Fashion Forward: Krelwear

WSVN--A black and white zebra-inspired bathing suit.

Knit dresses, tops and skirts as colorful as a peacock's feathers.

Local fashion designer Karelle Levy is going wild in her fall 2006 collection.

Karelle Levy: "This new collection is called wild life and we kind of found connections with animals.

Karelle recently showed off her line called krelwear in her first ever solo fashion show in Miami.

This kind of show is the norm in New York, but it's a major accomplishment here in South Florida.

Karelle Levy: "It takes a lot of hard work because it doesn't exist here already. You have to kind of form your own destiny in a way."

And Karelle is doing just that in an unique way -- with yarn.

Karelle Levy: "I've always been into textiles. I grew up doing needle point and knitting at a really young age. It slowly developed into this."

Instead of creating a sketch, Karelle takes yarn, hooks it up to this machine and creates tubes of fabric.

Then with a pair of scissors and a vision, she makes everything from sweaters to leg warmers.

Karelle Levy: "I'm kind of self inspired in weird ways. It's like materials just like the idea of doing something that I haven't done."

Like pairing a short cropped jacket with a top and mini skirt.

Or a pretty green dress with a pair of grey booties.

Holes in dresses and frayed fabric are just part of the look.

Karelle Levy: "Fashion to me means a variety of things. One it's just how you express yourself and what you wear and how you want to be seen and how you want people to portray you."

Her designs are so popular, karelle already has a celebrity following.

Cameron Diaz, Carmen Electra and Pink are among her star clientele.

But none of that phases this young designer and businesswoman who wants big things for her hometown.

Karelle Levy: "I'd definitely like to see a bigger fashion scene here. I'd like to encourage people to stay here as fashion designers and to develop themselves here. I love South Florida. I grew up here and I intend on staying here."

Shireen Sandoval: "Karelle has her own showroom in Miami, but sells designs at several local boutiques."

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