NFW to Present 15 Middle Tennessee Designers Through New CFDA Connects Program

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2021 TO PRESENT FIFTEEN MIDDLE TENNESSEE DESIGNERS THROUGH NEW CFDA CONNECTS PROGRAM

Over the last eighteen months, we've been reminded about what truly matters and have been heartened by moments in everyday acts of humanity and resilience. Unfortunately, COVID-19 still has ongoing effects in our community and beyond, so we have yet again reimagined how to best serve our fashion community during these challenging times.

NOW IS THE TIME TO IMAGINE. WILL YOU JOIN US?

Since our inception in 2011, Nashville Fashion Week has been hosted in the spring, but this fall an updated version will take place October 12 -16. Our fall lineup is designed to safely explore, test and shape the future of Nashville fashion in a meaningful way through strategic partnerships and collaborations with both local and global industry leaders. We look forward to connecting with our community again for a diverse schedule of digital and live programming that is designed to showcase and inspire our fashion community. 

Nashville Fashion Week is thrilled to share more details about our new membership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Nashville Fashion Week was selected as one of twelve regional organizations nationwide that were invited to join and benefit from the new CFDA Connects initiative. CFDA Connects is a programming network in support of regional fashion weeks and organizations through promotion, business support, resources and member privileges. The CFDA infrastructure centers around programming, education and webinars and will work closely with NFW to help develop and provide opportunities to designers from Middle Tennessee.The Connects membership access exists to influentially amplify our NFW mission, expand our reach, increase awareness, and strengthen our city's connection to the pulse of business, commerce, media and trade in the American fashion industry and globally.

"CFDA Connects was created to skill share and connect domestic markets and global fashion industries through CFDA resources including professional and business development and education, trade events, supply chain and local manufacturing, social impact and sustainability" said Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA. “ As a part of CFDA Connects, Nashville Fashion Week designers will tap into the worldwide reach of RUNWAY360 to connect directly with tens of thousands of journalists, retailers, influencers and consumers through this game changing platform."

Designers who previously applied and were selected to present their collections at NFW 2020 were invited to participate in NFW 2021. Fifteen Middle Tennessee designers now have the opportunity to participate in an innovative way as they present their collections and brands to a global audience.

Each designer will present their brands and looks on the CFDA’s Runway360 digital programming platform. This access will include streaming their runway presentations, lookbook and e-commerce capabilities. The runway presentations will be professionally filmed in advance at OZ Arts Nashville by Middle Tennessee State University’s Marketing and Communications team with production design by Bright Events Productions. Nashville Fashion Week would not be able to produce these events and activate programming without these vital partners.

The following designers are participating in NFW 2021. Designer bios can be previewed HERE. 

• Amanda Valentine

• Any Old Iron

• Article X

• Black by Maria Silver

• Eileen Kelly

• Emily Phillips

• Erica Knicely

• H. Lane Design

• Ken Drama

• Laura Citron

• Lily Guilder Design

• Ola Mai

• Rank & Sugar

• The Morgan Factory

• Truly Alvarenga

The full schedule of fall events and detailed ticketing information will be announced over the next few weeks. A limited number of VIP Passes will go on sale next week. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Applications for volunteers, photographers and Shop Nashville vendors are now being accepted under the APPLICATION link at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. 

While we are excited to gather both digitally and in person for NFW 2021, the health and safety of our guests, participants and team remains our top priority. A full COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend or participate in any Nashville Fashion Week 2021 event.

NFW strongly encourages vaccination. The last day to receive the second shot of Moderna or Pfizer or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson prior to our October events is September 27th. For anyone that is not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 72 hours of attending any event. NFW requires that anyone unvaccinated must wear a mask at all times. This protocol is based on current CDC standards. Any changes to these procedures will be communicated prior to each event.

COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available to all Tennesseans 12+ in all 95 counties across our state. Find a location close to you at VaccineFinder.org to insure that you’ve done your part to keep NFW 2021 and our community safe for everyone. 

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 theweek 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. For detailed information, please visit NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

NFW Digital "Fashion Talks" & Learning Labs

Please join us August 4 - 8 for the Nashville Fashion Week Digital Experience. Nashville Fashion Week Fashion Talks and Learning Labs are educational opportunities that provide a platform to engage, learn and connect experientially within the Nashville community. Each attendee that signs in to any of these digital events will be entered into a drawing for two All Access Passes ($800 value) to NFW 2021! 

FREE tickets for Fashion Talks and all three Learning Labs are NOW available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. We also encourage you to please consider making a donation to the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to help support our Nashville fashion community.

DIGITAL "FASHION TALKS": DIVERSITY + INCLUSION

MODERATED BY FERN MALLIS WITH TANYA TAYLOR, TIMO WEILAND, PETER SOM, KIMBERLY LEWIS AND BARRY GRIDER

TUESDAY, August 4 | 12:00 p.m. CST

Admission: FREE with ticket reservation

This engaging conversation will be moderated by Fern Mallis, the award-winning creator of New York Fashion Week. A panel of industry leaders - Tanya Taylor, Timo Weiland and Peter Som with Kimberly Lewis, owner of Emerson Grace and Nordstrom Nashville's Chanel Ready-to-Wear Brand Ambassador, Barry Grider - will share their insight on this vital shift in the fashion industry and beyond.

Fern Mallis has been called an industry titan, doyenne, and The Godmother of Fashion. As the creator and host of premiere conversation series Fashion Icons w/Fern Mallis at New York’s prestigious 92nd Street Y, Mallis assembled an incredible roster of guests for her now signature in-depth interviews, including Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, André Leon Talley, Bruce Weber, Bill Cunningham, Valentino, Victoria Beckham, Rosita and Angela Missoni, Alexander Wang, Russell Westbrook, Bob Mackie, and Billy Porter; to name just a few. Her book, published by Rizzoli, Fashion Lives: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis, is a must read of her first 19 interviews. Stay tuned for Volume 2 coming hopefully in 2021. 

Mallis also created and hosted her own radio show, Fashion Insiders w/Fern Mallis on Sirius XM, During which time she interviewed over 400 industry personalities, celebrities, and professionals. In January 2012, she made her theatre stage debut in the Off-Broadway production of Nora & Delia Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Mallis also created her own globally inspired FERN FINDS: jewelry, clothing and accessories line for QVC and HSN.

Tanya Taylor started her namesake label in 2012 with the mission to inspire all women to live in color. By celebrating individuality, the brand aims to create a community where every woman feels included. Through the artful use of color, texture and original hand-painted prints each Tanya Taylor collection is designed to bring confidence and high-energy happiness into a woman’s daily life. The collections are sold at retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. 

The brand has been worn by a diverse range of inspirational women such as Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Tracee Ellis Ross, Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kristen Wiig and Aidy Bryant. Tanya Taylor is an inclusive brand defined by a point of view and is proud to offer styles in sizes 0-22. 

Timo Weiland is an award-winning Creative Director, serial entrepreneur and DJ based in New York City. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska and raised between Florida and New York. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he worked for several years as an investment banking analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. covering Media & Technology before launching his first startup. Since 2010, Timo has successfully built a namesake lifestyle brand, as well as businesses across food & beverage, design, media, B2B intelligence, real estate, technology, and venture capital.

Born in San Francisco, Peter Som launched his award-winning eponymous collection in 2000. Known for his signature clean-lined yet feminine designs, his clothing has been worn by such notable women as Michelle Obama, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Beyonce and Scarlett Johannson. His clothes have sold worldwide at top retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, and he has had highly successful collaborations with Kohl’s and Anthropologie. His signature, bold and colorful patterns has inspired a furniture and tabletop collection with The Inside. Peter is also widely known for his love of entertaining and food. His recipes have been featured in numerous publications and digital platforms including Vogue.com, Elle.com, Bon Appetit, Refinery29, Food and Wine and  FeedFeed, where he is a contributor. Peter lives in New York City where he can often be found in the kitchen covered in flour.  

Kimberly Lewis, owner of the Nashville women's boutique Emerson Grace, was born and raised in Hawaii.  She started her fashion career in Southern California. She built an impressive resume as an executive in the fashion industry working in both retail and wholesale for top companies including Ralph Lauren and BCBGMAXAZRIA, where she launched the company's initial retail efforts, growing the chain from zero to100 stores. Her expertly curated selection of merchandise at Emerson Grace encourages women to dress with style and ease for every occasion. She continually works to refine Emerson Grace's vision and carve out its place in the fashion landscape with its “elevated casual” aesthetic. She uses her many years of experience to provide women with a realistic and effortless approach to dressing. This understanding of what women wear is emulated through the store's edited mix of brands and price points. Kimberly lives in Nashville with her husband and daughter.

As the Chanel Ready-To-Wear Ambassador at Nordstrom Green Hills, Barry Grider has grown his career in luxury through decades of service to his hometown of Nashville. He is often recognized for his exceptional selling abilities and service provided to clients, but it is the deep relationships he has created over a lifetime of retail that are most meaningful to him. In his career, Barry has experienced incredible opportunities with Nordstrom and the Chanel brand including buying trips to Paris, exclusive visits to the Chanel archives and Metiers d’art, and most recently opening Nordstrom’s New York flagship store. While Barry’s accomplishments at work give him much to be proud of, he values the time spent with family and close friends most of all. Outside of work, Barry is often traveling, enjoying new dining experiences, dancing, snow skiing, roller skating, or indulging in Netflix.

---

DIGITAL LEARNING LAB: SUFFRAGE: THE STYLE OF A SOCIAL MOVEMENT

Presented in partnership with The Tennessee State Museum

WEDNESDAY, August 5 | 12:00 p.m. CST

Admission: FREE with ticket reservation

Join the Tennessee State Museum, in collaboration with Nashville Fashion Week’s 10th Anniversary, for a special online presentation and virtual tour of the women’s suffrage exhibition, Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote. This FREE event will include a discussion with Amanda Smith, Tennessee State Museum curator of Fashion and Textiles.

Throughout history, clothing and fashion were always, and continue to be, a powerful form of expression. What we wear can define us, inspire us, and say to others that we are individuals empowered with confidence. Learn more about the statement the suffragists were making with the clothing and colors they wore as they marched in parades for women’s voting rights. The Museum’s exhibition, Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote, uses artifacts, documents, large-scale graphics, videos, and interactive elements to share the stories of the Tennesseans who came to have decisive roles in American women’s struggle to gain voting rights.

---

DIGITAL LEARNING LAB: SUSTAINABILITY, MANUFACTURING AND THE FUTURE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Presented by OnPoint Manufacturing with Author Mary Gehlhar of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide and Daniella Platt, Brand Strategist

THURSDAY, August 6 | 4 p.m. CST

Admission: FREE with ticket reservation

David Prentice, Senior Vice President of Sales for OnPoint Manufacturing, Mary Gehlhar, author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide and Daniella Platt, Brand Strategist and author of Looking Good: Ten Commandments To Be A Sales Rockstar and Fashion Startup Playbook will lead a spirited and insightful conversation on the current state of the apparel industry, what sustainable practices can look like and how designers and brands can see success sooner thanks to new technologies. 

David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to OnPoint's on-demand manufacturing model having been head of sales at Lightning Source, a company that specializes in print-on-demand book manufacturing. With a strong background in all aspects of the world of digital printing and distribution, David’s unique talents and experience gave him the ability to easily transition similar methodologies from books to apparel. During his time at OnPoint, David has single-handedly helped hundreds of designers, brands and companies looking for a better manufacturing solution.  

Mary Gehlhar is a writer, curator and consultant with expertise in fashion design entrepreneurship. She is the author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide a best-selling business book that walks designers through the diverse challenges of establishing and growing their own brands. Mary served for 10 years as Fashion Director of Gen Art, introducing hundreds of emerging designers to the fashion industry and press through New York Fashion Week runway debuts. Mary consulted on show development and led the selection process for the first four seasons of the hit show Project Runway. She is an industry resource for prestigious media outlets, including the New York Times, and British Vogue. She has been an adjunct professor at the Parsons New School for Design and participates on multiple selection committees at fashion colleges, organizations including Fashion Group International, and incubators and grants such as the Woolite Fashion Grant. 

Cheerleader to all, Daniella Platt is a Concept-To-Market Strategist, who works with individuals to open doors to success and turn an idea into profit. Her signature program is the Ten Commandments To Be A Sales Rockstar & Fashion Startup Playbook. In fact, she just debuted the book on it called Looking Good. Through her consultancy, Looking Good YAYA!, Daniella offers conceptual marketing ideas and puts strategies into action. Like a primary doctor, LGY leverages the consultancy's relationships with "specialists" to give brands visibility and an edge. Daniella works with emerging and established brands, and artists, teaching creatives how to sell and guiding brands to bring their idea from concept-to-life. 

---

DIGITAL LEARNING LAB: FASHION LAW FOR YOUR FASHION BUSINESS

Presented by Ritholz Levy Fields

FRIDAY, August 7 | 12:30 p.m. CST

Admission: FREE with ticket reservation

Peter Fields and Jenna Harris of the law firm Ritholz Levy Fields LLP will address corporate, commercial and intellectual property law issues faced by emerging and established fashion and apparel businesses, including corporate formations and corporate governance, raising money from investors, choosing and protecting a brand name in the U.S. and abroad, creating protectable designs, tips for battling fraud on digital platforms and preventing ad misplacement, hiring employees and independent contractors, and product sales, distribution and licensing transactions. RLF is a dynamic and fast-growing law firm (with offices in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and Miami) representing clients in media, entertainment, fashion, technology and general “brand-based” businesses across  a wide variety of corporate, commercial and intellectual property law disciplines. With decades of experience as lawyers (and, in some cases, former executives in these fields), the firm brings an insider’s perspective and a sophisticated approach to provide cost-effective and business-centric solutions for its clients. The firm has a key focus in helping its clients fund and launch new businesses, grow them and take them through public and private liquidity events, especially clients that leverage creative works such as fashion and apparel companies. 

---

Purchase A "We Are Nashville Fashion" T-shirt 
To Support The Masks Now Coalition of Tennessee

Our limited edition "We Are Nashville Fashion" t-shirts are now on sale for $35 by 85 Supply. 100% of sale proceeds from these shirts will be donated to purchase protective masks from OnPoint Manufacturing to distribute where they are needed most by The Masks Now Coalition of Tennessee.

The mission of MasksNOW TN is to enable everyone to wear a face mask to save lives. Wearing a face mask is a way of protecting each other and caring for one’s community.  MasksNOW TN works to ensure every person and service organization has access to face masks. Through their core values of service, collaboration, community, integrity, and empathy, they have organized to match volunteer sewists to ongoing needs in our communities, to match donations of materials to volunteer sewists, and to match volunteers with distributing face masks to those in need and ensure that their face masks are provided as a free donation to those in need. MasksNow TN is working towards normalizing mask wearing through partnerships and outreach in our communities and education. MasksNow TN is a proud member of the MasksNOW Coalition. 

“We at MasksNOW Tennessee are so excited to partner with Nashville Fashion Week as we work together to provide more face masks for all Tennesseans. The Nashville fashion community is a special group, and we are all in this together!” - Brenda Gadd, MasksNOW Tennessee

OnPoint Manufacturing to Present Learning LabsPOINT MANUFACTURING TO PRESENT LEARNING LABS

ONPOINT MANUFACTURING TO PRESENT LEARNING LABS

New Events Announced at NFW Learning Lab Hub ONEC1TY 

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce OnPoint Manufacturing as the presenting sponsor for all of the Nashville Fashion Week Learning Labs in 2020 with ONEC1TY as our official Learning Lab Hub for our Saturday educational opportunities. 

Nashville Fashion Week is designed to invest in resources to showcase the local fashion community by providing a platform to engage, learn and connect. In addition to presenting the NFW Learning Lab programming, OnPoint Manufacturing will host a FREE Learning Lab, "Sustainability, Manufacturing and the Future of the Fashion Industry" with author Mary Gehlhar of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide; AMAX Talent will host "How To Land An Agent"; and Ritholz Levy Fields will hold "Fashion Law For Your Fashion Business" with a FREE ticket at ONEC1TY on Saturday, April 4 at OneC1TY. The first Learning Lab announced, "In Dialogue: Suffrage, Style and Social Movements" on March 26 at The Tennessee State Museum, has sold out, so don't wait to reserve your tickets to these new events.

OnPoint Manufacturing specializes in Purchase Activated Mass Customization of apparel. OnPoint has developed technically advanced manufacturing and distribution solutions for the apparel industry. Their factory model automates and integrates almost every aspect of the manufacturing process from order entry all the way to delivery directly to the customer. The integrated components that are driven by complex software allow OnPoint to manufacture millions of unique SKU's on-demand reducing inventory costs and streamlining the whole supply chain. 

“We are proud to return as a Nashville Fashion Week sponsor. We love connecting with the talented fashion community here, and NFW gives us a terrific platform to connect with designers and brands about what we do and how we can provide a sustainable solution. We’re very excited to sponsor the Learning Lab series this year and look forward to hosting our program on April 4.”  - David Prentice, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for OnPoint Manufacturing

ONEC1TY has hosted numerous events for Nashville Fashion Week over the years, including last year's Sustainable Summit, and their mission perfectly supports our Learning Lab initiative. ONEC1TY is a vibrant urban community that serves as a center of technology-enabled commercial, residential, research and retail activity catering to the idea that mindful healthy living can be made easy. ONEC1TY’s sustainable design features abundant green space and a community lawn and encourages walking, biking and enjoyment of the outdoors, music and art. Site design, infrastructure, transportation and building design have been planned and are being constructed for LEED Neighborhood Development certification.

Please make your plans early to attend one or more of these special events. Space is limited so register to secure your spot now at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

---

SUSTAINABILITY, MANUFACTURING AND THE FUTURE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Presented by OnPoint Manufacturing with Author Mary Gehlhar of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide

Saturday, April 4 | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Location: ONEC1TY
8 City Boulevard, 37209

Admission: FREE, Individual ticket

David Prentice, Senior Vice President of Sales for OnPoint Manufacturing and Mary Gehlhar, author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide, will lead a spirited and insightful conversation on the current state of the apparel industry, what sustainable practices can look like and how designers and brands can see success sooner thanks to new technologies. 

David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to OnPoint's on-demand manufacturing model having been head of sales at Lightning Source, a company that specializes in print-on-demand book manufacturing. With a strong background in all aspects of the world of digital printing and distribution, David’s unique talents and experience gave him the ability to easily transition similar methodologies from books to apparel. During has time at OnPoint, David has single-handedly helped hundreds of designers, brands and companies looking for a better manufacturing solution.  

Mary Gehlhar is a writer, curator and consultant with expertise in fashion design entrepreneurship. She is the author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide a best-selling business book that walks designers through the diverse challenges of establishing and growing their own brands. Mary served for 10 years as Fashion Director of Gen Art, introducing hundreds of emerging designers to the fashion industry and press through New York Fashion Week runway debuts. Mary consulted on show development and led the selection process for the first four seasons of the hit show Project Runway. She is an industry resource for prestigious media outlets, including the New York Times, and British Vogue. She has been an adjunct professor at the Parsons New School for Design and participates on multiple selection committees at fashion colleges, organizations including Fashion Group International, and incubators and grants such as the Woolite Fashion Grant. 

“I have been wanting to come to Nashville specifically because of what is happening there in fashion! There are so many fantastic small brands, local and innovative manufacturing, and mission driven companies - I am excited to meet this creative community at Nashville Fashion Week.” - Mary Gehlhar, author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide

---

HOW TO LAND AN AGENT

Presented by AMAX Talent

Saturday, April 4 | 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Location: ONEC1TY
8 City Boulevard, 37209

Admission: $20 Individual ticket

Get the inside scoop on how to land an agent and get signed as a model, talent, wardrobe stylist, hair or makeup artist from the AMAX Talent team. This leading Nashville agency represents fashion, commercial and lifestyle models, as well as actors, hair and make up artists and wardrobe and prop stylists. AMAX takes a full spectrum approach to representation, developing new talent as well as marketing established/experienced talent. Learn from four agents’ combined 50+ years of experience in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York. Topics will include what agents look for in new talent, how they strategize, put together portfolios and match their talents with the right clients. 

AMAX owner and director Cherylann Stephens has been in the business since 1984. After positions as director at Next and Wilhelmina in Los Angeles, she 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 and has built the company to the industry leader that it is today. 

Kayla Borg and Becca Chaney, AMAX bookers for models and talent; and Bria Stone, the artist/creative division booker, which includes hair, makeup, styling, props, and manicurists, will also share their industry insight.

---

FASHION LAW FOR YOUR FASHION BUSINESS

Presented by Ritholz Levy Fields

Saturday, April 4 | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Location: ONEC1TY
8 City Boulevard, 37209

Admission: FREE,  Individual ticket

Peter Fields and Jenna Harris of the law firm Ritholz Levy Fields LLP will address corporate, commercial and intellectual property law issues faced by emerging and established fashion and apparel businesses, including corporate formations and corporate governance, raising money from investors, choosing and protecting a brand name in the U.S. and abroad, creating protectable designs, tips for battling fraud on digital platforms and preventing ad misplacement, hiring employees and independent contractors, and product sales, distribution and licensing transactions.

RLF is a dynamic and fast-growing law firm (with offices in Nashville, New York, Los Angeles and Miami) representing clients in media, entertainment, fashion, technology and general “brand-based” businesses across  a wide variety of corporate, commercial and intellectual property law disciplines. With decades of experience as lawyers (and, in some cases, former executives in these fields), the firm brings an insider’s perspective and a sophisticated approach to provide cost-effective and business-centric solutions for its clients. The firm has a key focus in helping its clients fund and launch new businesses, grow them and take them through public and private liquidity events, especially clients that leverage creative works such as fashion and apparel companies.

“Year after year, the Nashville fashion community consistently validates its well-deserved spot on the national and international fashion map. RLF is honored and grateful to be a part of such an incredible group of unique, creative and hard-working individuals and organizations who make the Nashville fashion industry what it is, especially organizations like Nashville Fashion Week who we are proud to support including the upcoming NFW Fashion Talks event focusing on inclusion and diversity.” - Peter Fields, Ritholz Levy Fields LLP

---

Tickets for each Learning Lab can be purchased at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Space is limited and reservations are required, even for FREE events. Proceeds from all Nashville Fashion Week events 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. 

Nashville Fashion Week will be held March 31 - April 4 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville. Tickets to individual events are available in a wide range of prices at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. 

Free Learning Lab Announced with Tennessee State Museum

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK AND THE TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM PARTNER FOR A FREE EVENT WITH A FOCUS ON THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL ACTIVISM AND STYLE

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce the first of our Learning Lab events for 2020. We will launch our Learning Lab Series with "In Dialogue: Suffrage, Style and Social Movements" on Thursday, March 26 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Tennessee State Museum, 1000 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. This FREE event is the first of several NFW Learning Labs to be held throughout Nashville Fashion Week. These educational opportunities provide a platform to engage, learn and connect experientially within the Nashville community. 

Throughout history, clothing and fashion were always and continue to be a powerful form of expression. What we wear can define us, inspire us, and say to others that we are individuals empowered with confidence. This year, in collaboration with Nashville Fashion Week’s 10th Anniversary and in celebration of the upcoming women’s suffrage exhibit, The Tennessee State Museum will host student designers and their modern interpretation of objects in the museum’s collection. Each artifact, chosen by a curator,  represents a historical moment when a person or movement fought for social change. The artists will show how the modern can be “in dialogue” with the past by creating work inspired by people who came before them and featuring their same spirit of diversity and inclusion. This collaborative process is a unique way to show that fashion isn’t frivolous - it is dynamic, inspiring, and timeless. 

The Tennesee State Museum will open their "Ratified! Tennessee Women and the Right to Vote" exhibit on March 27. Be among the first to visit this exhibit before it opens to the public. This captivating exhibit uses artifacts, documents, large-scale graphics, videos, interactive elements and public programming to share the stories of the Tennesseans who came to have decisive roles in American women’s struggle to gain voting rights. 

This FREE engagement will include mingling, a conversation with The Tennessee  State Museum's fashion curator, presentation of the student's work and a tour of the new exhibit. There are a limited number of tickets available, so secure your spot now!

---

DREAM NASHVILLE IS THE OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER 
FOR NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2020 

BOOK YOUR ROOM AND GET YOUR TICKETS NOW

Dream Nashville is offering a special room rate for Nashville Fashion Week guests. Book your Gold King Room for $250 per night March 30 - April 2 and for $365 April 3 and 4. Located on the higher floors, these 320-square-foot, king bedded-rooms showcase 13-foot-high, loft-like ceilings and deco-inspired furnishings. Book HERE or call 615-622-0600 to book with Group Name DREAMNFW and use Booking Code "DNA0330NFW". Availability is limited so don't wait to secure your Dream room.

---

VOLUNTEER, OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND MEDIA APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED!

Click the images below for detailed information

NFW 2020 To Feature Tanya Taylor, Timo Weiland & 19 Middle Tennessee Designers

TANYA TAYLOR TO HEADLINE NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK WITH TIMO WEILAND AND NINETEEN MIDDLE TENNESEE DESIGNERS

Thank you to the packed room of 300+ attendees who joined us for our Nashville Fashion Week 2020 Kickoff Party last night at Graduate Nashville! We were excited to announce the first details of our 2020 schedule and introduce our "We Are Nashville Fashion" campaign to a sold-out crowd and to hint at many more announcements to come. This campaign features notable contributors and partners of Nashville Fashion Week that have spanned a decade of service. From hospitality and production to retailers and beauty teams, we are Nashville fashion.

The tenth annual Nashville Fashion Week will take place Tuesday, March 31 through Saturday, April 4 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville for the third consecutive year. Four nights of runway shows will be followed by our 10th Year Celebration Party and Nashville Fashion Forward Awards on Saturday night to celebrate the unique impact award receipients have made on the Nashville fashion community. 

Tickets for Nashville Fashion Week 2020 are now available to purchase at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Complete details on the 10 Year Celebration Party and Awards, Fashion Talks, the Influencer Brunch, Men's Style Event, Learning Labs and Shop Nashville will be released over the next month.

TWENTY-ONE 2020 DESIGNERS ANNOUNCED

Nashville Fashion Week is honored to welcome our opening night headline designer Tanya Taylorand Timo Weiland to our runway on March 31 at OZ Arts Nashville. For the first time in Nashville Fashion Week history, nineteen of our twenty-one designers, all hail from Middle Tennessee. This is in direct response to the quality of applicants and our community's growing interest and support of local designers. Eleven of these designers are NFW alumni and eight are new designers showing their collections at Nashville Fashion Week 2020 for the very first time. Please check out all the 2020 designer bios HERE.

Tanya Taylor started her namesake label in 2012 with the mission to inspire all women to live in color. By celebrating individuality, the brand aims to create a community where every woman feels included. Through the artful use of color, texture and original hand-painted prints each Tanya Taylor collection is designed to bring confidence and high-energy happiness into a woman’s daily life. The collections are sold at retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. 

The brand has been worn by a diverse range of inspirational women such as Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Tracee Ellis Ross, Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kristen Wiig and Aidy Bryant. Tanya Taylor is an inclusive brand defined by a point of view and is proud to offer styles in sizes 0-22. 

“I’ve been trying to get to Nashville for quite some time — the culture, music, food and especially dancing has always enticed me — and I can’t think of a better time to go than during Nashville Fashion Week. I’m excited to explore the city and to present my Spring 2020 collection!” - Tanya Taylor

Timo Weiland is an award-winning Creative Director, serial entrepreneur and DJ based in New York City. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska and raised between Florida and New York. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he worked for several years as an investment banking analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. covering Media & Technology before launching his first startup. Since 2010, Timo has successfully built a namesake lifestyle brand, as well as businesses across food & beverage, design, media, B2B intelligence, real estate, technology, and venture capital.

"It is an honor and a pleasure to come back to the original source of my inspiration, Music City. From the days of living in Nashville while attending Vanderbilt University, the cultural flavor and vibrant pulse of the community has fueled my creative process. Sourcing designer vintage in East Nashville and learning how to DJ both were awesome career building aspects of the city that added value to my education on-campus!" - Timo Weiland

Tuesday, March 31

• Tanya Taylor

• Timo Weiland

• Laura Citron

• Article X

• Mary Violet Woosley

Wednesday, April 1

• Amanda Valentine

• Truly Alvarenga

• Lily Guilder

• The Morgan Factory

• Erica Knicely

Thursday, April 2

• Black by Maria Silver

• Justin Mark Richards

• Ola Mai

• Ken.Drama

• H. Lane Design

Friday, April 3

• Any Old Iron

• Rank & Sugar

• Eileen Kelly

• No Worries

• Moore by Paige

• Emily Phillips

"Tanya and Timo represent the core values of Nashville Fashion Week. We have been committed to diversity and inclusivity both on the runway and through our eclectic mix of events for years, but we desire to do and be more. Both of these talented designers have based their careers on these important values that further the mission of the fashion industry as a whole. We look forward to learning more from them", said Connie Cathcart-Richardson, Nashville Fashion Week co-founder and managing partner.

"The fact that our tenth anniversary lineup is also filled with designers from Middle Tennessee is a big deal. It is very rewarding to look back at all of the people that have been impacted by Nashville Fashion Week over the years and to think about how far Nashville fashion has come", Cathcart-Richardson added. "We are delighted to showcase eleven of Nashville’s leading designers with eight newcomers discovered through our designer application process.”  

“Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund have raised awareness of creative talent in Middle Tennessee for the past nine years by showcasing 180 designers and hundreds of businesses with an investment of over $1.3 million in the local fashion community", says Marcia Masulla, Nashville Fashion Week co-founder and managing partner. "It's our privilege to support Nashville’s fashion-forward and entrepreneurial talent with this volunteer led and run event and to have provided life-changing experiential opportunities for nine Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. We could not do what we do without the support of our dedicated sponsors, volunteers and ticket holders.”

Applications for Shop Nashville retailers, volunteers, photographer/videographer and media passes are now open under Contact at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

Individual runway prices are $50 for general admission and $75 for seated tickets. The four-night Runway Pass is $200 for general admission and $300 for preferred seated with the VIP Experience and entrance to the official Opening Night Party for both passes. The $400 All Access Pass includes front row VIP tickets to all four nights of runway, plus tickets to Fashion Talks, the Official Opening and Closing Night Parties and the 10 Year Celebration Party and Nashville Fashion Forward Awards on Saturday night at OZ Arts Nashville. Tickets to the Official Opening Night Party and the Official AfterParty are $20 each and tickets to the 10 Year Celebration Party and Nashville Fashion Forward Awards on Saturday night at OZ Arts Nashville are $100. Additional details will be announced soon about these parties. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

For more information on the schedule, designers, a full list of sponsors, party pics and to purchase tickets for Nashville Fashion Week 2020, visit NashvilleFashionWeek.com. Click HERE to see all of the Know Your Roots Photoboothery antics and photos from the Kickoff Party.