NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE'S 2016 NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND AWARD AND EMERGING DESIGNERS FOR 2017

Nashville Fashion Week Seeks Applications for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 2016's Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award and Emerging Designers for 2017

Dates for the seventh annual Nashville Fashion Week were announced last night at Nashville Fashion Week's 2017 Launch Party at Virago. The city-wide celebration of Nashville's creative fashion and retail community will take place April 4 - 8, 2017 ending with the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala on Saturday night. Applications for both The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s 2016 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award and Nashville Fashion Week’s 2017 Emerging Designer Showcase are now being accepted through November 21, 2016.

Nominations will also be accepted for both the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund and Emerging Designer applicants for the first time this year at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Explain in 100 words or less why the nominee should be considered and an invitation to apply will be sent to those that qualify. 

"The aspirational mantra ‘Nashville Fashion is more than a week’ was just that when planning for the inaugural 2011 Nashville Fashion Week began. Six years later, the attention centered on the fashion community and the connections developed as a result of this week have supported Nashville’s fashion industry in so many ways," said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation. "The entrepreneurial spirit that is found in other industries throughout this community is front and center in the fashion industry. And, Nashville Fashion Week was there first to celebrate and acknowledge its potential." 

APPLY FOR THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is now seeking applicants for the 2016 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award. Professionals working in all aspects of the fashion industry from designers and photographers to stylists, models, hair and makeup artists, boutique owners and bloggers are encouraged to apply. Detailed instructions for submission are found at CFMT.org.

Originally established in 2011, this endowed fund supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee and provides financial awards and resources for experiential professional development opportunities. Past winners include clothing designers Eric Bornhop, Julianna Bass and Lauren Leonard, accessory designer Ceri Hoover, and creative brand consultant, art director and founder of Pennyweight and ShopGoodwin.com, Elise Joseph. 

Applications must arrive at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s office at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue by 4 p.m. CST on November 21, 2016. The award recipient is selected by a committee of the Board of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and will be notified in January of 2017.

EMERGING DESIGNER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Nashville Fashion Week seeks emerging designers to spotlight during the 2017 event. Applicants must demonstrate creativity, quality and a broad appeal to a wide range of consumers. If chosen, the emerging designer will have the opportunity to showcase their collection during Nashville Fashion Week 2017. All emerging 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 November 21, 2016. Emerging Designers will be notified by the end of the year and announced to the public in February at an official Nashville Fashion Week event. You can apply online at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. 

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
• Must be available to show between April 4 - 8, 2017.

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. 

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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 through 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 volunteer event spotlighting Nashville’s growing fashion community with a sustainable focus for philanthropic support of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

ABOUT THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND
The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that receives proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week each year. The establishment of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund 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 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.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 1,000 charitable funds, providing customized philanthropic solutions with flexibility for donors, nonprofit organizations and the community. In the past 25 years, The Community Foundation has distributed more than $725 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.

Nashville Fashion Week Announces Behind The Scenes: An Accessories Installation Gallery on April 7

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES BEHIND THE SCENES: AN ACCESSORIES INSTALLATION GALLERY ON APRIL 7

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce the five designers selected to showcase their accessories  on Thursday, April 7 at WELD. Designed as an art gallery style show, each designer will be featured in individual vignettes with a behind the scenes glimpse of the talent, time and energy that goes into making fashion week happen: wardrobe, set design, electrical, hair and lighting. Designers include Debe Dohrer, Emil Erwin, Mary Mooney, Suzan Pitt and Arturo Rios.

Behind the Scenes: An Accessories Installation Gallery is curated and designed by Jacki Holland, a visual designer and artist with an extensive background in accessory design. Holland currently creates under her namesake label and collaborates seasonally with domestic and international designers offering expertise in sales and marketing.  

Individual tickets and All Access Passes to Nashville Fashion Week are on sale now at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

DEBE DOHRER
Debe Dohrer’s extensive background in the art of structuring a distinct wardrobe for her high profile clientele naturally transitioned into debe dohrer design, an “off loom” woven “textile” beading technique. With the juxtaposition of street and luxury, an additional accessory line was born. Within design you will notice her discerning fashion eye, whether it organically alters an outfit or creates an enigmatic confidence, it artfully exudes a modern relevance while retaining a timeless feel.

EMIL ERWIN
Emil Erwin, a luxury leather goods company, was founded in 2008 by husband and wife design team, Emil and Leslie Congdon.  Thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted in the Emil Erwin Studio, each piece melds together a delicate balance of form, function, beauty and craftsmanship.  The Congdons operate Emil Erwin, while raising their four children in Nashville, which they have always been proud to call home. 

MARY MOONEY
Mary Mooney is a Nashville based visual artist who developed a process to scale her glossy abstract paintings down to wearable little pieces of art. With a Fine Arts degree from Denison University, her formal education as an artist plays as much a role as her intuition. With each pendant cut from a painted study, there’s a visual transition of brushstrokes and colors from one piece to the next. Everyone is united by owning a unique part of a whole.  

SUZAN PITT
Suzan Pitt is an internationally acclaimed artist whose paintings and animated films are in many private collections and museums. Pitt has designed sets and costumes for two major opera productions in Germany which were the first operas to include animated images for the stage. She was perhaps the first artist to create one of a kind painted art coats beginning in 1984. Her coats were recently featured on the runway at New York Fashion Week.

ARTURO RIOS
Arturo Rios, a new generation of talented Fashion Hat Designers from Los Angeles, learned his exceptional skills and techniques from legendary Italian hat designer, Karen Indreland. Arturo loves the colors of nature, flowers, particularly birds. His inspiration comes from what he sees in everyday life, combining vintage materials with modern ideas. Since 2005, Arturo has been designing fabulous couture headwear worn by famous personalities and clients around the world. Arturo is presented by Stacey Rhodes Boutique. 

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 the week 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 volunteer event spotlighting Nashville's growing fashion community with a sustainable focus for philanthropic support of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Nashville Fashion Week Announces Three Nights of Runway Shows

Nashville Fashion Week Announces Three Nights of Runway Shows

All locations for Nashville Fashion Week 2016 are set and tickets are now on sale for all events. The sixth annual five-day event will kick off on Tuesday, April 5 with the East Meets West Designer Runway Show at Studio 615 in East Nashville and close on Saturday night with the third annual Fashion Forward Gala at OZ Nashville on the west side of the city. 

Opening night will feature designers from New York to London. Brooke Atwood, Michael Drummond, Daniella Kallmeyer and Francesca Marotta will show their collections at Studio 615 (272 Broadmoor Drive) on Tuesday, April 5. Studio 615 is a state of the art photo, video & event facility. Its goal is to be a force in building and shaping community in East Nashville and throughout the city.

Wednesday night is the Nashville Designer Showcase at Track One (1211 4th Ave South). Truly Alvarenga, Ona Rex, Roxenstone and Amanda Valentine will show with emerging designers Any Old Iron and Sisters of Nature. The Track One Garage is one of the most versatile and largest industrial on-trend event spaces in downtown Nashville. With over 14,000 square feet of usable space it offers a beautiful blank canvas with unique features for a variety of events. The Nashville Designer Showcase is sponsored by Opry Mills. 

"We enjoy finding unique locations that celebrate the creativity of Nashville to host our events. Nashville Fashion Week has popped up in a variety of settings over the years,” said Mike Smith, Nashville Fashion Week co-founder. "Whether high above the city at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place to historic locations such as The Arcade, The Parthenon or in an old church, our guests know that they are going to experience something new and exciting. 

"Three of the locations this year are used primarily as shared work space for the creative community. These venues seem very appropriate considering the impact that creatives make in Nashville every day."

A Pre-Show Reception at Waller, Lansden, Dortch and Davis will set the stage for Friday night’s show at Legislative Plaza. Nashville Fashion Week guests will enjoy sweeping views of the city from the 27th floor of the City Center (511 Union Street) before the runway show. Oberima Afriyie, Megan Huntz and Lagi Nadeau will be joined by Eleventy in front of the Tennessee State Capitol at Legislative Plaza (301 6th Avenue North) for The City Lights: Ready-to-Wear Runway Show, sponsored by The Mall at Green Hills. 

Eleventy will be presented by Levy’s. Eleventy was launched in 2007 by CEO Marco Baldassari, Paolo Zuntini and Andrea Scuderi. Made in Italy, the brand operates in the luxury sector with high-quality, wide-ranging and well-defined men’s and women’s collections, hallmarked by an identifiable style with no need for a logo. The collection is about lifestyle rather than status. eleventy.it

Details on Nashville Shops Day, Thursday's Accessory Installation Gallery at WELD, Saturday’s Education Panels at City Winery and the Nashville Fashion Forward Gala will be announced soon.

Proceeds from all Nashville Fashion Week events 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 a financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities.

All Access Passes and individual night tickets are available in a range of prices at nashvillefashionweek.com.

PURCHASE TICKETS

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 the week 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 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2016 ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF RUNWAY DESIGNERS

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2016 ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF RUNWAY DESIGNERS

Tickets on sale now for Nashville's signature fashion event

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce the first thirteen designers to be featured at unique runway locations throughout the city during year six of the five-day event.

Six Nashville-based designers will present their collections on Wednesday, April 6. Returning NFW favorites Truly Alvarenga, Ashley Balding, Denise Roxen and Amanda Valentine will be joined by new designers Andrew Clancey and Kimberly Parker. Michael Drummond, Danielle Kallmeyer, Francesca Marotta and Afriyie Poku will join Nashville Fashion Week veterans Brooke Atwood, Megan Huntz and Lagi Nadeau from cities coast to coast throughout the rest of the week.

Nashville Fashion Week 2016 will include runway shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights; city-wide shopping events and an artistic accessory installation on Thursday; and end with educational panels and the third annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala on Saturday. More specific event details will be announced soon.

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.  

Nashville Fashion Wek 2016 will be held April 5-9. All Access Passes and tickets for individual events are on sale now at nashvillefashionweek.com.

PURCHASE TICKETS

TRULY ALVARENGA
Truly Alvarenga Is known best for her beautiful handmade one-of-a-kind garments that are minimalist, uncluttered and refined in their shaping. Truly pays meticulous attention to detail and has attracted an impressive numbers of admirers, who appreciate the craftsmanship as well as the inspired stories behind the one-of-a-kind collections. trulyalvarenga.com

BROOKE ATWOOD
Brooke Atwood received her degree in business at the University of Mississippi and her design degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She grew up sewing with her grandmother and riding horses with her rodeo cowboy father. Although Brooke was raised in the south, she would never call herself a “proper southern girl,” choosing instead to be influenced by abstract art and independent music.

After receiving her degree she opened her own boutique in Mississippi. In 2012 – after selling her acclaimed boutique to pursue her design dream – Brooke launched her namesake brand with a collection of leather tees. brookeatwood.com

ASHLEY BALDING
Ona Rex is the creative endeavor of designer Ashley Balding. It was formed in 2014 with an aim to bring women’s wear to Nashville that is unique, bold, and luxurious. Each piece of the collection is crafted in house with extreme care and attention to detail – whether it’s using custom hand woven textiles, or artfully sculpted accessories. Ona Rex holds its tradition of uniqueness to the highest regard. onarex.com

ANDREW CLANCEY
Any Old Iron was born six years ago in New York as the U.S.'s first ever multi-brand British Mens boutique.

Since its move to Nashville two years ago, owner and designer Andrew Clancey has been working toward his first collection for the brand. Focusing on tailoring with a twist, Clancey and co-owner, Christopher Melton, aim to establish themselves with musicians and fashionista's alike. shopaoi.com

MICHAEL DRUMMOND
Project Runway veteran (season eight) whose client list includes actress Tika Sumpter, New York Fashion Week founder Fern Malis, and supermodel/TV host Heidi Klum. His work has been showcased alongside Alexander McQueen, Viktor and Rolf, Maison Martin Margiela, and Iris van Herpen in the highly recognized "A Queen Within" at the World Chess Hall of Fame.  

Drummond has also worked as a costume designer for countless operas, dances, and theatrical productions in the USA and Europe. michaeldrummond.net

MEGAN HUNTZ
Megan Huntz is an American fashion designer based in Atlanta. She founded her slow-fashion collection, Megan Huntz Dresses, in 2010, after spending nearly a decade in Italy and Spain, designing for companies such as Spazio Lazzari of Treviso and the MaxMara group.

Huntz graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Industrial Design and studied fashion at Domus Academy in Milan. meganhuntz.com

DANIELLA KALLMEYER
KALLMEYER New York is a womens wear and accessories brand made in the United States with careful intention and purpose, combining European luxury techniques with contemporary accessibility

KALLMEYER is dedicated to empowering and enabling women to be who she aspires to become; today. Daniella Kallmeyer applies this philosophy to every design and uniquely updated wardrobe staple- a crisp white shirt, a perfectly cut trouser, a sleek bag- with special attention to fabrics and fit. daniellakallmeyer.com

FRANCESCA MAROTTA
Francesca Marotta's designs and creations have won her numerous awards in UK, France Turkey and Italy.

Francesca Marotta has had shows in London, New York, Philadelphia, Istanbul, Syracusa, Los Angeles, Paris, Brussels and Osaka. Her designs have been featured in Harpers, Vogue Italia, Vogue UK, The Financial Times, and many others. Celebrities such as Karrueche Tran, Natasha Bedingfield, Natalie Dormer, Jessie J, Ana Matronic, Skin from Skunk Anansie, Kelly Brook, Irina Lazareanu, Jodie Kidd have worn the label. francescamarotta.com

LAGI NADEAU
The LAGI NADEAU collection blends high-end sophistication with feminine styling. This distinct style is emphasized by the designer's use of luxurious fabrications mixed with interesting detailing. Nadeau creates high quality, authentic pieces made in the USA, for women who have a strong sense of self and style. laginadeau.com

KIMBERLY PARKER
Sisters of Nature is a lifestyle brand for dreamers, adventurers and free spirits. Inspired by the wild beauty of nature with a new bohemian folk aesthetic, each piece embodies the woman who loves to travel the world, soak in life and celebrate her unique individuality.

Designed by Kimberly Parker, the private label is proudly made in the rolling green hills of Nashville, TN. sistersofnatureboutique.com

AFRIYIE POKU
Oberima Afriyie seeks to inspire and provide clothing for Individuals to use to create themselves, while promoting the acceptance of Differences.

OA's first collection, "Kabukimono" derives from the Edo Period of Japan. These individuals were ronin warriors from the Edo period of Japan who strayed away from cultural norms of their time; representing their sense of individuality through various mediums - attire being one of them. oberimaafriyie.com

DENISE ROXEN
It all started with Rock music when Denise Roxen saw the coolest image of a young Keith Richards. Everything he wore clashed so incredibly. When her band went separate ways, Denise knew fashion was her next calling and that she had to transfer her rock vision into clothing.

Roxenstone inspires confidence that goes against the mainstream. Roxenstone is for men that have a little bit of Rock N Roll in their soul. roxenstone.com

AMANDA VALENTINE
Amanda Valentine is a women's ready-to-wear collection created by designer and stylist Amanda Valentine. Amanda competed on Project Runway (Seasons 11 and 13) and has been voted "Nashville's Best Fashion Designer" by readers of the Nashville Scene for the last four years.

While creating collections, Amanda styles wardrobe for numerous rock bands including Twenty One Pilots and infuses her women’s line with edge - and always ease. Bold prints, dramatic color blocking and exaggerated silhouettes make an appearance each collection. amandavalentine.com

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 the week 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 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.