Gaga makes a big influence in fashion. She's very artistic and wants to be different, to stand out, to make an impact on millions of people. Designers tend to design what's trendy. That's what makes the money. The music industry, the whole entertainment industry, is a huge influence. It plays a huge role. People follow the celebrities. The art school teaches us a lot about the trends, common sense. At the end of the day it's business. You want to make money."

But it is also an art form, and Bartle's versatility allows him to design men's clothes, too.

"Men's designs are more simple, but details are the main thing," he explained. "They don't want to risk wearing something over the top. Guys' minds are totally different than women's minds. They want to be sexy, comfortable, but comfortable is the main thing. A nice blazer, V-neck shirt, designer denim jeans, great shoes, leather or designer tennis shoes. You play your options. Sometimes you throw a bracelet on."

Bartle speculates, "If I didn't do fashion, I'd do public relations. I love networking, knowing people who can help you out, and you can help them out."

"I've been here for about a year now and have watched him grow," said Elden Monday, Art Institute President who has spent over 20 years in education.

"He is incredibly talented and has a peer group who is talented, too," Monday added. "They work really hard, so to see them get acknowledged is very important. They get to chase their passion which takes a lot of courage in this economy. Many people end up in industries we may or may not have known how we got into. But these students chose to do what they do in spite of people wondering if it's a hobby or if they can make money at it. These guys show up every day and work really hard to prove it's not a hobby. It's what they love."