Writer, speaker, and media personality, Ruby Veridiano is featured in the 2011 spring look book, for sustainable vintage store, Retrofit Republic. With both RR and Ruby dedicated to making a positive social impact, and looking glamourous while doing it, you could say that this is the new triple threat to watch for in the Fashion Industry.

I was able to snap a few behind the scenes photos during the shoot:

Retrofit Republic released the look book on their site earlier this week, and Friday, January 27, 2011, there will be a screening of the video look book at SOMAR Bar in Oakland.

VIEW THE LOOK BOOK HERE > http://retrofitrepublic.com/lookbook

See you on Friday!

Papalodown’s client, Ruby Veridiano is teaming up with LitWorld to promote the CHANGE IS IN THE AIR campaign! The campaign wants to fill an empty plane with school supplies to send off to students in Iraq, but they need your help! Please help them by donating a few dollars to the cause. Every little bit counts!

Consider:
-$5 buys 50 ballpoint pens
-$10 buys 6 brand new notebooks
-$20 buys 288 pencils

You can find donation information through this link here!

With your donations, October can be the month where we can see that change is truly in the air. Thank you so much in advance for supporting the cause. Now let’s fill this plane!

Be About it & Tweet About It:
Please help @litworldsays send a plane filled of school supplies to students in Iraq! http://ow.ly/2Or0f #changeisintheair

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and work with Jenny Chen this past spring/summer with FRESH the Magazine, she is a student at Oakland High School, and the magazine’s Fashion Editor for the column “Fashion Autopsy”.  Jenny is an aspiring “starving artist”, and although I’m sure she really doesn’t want to be one, literally, there is definitely a romantic notion of living out your passion into a sustainable career.

Jenny is an aspiring fashion designer, and I was honored to help her start her very first venture into the world of fashion/retail industry with the launch of her Etsy shop “Skeletons In My Closet”

Jenny’s designs are conscious to the environment, using items like Arizona cans and circuit boards, and turning them into unique jewelry pieces. It’s inspiring to see a fashionista that is not influenced by trends and Hollywood, but is really an artist and designer using her resources and imagination to translate a new idea of what Fashion should be… sustainable.

I was lucky enough to snag this dope doughnut necklace! Having a food allergy that doesn’t allow me to eat anything with flour (ugh!), I could relate to the description that inspired this piece…

I made this because I had kind of an eating disorder around freshman year . I didn’t take the transition to high school well and stressing out about grades, friends, and other drama lead me to almost passing out in 5th period. This doughnut kind of represents not seeing food as something to be eaten. – Jenny Chen

Can’t wait to see what else Skeletons In My Closet will have to offer as Jenny grows into her role as a designer and entrepreneur.

Now shop and support! >>  http://www.etsy.com/shop/skltnsinmycloset

August 19, 2010 – New York, NY – After the whirlwind of being selected as a finalist in Alicia Keys’ nationwide head blogger search for “I Am A Superwoman” (www.iaas.com), Ruby Veridiano has developed her own project launching this fall, “The Glamourbaby Diaries”, a writing program with an Asian American history focus and a fashion framework that encourages young women to redefine beauty and elegance by encompassing themes of strength & social change.  Funded by a grant awarded to Ruby by the Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC), The Glamourbaby Diaries analyzes the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) image in society, by incorporating media, women’s history, and fashion, into an 8-week program for young women ages 14-19 years old in the New York City area.

“My career over the past 8 years has been spent as a touring poet, performing artist, & arts educator in universities and high schools across the U.S., primarily speaking on the experiences of Filipina/Asian American women. As a fashion enthusiast and media personality, this new project was born out of my passion to create empowering media for young Asian American girls, where they can find modern & engaging examples to express their beauty, identity, & leadership.” – Ruby Veridiano

By focusing on the histories of Asian American women, Glamourbaby Diaries offers an opportunity for Asian girls to reflect on their community, and for other female allies to gain knowledge of APIA issues. The discussions of activism and the history of APIA women exercising social justice offers participants with solid examples of how to redefine their lives to become agents of change. The program intentionally seeks to shift the image of Asian Americans in a modern, creative, and positive new light, away from the stereotypical examples that are more readily seen in popular media. Glamourbaby Diaries provides a fun and engaging introspection that encourages participants to think critically and redefine their role in society, while exploring fashion’s role in defining a generation.

The Glamourbaby Diaries is a free, 8-week program, that will be held on Saturdays from 2-4pm, beginning October 9th through December 4th, and located at Urban Word Manahattan (www.urbanwordnyc.org), 242 W 27th St. *Interested participants must email rubyisill@gmail.com with a brief narrative of why they would like to participate as space is limited.

Ruby is also beginning to accept booking requests for the 2010-2011 school year, specializing in  speaking engagements, workshops, and keynote presentations.  Aimed to facilitate dialogue on topics ranging from ‘Women’s Empowerment’, ‘Media Literacy’, ‘Race Relations and Diversity’, ‘Exploration of APIA Issues’, and ‘Personal Upliftment’. *Requests can be sent to rubyisill@gmail.com.

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Ruby Veridiano is a writer, speaker, arts educator, and media personality. She was born in Manila, Philippines, raised in Sacramento, CA, and has spent time in Italy, France, Atlanta, GA, and Oakland, CA, shaping her global perspective as a visionary leader. Since 2002, Ruby has traveled throughout the United States and Europe, presenting her writings, workshops, and media projects, inspiring young people to reach their full potential. As an arts activist, she aims to redefine the concepts of glamour and elegance in a way that encompasses themes of strength, inner beauty, and positive social change. In 2008, she published her first book “Miss Universe”. Ruby is currently based in New York, launching a writing empowerment program for teens, “The Glamourbaby Diaries”.  For more info visit www.rubyisill.com

Ruby’s Links:
twitter – @rubymsuniverse
FB fan page – www.facebook.com/RubyVeridiano

Glamourbaby Diaries is a writing program with an Asian American history focus and a fashion framework that encourages young women to redefine beauty and elegance by encompassing themes of strength & social change. Incorporating media, women’s history, and fashion, participants will analyze the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) image in society.  Glamourbaby Diaries is funded by a grant awarded to Ruby Veridiano in 2010, from the Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC), in New York City.

About the Asian Women Giving Circle
The Asian Women Giving Circle is a group of Asian American women pooling their money to fund other Asian women in NYC who use the tools of art to further a social equity goal. We work together to raise resources to support Asian American serving, Asian American women-led social change organizations in New York City’s under-served communities.  We raise resources and philanthropists.

PR Contact:
Paloma Belara
paloma@papalodown.com
415-992-1428
Booking Contact:
rubyisill@gmail.com

download flyer here – http://ow.ly/i/3ifb

My very first press release and introduction to the career of Public Relations happened in New York City, back in 2004. I was attending college at the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, where I got my B.A in Fashion Marketing.

Even though I was attending a fashion college, my projects were always about something else, including the entertainment industry.  So I guess it’s not a surprise that my career now includes both fashion and entertainment, (with a sprinkle of education for good measure).

With the recent news of Ruby Veridiano being a finalist for head blogger at Alicia Keys’ project “I Am A Superwoman” (www.iaas.com), I realized that not only has Ruby’s career come full circle at this point and time (cause I believe she’s got this gig!), but so has my own, as a publicist.

You see, the project in my PR class, six years ago, involved planning an event, writing a press release, FAQ sheet, bio, and a press kit for a client.  The client I chose to take on was Alicia Keys.  I kept my project throughout the years, and I’m glad I can still look back at it now…

I always knew that my career, and my passion was about helping other people shine. Ruby and I have been working together since 2007, and over the years we’ve also become close friends, and family. It’s truly a blessing to work with her and see how she’s manifested her career.

I believe my success is in the success of others… I shine, you shine.

ps. Thank you Alicia Keys, for inspiring me all those years ago…

May 12, 2010, New York, NY - Ruby Veridiano (www.rubyisill.com) is a writer, speaker, arts educator, VJ/media personality, and most recently was announced a candidate as head blogger for Alicia Keys’ women empowerment campaign “I Am A Super Woman” (www.IAAS.com). The search is powered by Monster.com, and consists of four intense rounds of selection. The top ten quarter candidates will be flown to New York City to meet the Selection Committee for another round of interviewing. On May 26th, 2010, three semi-candidates will be flown to London, England to see Alicia Keys live in concert at the KCA Blackball and have a face-to-face interview with Alicia. On June 21st the Head Blogger will be announced on IAAS.com.

My entire career as a writer and an artist has been devoted to representing a strong female voice that could inspire and uplift women. By offering universal truths, I strive to be the bridge that unites all women together, offering them a space to let their ambitions take flight. Because of this, I know that partnering with Alicia Keys for “I AM A SUPERWOMAN” is the perfect opportunity to unite fellow sheroes across the world. – Ruby Veridiano

As a candidate, Ruby’s chances of getting into the top three spot will partly be dependent on the support of her fans and community.  By rating and leaving comments on Ruby’s blog entries, the judges will be motivated to keep Ruby through to each round.  Ruby’s profile on IAAS can be viewed here: http://www.iamasuperwoman.com/users/rveridano

An active member of the community, Ruby works tirelessly to create opportunities that will help women (and men), find their own “super powers” within, and embrace their full potential. The access to have a platform that will be heard by thousands of people through IAAS, is a responsibility that Ruby is ready to take on with pride and excitement.

For up to date info on Ruby’s progress in the interviewing process you can check twitter.com/rubymsuniverse

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About: Ruby Veridiano is a writer, speaker, arts educator, and VJ/media personality, born in Manila, Philippines, and raised in the Bay Area.  Through her writings, workshops, and video projects, she aims to create an empowering space for women in media.  From the beginning of her career as a spoken word poet with iLL-Literacy (www.ill-literacy.com), Ruby has traveled throughout the United States and Europe, inspiring young people to reach their full potential. Her self-published book of short writings and poems “Miss Universe”, was released in 2008, and scheduled for a re-release in the near future. Ruby is currently exploring the “Glamourbaby Trails” of Brooklyn, NY, and developing a curriculum for a girls club, with the organization Lit World (www.litworld.org), that will be launched in New York high schools this summer (2010). For more info visit www.rubyisill.com

About: IAAS (I Am A SuperWoman) was founded by Alicia Keys to ignite super women with empowering content, delivering vibrant and optimistic news, opinion, and entertainment at a supersonic pace. IAAS will give powerhouses everywhere one source to connect with each other–and the world. For more info visit www.IAAS.com

Yup, Ruby is ready to get back on the road! She’s settled into NYC, and now we’re gonna bring it worldwide! We’re focusing on workshops, event hosting, and key note speaking engagements, as well as re-publishing her book “Miss Universe”!

Quick update – I’ve taken on the role as not just her Publicist, but her Booking Manager too! (I quit my day job for a reason folks, lol)  I got to spend some time with Ruby in NY a few weeks ago, which helped us get into work mode and plan out 2010, we’re very excited, can you tell?

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT BOOKING RUBY CHECK HERE

MADE Jewelry has become a recent partner in crime here at Papa Lo Down, I love working with the women involved with the brand!

As some of you may know already, I’ve taken on the responsibility to assist MADE with their West Coast accounts, and I’m very excited about the new collection “L&VEHATE”.  There are beautiful pieces throughout , and what has easily become a MADE trademark design, the half hoop/half chain earring, is one of my favorites!

Check it out folks, a MADE present for the holidays would be perfect… for yourself

Don’t forget to download the soundtrack for the latest collection:

ps. I told you guys I was going to get involved with the Fashion Industry again

I recently discovered a fresh artist/designer and had to share with the rest of you. 

Enter Rosetung – she custom made the cowl neck scarf  in the photo above, I got it today and will probably wear it the rest of this winter! Thank you Jennifer!

Check out the rest of her hand made items, all made with love and attention to detail here – www.rosetung.etsy.com

Also make sure you keep her blog RosyDelights in your reader, I love all the updates on what she’s working on, and how naturally beautiful she looks in all her photos

rosetung.etsy.com
rosydelights.blogspot.com