Well known and respected Tampa Bay fashion designer, Ivanka Ska will showcase her newest collection at Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009 during the week of September 23-26.

Her move from Poland to New York City in 1991 is where she fell head over heels in love with fashion. During a vacation in sunny Florida, Ivanka realized the place where she’d create her successful business… St. Petersburg!

Ivanka has made a huge fashion and artistic impact to the Tampa Bay area with her clothing and by opening the first fashion house in St. Petersburg, the House of Ska. She recently launched a new business that specializes in training aspiring models for the runway in the commercial and high fashion industry, The Art of Modeling and Runway Studio.

This designer, stylist and producer has successfully proven her determination of bringing fashion to the Tampa Bay area with her designs skills and eye for stylish clothing. Ivanka has a variety of  talents that are incorporated into her “House” of Ivanka Ska-ness,  including models, makeup artists, hair stylists, fashion designers, photographers, and artists. The success from her fashion boutique was awarded in 2008 by Metro Magazine as the “Best Funky Fashion House.” A media darling, Ivanka has been published in various magazines and newspapers including Bay Life Magazine, Tampa Bay Illustrated, St. Pete Times and the Tampa Tribune. In addition, she has been featured on NBC’s Daytime (where she gives fashion advice) and Fox 13’s Lightning Round.

Ivanka is an active community leader, helping to launch the artist collective, Gala Corina, supporting the careers of emerging designers, and of course, participating in Fashion Week Tampa Bay, an event that highlights fashion designers while giving back to the community. “Fashion Week Tampa Bay is the most exciting and awaited event for all designers in Tampa Bay. It’s what we all have been preparing for all year. I’m so proud to be a part of our own fashion history,” says Ivanka. She has also showcased in the St. Pete Art Beat, Salvador Dali Museum’s Surreal Fashion Show, and produced her own House of Ska events.

Ivanka Ska strives to bring a creative, artistic edge to the Bay area community. Personally, I’m a huge fan and applaud fashion designer Ivanka Ska for giving the Tampa Bay area “wearable art” that’s simply love at first sight. I can’t wait to see Ivanka Ska at Fashion Week Tampa Bay 2009!