By Tine Roycroft

There’s simply too much to love when it comes to online clothing and sass-sessories store Ichigo Black ~ a chick can easily go into funky fun wardrobe coma and wake up with UPS packages on her doorstep and no money left on her plastic after visiting this site.  And you have only Sasha Thomas ~ the creative, young and beautifully soft-spoken designer behind this online smash ~ to blame/thank!

Thomas, age 23, is a gal from Southbridge whose blossoming fashion empire started out with simple roots.  Thomas doesn’t consider herself a sewing prodigy ~ she didn’t pick up a needle until high school when her mother showed her how to stitch together garments, but one cannot deny that the girl has a sexy and fun vision of fashion fused with a twist of the Japan street -look.

“I started selling my creations on ebay,” Thomas told Pulse in a recent interview.  “But then lots of people began to show interest in my designs and so I created my own online business.”

And with her talent, why wouldn’t she?  Imagine a little number known as “Strawberry Punk Shorts.”  Just as sweet as the name suggests, the shorty shorts are made of a hot pink plaid material with layers of ruffles and black lace.  This sundae of shorts is topped with an elastic waist to show off summer abs and the perfect black ribbon bow to let the boys know that you’re innocent, but not THAT innocent.

Or let’s talk sexy corsets.  Every girl can rock the proper corset and several such items can be found on Ichigo Black.  Need a place to start?  Check out Thomas’s “’Rockin’ Houndstooth’ under-bust corset top,” starting at $30. This piece is a fully boned, fully lined under-bust corset top so it accents the existing assets. It features a large houndstooth print and silver hoop accents and laces up the back.  Yummy.

Not only does Thomas do clothing to a fun level of perfection, she also rocks in the accessories arena.  She creates hats, scarves, jewelry, coin purses, hip jewelry and even leg warmers.  Each item has a cute flair that only grows cuter and sassier when worn by the right buyer.

Thomas will be graduating with a BFA in Fashion Design this spring and has already seen great success on the fashion scene.  Her senior show, for example, has pieces you might step over your own grandmother to buy.  But there is only one thing that she lacks.

“I’d like to have a studio in the future,” she said.  “A place where people could come in and be fitted for their clothes.”

For more info on Ichigo Black, go to www.ichigoblack.com

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THIS JUST IN!!!

We just received some great news!  Sasha has just opened her Ichigo Black studio at 201 South Street in Southbridge, MA.  Now, we eager fasionistas can see this creative designer’s process from beginning to end ~ from sketches to pattern, from dress form to finished garment.  The studio is open by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 11-5.  Call 508-615-7126 to schedule and check out her website, www.ffbdesigns.com.