On the evening of July 19, 2025, the creative pulse of the Bay Area gathered at Eria Café in Sausalito for the fifth installment of The Next Bay Area Runway. With the theme Call of the Sea, the night unfolded with emotion, artistry, and community.
This edition brought together five designers: June of Revenge Fantasy, Ultease, Marianna, Pkok Planet, and Chozn Ones. Each offered a distinct voice through fashion. Their collections told stories of identity, resilience, joy, and soul. As the night progressed, the runway transformed into a space of exploration and expression, with each showcase adding a new dimension to the sea-inspired narrative.
Before anything else, I want to start with a thank you. Cassie, Khaysie, and Dolsie, you made this happen. You did not just organize a local fashion event. You built a space. A space for expression, for connection, for celebration. Every detail, every conversation, every late night, it showed. And it mattered.
Revenge Fantasy by June: Bold, Sculptural, Unforgettable
Designer June, the creative mind behind Revenge Fantasy, turned ideas into full-blown visual worlds at this year’s The Next Bay Area Runway. Her collection shimmered with sea-inspired colors and expressive forms. Each look brought boldness and beauty to the floor, and each model moved as if caught in a current, free, fierce, and full of intention.
When her segment opened, it felt like entering her imagination. Kial Tran and Leanne Janelly brought stillness and presence. Paris Johar brought quiet fire. Mary Jayne walked with calm intensity. Abby Korza, Ayannah Peterson, Jasmine Rochelle, and Caroline Thuy Le added their own rhythm and edge. Revenge Fantasy’s sculptural silhouettes and theatrical energy made it one of the standout fashion showcases in the Bay Area.
Ultease: Everyday Everywhere Swimwear and Activewear
Ultease reminded us that fashion does not need to shout to be powerful. Known for their “everyday, everywhere” swimwear and activewear, Ultease brought a refreshing breath of elegance to the Sausalito runway. The collection played with ocean blue hues, fitted cuts, and easy layering. Looks included crop tops and cycling shorts, flowy skirts paired with sporty silhouettes, lightweight jackets, and minimal black shorts.
Mary Jayne, Grecia Espinosa, Ayannah Peterson, Jasmine Rochelle, Caroline Thuy Le, and Arian Astafa embodied the brand’s core values of effortless grace, versatility, and modern simplicity. Their presence on the runway captured a relaxed confidence that echoed the coastal theme of the evening.
Marianna: Movement and Meaning
Marianna turned the runway into a dreamscape of motion and mood. Opening with Abby Korza’s live vocal performance, the room stilled. Then came the procession. Each look a glimmer, each walk a wave.
A model in reflective lilac shimmered under the lights, her look framed by a translucent wrap, a moon-like cutout drawing the eye to center. Then came netted whites and metallic silvers, clinging to the body like foam on skin. Golden sequins followed. Then a vision in liquid blue, sleeves outstretched like wings. Veiled models glided in sheer azure and lavender, channeling sea goddesses mid-ritual.
Some paused. Some danced. Some turned with deliberate grace. Each barefoot step on the upcycled textile runway added to the texture of the story. Models like Grecia, Alice Bao, Aljonique Mitchell, Laena Kei Otsuka, and Romeo Anderson embodied sirens, sprites, spirits of water, and light.
Pkok Planet: Bold Colors and Fearless Identity
Pkok Planet brought the audience underwater and beyond. This was a realm where mermaids wore chainmail bikinis, seashell bras turned into armor, and translucent lace cloaked bodies like ocean mist. With every barefoot step, the models seemed to summon sea spirits. Otherworldly. Untamed. Powerful.
The palette was electric. Aquatic pastels collided with opalescent purples, glimmering whites, and fierce reds. Beading shimmered like sunlight refracting through water. Jellyfish earrings, sequin mesh, and scallop cups made bold statements beyond decoration.
Each model told a different story. One glided forward in seafoam blue lace with jellyfish tendrils dangling from her ears. Another radiated defiance in a sheer lavender jumpsuit layered with statement necklaces that resembled coral formations. Shell bras and pearl bodices gave way to androgynous silhouettes, proving identity does not need to choose a side.
There was a trance-like rhythm to it all. A meditative pulse as one model, adorned in layered beads and flowing white fringe, closed their eyes and offered a prayer gesture mid-stride. Then came metallics, glistening like treasure pulled from shipwrecks. Delicate. Dangerous. Divine.
Chozn Ones: Spiritual Streetwear with Purpose
Chozn Ones delivered a soulful close to the evening with spiritual streetwear that carried simplicity and intention. The collection featured ocean-inspired symbols, calm coastal tones, and powerful quotes that underscored its deeper message. Designs like “The tide did not kill me… it delivered me” added a poetic, reflective voice to the runway.
Mary Jayne walked with quiet power. Abby Korza returned with subtle strength. Romeo Anderson, Kevin Baker, and Mahi Achalla brought presence and ease. Other models added their own energy, highlighting Chozn Ones’ commitment to diversity and purpose.
Barefoot steps across a shoreline-inspired runway gave this segment a grounded, elemental feel. Backed by Sinclarity’s live music, the show left a lasting impression. Affordable, accessible, and rooted in purpose, Chozn Ones represents the heart of conscious fashion.
The Finale: “Calling” and Collective Celebration
At 8 p.m., the runway transformed. All five designers, June, Ultease, Marianna, Pkok Planet, and Chozn Ones, returned alongside the models for one final moment. “Calling,” performed live by Khaysie and Mary Jayne, filled the room. The audience rose. Applause turned into movement. The Next Bay Area Runway V ended with a shared celebration of community and creativity.
Gratitude for a Night to Remember
To Cassie, Khaysie, and Dolsie for bringing this Bay Area fashion showcase to life. To the designers, June of Revenge Fantasy, Ultease, Marianna, Pkok Planet, and Chozn Ones for showing us what is possible through fashion.
To every model, Abby Korza, Alice Bao, Aljonique Mitchell, Arian Astafa, Ayannah Peterson, Bobo, Caroline Thuy Le, Grecia, Jade Jewel Sims, Jasmine, Kial Tran, Kevin Baker, Laena Kei, Leanne Janelly, Mahi Achalla, Mary Jayne, Paris Johar, Romeo Anderson, Shavona Ahmad, Sneha Madhav, and Vitaly for your presence, artistry, and soul.
To the hair and makeup artists for your detailed craftsmanship.
To the media team for capturing the essence of every look.
To Eria Café, DJ Red, Sinclarity, and every guest, supporter, and our sponsors Jack Daniel’s and Tequila Herradura, thank you for making this runway show unforgettable.
From Me to You: Let’s Tell More Stories
This night was a reminder that fashion in the Bay Area is bold, heartfelt, and constantly growing. I saw it in the designers. I saw it in the models. I saw it in everyone behind the scenes. That is what keeps me showing up, with my camera, my heart, and my belief in what is possible.
If you are a designer, model, or creative ready to craft the next great visual story, let us connect. Whether you are planning a fashion shoot, a runway show, or something entirely new, I would love to be a part of it.
© Paul Tocatlian. All Rights Reserved.
Kisau Photography 