NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES
THE 2019 NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT,
2020 DATES, THEME AND MODEL SEARCH LAUNCH DETAILS
WE ARE NASHVILLE FASHION!
Thank you to the enthusiastic and stylish crowd that joined us at Hutton Hotel for our 2020 Nashville Fashion Week Launch Party last night! We were excited to announce our 2019 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient with exciting preliminary plans for the 10th Anniversary of our city-wide celebration of Nashville's thriving fashion and retail community. It was fitting that we celebrated our ten year launch at Hutton Hotel since the location is where we initially launched NFW in 2011 and 2020 is also the hotel's 10th anniversary.
Nashville Fashion Week will take place March 31- April 4, 2020 in collaboration with our strategic partner OZ Arts Nashville for the third year in a row. The theme of the 10th Anniversary year is "We Are Nashville Fashion". A focus on diversity and inclusion will be the focus for the programming and planning ranging from the AMAX + NFW Model Search and Learning Labs to the runway shows. This theme will also be at the forefront in the upcoming visual campaign and communications that will showcase the diverse contributors from the community who have supported and promoted the growth of Nashville fashion over the past decade.
"Nashville Fashion Week and OZ Arts are both dedicated to shining light on the exceptional artists and creative professionals who call our city home. It's a very synergistic partnership that OZ is proud to be part of, and I look forward to watching the fashion industry's continued impact on our creative community." - Tim Ozgener, President & CEO, OZ Arts Nashville
Ginny Edwards Maxwell from AMAX Talent, also announced that the 2020 AMAX + NFW Model Search will be open for the first time in its nine year history to aspiring models of all ages and sizes in an effort to find the best of the best. Applications will be accepted from November 19 - December 31 at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.
"In the last few years, we have seen more clients requesting models in a greater range of sizes and ages. We are thrilled to be expanding the model search for 2020 in the hopes of finding potential stars to represent brands both locally and internationally. I am committed to doing whatever I can to help move the modeling industry forward in terms of diversity." - Ginny Edwards Maxwell, Director of Scouting & Development, AMAX Talent
Nashville Fashion Week was founded in 2010 as an all-volunteer led and run event spotlighting Nashville’s growing fashion community with a sustainable focus of philanthropic support of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Nashville Fashion Week features local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week to encourage both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces through promotions, partnerships and educational workshops.
Nashville Fashion Week Co-Founders and Managing Partners, Connie Cathcart-Richardson and Marcia Masulla are eager to celebrate year ten with the Nashville creative community.
"Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund have helped raise awareness of Nashville’s vast creative talent by showcasing close to 140 designers and hundreds of local businesses with an investment of over $1.3 million in the local fashion community over the past nine years," said Connie Cathcart-Richardson and Marcia Masulla. "We look forward to continuing to foster Nashville’s fashion-forward and entrepreneurial talent for many years to come with this volunteer led and run event.”
MEET OUR NINTH ANNUAL
NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT
We are proud to announce Megan Prange, owner and creator of Prange Apparel as our 2019 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient. A committee from The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee selected Prange from a diverse group of experienced fashion industry applicants based on specific criteria set by the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund co-founders.
"I am beyond thrilled to be this year’s Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient! I first learned about Nashville Fashion Week seven years ago and since then have been a huge believer in the amazing opportunities if offers to everyone who participates in it every year. I am honored to be a part of it and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund will allow me." - Megan Prange, Owner & Creator, Prange Apparel
Megan Prange started Prange Apparel six years ago in response to the demand from independent designers and boutique owners for small batch production. At the time, Megan was doing freelance pattern and sample work for local designers when she noticed the struggle they were having scaling their businesses. They couldn’t keep up with the demand by sewing everything themselves.
She decided to go out on a limb and open a small batch manufacturing business. She started off with just three home sewing machines and a few interns.
Six years later, Prange now has a full-scale business that employs twenty-five full time employees, has over 30 industrial machines and a client base that spans from coast to coast.
“The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award represents an investment in the creative and inspired individuals looking to expand the perspectives that will contribute to their personal growth and the growth of their role in the fashion industry. Megan joins a terrific and ever growing list of talented individuals who’ve put their vision to paper for a compelling experience that inspired the Award selection panel.” - Amy Fair, Vice President of Donor Services, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing an annual financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field based on pre-established criteria.
Previous Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients include apparel designers Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Eric Bornhop, Julianna Bass and Lauren Leonard Phelps; fashion photographer Brett Warren; accessory designer Ceri Hoover, and Elise Joseph, brand strategist and creative director.
The establishment of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund in 2010 by the co-founders of Nashville Fashion Week was inspired by the professional development provided by the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA) through programs such as the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee that is funded with charitable donations and proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a signature high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support of our community.
THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES
ON SATURDAY AT DREAM NASHVILLE!
Hurry, Only 10 Seats Are Left...
Feast on fashion by supporting the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and three of our most recent Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients on Saturday, November 16 at Dream Nashville! Make your reservation now for the Fashion Show Brunch at Stateside Kitchen featuring presentations with Fund recipients Eric Adler, Black by Maria Silver and Van Hoang. There will be one seating at noon where you may order lively libations and tasty offerings from Stateside's sumptuous brunch menu. The participating designers will also have items available to purchase at their pop-up shops in the Back Bar during the event. Your $10 ticket reserves your seat at brunch and one complimentary Absolut Juice signature cocktail. Seating is limited to 60 spots and are going fast! All ticket proceeds benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.