On a mission to put Milwaukee on the fashion map, independent designer Areka Ikeler opened Fashion Ninja, 2671 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., two years ago to sell her own line of clothing and accessories that carries the same name.

Since then, the 26-year-old Ikeler has spent most days in the production studio connected to her store. Ikeler's dream of changing Milwaukee with an infusion of style is becoming a reality with her refined, multi-textured and contrasting designs.

The designs are a mix between vintage and contemporary, classic and punk. One hand-made, asymmetrical T-shirt sports a 1978 "Battlestar Galactica" screen print on the front and multi-colored zigzagging panels on the back, while another pastel-striped, long-sleeved shirt dons pseudo-Japanese characters on the right sleeve cut out from an old Green Bay Packers logo.

The Japanese characters "can mean whatever you want them to mean," Ikeler said. "Like, maybe 'Detective,'" she paused before explaining the thought, already caught up in another idea and the two women who had just entered her store.

When Ikeler, who is inspired by the human form, produces a new garment structure she wears it for a few months to see how the fit works and to get feedback from people. If it feels good, fits well and people like it, she takes it apart, makes the patterns and puts it into production.

Interns studying fashion design used to help with the production of some garments but today she is a one-woman operation, which is quite the undertaking considering her showroom is filled with racks of multiple style shirts, sweaters, skirts of all sizes, handbags and more. All Fashion Ninja designs, which are almost exclusively coverings for women's upper and lower bodies, can be altered to fit each individual shopper and custom-ordered designs are encouraged and accepted at no extra charge.

In January 2003, just months after the opening of Fashion Ninja, the weather turned cold and traffic through Ikeler's Bay View store dwindled. Instead of becoming discouraged, Ikeler thought of new ways to inform people about her store and more ways to keep the cash coming in when Wisconsin's weather came knocking.

Fashion Ninja Sewing School was one way to get people in the doors of her store and gives fashion designers in the area a supportive network and a place to hone their skills.

When she started out nearly 10 years ago there was no alternative fashion ground in Milwaukee to stand on. It was all the technical skills of sewing and stuffy clothing stores that Ikeler just couldn't connect with.

"Where were you gonna find a cool-ass sewing class?" she asked, alluding to the fact that no art schools in the area offer alternative fashion design classes.

Basic ninja sewing, abstract pattern making, skirt development and hardcore handbags are the classes Ikeler teaches. Ikeler uses her background knowledge of clothing production acquired from Mount Mary College, a Catholic college for girls.

"I went there because it was the only one in the area with a fashion design program," Ikeler said. "I learned the basics of construction there and then taught myself the rest through experience. It wasn't nearly diverse enough for me, so I stopped going after two years and became a fashion ninja."

Ikeler's sewing school gives her students direction for design, not just production, with the use of hardware and gathering fabric along seams.

Discipline, motivation and believing in oneself are the three rules of success for Ikeler and her ninja sewing students. She is zealous about her work and is ecstatic when people show interest and recognize the individuality and quality her styles exude.

Dedicated to expanding her customer base and local recognition, Ikeler often takes part in local fashion shows and charity events to showcase her work and also support the Milwaukee community.

Ikeler will soon be producing a catalogue of the current Fashion Ninja lines to give to stores worldwide so stores can buy and sell Fashion Ninja all over the country.

"I always think big," Ikeler said.

Fashion Ninja, 2671 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., is open noon to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesdays. More information on Fashion Ninja and Ninja Sewing School is available by calling 481-3865 or at www.fashionninja.com.