By Jennifer Glickel
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN — Though their runway shows are not in the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week tents at Lincoln Center, for a handful of emerging designers, it's Fashion Week nonetheless — albeit across town on a decidedly smaller stage.
RS POP Shop, a Lexington Avenue storefront that features up-and-coming designers, organized a runway show called Emerging Designers Spring/Summer 2011 at a gallery a few doors down from their store, between East 47th and East 48th streets.
Six different designers are being featured throughout the week.
"We wanted to give a storefront and a runway to these designers because many of them don't otherwise have that chance," said RS POP co-founder Melissa Gonzalez.
Manhattan-based designers Sandra Baquero and Sohung Tong each showed their lines on Tuesday for a small group of guests and a gaggle of onlookers who stopped outside the gallery's windows.
Baquero debuted nature-inspired dresses in warm earthy tones, replete with wood incorporated into the designs.
Speaking about her experience designing in Manhattan, Baquero said she found the city inspiring because of the change of seasons, which she never had in her native Colombia.
"I can make more designs for each season and it forces me to be more creative," Baquero said.
Tong's line had a more edgy feel, featuring zippers as a prominent element with high necklines and asymmetrical cuts.
Tong, who hails from Hong Kong, started his line seven years ago in New York.
Tong said that working in Manhattan keeps thing interesting because there's always a range of customers wanting different types of designs.
"Tons of creative people here in fields like fashion and art are great for giving feedback," the designer said.
Both Tong and Baquero's designs will be on sale at the RS POP Shop through October.
