Tenth NFFF Recipient: Haley Maddox 2022

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES
THE TENTH NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT 

We are excited to announce Haley Maddox, co-owner and designer of MaddLove Bridal as our 2022 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient. A committee from The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee selected Haley from a diverse group of experienced fashion industry applicants based on specific criteria set by the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund co-founders. We will honor and celebrate Haley during our April 2023 festivities.

Haley Maddox has been working in Nashville since 2017 after studying fashion design at The Art Institute of Indianapolis and several internships in the bridal industry. She has worked as a production manager for Olia Zavozina and most recently at Workwear Outfitters where she was involved in fabric development, technical design and merchandising, to gain experience in all areas of the fashion business before pursing her dream of building her own brand.

“I feel so honored to be this year’s recipient of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund. My plan is  to attend the Global Fashion Summit where I will soak up every bit of knowledge about sustainability I can get. I think there is a sense of responsibility for all of us in the fashion industry to understand how we harm our planet. It is important to me that my line uses new awareness and innovation to ensure I remain intentional with my environmental impact. That is why I am so excited for this opportunity to learn and grow!” - Haley Maddox, MaddLove Bridal

Haley has always aspired to have her own line and is in the process of launching MaddLove, a new-age bridal line, in 2023 with Adrienne Love. Adrienne is the owner of The Wedding Studio, the bridal boutique that Haley interned at during college that first sparked her love for the bridal industry. Adrienne currently has four store locations in Indiana and Kentucky with plans to expand to Nashville. What was once a lofty idea between a new bridal boutique owner and her bright-eyed intern is now becoming reality. They are combining the skills of a successful entrepreneur and the industry knowledge of a creative designer to create MaddLove, which is a play on their last names; Maddox and Love. 

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.

“The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award represents an investment in the creative and inspired individuals looking to expand the perspectives that will contribute to their personal growth and the growth of their role in the fashion industry. Haley joins a terrific and ever growing list of talented individuals who’ve put their vision to paper for a compelling experience that inspired the Award selection panel.”  - Amy Fair, Vice President of Donor Services, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Previous Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients include manufacturer Megan Prange, apparel designers Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Eric Bornhop, Lauren Leonard Phelps and Julianna Bass; 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.

Introducing The AMAX + NFW Model Search 2022 Winners

Brittany Meadows, Ella Moyer, John Calado, Deundra Britton, Teanna Gilliam, Abby Hunt, Trey Lane, Maya Bennett, Isaac DaSilva and Riley Wilson (3 Rows L to R). Photographed by Jessica Amerson at Sonder Nashville with hair & makeup by Katie Galliher | AMAX Creative.

Congratulations to all ten of the AMAX + Nashville Fashion Week Model Search 2022 winners! The AMAX Talent + NFW Model Search has been a launchpad for successful modeling careers since its inception in 2012. In 2022, for the first time in its ten year history, ten winners were selected from hundreds of applications submitted by aspiring models of all sizes and genders, age 16+. Thirty finalists were invited to meet with AMAX model scouts at an in-person casting prior to the final selection for this coveted opportunity. All ten winners, ages 16 - 40, will receive a modeling contract and development resources from AMAX Talent, including a professional photo shoot with Jessica Amerson at Sonder Nashville.

We look forward to seeing this emerging talent on future NFW runways!

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. 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.

MAGIC Nashville

Leading fashion trade event MAGIC is Music City bound with a round up retailers won’t want to miss!

The highly anticipated debut of MAGIC Nashville is almost here, bringing an exclusively curated assortment of women’s trend, young contemporary, modern sportswear, footwear, accessories, and home, gift & beauty brands to shop May 16-17 at the Music City Center. See what’s in store, from brands and designers to education and entertainment, it’s all here as you explore the full MAGIC Nashville lineup.

Bringing a preview of MAGIC into a new, and emerging market, MAGIC Nashville showcases a curated assortment of brands and products at price points from accessible to moderate with top selling categories including women’s sportswear, young contemporary, and trend apparel, as well as footwear, accessories brands. Delivering the experience MAGIC is known for with a Nashville twist, new and influential retailers – from boutique and specialty stores to big box, online, and key regional retailers - explore the latest trends, discover margin-building products, and connect with a new community of established and emerging players. All local retailer buyers are encouraged to attend!

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REMINDER: THE AMAX + NFW 2022 MODEL SEARCH APPLICATION IS OPEN TO ASPIRING MODELS OF ALL SIZES, GENDERS AND AGES 16+ THROUGH JUNE 3

The AMAX + NFW 2022 Model Search is open to all aspiring models to apply for a coveted opportunity through June 3. For the first time since the launch of this partnership in 2012, AMAX Talent will choose ten winners from all sizes and genders who are age 16 +.

Model Search finalists selected by AMAX Talent will have an opportunity to meet with their model scouts at a live casting in June. All ten of the selected winners will receive a modeling contract and development resources with AMAX Talent.

Applications will be accepted at NashvilleFashionWeek.com through June 3. No experience is required. Only models NOT represented by other agencies are eligible to participate. Please direct all Model Search inquiries regarding applications, logistics and more to ModelSearch2022@AMAXTalent.com.

Nashville Fashion is Moving Forward

BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM:
NASHVILLE FASHION IS MOVING FORWARD

It's been a very productive few weeks. Last week, Nashville Fashion Week hosted and collaborated with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) President, CaSandra Diggs and CFDA Connects Consulting Director Elliot Carlyle to align and build the foundation for a viable fashion industry ecosystem in Middle Tennessee.

Nashville Fashion Week has invested over $1.4 million into Nashville's fashion community over the past twelve years. This was accomplished with the heart and hustle of an all-volunteer led and run organization that has relied solely on sponsors and ticket sales to produce events and activations while providing experiential opportunities to nine Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Fashion is one of the most influential drivers of culture, a beloved art and entertainment form, but we have not taken advantage of the fact that it is also one of the largest economic forces in the world. Now is the time for Nashville to change that.

The Nashville Fashion Week team, including new Nashville Fashion Forward leadership team member David Fischette of Go West Creative, invited and met with a curated group of community leaders, elected officials and organizations at W Nashville on Wednesday, May 4. The focus of the event was to present a proposed new direction for Nashville Fashion Week and to lobby for the Nashville fashion industry securing resources and financial support to build the foundation for a fashion industry ecosystem.

The following community and industry leaders attended the event with commitments to continue the conversation on how to support moving Nashville fashion forward. The individuals highlighted below in pink made statements to the group in support of the mission of moving Nashville fashion forward:

Office of Mayor John Cooper
- Courtney Pogue - Director of Economic & Community Development
- Mrs. Laura Fitzgerald-Cooper

Metro Nashville Council Members
- Kyonzte Toombs, District 2
- Jeff Syracuse, District 15
- Freddie O’Connell, District 19
- Joy Styles, District 32

Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation
- Heather Middleton, SR Vice President Of Marketing

Nashville Chamber of Commerce
- Hannah Holmes, Manager of Member Value
- Victoria Quigley, Director of Small Business Growth

Supermodel, Entrepreneur, Artist, & Activist
- Karen Elson
- Bonnie Dee Bowden - Karen Elson, Inc.

Launch TN
- Ashley Currie, Marketing & Communications Director

BrainTrust
- Sherry Deutschmann, Founder & CEO

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
- Amy Fair, Vice President of Donor Services

OJAS Partners
- Lizzy LeBleu, Real Estate Advisor

oneC1TY
- Caitlin Arnold, Marketing & Development

Middle Tennessee State University
- Rick Cottle, Associate Professor of Fashion & Apparel
- David Foster, Director of Marketing & Communications

Vanderbilt University
Deanna Meador, Director of Entrepreneurship, Wond’ry - Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center

Go West Creative
- David Fischette, CEO & Chief Creative

Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Recipients
- Megan Prange, Prange Apparel (2019)
- Maria Silver, Black by Maria Silver (2017)

Nashville Lifestyles
- Alison Abbey, Editor In Chief
- Brian Barry, Publisher

Tennessean
- Sherah Ndjongo - Business Reporter

In addition, both Kelly Helfman, Commercial President of Informa Markets Fashion - Organizers of MAGIC, and Fern Mallis, the creator and founder of New York Fashion Week and long-time Nashville Fashion Week advisor, shared their support through written statements. MAGIC Fashion Events also made a significant monetary contribution to support the vision of moving Nashville fashion forward. The gathering was a pivotal moment for the future of Nashville Fashion Week and for Nashville's fashion industry. Followup meetings and planning are in the works. The Nashville Fashion Week email list will receive updates as progress ensues.

View photos from the Meeting HERE.

The conversation was continued at an in-person fundraising event and live stream recording of Moving Fashion Forward - A Conversation with NFW + CFDA featuring CFDA President, CaSandra Diggs and NFW Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Marcia Masulla on Thursday, May 5. The interactive and engaging program included a dynamic customized Nashville Fashion Week branded set with high-level professional production presented in partnership with Go West Creative. Guests also enjoyed savory bites from The Pink Hermit of The Hermitage Hotel and refreshments from Tito's Handmade Vodka and Love & Exile Wines while they mingled prior to the recorded conversation.

Screen the conversation from your laptop or mobile device at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

View photos from the Conversation HERE.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback as we plan to make an impact for the future of fashion in Nashville together. Stay tuned! #WHYNFW

Live Stream: A Conversation on Moving Fashion Forward

Today is the day! Please join us tonight for the live stream of Moving Fashion Forward - A Conversation with NFW + CFDA at 6:40 p.m. CST featuring CFDA President, CaSandra Diggs and NFW Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Marcia Masulla.

This engaging program, presented in partnership with Go West Creative, will focus on the next steps in building a viable fashion industry ecosystem in Middle Tennessee and beyond. It will also be available to watch on the Nashville Fashion Week Facebook page (CLICK HERE) and recorded to watch on our website post event.

CaSandra Diggs is an innovative thinker with a strong understanding of organizational and business operations. CaSandra is a veteran to the organization and fashion industry, having joined the CFDA in 2001. She served as CFDA’s Chief Administrative and Financial Officer before being named CFDA President in 2020. As President, she is charged with developing strategy and making decisions that further the CFDA’s purpose to champion, educate, and support its membership and the fashion industry-at-large.

"Nashville is an amazing cultural destination that lends itself to the equitable, sustainable, and commercial tenants of fashion. The community is poised for building a thriving fashion economy that creates opportunities for both entrepreneurs and professionals who desire to be a part of an enormously creative and innovative industry. CFDA with its Connects, regional program, is excited to join with Nashville Fashion Week and support its fashionable evolution to business trade leader. " - CaSandra Diggs, President, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962, whose membership consists of 477 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers. The mission of the CFDA is to strengthen the impact of American fashion in the global economy. Nashville Fashion Week was selected in 2021 by the CFDA as one of twelve regional organizations nationwide that were invited to join and benefit from their new CFDA Connects initiative.

It's not too late to join us tonight for the networking mixer and live-recording of Moving Fashion Forward - A Conversation with NFW + CFDA from 6 - 8 p.m. at The Studio Collection at Go West, 528 Rundle Avenue.

The conversation will be followed by a Q & A opportunity for audience members to participate. Only a few $30 tickets remain. Proceeds will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Light bites will be provided by The Pink Hermit at The Hermitage Hotel with refreshments from Tito's Handmade Vodka and Love & Exile.

We look forward to seeing you there!