A Conversation with Joseph Altuzarra & Pop-Up Shopping Experience at The Hermitage Hotel - CANCELLED

Nashville Fashion Week and The Hermitage Hotel Present 
A Conversation with Joseph Altuzarra and Pop-Up Shopping Experience  | October 22 and 23 at The Hermitage Hotel

"I am so honored to be able to participate in Nashville Fashion Week and have the opportunity to connect with the fashion community in Nashville. I believe that fashion is a universal language that brings people together and I am excited to be a part of an event that fosters collaboration and celebrates creativity." 
- Joseph Altuzarra

Join Nashville Fashion Week for an engaging conversation with globally recognized designer/creative director Joseph Altuzarra. Founded in 2008, Altuzarra is a luxury women's ready-to- wear and accessories brand.

Joseph's seductive aesthetic combines modernity, femininity, and an unapologetic sexiness. Anchored in artisanal craftsmanship, and a curiosity about the world, the collection is informed by Joseph's own multicultural background and upbringing. The Altuzarra brand speaks to the power, fearlessness and sensuality of the modern woman’s wardrobe.

Joseph Altuzarra is a luxury womenswear designer and is widely recognized as one of the most talented and lasting of his generation.

Born in 1983, Joseph was raised in Paris by a Chinese-American mother and French father. His multicultural upbringing and avid interest in different facets of culture–ranging from film to literature to craft–are key influences throughout his work.

Since the launch of Altuzarra in 2008, Joseph has received numerous accolades for his work, from inclusion in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Business of Fashion’s BoF500 to the Swarovski Award for Womenswear Design.

Joseph is currently a 2023 nominee for American Womenswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers America (CFDA). He was previously named the Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2014 and the Accessories Council’s Designer of the Year in 2017 by the CFDA.

“Nashville Fashion Week is thrilled to host Joseph and his team for the first time in Nashville,” said Marcia Masulla, NFW Co-Founder | Managing Director. “We have long been enamored with his sophisticated and modern design with timeless uncompromising artisanal craftsmanship. I personally have always felt a deep connection to Joseph for our shared multicultural background and upbringing." - Marcia Masulla, NFW Co-Founder | Managing Director

Sunday, October 22
4pm - VIP Meet + Greet, Photo Opportunity with Joseph Altuzarra, First preview of Altuzarra collection 
5:00 pm - General Admission Mixer 
5:45 pm - A Conversation with Joseph Altuzarra
7:00- 8:00 pm - Shop with Joseph at Altuzarra Pop-Up Shop

VIP Tickets $100
Includes: VIP Meet & Greet with Joseph with a Photo, preview of the Collection and Shop with Joseph at Altuzarra Pop-Up Shop, one drink ticket, A Conversation With Joseph Altuzarra

General Admission Tickets  $50 
Includes: General Admission Mixer, Cash Bar, A Conversation with Joseph Altuzarra, Shop with Joseph at Altuzarra Pop-Up Shop

Monday, October 23 
9:00 am - 4:00 pm - Pop-Up Shop + Appointments all-day
Please email brandon@altuzarra.com to schedule your appointment for Monday, October 23.

Valet Parking is available for a reduced rate of $25. Street and additional parking is available. 
Rideshare is always encouraged.  

A limited number of tickets are available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Ticket proceeds and 15% of sales during both days of the Altuzarra Pop-Up Shop will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

We are proud to partner and have Dee Patel, Managing Director of The Hermitage Hotel, co-host this engaging event.

“We’re thrilled to welcome fashion visionary Joseph Altuzarra to The Hermitage Hotel for an intimate and elegant shopping experience,” said Dee Patel, Managing Director, The Hermitage Hotel. “Our hotel has long been recognized as Nashville’s premier gathering place for creative and artistic leaders. We’re delighted to host this event, which will not only showcase selections from Joseph’s globally celebrated collection, but also will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund to support emerging fashion in our city.”

Since opening as Nashville’s original million-dollar hotel in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel has long been known as the top hotel in Tennessee and one of the premier hotels in the country. The tradition of excellence that began that day has remained vibrant and alive throughout the years, being named the first and only five-star hotel in the state. As such, the hotel has received a compelling collection of accolades and honors, and has been ranked highly by the nation’s top travel publications.

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Join Nashville Fashion Week this Saturday, September 30 at The Belcourt to view INVISIBLE BEAUTY at 1:00 p.m. followed by a post-screening discussion in collaboration with us featuring stylist Bentley Caldwell, model and photographer Charika White, hair and makeup artist Sherita Leslie and fashion entrepreneur/retailer Keith Fulton of the Trenches Gallery, moderated by Nashville Fashion Week co-founder and managing director Marcia Masulla. 

Fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison looks back on her journey as a pioneering black model, modeling agent and activist, shining a light on an untold chapter in the fight for racial diversity. From walking runway shows alongside Iman to discovering supermodels like Tyson Beckford and mentoring icons like Naomi Campbell, Hardison has been at the epicenter of major representational shifts in fashion. INVISIBLE BEAUTY stands as an absorbing record of Hardison’s accomplishments and a rare contemplation on the life of a radical thinker. 

Tickets to this limited seated event are $12 at Belcourt.org.

NFW Day Party

NFW TO MAKE BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS & CELEBRATE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS AT 1 HOTEL NASHVILLE

Last week's Electric Runway was ELECTRIC in every way! Nashville Fashion Week’s momentum of embracing that "Fashion Is More Than A Week" continues on Sunday, April 30. Join us at Harriet's Rooftop for the NFW Day Party from 12 – 2 p.m. at 1 Hotel Nashville, 710 Demonbreun Street.

Meet, mingle, sip and shop the pop-ups of Astrid & Aurora, Black Sheep Goods, Her Personal Style Vintage and The Luxury Label Nashville. These Nashville brands are recognized for their sustainable and ethical business practices. NFW Day Party attendees can meet the owners and shop their wares during this event.

Guests will be among the first to hear major NFW announcements for fall and meet Haley Maddox, our tenth Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient. 

Attendees will also enjoy a complimentary signature Woodford Reserve bourbon or Herradura tequila cocktail with delicious veggie rolls and hot chicken bao buns from Harriet's. Nashville Smile Bar will capture the moment while DJ LA FORCE of QDP is sure to keep things lively. All proceeds from the NFW Day Party will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Tickets to the NFW Day Party are $30. A limited number of tickets are on sale now at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing a financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities to assist in career advancement within the fashion industry with proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week each year. Previous recipients include Megan Prange, Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Brett Warren, Eric Adler, Ceri Hoover, Elise Joseph, Lauren Leonard and Julianna Bass.

1 Hotel Nashville opened in July 2022 as the first mission-driven luxury hotel in Downtown Nashville. Nestled in the heart of downtown Nashville, directly across from the Music City Center and within walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the property’s 215 rooms, including 61 suites with expansive city and skyline views, offer a level of service and comfort unrivaled in the region. A verdant ivy-covered façade and native landscaping evoke nearby natural attractions, from the bustle of the Cumberland River to the Smoky Mountains and the Natchez Trace. The urban retreat also includes 6,000 square feet of sustainable luxury meeting and event spaces as well as three distinct food & beverage outlets: 1 Kitchen, a sustainably sourced farm-to-table restaurant by Culinary Director and Top Chef alum Chris Crary; Harriet’s Rooftop, en elevated nightlife venue; and Neighbors, a café offering seasonal, fresh, picnic-fare showcasing ingredients from local purveyors. To recharge the mind, body, and spirit, guests can enjoy specially crafted treatments at Bamford Wellness Spa and Anatomy fitness center. For more information, please visit 1Hotels.com/Nashville. 

Woodford Reserve is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, tucked in the heart of thoroughbred country in Versailles, Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark, the Woodford Reserve Distillery represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern practices. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a premier producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands including Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, Sonoma-Cutrer and Chambord. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us woodfordreserve.com or check us out on Facebook. 

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.

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

NFW + CFDA at Go West Creative

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN NFW + CFDA
ON THURSDAY, MAY 5 AT THE STUDIO COLLECTION AT GO WEST

Nashville Fashion Week is hosting and collaborating with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) next week. Both organizations are aligning to meet with community leaders and organizations at the W Nashville with the focus on taking the vital next steps in building a viable fashion industry ecosystem in Middle Tennessee.

Nestled in Nashville’s vibrant Gulch neighborhood, W Nashville, is a destination within a destination where global guests are immersed in a locally-charged cultural scene celebrating music, art, design and craftsmanship. Featuring 346 rooms, 60 suites and over 26,000 square feet of outdoor space, W Nashville offers six street access venues including the Barista Parlor coffee shop, and The Dutch and Carne Mare restaurants from award-winning Chef Andrew Carmellini. W Nashville’s striking Proof rooftop bar, sophisticated and moody Living Room bar, and 10,000 square foot WET Deck featuring the largest hotel pool area in the city provide a day-to-night experience for guests and locals alike to explore.

A special fundraising engagement will also be hosted on Thursday, May 5 from 6 - 8 p.m. at The Studio Collection at Go West, 528 Rundle Avenue. A limited number of tickets are available to attend the networking mixer and live-recording of Moving Fashion Forward - A Conversation with NFW + CFDA featuring CFDA President, CaSandra Diggs and NFW Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Marcia Masulla.  

This engaging evening is presented in partnership with Go West Creative and will also be live-streamed and recorded. For anyone who plans to join virtually, a livestream link will be provided. The conversation will be followed by a Q & A opportunity for audience members to participate. Only fifty tickets are available for this event. Proceeds will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

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, Inc.

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. 

Tickets for this fundraising event are available now for $30 at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Direct donations to benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee are also accepted on our website.

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

“On behalf of The Pink Hermit, and The Hermitage Hotel, we are so thrilled to participate in Nashville Fashion Week this year. This past month has been an exciting one, as we have welcomed our guests and the Nashville community to the chic, all-day café by Jean-Georges. We are looking forward to catering the event and hope that all attendees feel the warm welcome that The Pink Hermit brings to the neighborhood.”  - Kelsi Armijo, Hermitage Hotel Executive Chef

This past March, The Hermitage Hotel officially opened their latest restaurant, The Pink Hermit, a new café by the hotel’s culinary collaborator, Michelin-Starred Chef, and internationally celebrated Restauranteur Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which complements Drusie & Darr, the hotel’s new flagship restaurant. The interior was created by award-winning interior designer Thomas Juul-Hansen. The Pink Hermit’s name is derived from the definition of hermitage as a “secluded retreat,” and the intimate space, clad in pale pink and gray marble, welcomes guests with casual counter seating indoors and outdoor café seating in the warm weather. Evolving throughout the course of the day, The Pink Hermit serves as a café with barista bar and delectable pastries in the morning, a casual take-away for lunch, and small bites, Champagne and handcrafted cocktails in the evening. Overseen by The Hermitage Hotel’s Executive Chef, Kelsi Armijo, the menu features Jean-Georges’ classics such as Chia Seed Pudding, Roasted Beet Greek Salad, Egg Toast with Caviar Herbs, and Charcuterie Board, alongside fan favorites from the Drusie & Darr dinner menu, including Black Truffle Pizza, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Crispy Sushi, Salted Caramel Sundae and other decadent desserts. 

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Go West Creative is a team of explorers bringing brand visions to life through strategic creative thinking, clear messaging, distinctive design, and unparalleled live, virtual + hybrid experiences. They offer comprehensive services from stunning stage designs, immersive lighting displays, and crisp, clear, impressive audio visual which are all part of our full production services. Going even further, our branded experiences, communication and entertainment strategies, talent sourcing and VIP concierge services enable them to deliver a turn-key solution for our clients.

“The very first project that I worked on when I landed in Nashville eight years ago was a fashion show. I have been intrigued by the community and have also wondered, on many occasions, why it was not as big as NY and LA… there is so much creativity in our town. So I have become a huge fan of the work that Marcia and Connie have been doing and I’m excited that we can partner with them next week as we host the CFDA in our studios.”
- David Fischette, CEO and Chief Creative, Go West Creative Group

Go West Creative is a boutique agency that specializes in ideating, designing and producing high-touch, engaging, unique events. For their team, it’s about developing long-standing partnerships with their clients and having no limitations in how they serve them. At times, it may be a brand activation in a public setting or a corporate broadcast, or it might be a large, complex event experience. Their foundation is their strength and the rest is all in their approach.