NFW Digital Experience Schedule

Five Days of Fashion. 
Nineteen Designers. Shop Nashville. 
Fashion Talks. Three Digital Learning Labs.

The Nashville Fashion Week Digital Experience will take place Tuesday, August 4 through Saturday, August 8 when NFW 2020 will go virtual with five days of interactive digital programming. We will present four digital adaptations of programming originally planned for April, as well as support and showcase participating designers and Shop Nashville retailers in a meaningful, impactful and memorable way. Here are the first details of our August schedule that attendees may participate in from the comfort and safety of their homes during this unprecedented time. Complimentary tickets will be available to reserve for each of the scheduled online events starting July 20 at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

Nashville Fashion Week was conceived in 2010 to foster Nashville’s heralded community spirit and concentration of creative, fashion-forward and entrepreneurial talent. Nashville Fashion Week will look different this August, but we remain more committed than ever to our community. NWF will always be first and foremost about people. Our fashion community needs connection and our support more than ever. All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is an endowed fund established to support the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing a financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities. The Community Foundation selects a recipient each year from a group of talented applicants. Experienced designers as well as professionals in all aspects of the fashion industry from photographers to stylists, models, hair and makeup artists, retailers and content creators are encouraged to apply each fall for this award to further their career in the fashion industry. Due to our live events being postponed to 2021, NFW will also postpone our Nashville Fashion Forward Fund application process until next year as well. This year, NFW has granted each of our nineteen participating designers a $500 gift to help them transition during this challenging time. This is #whynfw!

Eleven of the designers selected to show their collections during NFW 2020 are NFW alumni and eight are new to the NFW family. Nashville Fashion Week offers designers an invaluable opportunity to market and present their collection at a professionally produced fashion show at no cost to them other than the cost to create their collection. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were unable to offer them a platform to showcase their collections on the runway this year. Our digital schedule will feature each designer during scheduled slots on NFW's social media channels. This is an opportunity for them to share their vision, work and studio space with you by using their own voices. Please check out all the 2020 designer bios HERE.

The NFW Digital Experience Tickets will be FREE.
Please consider making a donation to The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund and/or purchasing a "We Are Nashville Fashion" T-shirt to support 
The Masks Now Coalition of Tennessee.

Our limited edition "We Are Nashville Fashion" t-shirts will be pre-sold starting July 20 by 85 Supply . Sale proceeds from these shirts will purchase protective masks from OnPoint Manufacturing to be distributed where they are needed most by The Masks Now Coalition of Tennessee.

Shop Nashville is a city-wide celebration we designed to encourage and support the local retail and maker community with creative and interactive ways to drive consumers to Nashville businesses. Some participating retailers will create and host their own physically distanced in-store events, while others will offer promotions or website-based events. Detailed event descriptions for each participating retailer will be announced soon. Each Shop Nashville participant has made a donation to the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Please plan now to shop and support these special events August 4-8.

Nashville Fashion Week Learning Labs are educational opportunities that provide a platform to engage, learn and connect experientially within the Nashville community. We will kick off The NFW Digital Experience with Digital "Fashion Talks" moderated by Fern Mallis with Tanya Taylor, Timo Weiland, Peter Som, Kimberly Lewis and Barry Grider on Tuesday, August 4; followed by three digital Learning Labs: "In Dialogue: Suffrage, Style and Social Movements" with The Tennessee State Museum on Wednesday, August 5; OnPoint Manufacturing will present "Sustainability, Manufacturing and the Future of the Fashion Industry" with author Mary Gehlhar of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide and strategist Daniella Platt on Thursday, August 6; and Ritholz Levy Fields will present "Fashion Law For Your Fashion Business" on Friday, August 7.  Everyone that signs in to any of these digital events on Zoom will be entered into a drawing for two FREE All Access Passes to NFW 2021.

Nashville Fashion Week will also announce the winner of the AMAX + NFW Model Search 2020 on Saturday, August 8. For the first time in its nine year history, our Model Search was open to aspiring models of all ages and sizes. We look forward to seeing these new faces on the runway next year.

August 4-8 is going to be a very full week! We are forever grateful for the support and encouragement we have received throughout this year. We encourage you to continue to support the people behind the brands and businesses that have moved Nashville fashion-forward. 

We Are Nashville Fashion. We are Nashville Strong.

❤️ 
Team NFW 

Applications for the 2019 NFFF & NFW 2020 Designers Are Now Accepted

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2019 NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND & 

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2020 DESIGNERS ARE NOW ACCEPTED

YOU COULD BE NEXT!

Nashville Fashion Week invites you to submit your application for the 2019 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee now through October 15. Professionals working in all aspects of the fashion industry from designers and photographers to stylists, models, hair and makeup artists, retail owners and content creatorsare encouraged to apply for this experiential professional development opportunity provided each year through proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. Detailed instructions for application submission can be found at NashvilleFashionWeek.com with bios on our previous recipients. The 2019 recipient will be announced at the 10th Annual Nashville Fashion Week Launch Party in November. #whyNFW

Applications must arrive at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's office at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue by 4:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday, October 15, 2019. The award recipient is selected by a committee of the Board of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

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ARE YOU READY FOR THE RUNWAY?

Nashville Fashion Week is on the search for designers to spotlight during our 10th Anniversary events. Applicants must demonstrate creativity, quality and a broad appeal to a wide range of consumers. Select designers will have the opportunity to showcase their collection during Nashville Fashion Week 2020. All designers interested in showing their collections are encouraged to submit their application for review.

The deadline to submit designer applications is 11:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday, October 15. All applicants will be notified in December and the lineup announced at an official Nashville Fashion Week event early next year. 

Designer Criteria:

• All designers, whether you have previously shown at NFW or not, are encouraged to apply, but preference will be given to those that live in or have connections to Nashville and/or Middle Tennessee

• Each collection must be original designs, debuting at Nashville Fashion Week

PLEASE NOTE: Nashville Fashion Week does not charge a submission fee to apply or participate. Designers selected are responsible for their own travel and related expenses, and for transporting their collection to Nashville — as well as all costs associated with designing/creating their looks, including shoes, accessories and music for their runway show. No age restrictions or specific experience is required. However, those under 18 will need parent/guardian permission to apply.

The Emerging Designer Application Is Now LIVE!

APPLICATIONS FOR NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2019 EMERGING DESIGNERS AND THE 2018 NASHVILLE FASHION FOWARD FUND AWARD ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

ARE YOU READY FOR THE RUNWAY?

Nashville Fashion Week is on the search for emerging designers to spotlight during our April 2019 event. Applicants must demonstrate creativity, quality and a broad appeal to a wide range of consumers. Select designers will have the opportunity to showcase their collection during Nashville Fashion Week 2019. All designers interested in showing their collections are encouraged to submit their application for review.

The deadline to submit emerging designer applications is 11:59 p.m. CST on Sunday, November 25. Emerging Designers will be notified in December and announced at an official Nashville Fashion Week event early next year. 

Emerging Designer Criteria:

• All emerging designers are encouraged to apply, but preference will be given to those that live in or have connections to Nashville and/or Middle Tennessee

• Each collection must be original designs, debuting at Nashville Fashion Week
  

PLEASE NOTE: Nashville Fashion Week does not charge a submission fee to apply or participate. Designers selected are responsible for their own travel and related expenses, and for transporting their collection to Nashville — as well as all costs associated with designing/creating their looks, including shoes, accessories and music for their runway show. No age restrictions or specific experience is required. However, those under 18 will need parent/guardian permission to apply. 

HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND?

October 19 Application Deadline

Less than three weeks to go... Professionals working in all aspects of the fashion industry from designers and photographers to stylists, models, hair and makeup artists, retail owners and bloggers are encouraged to apply for this experiential professional development opportunity provided each year through proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. Nashville Fashion Forward Fund applications must arrive at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's office at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue by 4:30 p.m. CST on Monday, October 19. Click below for application details. #whynfw

DON'T FORGET! Join Us for the Fauxgerty Hat Launch This Thursday, October 4 at The Shay

You've seen them on the Nashville Fashion Week runway, now Fauxgerty is launching handmade hats in the city where they're crafted. Come view their newest collection, chat with founder, Chrissy Fogerty and the Fauxgerty team and meet Nashville hatmaker Fanny & June, collaborator of their new hats. 10% percentage of all sales will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. While you mix, mingle and shop, enjoy bites from Pastaria with sips from Sump Coffee, Tito's Handmade Vodka, wine and more. Please confirm your attendance at rsvp@fauxgerty.com by Wednesday, October 3. We hope to see you there!

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Recipient Is...

Thanks to all that joined us for our 2018 Nashville Fashion Week Kickoff Party last night at Noelle! We were excited to announce the first details of our 2018 programming and our 2017 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient to a sold-out crowd. 

“Our mission has always been to educate local and national audiences about Nashville’s thriving fashion industry,” said Nashville Fashion Week managing partners/co-founders Connie Cathcart-Richardson and Marcia Masulla. “For over eight years, Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund have helped raise awareness of Nashville’s vast creative talent by showcasing over 109 designers and hundreds of local businesses with an investment of over $750,000 in the local fashion community. We look forward to fostering Nashville’s fashion-forward and entrepreneurial talent for many years to come with this volunteer led and run event.”

SEVENTH ANNUAL NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT NAMED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Designer Maria Silver has been named the 2017 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient. A committee from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee selected Silver from a group of experienced fashion industry applicants with ties to Middle Tennessee. Silver is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York with a bachelor of fine arts in women's contemporary clothing and costume design. Before founding her fashion line Black by Maria Silver in 2011, Silver worked in various costume design positions on Broadway, then moved to Los Angeles as a design assistant, as well as toured with the cult rock band The Ettes. Black by Maria Silver has been featured in Nylon, Bust, Refinery 29, Elle, and others. More recently, Silver designed for the critically acclaimed Nashville Ballet production 7 Deadly Sins, and in 2017, opened her first storefront in East Nashville. This will be her fifth year showing at Nashville Fashion Week.

"I couldn't be more honored to receive the Fashion Forward Fund award from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Nashville Fashion Week,” said Sliver. “The continued support from the Nashville community has been key to my growth. With this award, I hope to explore new ways to improve both my e-commerce presence and brick and mortar storefront, with the end-goal to integrate both in an innovative manner. I believe is the future of our craft and art.”

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund 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. Established in 2011 by the co-founders of Nashville Fashion Week, the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund. 

2018 LOCAL & EMERGING DESIGNERS ANNOUNCED

Nashville Fashion Week announced local and emerging designers with additional announcements to follow for two additional nights of runway. Six established local designers will have the opportunity to showcase their most recent collections again at the Nashville Designer Showcase on Tuesday, April 3 at opening night of Nashville Fashion Week:

• Any Old Iron 
• Black by Maria Silver
• Lily Guilder
• Ola Mai
• Ona Rex
• Truly Avarenga

The Emerging Designer Showcase on Friday, April 6 will include ten designers from across the country. These designers were selected from hundreds of applications submitted through the emerging designer application process this year.

• Amanda Casarez (Stafford, VA) 
• Andrew Gallivan (Brooklyn, NY) 
• Ariel, Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
• Barbara Bultman Designs (St. Louis, MO)
• Eileen Kelly (Nashville, TN)
• Justin Mark Richards (Nashville, TN)
• Laura Citron (Nashville, TN)
• Shea Steele (Brooklyn, NY)
• Splashed by DKG (Birmingham, AL)
• Yellowcake Shop (Cleveland, OH)

“We are delighted to showcase Nashville’s leading designers with new designers discovered through our emerging designer application process,” said Richardson and Masulla. “The quality and number of emerging designer applications we receive continues to grow each year as does the community support for our local designers. It’s so rewarding to watch these designers grow from year to year.”

All four Nashville Fashion Week runway shows will take place in one location for the first time ever in collaboration with OZ Arts Nashville on Tuesday, April 3 through Saturday, April 7. 

AMAX TALENT + NFW 2018 MODEL SEARCH FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The 2018 AMAX Talent + Nashville Fashion Week Model Search finalists selected from thousands of applicants were also announced. They include:

• Francesca Désir
• Aubrey Hill
• Lily Merhoff
• Vienna Rovenstine
• Alyssa Taylor 

The winner will be awarded a $1,000 modeling contract with AMAX Talent, the opportunity to meet one-on-one with top national modeling agents including IMG, Next, Elite and Ford, a professional photo shoot with fashion photographer/2016 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient Brett Warren, and the opportunity to walk the Nashville Fashion Week runway. The AMAX Talent + Nashville Fashion Week Model Search has been a launch pad for many successful modeling careers since 2012. 

"We had a remarkable group of applicants this year and are excited to have the opportunity to work with Nashville Fashion Week to find and develop unique and diverse models with high fashion potential from the Nashville area for the global marketplace," said Ginny Maxwell, Director of Scouting & Development at AMAX Talent.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Tickets for Tuesday, Friday and the Elevated Access Pass are now available to purchase on the Nashville Fashion Week website. Prices range from $50/$75 for standing tickets, $75/$100 seated tickets, and $350 for the ELEVATED Access Pass. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

Nashville Fashion Week Makes Lots Of Announcements at Kickoff Party

We had a great time and made a lot of big announcements at the Nashville Fashion Week 2017 Kickoff Party at The Hermitage Hotel Ballroom last night. The event sold out quickly, but don’t worry if you missed it, here’s all of the inside scoop.

SIXTH ANNUAL NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT NAMED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Fashion photographer Brett Warren has been named the sixth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT). A committee of the Board of CFMT selected Warren amongst a group of experienced fashion industry applicants with ties to Middle Tennessee. Warren is the first photographer to be selected as a recipient of the fund. 

Brett Warren lives in a world where anything is possible. While studying design and photography at MTSU, Brett became passionately inspired to present the world as it could be through images that would appeal to the mind and imagination. What started with a dream and a Nikon Cool Pix has turned into a means to convey emotion, and to share untold stories and convictions. Along the way he found encouragement through a personal encounter with Wayne White, a more-than-serendipitous internship with Annie Leibovitz, and invitations to shoot at New York Fashion Week.

Since 2011 he has produced multiple events, spoken at Universities, worked behind the scenes on sets for Vogue, art directed major label music videos, and had his work featured in local and national publications. In addition, Brett has been highly active in the local community by serving on the Nashville Fashion Week Advisory Council, and is an avid supporter of the Nashville fashion community. He has been recognized among his peers, for his “Point of View,” and built long-lasting relationships with those in and out of the fashion world.

While he has worked with easily recognized brands such as, Billy Reid, Surface Magazine, and GQ, he is just as passionate about working with some that may not be as familiar…yet.

Established in 2011, the objective of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is to provide an award that recognizes the individual achievements of a fashion industry professional. The financial resources that accompany the award are intended to provide an experiential professional development opportunity for the recipient to further advance their career in the fashion industry. 

2017 DESIGNERS ANNOUNCED

Nashville Fashion Week 2017 will include three nights of runway shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights. For the first time, NFW will offer a Runway Pass that includes entry to all three events plus the option to upgrade to guaranteed seating.

We're excited to announce sixteen designers that will be featured at unique runway locations throughout the city during year seven of the five-day event. 

NFW will open with the Nashville Designer Showcase on Tuesday April 4. NFW alumni Amanda Valentine, Any Old Iron, Ona Rex and Truly Alvarenga will join Cavanagh Baker and Minxx on the runway.

Andrew Gallivan, Lily Guilder, Madness Is, Nasheli Juliana and Splashed by DKG were selected from hundreds of designer applications to show collections on Wednesday night at the Emerging Designer Runway Show.

Fauxgerty, Lagi Nadeau, Michael Drummond, Patrick Assaraf and Shea Steele will present their collections at the 2017 Ready-to-Wear Runway Show on Friday night. 

Bios and photos of all designers are available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

SANDRA LIPMAN TO RECEIVE THE 2017 STYLE ICON AWARD AT THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD GALA

Nashville Fashion Week 2017 will close with the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala. Last year’s Gala Co-Chair Gen Sohr, co-founder of Paper and Pencil, is back this year and will be joined by Emerson Grace boutique owner, Kimberly Lewis to chair this year's celebratory event featuring the Nashville Fashion Forward Awards presentation. The 2017 Style Icon Award will be presented to Nashville philanthropist and fashion maven Sandra Lipman. The Fashion Forward, Legacy, Face of Fashion, Rising Star and Point of View Awards will be announced at the Gala.

Nashville Fashion Week will also host a Photography + Fashion event on Thursday. City-wide shopping events and educational experiences will fill the official schedule. More specific event details will be announced in the next few weeks.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Nashville Fashion Week 2017 will be held April 4-8. All Access Passes, Runway Passes and tickets for all events are on sale now at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

All NFW ticket holders get FREE admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts from April 3-16 featuring the exhibit of iconic fashion photographer Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty with proof of purchase. 

All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, an endowed fund established to support the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities.  

PURCHASE TICKETS

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ABOUT NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK

Nashville Fashion Week is a city-wide celebration of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its vast array of creative talent. Featuring local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week encourages both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces throughout theweek with promotions, partnerships and educational workshops. NFW is founded and directed by a collaboration of fashion, retail and media professionals who have combined their passion and resources to create a completely volunteer-led and run event spotlighting Nashville's growing fashion community with a sustainable focus for philanthropic support of the NashvilleFashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.