Adrienne Yancy and Johanna Alwin, both 20-somethings and recent college graduates, are set to take the fashion world by storm with their new clothing line, ChristinaSimone.

The friends since the 4th grade created the fashion line after realizing they had similar fashion dreams and goals while vacationing together in the Bahamas last summer.

ChristinaSimone, which is a combination of their middle names, is a smooth blend of both women’s different styles.

“In terms of the collaboration of styles, we both bring different ideas and inspirations to all of our designs,” said, Yancy, who graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in fashion merchandising.

“We work well with each other and feed off each others’ creativity and ideas. Having a partner in designing allows for better, more creative and appealing garments.”

Alwin, who also graduated this past spring, earned a Bachelor of Science in Fashion design and fashion merchandising from Iowa State. Both women have designed and made garments since middle and high school.

The creative duo also traveled to Las Vegas last summer for the Magic Show, a premier fashion industry trade show and one of the largest forums for retail exhibitors and buyers.

“We met a lot of really cool people in the industry, and really got to see how things worked on the other end of fashion,” Yancy said. “The Magic Show is what really inspired us to create ChristinaSimone. We always knew we had the talent, drive, and work ethic, but never knew that we were to be such good partners until that trip.”

ChristinaSimone is currently producing garments on a word-of-mouth referral, which Yancy said is the most powerful way to reach clients, but the partners are also preparing to launch an online store and sell pieces in boutiques around their native Minneapolis.

The designers intend to hit the L.A. and New York markets soon and are scheduled to appear in a fashion show at New York University in February.

Yancy, whose fashion influences include Elie Saab, Vera Wang, and Chanel, offered a few words to other fashionistas breaking into the industry:

“Fashion is not an easy business,” she said. “There is a lot of competition, and it is important that you know people in the business. You must also be great at time and money management!”

For more information, contact ChristinaSimone, LLC at: christina.simone@yahoo.com