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Portland designers make fashion week sustainable
The only fashion week in the Northwest is also the greenest
by Lindsay Funston | Freelance Reporter |
Each September, fashion insiders begin the twice-annual extravaganza of wooing the world's top designers' collections for spring, known as fall fashion week.
The fashion-obsessed flock to New York, London, Milan and Paris to exclusively eye the next season's dress code.
But this fall, a modest city once unknown for a worthwhile style scene, has attracted international design talent and press as the globe's "greenest" fashion week.
The only fashion week in the Pacific Northwest, Portland Fashion Week began in 2003 but this year has undergone a serious makeover.
The event's execs hope the city's reputation of sustainable-friendly living coupled with the event's promotion of eco-couture will foster magnetism after a few so-so years.
"It is our sincere hope to expand the sustainability aspect within art, culture and fashion, bringing (sustainability) to the forefront of Northwest fashion," said Tod FoulkCQ, Portland Fashion Week co-executive producer, who uses his design roots to coordinate the week's events and, of course, spot emerging design talent. "The art and culture scene has burgeoned here due to our 'cool and hip' reputation."
And that may aptly describe Portland's recent style evolution. Since Portland Fashion Week's inception in 2003, more designers have blossomed, boutiques dotting the local shopping boulevards of NW 23rd Street, Hawthorne Boulevard and Alberta Street have flourished, and the city has now officially entered the arena of global fashion potential.
"Fashion is captivating to everybody," said Portland Fashion Week co-exec Tito Chowdhury, who describes the Portland fashion scene as 'thriving.' "It's the most effective way to bring attention to the city - its livability, its creativity, its energy, its sensibility."
Even Italy, the country home to brands Prada, Dolce e Gabbana, Fendi and Gucci, has taken notice of Portland Fashion Week. Book Moda, the Italian fashion bible that interprets and reports trends straight from the "catwalks of the world," featured a one-page Portland fashion week spread in its August haute couture issue. The article reads: "(Portland) moves and is growing day by day, thanks to a new generation that enlivens all fields of creativity, art, music, architecture, photography and…fashion."
The fashion-obsessed flock to New York, London, Milan and Paris to exclusively eye the next season's dress code.
But this fall, a modest city once unknown for a worthwhile style scene, has attracted international design talent and press as the globe's "greenest" fashion week.
The only fashion week in the Pacific Northwest, Portland Fashion Week began in 2003 but this year has undergone a serious makeover.
The event's execs hope the city's reputation of sustainable-friendly living coupled with the event's promotion of eco-couture will foster magnetism after a few so-so years.
"It is our sincere hope to expand the sustainability aspect within art, culture and fashion, bringing (sustainability) to the forefront of Northwest fashion," said Tod FoulkCQ, Portland Fashion Week co-executive producer, who uses his design roots to coordinate the week's events and, of course, spot emerging design talent. "The art and culture scene has burgeoned here due to our 'cool and hip' reputation."
And that may aptly describe Portland's recent style evolution. Since Portland Fashion Week's inception in 2003, more designers have blossomed, boutiques dotting the local shopping boulevards of NW 23rd Street, Hawthorne Boulevard and Alberta Street have flourished, and the city has now officially entered the arena of global fashion potential.
"Fashion is captivating to everybody," said Portland Fashion Week co-exec Tito Chowdhury, who describes the Portland fashion scene as 'thriving.' "It's the most effective way to bring attention to the city - its livability, its creativity, its energy, its sensibility."
Even Italy, the country home to brands Prada, Dolce e Gabbana, Fendi and Gucci, has taken notice of Portland Fashion Week. Book Moda, the Italian fashion bible that interprets and reports trends straight from the "catwalks of the world," featured a one-page Portland fashion week spread in its August haute couture issue. The article reads: "(Portland) moves and is growing day by day, thanks to a new generation that enlivens all fields of creativity, art, music, architecture, photography and…fashion."
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Tod
posted 9/19/07 @ 12:25 AM PST
Blessings Lindsay!
Portland Fashion Week invites all so inclined to attend the shows and lend support for the fashion and sustainable communities. And wait till you taste the organic n. (Continued…)
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