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 and AMAX Talent Announce Model Search 2018

Nashville Fashion Week and AMAX Talent Announce Model Search 2018

AMAX Talent is searching for aspiring models through December 1 to debut at Nashville Fashion Week 2018. Eligible male and female applicants ages 13-30 will have the opportunity to meet with AMAX Talent model scouts for a chance at the grand prize. 

The finalists will be announced early 2018 with the winner announced during Nashville Fashion Week. The winner will receive a prize package that includes:

• $1,000 modeling contract and development with AMAX Talent
• The opportunity to meet one-on-one with top national modeling agents including IMG, Next, Elite and Ford and to walk the Nashville Fashion Week runway
• A professional photo shoot with fashion photographer Brett Warren.

No experience is required, but applicants must meet all of the physical and age requirements and guidelines specified on nashvillefashionweek.com. Only models NOT represented by other agencies are eligible to participate. All Model Search applicants will also be considered for Nashville Fashion Week model casting.

The AMAX + NFW Model Search has been a launchpad for many successful modeling careers since 2012. 2017 Model Search winner Ella Miller is in development and has worked with photographers Brett Warren, Mark DeLong, Jess Williams and Mario Pena. Only two weeks after being named the 2016 Model Search winner, Molly Rothe was selected to walk for Carolina Herrera. She has since received multiple contract offers from top agencies around the world and worked with renowned photographer Emma Summerton. 2015 Model Search winner, Briggs Rudder, spent the summer modeling in Japan, and is signed with Wilhelmina in New York where she has worked for Maybelline and walked for Valentino. 2014 winner, Sydney Chiyoko, is signed with Next Model Management in Los Angeles and Miami and with DNA Models in New York. She has walked in Nashville Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week and starred in campaigns for Uta and Bad Habit Beauty.  2013 winner, Olivia Brunner, has been featured in Justine Magazine and worked for TJ Maxx. Caleigh Darraugh, the 2012 Model Search winner, has worked in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Asia. Her clients include Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Gilt Group, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire France and L’Officiel and she has appeared on the cover of WWD and L’Officiel Morocco. 

AMAX Talent is a full service agency representing fashion, commercial and lifestyle models as well as actors, hair and make-up artists, and wardrobe stylists. Cherylann Stephens, former director of Next and Wilhelmina in Los Angeles, opened AMAX's parent company, Maximum Artist Creative Services, in 2005 to fill the need for an artists agency in the Nashville market. In 2009 MACS acquired AMAX, a well known Nashville modeling agency founded in 1989. In 2012, AMAX was joined by Ginny Edwards Maxwell, a well-known model scout and mother agent. Through a strong emphasis on both local and direct booking, as well as scouting and developing local models for international placement, AMAX has quickly risen to become one of the premier agencies in the Southeast. AMAX models have been featured in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Celine, Jill Stuart, American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger as well as walked the runways of Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Versace and Louis Vuitton. For more information on the agency, please visit AmaxTalent.com.

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APPLY NOW: The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund and Emerging Designer Application Deadlines are only three weeks away!

Applications for both The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s 2017 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award and Nashville Fashion Week’s 2018 Emerging Designer Showcase are now being accepted through November 13, 2017. Detailed information can be found at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

Nashville Fashion Week Announces 2018 Plans

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES 2018 DATES AND NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH OZ ARTS NASHVILLE

Applications now open for 2017 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award and 2018 Emerging Designer Showcase

Nashville Fashion Week will take place April 3-7, 2018, with all runway shows taking place at OZ Arts Nashville – the first time Nashville Fashion Week shows will be held in a single location.

“We are so excited to have OZ Arts Nashville as a strategic partner and our home for all runway shows in 2018,” said Nashville Fashion Week co-founders/managing partners Connie Cathcart-Richardson and Marcia Masulla. “OZ Arts Nashville has been a long time friend and supporter of NFW having hosted the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala twice before. We held our first fashion show there last year and realized the potential of a collaboration between our two non-profit organizations. Together we plan to take Nashville Fashion Week and our creative community to the next level.”

Nashville Fashion Week has historically changed locations throughout the city each night. The 2018 event will take advantage of OZ Arts Nashville’s diverse facilities and resources to produce the unique events that Nashville Fashion Week attendees have come to expect. 

“The OZ Arts Nashville team brings great creativity and enthusiasm to every performance we host,” said OZ Arts Nashville President and CEO Tim Ozgener. “We know that Nashville Fashion Week considered many venues and are honored they chose to partner with OZ Arts Nashville.” 

The dates for the 2018 city-wide celebration of Nashville's thriving fashion and retail community were announced before a sold out crowd during the 2018 Launch Party at Nicky's Coal Fired restaurant in the Nations near OZ Arts Nashville. Nashville Fashion Week also announced the opening of applications and nominations for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s 2017 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award and the Nashville Fashion Week’s 2018 Emerging Designer Showcase.  

Nashville Fashion Week features local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week to encourage both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces through promotions, partnerships and educational workshops. 

“Nashville Fashion Week initiated Nashville’s fashion storyline way back in 2011. This effort has allowed many other voices to be introduced and included in this ever-expanding creative narrative for our city. Despite all of the changes, Nashville Fashion Week has never wavered from its commitment to celebrate the people and businesses that drive Nashville fashion forward,” said Amy Fair, Vice President of The Community Foundation.

Nashville Fashion Week is founded and directed by a collaboration of fashion, retail and media professionals who have combined their passion and resources to create an all-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.

APPLY FOR THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is now seeking applicants and nominations for the 2017 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 can be found at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. 

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. Previous recipients include fashion photographer Brett Warren, clothing designers Eric Bornhop, Julianna Bass and Lauren Leonard, accessory designer Ceri Hoover, and Elise Joseph, creative brand consultant, art director and founder of Pennyweight. 

Applications must arrive at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s office at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue by 4:30 p.m. CST on November 13, 2017. The award recipient is selected by a committee of the Board of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and will be notified in January 2018.

EMERGING DESIGNER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Nashville Fashion Week seeks emerging designers to spotlight during the 2018 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 2018. 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 13, 2017. Nominations are being accepted through October 30. Emerging Designers will be notified in December 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 3-7, 2018.

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 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 exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect their intentions and goals. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit CFMT.org.

ABOUT OZ ARTS NASHVILLE

Since opening in 2014, OZ Arts Nashville, a 501(c)(3) contemporary arts center, has changed the cultural landscape of the city. Housed in the former C.A.O. cigar warehouse owned by Nashville’s Ozgener family, OZ Arts Nashville, under the artistic leadership of Lauren Snelling, brings world-class performances and art installations to the city, and gives ambitious local artists opportunities to work on a grand scale. The flexible 10,000 square-foot, column-free venue, nestled amidst five acres of artfully landscaped grounds, is continually reconfigured to serve artists’ imaginations, and to challenge and inspire a diverse range of curious audiences. OZ Arts Nashville performances are supported in part by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and Tennessee Arts Commission.

For more information, please visit OZArtsNashville.org.

Nashville Fashion Week Presents The 2017 Fashion Forward Awards at The Fourth Annual Fashion Forward Gala

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK PRESENTS THE 2017 FASHION FORWARD AWARDS AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL FASHION FORWARD GALA

Nashville Fashion Week ended year seven with the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala and presentation of the Fashion Forward Awards at Track One on Saturday, April 8. The 2017 Gala, co-chaired by Kimberly Lewis and Gen Sohr, was created to celebrate and support the resolute, entrepreneurial spirit of the Nashville fashion community following the week-long festivities and that it did!

AmosEvents created a dreamy indoor garden party with 2016 NFF recipient Brett Warren’s larger than life fashion photographs centerstage. Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention and Visitor's Corp, Natalie Chanin, founder of Alabama Chanin and fashion photographer Brett Warren served as keynote speakers of the gala with Shelly Colvin performing two musical selections for the fashionable sold out crowd. The Nashville Fashion Week co-founders, Connie Cathcart-Richardson, Marcia Masulla and Mike Smith presented the awards with sponsors Margaret Ellis Jewelry, PictureBooth.co and Tito's Handmade Vodka. 

Recipients of the 2017 Nashville Fashion Forward Awards are:

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FASHION FORWARD AWARD | Barrett Ward, FASHIONABLE

Barrett Ward is the founder and CEO of FASHIONABLE, a fashion company with a mission of creating sustainable business opportunities for women. Their products, which include handmade jewelry, premium leather, apparel, and woven goods, are created by women who have overcome extraordinary circumstances, ranging from prostitution to addiction to a lack of opportunity due to poverty. Currently, over 300 women are employed globally because of FASHIONABLE, in areas including Nashville, Ethiopia, Peru, and Mexico.

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NASHVILLE STYLE ICON | Sandra Lipman

Native Nashvillian Sandra Lipman is well known across the community as a tireless advocate for community organizations and non-profits. She has strategized and chaired some of Nashville’s most important charitable events over the years, including the Junior League’s Showhouse, Iroquois Steeplechase, Symphony Fashion Show, the first Power of the Purse luncheon for the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation, the first Frist Gala for the Frist Center, Symphony Ball, Ballet Ball, Cheekwood’s 50th Swan Ball and many more.

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LEGACY AWARD | David & Ellen Levy, Levy’s Clothier

David Levy is fifth generation owner of Levy's, founded in 1855 by his great-great grandfather.  He joined the company in 1977 after the passing of his father, Ralph Z Levy, Sr.  Having grown up in the business, it was only natural that he would lead the company into the 21st century. Levy's has been named continuously to the Gold Standard list of outstanding men's specialty stores since 2001 and been a presenting sponsor of NFW since 2011.

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RISING STAR | Renae Currey | Lucy Pop Salon

Sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Renae is a Nashville native and a professional hair and makeup artistwith a special emphasis on translating fashion and runway beauty trends into wearable hair and make up looks for clients in the salon. She started Lucy Pop Salon in 2010, where she continues to work with clients and lead a staff of 18. Her freelance work has been featured in publications like Porter Magazine, Nylon Magazine, and Teen Vogue, and she is an educator for the fashion focused, luxury hair care brand, Kevin Murphy.

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POINT OF VIEW AWARD | Cassie Kelley

Sponsored by PictureBooth.co

Cassie founded her personal blog Womanista.com in 2012 as a way to connect with and empower women while on the road touring with her husband Charles Kelley from Lady Antebellum. Womanista expanded as a media lifestyle brand in 2015 with contributing writers and bloggers and now has over 7 million unique registered users.

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FACE OF FASHION | Renee Peters 

Sponsored by Margaret Ellis Jewelry

Renee Peters grew up in Nashville, but is now living and working in New York City as a Wilhelmina model and an advocate of sustainable living. She strives to be a role model in all that she does, using her platform for positive change. Her blog Model4GreenLiving seeks to reshape the way people think about environmental issues and to show that it’s cool to care. She uses her social media to send a message of self-love and body-positivity and to encourage mindful, sustainable living. Renee volunteers, is an environmental activist, as well as a budding philanthropist in her free time.

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View photographs from the Gala as well as runway shots, back of house sneek peeks and party pics from throughout the week at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala To Celebrate Nashville’s Creative Community On Closing Night of Nashville Fashion Week

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala To Celebrate Nashville’s Creative Community On Closing Night of Nashville Fashion Week

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and co-chairs Kimberly Lewis and Gen Sohr invite you to celebrate and support the entrepreneurial spirit of Nashville’s creative arts and fashion community at the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala on Saturday, April 8 at Track One in the burgeoning Wedgehood Houston area. The Fashion Forward Gala is the culmination of Nashville Fashion Week’s five day celebration featuring local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the city. The Gala will be designed and coordinated by AmosEvents.

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce that Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, will speak to the importance of the arts and creativity as a cornerstone of the Nashville economy. Natalie Chanin, founder and creative director of Alabama Chanin, will be the guest speaker for the evening followed by a musical performance by singer-songwriter Shelly Colvin. 

“I am honored to be included in this event. Fashion has become the next step in the creative “thread” that speaks to Nashville’s unique and authentic offerings,” Spyridon said.

Nashville Fashion Week will present its third Nashville Fashion Forward Awards at the Fashion Forward Gala to recognize community leaders that have made an impact on the Nashville fashion industry. Sandra Lipman is the 2017 Nashville Style Icon. Awards will also be presented for the Fashion Forward, Legacy, Face of Fashion (sponsored by Picture Booth), Rising Star (sponsored by The Mall at Green Hills) and Point of View (sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka) recipients at the event. 

“All of us at Alabama Chanin are so honored and excited to be participating in Nashville Fashion Week. It has been wonderful watching the industry unfold, connect creative individuals, and flourish in our communities. It has only just begun,” says Chanin.

In 2013, Chanin won the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge, an award competition that identifies and celebrates the greatest American designers working in the realm of sustainable fashion. Chanin continues to learn and to teach craft traditions, using them to bridge generational, economic, and cultural gaps. Steluta will host an Alabama Chanin Lifestyle Pop Up Show featuring collection pieces and home goods curated by Alabama Chanin on April 1-9 in their East Nashville boutique. 

“Nashville Fashion Week has grown to have a significant impact on young designers, and the industry as a whole is paying attention. It’s an honor to sit on their advisory council during this exciting time, and I’m especially thrilled to perform at this year’s gala, where my friend Natalie Chanin will be speaking,” Colvin says.

Colvin has written and recorded two full-length albums, and collaborated with numerous artists on stage and off including John Prine and The Black Crowes. Shelly is featured in the critically acclaimed music documentary Heartburn Highways Revisited and has performed at many festivals and historical venues including Bonnaroo, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Stagecoach, Lincoln Center and was most recently a featured artist at Dylan Fest at the Ryman Auditorium.

Individual tickets to the Gala can be purchased for $200, tables of 10 for $2,000, and sponsored tables for $2,500 at NashvilleFashionWeek.com and includes The Gala Late Party. Others can join the festivities following the awards ceremony at 10 p.m. Late Party tickets are $50.

Nashville Fashion Week will be held April 4-8 at unique locations throughout the city. Runway and All Access Passes as well as tickets to individual events are now available in a wide range of prices. 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.