NFW Learning Lab Presented by The Wond'ry, Vanderbilt's Innovation Center

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES
FASHION X DESIGN INNOVATION LEARNING LAB FOR 2021

PRESENTED BY THE WOND'RY, VANDERBILT’S INNOVATION CENTER

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce our third FREE Learning Lab for 2021. NFW is designed to showcase and support the local fashion community by providing educational opportunities to engage, learn and connect experientially within the Nashville community. The Fashion x Design Innovation Learning Lab will be presented by the Wond'ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center on Friday, October 15 at noon.

Nashville Fashion Week is partnering with the Wond’ry to explore the latest innovations in design, technology, and adaptive fashion. Hear thought leaders speak to the emerging trends in the industry. This two-hour session features three industry spotlights, Q&A with esteemed presenters, interactive innovation booths, and networking opportunities. Join Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center for a fashion-forward line up of presenters.

“We are thrilled to partner with Nashville Fashion Week in showcasing innovations and trends in technology, design, and adaptive fashion in the industry. Creativity is at the core of the vision of the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, and it is truly a delight to collaborate with an organization promoting and capturing innovation in Nashville’s fashion community.” - Dave Owens, Evans Family Executive Director of the Wond’ry

FASHION x DESIGN INNOVATION LEARNING LAB

Presented by the Wond'ry, Vanderbilt's Innovation Center

Friday, October 15 |  12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Location: The Wond'ry
2414 Highland Avenue, Suite 102, Nashville, TN, 3721

Admission: FREE ticket with registration

Fashion x Design Innovation Learning Lab panelists include Deanna Meador, CEO of Couture Technologies; Shannon North, Director of Design Technology at Workwear Outfitters; Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, Founder of Interwoven; and Stephanie Brakefield and Mary Cayten Brakefield, Co-founders of Brakefields. 

Deanna Meador is the CEO of Couture Technologies and the Director of Entrepreneurship at the Wond'ry, Vanderbilt University’s Innovation Center. Her company Couture Technologies, was formed to empower apparel companies with cutting edge tools to enhance their customer experience, in turn reducing return rates and increasing conversions. Couture is funded by the National Science Foundation and has developed a novel virtual try on technology and automated 3D garment creation system. Deanna is a serial entrepreneur and inventor and received the Young Alumni Achievement Award from her undergraduate university for her innovations.

Shannon North currently leads 3D design, pattern making and technical design for Workwear Outfitters in Nashville, Tennessee. During her 25-year career, she has held roles in teaching, merchandising, product development, and design in couture, footwear, and workwear apparel markets. She is most passionate about bringing 3D design capabilities and solutions to the apparel industry to promote sustainable practices.

Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman is the founder of Interwoven Design Group, where she combines her expertise in wearable technology and smart textiles. Some of her latest projects include "BioWear," a kinetic accessory that communicates the wearer's emotions; Remo Haptics, a wearable sports training device; and the Delta Glove by PureCarbon. She is also the author of Smart Textiles for Designers; Inventing the Future of Fabrics, and former design director at Nike, Champion and Fila. A pioneering researcher in design methodologies and smart materials, her latest work includes the Apex exosuit by HeroWear and the redesign of the Miami Dolphins Cheer Squad uniforms.

After Graduating from Vanderbilt with a Master's in Special Education, Stephanie Brakefield started her career as a teacher, transitioned to raising her four children full time, then worked with hundreds of students at her kids' schools to create programs to support all students. She now uses her background and love of design and art to create universally designed clothes for women. Her active lifestyle has shown her firsthand how important it is to have clothes that move with you, and as she ages, she has seen that at some point that everyone experiences declines in our ability levels. Stephanie's favorite part of creating this brand is getting to work with her daughter to solve problems that arise when getting dressed with a disability!

Mary Cayten Brakefield is a Nashville native and graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Retail & Consumer Sciences. She was a member of the UT swim team and has brought her athletic background into creating clothes that allow for free movement throughout the day. Between getting to work with adaptive athletes in college and experiencing changes in her own ability level soon after, she became passionate about universally designed products. Growing up in a vibrant, colorful home with her fashionable mother Stephanie, Mary Cayten loved fun clothes from the start and is excited to infuse colorful fashion into functional clothing. She can't think of a better partner to work with than her mom to create fashionable, functional designs and support the rest of the adaptive industry.

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While we are excited to gather both digitally and in person for NFW 2021, the health and safety of our guests, participants and team remains our top priority. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend or participate in any Nashville Fashion Week 2021 event.

NFW strongly encourages vaccination. For anyone who is not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending any event. NFW now requires that everyone must wear a mask indoors at all times. This protocol is based on current CDC standards. Any changes to these procedures will be communicated prior to each event

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available to all Tennesseans ages 12 and up in all 95 counties across our state. Find a location close to you at VaccineFinder.org to insure that you’ve done your part to keep NFW 2021 and our community safe for everyone. 

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and The WB Collective Powered by WBEC South Present NFW Learning Lab

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES LEARNING LAB TO BE PRESENTED BY THE NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE WB COLLECTIVE POWERED BY WBEC SOUTH

Nashville Fashion Week is designed to showcase and support the local fashion community by providing educational opportunities to engage, learn and connect experientially within the Nashville community. NFW is excited to announce the second of our three FREE 2021 Learning Labs to be presented in partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the WB Collective Powered By WBEC South on Thursday, October 14 at the WB Collective Nashville.

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is also the presenting sponsor of the NFW VIP Mixer at The Westin Nashville on Tuesday, October 12 prior to the Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter panel discussion and Museum Tour presented by the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. This mixer is for NFW VIP Pass holders only. A limited number of passes are still available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

“The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to partner with Nashville Fashion Week as we celebrate the fashion and retail industry’s contributions to our city and the integral role of this creative economy to our region’s economic growth. We applaud NFW for providing a platform where creators can showcase their work and aspiring entrepreneurs can connect with resources and relationships to turn creative outlets into successful businesses. - Haley Hatchell, Director of Small Business and Growth Initiatives, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

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TIKTOK, TECH AND TRENDS: THE EVOLVING BUSINESS OF FASHION

Presented in partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the WB Collective Powered by WBEC South 

Thursday, October 14 |  4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Location: WB Collective Nashville
613 Ewing Ave, 2nd Floor Nashville, TN 37203

Admission: FREE ticket with registration

This interactive panel discussion will offer varying perspectives on evolutionary business practices in the fashion and retail industry. This event will also include an opportunity to shop a curated selection of #Nashpreneurs pop-up shops and time to network while enjoying light bites and refreshments provided by Titos Handmade Vodka and Blade and Bow.

The panel will be moderated by Phala Mire, President and CEO of WBEC South. Panelists include Steven Romeo, Founder/CEO, Music City Creative; Trinity Wiles, Co-Founder, Where and Share Inc.; and Anna Caroline Toms, Owner, LA Green Nashville.

Phala Mire, President and CEO of WBEC South, leads the southern regional partner organization (RPO) of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) providing WBE certification, development and business opportunities in Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. Phala facilitates business growth, job creation, and access to capital for women business enterprises, while cultivating relationships and advocating for diversity and inclusion in the public and private sectors. She is also responsible for the development of relationships with key community partners and stakeholders. Phala’s most recent accomplishments include launching the Women’s Business Center South in Memphis, TN as part of the historic SBA expansion of 20 WBCs across the country, as well as the Enterprising Women of Color Program, powered by the MBDA, establishing cutting-edge training and creating opportunities for minority women-owned business enterprises.

Steven Romeo is an entrepreneur, artist, and community organizer with a Master of Public Administration. As founder and CEO of Music City Creative, Romeo brought eco-friendly custom apparel to Nashville in 2020. Their hand-screen printing shop and retail store use prosocial storytelling to advance social equity, while its sustainability focused practices push the standard for green apparel. Romeo has created multiple socially conscious brands that give back to the community through education and fundraising. A professional photographer with a passion for entrepreneurship, Romeo believes in using the art of storytelling to support marginalized communities. They are also the founder and CEO of Progressive Threads, an advocacy apparel brand. 

As Co-Founder of Where and Share Inc., Trinity Wiles identifies opportunities to improve the retail experience using technology. She leads all R&D efforts with manufacturers and her development team. She comes from a background in tech and fashion. Where and Share develops interactive mirrors for retailers to increase sales and provide a better experience for customers. Trinity and her Co-Founder discovered the fitting room is the highest sales conversion zone yet retailers have no data to capture what customers are trying on or the capabilities to market back to them based on preferences. Where and Share incorporates in-store tech, social media, and eCommerce capabilities to harmonize the in-store and online shopping experience. 

Anna Caroline Toms is the owner of L.A. Green in Nashville. The first and original L.A. Green location in Starkville, MS was a huge part of her life throughout high school and college and her favorite local boutique to fill her closet with. Upon graduating, Anna Caroline was given the opportunity to sit down and speak with the franchise owner, Lauren Ann Cooper, about potentially opening a location of her own. The dream of a Nashville store began! Nashville has always had Anna Caroline’s heart, and after lots of time and research, she landed in the Capitol View development in the North Gulch. The store opened in November of 2019.

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Pop-up vendors will include Music City Creative, LA Green, Neta's Natural, Kandles by Kierra along with Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients Prange Apparel + Innovate by Prange Apparel, Black by Maria Silver, Eric Adler Clothing, Van Hoang and others.

“Experience industry education, diverse panel discussions, and networking opportunities during Nashville Fashion Week at the WB Collective, a professional, collaborative environment, built for women executives and CEOs to cowork and connect.” - Katherine Garcia, Director of Operations - WB Collective 

Built for women executives & CEOs to cowork and connect, The WB Collective is a collaborative work environment offering professional offices, meeting, and event space, designed to elevate female founders and entrepreneurs with access to resources, opportunities, and support while growing their business. Other benefits of membership include mailboxes and package receiving, office equipment, high-speed internet, common luxury workspaces, convenient kitchen and amenities, and 24/7 building access with secure key fob entry. Currently, the WB Collective has locations in downtown New Orleans and Nashville. The WB Collective is powered by the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) South, a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S.

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While we are excited to gather both digitally and in person for NFW 2021, the health and safety of our guests, participants and team remains our top priority. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend or participate in any Nashville Fashion Week 2021 event

NFW strongly encourages vaccination. For anyone who is not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending any event. NFW now requires that everyone must wear a mask indoors at all times. This protocol is based on current CDC standards. Any changes to these procedures will be communicated prior to each event

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available to all Tennesseans ages 12 and up in all 95 counties across our state. Find a location close to you at VaccineFinder.org to insure that you’ve done your part to keep NFW 2021 and our community safe for everyone. 

Megan Prange to Present NFW Learning Lab

NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD RECIPIENT MEGAN PRANGE TO PRESENT NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2021 LEARNING LAB

MAKE + INNOVATE: A FASHION MANUFACTURING OPEN HOUSE 
AND TOUR AT PRANGE APPAREL

Nashville Fashion Week is designed to showcase and support the local fashion community by providing educational opportunities to engage, learn and connect experientially within the Nashville community. NFW is excited to announce the first of three FREE Learning Labs for 2021. We will launch our Learning Lab series with "Make + Innovate: A Fashion Manufacturing Open House and Tour" on Wednesday, October 13 at Prange Apparel.

MAKE + INNOVATE: A FASHION MANUFACTURING OPEN HOUSE AND TOUR 
Presented by Prange Apparel

Wednesday, October 13 | 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. 

Location: Prange Apparel
2545 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214

Admission: FREE ticket with registration
Each registered guest will receive a NFW x Prange Apparel goody bag

From designers and students to curious fashion lovers, we invite anyone and everyone who are interested to attend this interactive open house and tour to gain insight into the process and innovation of how fashion is made. The 2019 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient, Megan Prange of Prange Apparel will share the step-by-step process of how garments are manufactured right here in Nashville, Tennessee. From the initial consultation to development of tech packs and the creation of muslin samples to shipping the final product, this event will give a guided tour of the business of fashion while also offering an opportunity to have your questions answered while enjoying a tour of a facility where fashion is at work!

Two timed sessions are available to choose from beginning at 4 and again at 5 p.m. Registration is FREE and includes a NFW x Prange Apparel goody bag. Refreshments will be served featuring Tito's Handmade Vodka and Blade & Bow Bourbon.

"Prange Apparel has come full circle with our connection with NFW. From supporting as an attendee from the first shows over a decade ago to being honored as the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient in 2019 and now expanding my business to not only become a sponsor and event host of NFW, but to also launch our sister company, Innovate by Prange Apparel. This new program offers designers a complete range of product development services, including tech pack creation, pattern making, grading, and sample development." - Megan Prange, Prange Apparel

Megan Prange started Prange Apparel eight 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.

Prange 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. Eight years later, Megan 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 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. Applications for the 2021 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund will be announced in late October.

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While we are excited to gather both digitally and in person for NFW 2021, the health and safety of our guests, participants and team remains our top priority. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend or participate in any Nashville Fashion Week 2021 event

NFW strongly encourages vaccination. For anyone who is not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending any event. NFW now requires that everyone must wear a mask indoors at all times. This protocol is based on current CDC standards. Any changes to these procedures will be communicated prior to each event

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available to all Tennesseans ages 12 and up in all 95 counties across our state. Find a location close to you at VaccineFinder.org to insure that you’ve done your part to keep NFW 2021 and our community safe for everyone. 

NFW + Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

JOIN NFW AT THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM'S SUITING THE SOUND PANEL DISCUSSION 

CAST YOUR VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNS INSPIRED BY THIS EXHIBIT 

Nashville Fashion Week has partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to offer Middle Tennessee designers and creators an opportunity to participate in a design competition by creating their personal interpretation of country music stage wear inspired by the museum's online exhibition Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter.

Voting is now open to the community. The public is invited to choose their three favorite exhibit-inspired designs based on quality, creativity, and originality from the eight finalists selected from all submissions by voting at NashvilleFashionWeek.com through Friday, October 1st. The three designers or creators with the most votes will each have the opportunity to showcase their finished design at the NFW and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Suiting The Sound Panel Discussion on Tuesday, October 12. The winning designer will also receive two VIP passes for Nashville Fashion Week 2022 and a one-year family membership to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. 

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Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter Panel Discussion
October 12, 2021, 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m. for gallery access)
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way South

Drawing from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's exhibit galleries and extensive collection of stage costumes and archival materials, Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter — an exhibition curated exclusively for online audiences and free-to-access HERE —examines the dazzling artistry of Western-wear designers whose couture fashions helped to create an indelible image for country music. In partnership with Nashville Fashion Week, the museum will host a program examining the emergence of this unique “rhinestone cowboy” look in the 1940s and 1950s, largely from the tailor shops of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, and how the style has inspired fashion far beyond the stages of barn dances and honky-tonks.

Panelists include acclaimed author, historian and filmmaker Holly George-Warren (How the West Was Worn, Public Cowboy #1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry, Janis: Her Life and Music); modern-day “rodeo tailor” Jerry Lee Atwood, whose bespoke designs for his Union Western label have been commissioned by performers as varied as Americana artist Nikki Lane, Post Malone and genre-blending “Old Town Road” writer-performer, Lil Nas X; and singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chris Scruggs, who currently plays bass in Marty Stuart’s Fabulous Superlatives band and fronts his own group, the Stone Fox Five. The panel will be moderated by Brenda Colladay, vice president of museum services at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Free program access at CountryMusicHallofFame.org, and the museum’s You Tube and Facebook. Limited program tickets are available with museum admission HERE and are also included in the NFW VIP Pass.

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While we are excited to gather both digitally and in person for NFW 2021, the health and safety of our guests, participants and team remains our top priority. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend or participate in any Nashville Fashion Week 2021 event.

NFW strongly encourages vaccination. The last day to receive the second shot of Moderna or Pfizer or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson prior to the October events is September 27. For anyone who is not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending any event. NFW now requires that everyone must wear a mask indoors at all times. This protocol is based on current CDC standards. Any changes to these procedures will be communicated prior to each event.

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available to all Tennesseans ages 12 and up in all 95 counties across our state. Find a location close to you at VaccineFinder.org to insure that you’ve done your part to keep NFW 2021 and our community safe for everyone.

NFW + National Museum of African American Music

JOIN NFW FOR THE INTERSECTION OF SOUND + STYLE
AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC

The Intersection of Sound + Style: A Conversation + Museum Tour
Friday, October 15, 6pm - 8:30pm
National Museum of African American Music 
510 Broadway
Ticket $35 (limited availability)

Join us on October 15 for The Intersection of Sound + Style: A Conversation + Museum Tour presented by the National Museum of African American Music. NMAAM's mission is to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. This special engagement with Nashville Fashion Week will also highlight the central role of how these artists and musicians have and will continue to lead the way with their impact on style and fashion. Nashville Fashion Week has enlisted Charles Brown and Bentley Caldwell as style ambassadors for the event. Enjoy a cocktail reception, an interactive tour of the museum and engaging conversation about the prominent influence of black culture and music on the fashion industry with the NMAAM’s curator Dr. Steven Lewis and these two stylish Nashville men, moderated by the NMAAM's Senior Director of Education and Exhibition, Tamar Smithers.

Charles Brown is a Nashville native and founder of Charles Lord, a design and consulting firm founded in 2005 specializing in custom apparel & accessories, hand-made, sustainable fashion good, fashion, interior and event styling. Charles has worked and volunteered in the local LGBTQI community for over twelve years with Brothers and Sisters United Network, Nashville Black Pride, Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Trials Network, and MyHouse Nashville.

Retail brought Bentley Caldwell to Nashville, and since that time, he’s been both a singer-songwriter and model traveling the world before combining all he learned to found Bentley Caldwell Styling. When a friend asked for advice on how to dress for a photo shoot, the bells went off. Now, he works exclusively with men and helps them uncover their personal style, take the guesswork out of shopping and access the confidence to elevate their lives and businesses to the next level.

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Just eighteen VIP Passes remain on sale at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. These exclusive passes offer a limited number of guests a unique NFW experience. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations with both local and global industry leaders, Nashville Fashion Week has planned safe and engaging ways to experience and support Nashville fashion October 12 - 16. The full schedule of fall events will be announced soon with individual tickets, including many that are free. All NFW ticket sales are a donation to support the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and are non-refundable.

Nashville Fashion Week VIP Passes include admission to the National Museum of African American Music event; as well as a special "How Fashion Is Made" VIP Tour at Prange Apparel; access to the NFW VIP Cocktail Mixer presented by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Suiting The Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter panel event and taping. As a stylish and functional token to commemorate NFW 2021, VIP Pass holders will also receive a stylish face mask designed by local designer Andrew Clancey of Any Old Iron. This pass ensures that you will be a part of a full interactive experience designed to connect with our Nashville fashion community.

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While we are excited to gather both digitally and in person for NFW 2021, the health and safety of our guests, participants and team remains our top priority. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend or participate in any Nashville Fashion Week 2021 event.

NFW strongly encourages vaccination. The last day to receive the second shot of Moderna or Pfizer or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson prior to the October events is September 27. For anyone that is not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending any event. NFW now requires that everyone must wear a mask at all times at indoor events. This protocol is based on current CDC standards. Any changes to these procedures will be communicated prior to each event.

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available to all Tennesseans 12+ in all 95 counties across our state. Find a location close to you at VaccineFinder.org to insure that you’ve done your part to keep NFW 2021 and our community safe for everyone.