Fashion designer and stylist Korto Momolu (pronounced Cut • Toe – Mo • Mo • Lu) is a proud wife, mother, and all around classy woman, who now goes frequently without being unnoticed as the fan favorite of Bravo’s hit reality show Project Runway Season 5. From her trademark hairdo, diverse line of clothing and apparel and sharp eye for cutting edge trends, Korto stands out easily from the rest and has captured the attention of many VIP’s in the fashion industry. According to her fans, who already view her as an extraordinary designer, Korto Momolu is more than ready to establish herself as a fashion icon.
Currently residing in Little Rock, Arkansas, Korto Momolu was born in Liberia, West Africa, and moved to Canada to study fashion and design. She attended the L’Academies des Couturiers design institute in Ottawa, and has been honing her craft for more than 15 years. Her distinctive collection, influenced by her African roots, infuses tribal details into her eclectic designs. She is inspired by rich fabrics and textures and says her designs are intended for “real and sophisticated” women of all sizes and shapes.
In September 2008, at New York Fashion Week, Korto featured her spring 2008 collection on the Bryant Park Runway during the season finale and received high praise from notable designers and models alike. Some would suggest that the most intriguing aspects of her designs are the hand-made accessories, particularly the jewelry and handbags. Her designs are featured at several stores in Arkansas and Los Angeles, and she is currently preparing to launch her fall 2009 collection.
After the season finale of Project Runway, Korto received a presidential commission from Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to design a gown, and requests from celebrities have been pouring in non-stop as well. Her dream one day is to design for Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. She is most proud of the fact that her home town of Little Rock officially declared November 13, 2008, as “Korto Momolu-Briggs” Day; she served as the city’s Grand Marshall at the Holiday Parade.
Most recently, Korto Momolu created a collection of designs in honor of President Barack Obama’s Inauguration and entitled it “The Korto Momolu Yes We Can Inaugural Collection.” The designs were unveiled at the International Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC.