AMANDA VALENTINE | VALENTINE VALENTINE
Amanda Valentine | Nashville, TN
‘17 | ‘16 | ‘15 | ‘12 | ‘11
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.
ANY OLD IRON
Andrew Clancey | Nashville, Tennessee
‘19 | ‘18 | ‘17 | ‘16
2019 Fashion Forward Rising Star Award
Andrew Clancey, designer of Any Old Iron started creating his sparkly designs for men and women three years ago in Nashville. He premiered his first collection at Nashville Fashion Week and has gone on to make clothes for Cher, Jane Fonda, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Minaj and Miranda Lambert to name a few.
ARTURO RIOS
Arturo Rios | Los Angeles, California
2016
presented by Stacey Rhodes Boutique
Arturo Rios, a new generation of talented Fashion Hat Designers from Los Angeles, learned his exceptional skills and techniques from legendary Italian hat designer, Karen Indreland. Arturo loves the colors of nature, flowers, particularly birds. His inspiration comes from what he sees in everyday life, combining vintage materials with modern ideas. Since 2005, Arturo has been designing fabulous couture headwear worn by famous personalities and clients around the world. Arturo is presented by Stacey Rhodes Boutique.
BROOKE ATWOOD
Brooke Atwood | Savannah, GA
2016 | 2014
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.
DEBE DOHRER DESIGN
Debe Dohrer | Nashville, Tennessee
2016
Debe Dohrer’s extensive background in the art of structuring a distinct wardrobe for her high profile clientele naturally transitioned into debe dohrer design, an “off loom” woven “textile” beading technique. With the juxtaposition of street and luxury, an additional accessory line was born. Within design you will notice her discerning fashion eye, whether it organically alters an outfit or creates an enigmatic confidence, it artfully exudes a modern relevance while retaining a timeless feel.
ELEVENTY
Marco Baldassari | Milan, Italy
2016
presented by Levy's
Eleventy was launched in 2007 by CEO Marco Baldassari, Paolo Zuntini and Andrea Scuderi. Made in Italy, the brand operates in the luxury sector with high-quality, wide-ranging and well-defined men’s and women’s collections, hallmarked by an identifiable style with no need for a logo. The collection is about lifestyle rather than status.
EMIL ERWIN
Emil & Leslie Congdon | Nashville, Tennessee
2016
Emil Erwin, a luxury leather goods company, was founded in 2008 by husband and wife design team, Emil and Leslie Congdon. Thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted in the Emil Erwin Studio, each piece melds together a delicate balance of form, function, beauty and craftsmanship. The Congdons operate Emil Erwin, while raising their four children in Nashville, which they have always been proud to call home.
FASHIONABLE
Nashville, Tennessee
2016
FASHIONABLE creates accessories from tote bags to jewelry to scarves, and they are made by women who have overcome everything from prostitution to homelessness to a lack of opportunity. It is widely known that if we are to end extreme poverty, two things must happen. One, we must create jobs for those lacking opportunity, and two, we must do so for women. This is the piece of the puzzle that FASHIONABLE seeks to be a part of.
FRANCESCA MAROTTA
Francesca Marotta | London, United Kingdom
2016
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.
JULIANNA BASS
Julianna Bass | New York, NY
‘18 | ‘16 | ‘12 | ‘11
2011 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Recipient
Julianna Bass is an American Fashion Designer who debuted her eponymous womenswear collection during New York Fashion with a AW15 runway presentation. Since the collection’s debut, Julianna Bass has received accolades from prominent U.S. and International publications including Vogue (Germany and U.S.), Women’s Wear Daily, and New York Magazine. Bass is a Tennessee native who moved to New York to study fashion and costume design at the Fashion Institute of Technology after completing her design studies at Middle Tennessee State University.
KALLMEYER NEW YORK
Daniella Kallmeyer | New York City, New York
2016
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.
NADEAU | LAGI NADEAU
Lagilelei Nadeau | Chicago, IL
‘19 | ‘18 | ‘17 | ‘16 | ‘15 | ‘14 | ‘ 13
The 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 pieces made in the USA, for women who have a strong sense of self and style.
MARY MOONEY
Mary Mooney | Nashville, Tennessee
2016
Mary Mooney is a Nashville based visual artist who developed a process to scale her glossy abstract paintings down to wearable little pieces of art. With a Fine Arts degree from Denison University, her formal education as an artist plays as much a role as her intuition. With each pendant cut from a painted study, there’s a visual transition of brushstrokes and colors from one piece to the next. Everyone is united by owning a unique part of a whole.
MEGAN HUNTZ
Megan Huntz | Atlanta, GA
2016 | 2015
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.
MICHAEL DRUMMOND
Michael Drummond | St. Louis, Missouri
2017 | 2016
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.
NISOLO
Nashville, Tennessee
2016
Nisolo is a lifestyle brand that bridges traditional craftsmanship and modern style. From handmade leather shoes in Peru, to up-cycled brass jewelry from Kenya, Nisolo is passionate about creating a more sustainable fashion industry through ethical production. Style and values no longer have to be at odds.
OBERIMA AFRIYIE
Afriyie Poku | Atlanta, Georgia
2016
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.
ONA REX
Ashley Balding | Nashville, TN
‘19 | ‘18 | ‘17 | ‘16 | ‘15
Ona Rex was established in 2014 and seeks to provide unique, luxurious garments to the bold, independent woman. Saturated colors, rich textures, and careful silhouettes invoke a sense of whimsy and strength amidst the chaos of the modern world. Ona Rex is designed and produced in-house in Nashville, Tennessee.
ROSA HERMOSA
Nashville, Tennessee
2016
Rosa Hermosa is dedicated to providing versatile, comfortable, and well-made products all while contributing the proceeds as public school scholarships for girls at Our Little Roses in Honduras. Our Little Roses is a home and ministry created to raise girls who were either abused or abandoned by their families and communities. Every item you buy from Rosa Hermosa helps to support the girls' education. Scholarships to date total over $40,000.
ROXENSTONE
Denise Roxen | Nashville, TN
2016 | 2014
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.
SISTERS OF NATURE
Kimberly Parker | Nashville, Tennessee
2016
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.
SUZAN PITT
Suzann Pitt | Los Angeles, California
2016
Suzan Pitt is an internationally acclaimed artist whose paintings and animated films are in many private collections and museums. Pitt has designed sets and costumes for two major opera productions in Germany which were the first operas to include animated images for the stage. She was perhaps the first artist to create one of a kind painted art coats beginning in 1984. Her coats were recently featured on the runway at New York Fashion Week.
TRULY ALVARENGA | PINK ELEPHANTS
Truly Alvarenga | Nashville, TN
‘19 | ‘18 | ‘17 | ‘16 | ‘15 | ‘14 | ‘13 | ‘12
Truly Alvarenga is known primarily for her one-of-a-kind Couture Garments, wielding an aesthetic that is both florid and unique. Admirers of her style appreciate both the meticulous craftsmanship and the colorful stories that accompany the collections.
Headshots and bios were provided by designers in the year that they last showed. Runway photographs were provided by our Official Nashville Fashion Week Photographers - Doug Barry, Abigail Bobo, Taylor Christian Jones, Dustin Lewis, Ryan Mclemore, Alaina K. Mullin, Gerry Navarrete and Eric Winton.