White the designer only has two collections under his belt (his eponymous collection was launched in 2007), Cota has been quoted as saying that he has put on shows long before he even knew he was going to become a fashion designer, saying “my mother and grandmother would have me put on shows. They were my first muses. They were an education in elegance. The way they dressed, the way they carried themselves; they defined the word.”

Before beginning his fashion studies at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, the now NYC-based Cota studied painting in Paris, a stint that has highly influenced the designer’s works. Of note is a beautiful hand-painted shift dress the designer featured in his Spring 2008 collection.

After Parson’s, Cota went on to work as an assistant to the famed eveningwear designer Angel Sanchez, where he developed his taste for sumptuous fabrics and innovative hand embroideries, both of which are evident in his Fall 2008 collection.

Just a few short months ago the designer was nominated for the Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award.

Cota will be presenting his new collection Monday, September 8^th from 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Altman Building.

Photos courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.