NFW 2019 To Present Four Nights of Runway Shows at OZ Arts Nashville

Thanks to all that joined us for our Nashville Fashion Week 2019 Kickoff Party last night at Union Station Hotel! We were excited to announce the first details of our 2019 programming to a sold-out crowd and to hint at many more announcements to come. 

The ninth annual Nashville Fashion Week will take place Tuesday, April 2 through Saturday, April 6 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville. Our second year at OZ Arts will feature an additional night of runway shows for a total of four full nights of fashion. For the first time, local designers will be spread throughout the week rather than being featured in one Nashville Designer Showcase. This is in direct response to our audience's growing interest and support of local designers. The week will conclude with the Fashion Forward Gala on Saturday night to celebrate the unique impact our seven award receipients have made on the Nashville fashion community.

“Our mission since day one has been to educate local and national audiences about Nashville’s growing fashion community and we are all experiencing the results,” said Nashville Fashion Week managing partners/co-founders Connie Cathcart-Richardson and Marcia Masulla. “Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund have helped raise awareness of our creative talent by showcasing 173 designers and hundreds of local businesses with an investment of over $1 million in the local fashion community over the past eight years. We had to search for local designers early on that were ready to show and now we have enough experienced designers that our audience knows and supports to fill an entire week. It's our privilege to support Nashville’s fashion-forward and entrepreneurial talent with this volunteer led and run event. We could not continue to do this year after year without the financial support of our ticket holders and dedicated sponsors.”

Forty-five 2019 Nashville Fashion Week sponsors were acknowledged at the Kickoff Party, six of which have been supporters since 2011 and another eight for a minimum of five years. Nashville Fashion Week is fully funded with the support of our sponsors and ticket holders. Please support all of our sponsors listed HERE. 

More details on the Influencer Brunch, Men's Style Event, Learning Labs, Shop Nashville and other special events leading up to and during Nashville Fashion Week will be announced over the next month.

TWENTY 2019 DESIGNERS ANNOUNCED

Twenty designers will have the opportunity to showcase their collections at Nashville Fashion Week 2019. Please check out our participating designer bios HERE.

Tuesday, April 3 

• A Lady of the Lake (Nashville, TN)

• Ola Mai (Nashville, TN)

• Shea Steele (Brooklyn, NY)

• Splashed by DKG (Birmingham, AL)

• Van Hoang (Nashville, TN)

Wednesday, April 3

• Lily Guilder (Nashville, TN)

• Love & Osker (Birmingham, AL)

• Ona Rex (Nashville, TN)

• Paulie Gibson (St. Louis, MO) 

• Rank & Sugar (Nashville, TN)

Thursday, April 4

• Article X (Nashville, TN)

• Barbara Bultman (St. Louis, MO)

• Britache' by Bri (Sunrise, FL)

• Laura Citron (Nashville, TN)

• Truly Alvarenga (Nashville, TN)

Friday, April 5

• Amanda Casarez (St. Louis, MO)

• Any Old Iron (Nashville, TN) 

• Ashe Cain (Nashville, TN)

• Justin Mark Richards (Nashville, TN)

• Lagi Nadeau (Chicago, IL)

“We are delighted to showcase nine of Nashville’s leading designers, five returning favorites from across the country and six new designers discovered through our designer application process,” said Richardson and Masulla. “It’s so rewarding to watch the growth of our designers from year to year. The quality and number of designer applications and interest from around the region continues to increase each year as well."

AMAX TALENT + NFW 2019 MODEL SEARCH FINALISTS 

You can't have a runway show without models! Three finalists have been selected from thousands of applicants for the 2019 AMAX Talent + Nashville Fashion Week Model Search. Chaney Trosper, Kirstin Brower and Sara Lowe will each receive beauty makeovers from Love Salon Nashville before having the opportunity to meet with agents and scouts from top agencies around the world during the upcoming AMAX showcase.

"We had a remarkable group of applicants again 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.

The winner will have the opportunity to walk the NFW runway, as well as win a $1,000 contract with AMAX Talent, a photo shoot with local fashion photographer Ramiah Branch and a gift bag from Love Salons. The AMAX + NFW Model Search has been a launchpad for many successful modeling careers since its inception in 2012. 

Tickets for Nashville Fashion Week 2019 are now available to purchase at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Individual ticket prices are $50 for general admission and $75 for seated tickets. The four-night Runway Pass is $200 for general admission with VIP access and $300 for preferred seated VIP tickets. The All Acess Pass includes front row VIP tickets to all four nights of ruway plus a ticket to the Fashion Forward Gala. Gala tickets are $250 with tables of 10 available for $2,500. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

For more information on the schedule, designers, a full list of sponsors, party pics and to purchase tickets, visit NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Click HERE to see the Hi-Fi Media Co. photo booth antics from the Kickoff Party.

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!

CELEBRATE WITH NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK

CELEBRATE WITH NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK

When we say ELEVATED, we mean it! We've got a jam-packed schedule with close to 100 events planned next week and we look forward to celebrating with you! Nashville Fashion Week 2018 officially kicks off on Monday, April 2 with the first of our Learning Labs and quickly ramps up with over fifty "Shop Nashville Week" events, five more Learning Labs, Fashion Talks with Fern Mallis and Anna Sui, designer Pop-Ups and four nights of runway shows featuring twenty-four designers with musical guests Escondido and Karen Elson at OZ Arts Nashville throughout the week. There is literally something for everyone!

ELEVATED Access Passes have SOLD OUT! Only a few standing room tickets remain for the Nashville Designer and Emerging Designer Showcase and the Ready-to-Wear and Finale Show seated tickets featuring Anna Sui are going fast! And whatever you do, don't miss the NFW Fashion Talks with fashion legends Fern Mallis and Anna Sui at Union Station Hotel on Friday afternoon!

BEAUTY: Runway to Real Way at The Cosmetic Market is SOLD OUT! But, tickets are still available for five other NFW Learning Labs - CULTURE: Life Off the Runway with Amanda Valentine & Ayana Ife, CREATE: Margaret Ellis Jewelry Intro to Metalsmithing | Make Your Own Pearl Bangles, PHOTOGRAPHY: Behind the Lens with Brett Warren & Zachary Gray, BUSINESS: Social Media | Vanity vs. Effectiveness with Her Data Method and INFLUENCERS: Navigate the Influencer Space with Happily Grey + CLIQUE media | Moderated by Designer Chrissy Fogerty of Fauxgerty. Don't miss out on these unique educational opportunities!

And then there is the big question...What are you going to wear to all of these marvelous events? Click HERE for full details on every Shop Nashville event that will take place next week. Nashville Fashion Week is a great excuse to go shopping!

All NFW ticket holders get FREE admission to the Frist Center of the Visual Arts April 2 through 14 featuring the Nick Cave: Feat exhibit with proof of purchase.

Proceeds from all Nashville Fashion Week events 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. 

Anna Sui & Fern Mallis to be Featured Guests at NFW 2018

ANNA SUI AND FERN MALLIS TO BE FEATURED GUESTS AT NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2018

From the runways of New York to the backdrop of OZ Arts Nashville, fashion icons Anna Sui and Fern Mallis will share their creative insights and work with Nashville's fashion community and entrepreneurs. Designer, Anna Sui and legendary New York Fashion Week Founder, Fern Mallis, will be our featured guests on Friday, April 6 at Union Station Hotel and on Saturday, April 7 at OZ Arts Nashville.

“We are incredibly honored to be hosting both Fern Mallis and Anna Sui as part of our 2018 program,” said Nashville Fashion Week managing directors and co-founders Marcia Masulla and Connie Cathcart-Richardson. “To have Anna Sui participate in such a meaningful way is tremendous gift to our community especially with her thoughtful ties to both Third Man Records where she designed the uniforms, shares Detroit roots with Jack White and has worked with Nashville’s very own supermodel, Karen Elson, who has been a staple on Sui’s NYFW runways and the muse for her recent collaboration with Macy’s I.N.C. collection. We are also thrilled to reunite and host Fern for her third Nashville Fashion Week. She has been an unwavering mentor of our mission, the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund and has also led the charge to bring Sui to our city.”

Kicking off the weekend will be NFW Fashion Talks with Fern Mallis and Anna Sui taking place at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6 at Union Station Hotel. Sponsored by Union Station Hotel and UAL, the event will include a VIP reception where patrons will have the opportunity to meet and receive a signed copy of Mallis’ book Fashion Lives: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis. Following the reception, Sui and Mallis will take the stage at 4 p.m. to share insights and personal stories of their expansive experiences in the fashion industry for the main program. Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Textiles, Merchandising and Design will live-stream the conversation during the event and individual copies of Mallis' book will also be available for sale. 

“I’m thrilled to be back at Nashville Fashion Week to see the talented designers along with our special guest, designer Anna Sui, from New York,” said Mallis. “Nashville continues to be one of the coolest cities in the country, inspiring us all with music, food, and style." 

Hailed as the award-winning creator of New York Fashion Week, Mallis has been called an industry titan, doyenne, and The Godmother of Fashion. As the creator and host of premiere conversation series Fashion Icons w/Fern Mallis at New York’s prestigious 92nd Street Y, Mallis assembled an incredible roster of guests for her now signature in-depth interviews, including Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford, Michael Kors, Diane von Fürstenberg, Polly Mellen, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, André Leon Talley, Bruce Weber, Bill Cunningham, Valentino, Leonard A. Lauder, Tim Gunn, Victoria Beckham, Rosita and Angela Missoni, Alexander Wang, and Christian Louboutin.

SATURDAY FINALE RUNWAY SHOW

The Nashville Fashion Week Finale Runway Show will showcase Anna Sui’s 2018 spring collection on Saturday, April 7 at OZ Arts Nashville. Internationally recognized and beloved by the world’s most influential people, the career of Sui is a classic American success story. With over 50 boutiques in eight countries and her collection is sold in 300 stores in over 30 countries, Sui opened her first flagship store on Greene Street in Soho in 1992. The boutique’s vibrant mix of black Victorian furniture, purple walls, papier-mache doll heads and rock n’ roll posters closely reflects Anna Sui’s decorating style and has been the model for all of her shops. The late 1990s was a time of significant growth for Sui; she embarked upon a hugely successful expansion in the Far East, where she quickly established a huge cult following. She also launched cosmetics, fragrance, shoe and accessory licenses. Her devotion to detail is apparent in every one of her products, which are all intimately connected to her world. Her iconic make-up packaging and fragrance bottle design have even become collectors’ items. This special opportunity is sponsored by the Westin Nashville.

“I’ve been wanting to visit Nashville for a quite some time…legendary home of Country Western Music, the Grand Ole Opry, Hot Chicken, and Manuel: Tailor to the Stars!," said Sui. "In recent years, I’ve been hearing so much about exciting things happening in Nashville.  Many people I know have moved there to take part in the evolving super cool Music Scene.  I’m totally excited to discover it all for myself first-hand…and to present my Spring 2018 runway collection!”

American menswear brands Hickey Freeman Tailors Gold and h American Tailor, both presented by Levy's, will open the Saturday night runway show. 

“As a supporter of Nashville Fashion Week from the very beginning, Levy's is thrilled to be partnering with Hickey Freeman and h for the final evening of runway shows during Nashville Fashion Week 2018,” said Levy’s owners David and Ellen Levy. “Featuring the iconic brand, Hickey Freeman, and the company's rising star of fashion, h American Tailor, it gives us great pleasure to present these two collections made in the USA. Timeless and fashion-forward, just like this great city of Nashville, these collections are a perfect representation of Levy's.” 

Nashville Fashion Week will be held April 3-7 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville with all proceeds benefiting the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Tickets to these two experiences and other individual events are available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES WEDNESDAY NIGHT DESIGNER LINEUP AND PLANS TO HOST OUR FIRST MEN’S STYLE EVENT

Nashville Fashion Week Announces Wednesday Night Designer Lineup and Plans to Host Our First Men’s Style Event

Our eighth annual five-day event will kick off on Tuesday, April 3 with the Nashville Designer Showcase in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville followed by three more nights of runway shows on Wednesday (Ready-to-Wear), Friday (Emerging Designers) and Saturday (Finale) nights; as well as special ELEVATED events, Shop Nashville Week, and Learning Labs throughout the week. The new Men’s Style Event and sold-out Blogger Brunch are designed to generate excitement for the upcoming week of fashion events that showcase many aspects of Nashville’s thriving creative fashion community. More specific details on all events will be announced over the next few weeks.

The Ready-to-Wear Runway Showcase will feature five diverse designers on Wednesday, April 4 at OZ Arts Nashville from all across the country. 

• DEMESTIK by Reuben Reuel (St Louis, MO) presented by the St. Louis Fashion Incubator
• Faherty (New York, NY) presented by Oak Hall Nashville
• Fauxgerty (St. Louis, MO) hosted by Emerson Grace
• Julianna Bass (New York, NY) presented by Jamie Nashville
• Lagi Nadeau (Chicago, IL) hosted by Stacey Rhodes Boutique

“I'm really proud to see how progressive, creative, and alive Nashville is and has been for some time! And, of course the Nashville Fashion Forward fund too. I’m very happy to be here debuting AW18 with Nashville Fashion Week and Jamie Nashville. It feels good to be home,” said Julianna Bass, first recipient of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund in 2011.

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JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST MEN'S STYLE EVENT

The Men’s Style Event is the first men’s fashion-focused event hosted by Nashville Fashion Week. The evening will feature a fashion presentation by Oak Hall Nashville, of Italian brand Eleventy, and an installation by Edward’s Shoes, locally-made men’s custom dress-shoes, on Tuesday, March 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m at 505 Nashville. Co-hosts Brian Barry, publisher of Nashville Lifestyles Magazine and Tim Ozgener, CEO of OZ Arts Nashville will welcome guests to 505, the tallest residential building in Nashville. Guests attending the event will enjoy light bites from Virago, signature drinks created by Bar Alliance Nashville and tastings of Pennington Distilling Co.’s new Davidson Reserve four-grain Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Parking will be provided by Parking Management Company. A limited number of tickets are available for $60 each at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

“Fashion in Nashville is growing, and I love how it combines the old and the new,” said Barry. “Stores likes Levy’s, which is more than 160 years old, are just as ‘well-suited’ to handle Nashville’s menswear needs like newcomers Oak Hall and Alton Lane. There are also so many great fashion industry professionals in this city that we work with at Nashville Lifestyles, and I am fortunate to be able to work with great talents every issue.” 

Tim Ozgener is optimistic about this year’s partnership between Nashville Fashion Week and OZ Arts Nashville. “I’m so glad to be part of this year's Nashville Fashion Week,” said Ozgener. “I have always loved the creative, artistic and FUN aspects of fashion. This event will combine all three for an unforgettable experience.”

Tickets and Elevated Access Passes for the Men’s Style Event, Nashville Designer Showcase, Read-to-Wear Showcase and Emerging Designer Showcase are available for purchase at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. All NFW ticket holders get FREE admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts from April 2-14 featuring the Nick Cave: Feat exhibit with proof of purchase. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.