NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2016 ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF RUNWAY DESIGNERS
Tickets on sale now for Nashville's signature fashion event
Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce the first thirteen designers to be featured at unique runway locations throughout the city during year six of the five-day event.
Six Nashville-based designers will present their collections on Wednesday, April 6. Returning NFW favorites Truly Alvarenga, Ashley Balding, Denise Roxen and Amanda Valentine will be joined by new designers Andrew Clancey and Kimberly Parker. Michael Drummond, Danielle Kallmeyer, Francesca Marotta and Afriyie Poku will join Nashville Fashion Week veterans Brooke Atwood, Megan Huntz and Lagi Nadeau from cities coast to coast throughout the rest of the week.
Nashville Fashion Week 2016 will include runway shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights; city-wide shopping events and an artistic accessory installation on Thursday; and end with educational panels and the third annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala on Saturday. More specific event details will be announced soon.
All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, an endowed fund established to support the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities.
Nashville Fashion Wek 2016 will be held April 5-9. All Access Passes and tickets for individual events are on sale now at nashvillefashionweek.com.
TRULY ALVARENGA
Truly Alvarenga Is known best for her beautiful handmade one-of-a-kind garments that are minimalist, uncluttered and refined in their shaping. Truly pays meticulous attention to detail and has attracted an impressive numbers of admirers, who appreciate the craftsmanship as well as the inspired stories behind the one-of-a-kind collections. trulyalvarenga.com
BROOKE ATWOOD
Brooke Atwood received her degree in business at the University of Mississippi and her design degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She grew up sewing with her grandmother and riding horses with her rodeo cowboy father. Although Brooke was raised in the south, she would never call herself a “proper southern girl,” choosing instead to be influenced by abstract art and independent music.
After receiving her degree she opened her own boutique in Mississippi. In 2012 – after selling her acclaimed boutique to pursue her design dream – Brooke launched her namesake brand with a collection of leather tees. brookeatwood.com
ASHLEY BALDING
Ona Rex is the creative endeavor of designer Ashley Balding. It was formed in 2014 with an aim to bring women’s wear to Nashville that is unique, bold, and luxurious. Each piece of the collection is crafted in house with extreme care and attention to detail – whether it’s using custom hand woven textiles, or artfully sculpted accessories. Ona Rex holds its tradition of uniqueness to the highest regard. onarex.com
ANDREW CLANCEY
Any Old Iron was born six years ago in New York as the U.S.'s first ever multi-brand British Mens boutique.
Since its move to Nashville two years ago, owner and designer Andrew Clancey has been working toward his first collection for the brand. Focusing on tailoring with a twist, Clancey and co-owner, Christopher Melton, aim to establish themselves with musicians and fashionista's alike. shopaoi.com
MICHAEL DRUMMOND
Project Runway veteran (season eight) whose client list includes actress Tika Sumpter, New York Fashion Week founder Fern Malis, and supermodel/TV host Heidi Klum. His work has been showcased alongside Alexander McQueen, Viktor and Rolf, Maison Martin Margiela, and Iris van Herpen in the highly recognized "A Queen Within" at the World Chess Hall of Fame.
Drummond has also worked as a costume designer for countless operas, dances, and theatrical productions in the USA and Europe. michaeldrummond.net
MEGAN HUNTZ
Megan Huntz is an American fashion designer based in Atlanta. She founded her slow-fashion collection, Megan Huntz Dresses, in 2010, after spending nearly a decade in Italy and Spain, designing for companies such as Spazio Lazzari of Treviso and the MaxMara group.
Huntz graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Industrial Design and studied fashion at Domus Academy in Milan. meganhuntz.com
DANIELLA KALLMEYER
KALLMEYER New York is a womens wear and accessories brand made in the United States with careful intention and purpose, combining European luxury techniques with contemporary accessibility
KALLMEYER is dedicated to empowering and enabling women to be who she aspires to become; today. Daniella Kallmeyer applies this philosophy to every design and uniquely updated wardrobe staple- a crisp white shirt, a perfectly cut trouser, a sleek bag- with special attention to fabrics and fit. daniellakallmeyer.com
FRANCESCA MAROTTA
Francesca Marotta's designs and creations have won her numerous awards in UK, France Turkey and Italy.
Francesca Marotta has had shows in London, New York, Philadelphia, Istanbul, Syracusa, Los Angeles, Paris, Brussels and Osaka. Her designs have been featured in Harpers, Vogue Italia, Vogue UK, The Financial Times, and many others. Celebrities such as Karrueche Tran, Natasha Bedingfield, Natalie Dormer, Jessie J, Ana Matronic, Skin from Skunk Anansie, Kelly Brook, Irina Lazareanu, Jodie Kidd have worn the label. francescamarotta.com
LAGI NADEAU
The LAGI NADEAU collection blends high-end sophistication with feminine styling. This distinct style is emphasized by the designer's use of luxurious fabrications mixed with interesting detailing. Nadeau creates high quality, authentic pieces made in the USA, for women who have a strong sense of self and style. laginadeau.com
KIMBERLY PARKER
Sisters of Nature is a lifestyle brand for dreamers, adventurers and free spirits. Inspired by the wild beauty of nature with a new bohemian folk aesthetic, each piece embodies the woman who loves to travel the world, soak in life and celebrate her unique individuality.
Designed by Kimberly Parker, the private label is proudly made in the rolling green hills of Nashville, TN. sistersofnatureboutique.com
AFRIYIE POKU
Oberima Afriyie seeks to inspire and provide clothing for Individuals to use to create themselves, while promoting the acceptance of Differences.
OA's first collection, "Kabukimono" derives from the Edo Period of Japan. These individuals were ronin warriors from the Edo period of Japan who strayed away from cultural norms of their time; representing their sense of individuality through various mediums - attire being one of them. oberimaafriyie.com
DENISE ROXEN
It all started with Rock music when Denise Roxen saw the coolest image of a young Keith Richards. Everything he wore clashed so incredibly. When her band went separate ways, Denise knew fashion was her next calling and that she had to transfer her rock vision into clothing.
Roxenstone inspires confidence that goes against the mainstream. Roxenstone is for men that have a little bit of Rock N Roll in their soul. roxenstone.com
AMANDA VALENTINE
Amanda Valentine is a women's ready-to-wear collection created by designer and stylist Amanda Valentine. Amanda competed on Project Runway (Seasons 11 and 13) and has been voted "Nashville's Best Fashion Designer" by readers of the Nashville Scene for the last four years.
While creating collections, Amanda styles wardrobe for numerous rock bands including Twenty One Pilots and infuses her women’s line with edge - and always ease. Bold prints, dramatic color blocking and exaggerated silhouettes make an appearance each collection. amandavalentine.com
ABOUT NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK
Nashville Fashion Week is a city-wide celebration of Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its vast array of creative talent. Featuring local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the week encourages both Nashvillians and visitors to explore the city’s diverse fashion and retail spaces throughout the week with promotions, partnerships and educational workshops. NFW is founded and directed by a collaboration of fashion, retail and media professionals who have combined their passion and resources to create a completely 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.