"Fashion Ninja is starting a fashion movement," says 24-year-old Areka Ikeler, owner of Bay View's newest boutique, Fashion Ninja, and designer of "Areka" clothing and accessories.

Ikeler describes her creations as "urban wear" -- funky clothing, handbags, accessories and cuffs -- which she makes in the studio behind her storefront. She recently moved to the space after working for a couple of years from her Walker's Point home.

More than half of Ikeler's creations are made from recycled fabric. A hip plaid purse was fashioned from couch upholstery and many of her accessories are hewn from bicycle tire tubes or sweaters.

Ikeler has an undeniable sparkle about her and a zest for people, Milwaukee and, most of all, fashion. "We have enough people in Milwaukee that we should have a fashion district like Soho or Toronto," says the thin, modelesque brunette wearing a fuzzy hat. "The only thing holding us back is schools."

Ikeler went to Mount Mary College for two years but says it wasn't an environment for artists. Although she acquired a few important technical skills while in college, she considers herself a self-taught fashion designer.

"Mount Mary is the only school in Milwaukee with a (four-year) fashion program," says Ikeler. "It's an all-girls school. What is a man who wants to get into fashion supposed to do?"

Taking fashion studies into her own hands, Ikeler is now offering classes at Fashion Ninja. She currently has five students enrolled in her sewing class that meets three consecutive Sunday evenings at the shop. The $75 class includes instruction and pattern paper. Students must have access to a sewing machine so they can work on their projects betweeen meetings.

"I want to totally support Milwaukee people who want to learn fashion," says Ikeler, whose classes focus on designing clothes according to one's personal style. She plans to offer advanced classes, like draping, in the future.

Ikeler is currently working on a line of clothing with her friend, Polish designer Ania Jalosinska. Ikeler is accustomed to making individual pieces, but in order to sell her work nationally, she needs to create a line, meaning patterns in three different sizes and at least two pieces in each size.

"Ania is the most brilliant designer I have ever met and working with her has been very healthy for me. I finally feel a sense of competition and it's amazing," says Ikeler. "It's great to surround yourself with people who can almost top you."

Ikeler also plans to organize fashion shows and make a fashion film spotlighting Milwaukee designers. Fashion Ninja sells the work of many local designers, including Patricia Garrity's knit handbags and fuzzy hats by Creature Hatfaktore.

"So many of the artists' labels say 'Handmade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.' We have a lot of pride in this city and just as much to offer as other cities. In Milwaukee, we might not have quantity, but we have quality."

For more information about Fashion Ninja or sewing classes, stop by Fashion Ninja, 2671 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Fashion Ninja is open daily noon- 6 p.m., and closed Tuesday. The Fashion Ninja Web site is:www.fashionninja.com

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