Feast on Fashion: Happy Hour + Meet & Greet with Book Signing Featuring Peter Som

There's something special about a room where fashion and food collide — and good people show up. Feast on Fashion is a curated series presented by Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. We will kick things off next week with dinner and conversation on Tuesday (8 seats are still currently available) and will continue the festivities on Wednesday from 4-6 PM at Avo. We'll take over one of Nashville's favorite neighborhood spots for a few hours of mingling, sipping, and celebrating community.

Kick off your Wednesday evening with us at AVO for a lively happy hour and meet & greet with Peter Som—lifestyle expert, award-winning designer, and author of Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage. Grab a drink, browse the bites, and get your copy of Family Style signed straight from the man himself.

Books will be available for purchase on-site.

Avo is one of Nashville's most beloved plant-based spots—and the perfect backdrop for an evening like this. Their menu is 100% plant-based, featuring gluten-free, organic, and locally sourced offereings, with handcrafted cocktails to match. A true Nashville small business with community at its core. Come thirsty and ready to mingle. Avo has built something rare: a gathering place where everyone feels welcome at the table.

For this event, AVO will be offering their happy hour specials from 4–6PM, including discounted snacks, sips, and half-price bottles of wine — so come ready to settle in, raise a glass, and support a local business that gives back.

"Hosting Peter Som at AVO feels incredibly special. As someone whose family has long been part of Nashville's culinary community through both AVO and Samurai Sushi, I love opportunities that bring people together to celebrate culture, creativity, and connection around the table. This event beautifully highlights the intersection of food, fashion, and AAPI storytelling in Nashville." 
— Annie Choo, AVO

GOOD PEOPLE IN THE ROOM

We'll be joined by representatives from Giving Kitchen and API Middle Tennessee — so plan to make the rounds, spark a conversation, and leave knowing a little more about the incredible work happening right here in our city.

Giving Kitchen provides emergency financial assistance to food service workers in crisis, connecting them with community resources when they need it most.

API Middle Tennessee advocates for and uplifts Asian Pacific Islander communities across the region — bringing a voice and a seat to the table that reflects the full richness of Nashville's creative community.

SIP FOR A CAUSE

We'll be pouring the Family Style Fizz from 4 -6 PM only so don't be late. Every sale of our featured signature cocktail inspired by Peter Som's cookbook will directly benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, supporting the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee. Sip well, give back and toast to Nashville's creative future.

GETTING THERE

AVO is located at 4 City Blvd #104, tucked underneath the Element Hotel in OneC1TY. Free 2-hour parking is available in the lot near SandBar and Charlotte Ave — plenty of time to mingle, sip, and meet some stylish new friends.

Fashion, food, and community — come together.

#whyNFW

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FAMILY THAI X FAMILY STYLE
DINNER & CONVERSATION

Tuesday, May 19 | 6:00 PM
International Market
2013 Belmont Boulevard

Dinner + Signed Book: $125

ONLY 8 SEATS LEFT!

Join us for a collaborative three-course dinner*
inspired by Peter Som's Family Style 
and hosted by Chef Arnold Myint and Anna Myint
at International Market —honoring heritage, memories,
and the quiet luxury of gathering well.

This intimate dining experience will include table-led conversations with featured guests, thoughtfully designed to spark meaningful dialogue at the intersection of food, culture, fashion, and the API experience.

Tickets can be purchased at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

Feast on Fashion: Fashion, Food & Community Come Together

There's something especially compelling about bringing fashion and food together in a way that feels both intentional and rooted in community. Feast on Fashion is a curated series presented by Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee—an invitation for distinct experiences that celebrate the creative disciplines shaping our city right now.

“In Nashville, fashion and food are both powerful expressions of culture, creativity, and community—they are part of the fabric of who we are as a city. This event is an opportunity to celebrate that intersection more intentionally, while uplifting AAPI voices whose influence continues to shape and inspire both industries. It also directly supports the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund, helping us invest in and advance the future of creative talent in our city.”
— Nashville Fashion Week

This evening will reflect what we value most: craft, connection, and the people behind the work. Tuesday, May 19 will unfold with lively conversation and a shared table where fashion, food, and identity meet in an intimate dialogue-driven setting—supporting and strengthening the future of creative talent in our community.

At the heart of this event is the work of Peter Som—lifestyle expert, award-winning designer, and author of Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage. A CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist and two-time CFDA Emerging Designer Award nominee, Peter’s creative life has long existed at the intersection of fashion and food. During his years in high-intensity fashion, cooking became both a grounding ritual and a creative outlet, ultimately evolving into The Extra Taste, his culinary platform exploring fashion, interiors, design, and entertaining. His debut cookbook Family Style brings together 100 elegant, approachable recipes rooted in his Chinese American heritage, Bay Area upbringing, and French-influenced family traditions—offering a modern, personal take on gathering, memory, and creativity at the table.

“I’m excited to be heading to Nashville to support the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund. It’s an honor to be part of such a community-driven event alongside incredible partners like Giving Kitchen, API Middle TN, Anna, Chef Arnold Myint, and Parnassus, and have the opportuntity to share my Family Style cookbook along the way. I’m looking forward to connecting and celebrating Nashville’s vibrant creative spirit.”

- Peter Som

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FEAST ON FASHION 

A Shared Commitment to the People and Disciplines that Continue to Shape our Community Through Fashion and Food.

FEAST ON FASHION: FAMILY THAI X FAMILY STYLE
DINNER & CONVERSATION

Tuesday, May 19 | 6PM
International Market
2013 Belmont Blvd

Dinner + Signed Book: $125

An intimate, three-course family-style dinner experienced through a collaborative three-course dinner by Chef Arnold Myint, inspired by Peter Som's Family Style followed by curated conversation at each table.

Inspired by Peter Som’s Family Style, this dinner hosted by Chef Arnold Myint and Anna Myint at International Market is designed as a shared table—honoring heritage, memory, and the quiet luxury of gathering well.

The evening will feature intimate, table-led conversations with featured guests, thoughtfully designed to spark meaningful dialogue at the intersection of food, culture, fashion, and the API experience.

We’re so excited to welcome Peter Som to International Market for AAPI Month. Pairing Family Style with Arnold Myint’s Family Thai feels especially close to home for us — it’s about honoring where we come from, celebrating the stories behind the food, and bringing people together around the table.”  - Anna and Arnold Myint

Arnold Myint is a celebrated chef, restaurateur, TV personality, author and performer whose vibrant career bridges food, culture, and self-expression. A 2024 James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist, Arnold is the chef of International Market and co-owner with his sister Anna Myint — a tribute to their family’s culinary legacy first established in 1975. 

In the fall of 2025, Myint released his highly-anticipated debut cookbook, Family Thai: Bringing the Flavors of Thailand Home, offering readers a vibrant and comprehensive guide to Thai cooking techniques and pantry staples for modern kitchens and was named one of the year’s best new cookbooks by publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Southern Living, and more.

We are also proud to recognize and break bread with API Middle Tennessee and Giving Kitchen, whose work brings compassion and critical support to food service workers facing crisis.

The dinner table is where community happens in Asian culture, so I can't think of a more exciting way to explore and share identity than through food.” - Joseph Gutierrez, API Middle Tennessee

Limited Availability. A portion of proceeds from both events will benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. 

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee that is funded with charitable donations and proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund was inspired by the professional development provided by the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA) through programs such as the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support of our community for years to come.

#WHYNFW

NFFF 2025 Award Recipient

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES OUR TWELFTH

NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT

Thank you to the enthusiastic crowd that joined us at Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up for our 2025 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award Announcement Party last night! Guests enjoyed light bites from Bal Harbour Shops own signature restaurant, The Whitman, and signature cocktails courtesy of Tito's Handmade Vodka and Perfectly Cordial. We were honored to also welcome remarks from NFFF recipients Julianna Bass Brea (2011) and Rhea Daniels (2023), who reflected on the impact of the award on their work and growth. Special thanks to SnapBack Returns for sponsoring the this exclusive event. We hope to have more opportunities for us to gather next year.

We are excited to announce Trishawna "Tiki" Quincy, the founder of Tikivision Style Lab, as the 2025 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient. A committee from The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee selected Tiki from the largest and most diverse group of experienced fashion industry applicants yet, based on her impressive submission that adhered to specific criteria for the experiential award established by the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund co-founders in 2010. 

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing an annual financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field based on pre-established criteria.

“Tiki’s fashion experience has covered much ground, but what stood out in her application was her commitment to mentoring and creating community for the next generation during her last decade in Nashville. In her own words: ‘I learned early that creativity flourishes in supportive community environments.’ No words have been more aligned with the spirit of Nashville Fashion Week and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund since their inception in 2011." 
- Amy Fair, Senior Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

In 2024, Tiki established Tikivision Style Lab, a sewing and design education studio offering private lessons with ambitious expansion plans centered around education and community-building. Her vision encompasses comprehensive sewing and design education across YouTube,Instagram, and TikTok, making skills accessible to diverse learners. She aims to showcase Middle Tennessee's creative talent by featuring local experts in educational projects, foster authentic community connections through storytelling and in-person events, and develop a signature online sewing school with original patterns. Her ultimate goal includes establishing a digital platform that transitions to streaming or network television, amplifying Middle Tennessee's fashion industry and art scene. Through her work, Tiki bridges traditional craftsmanship with modern media, creating pathways for creative expression while preserving essential skill for future generations. 

"I am deeply honored to be the 2025 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient! Over the years, I've watched so many of my peers receive this award, and to now be recognized among them is truly humbling. Leaving the Sewing Training Academy to start my own business just over a year ago was both a huge and intimidating step, and this award feels like a validation of the big vision I carry within me. Sometimes the first step toward a dream is simply speaking it aloud—so thank you, Nashville Fashion Forward Fund, for believing in my big, crazy dreams alongside me!"
– Trishawna "Tiki" Quincy, Founder Tikivision Style Lab

Tiki is a Nashville-based sewing and fashion educator with a decade of transformative impact in sewing and design education. Raised in her mother's fabric store in Newman Grove, Nebraska, Tiki spent childhood summers sewing outfits and learning family sewing secrets from her mother, an accomplished dressmaker and teacher. This fostered an early passion for fashion design that would shape her entire career trajectory.

Tiki earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design from the University of Nebraska and a Master's from the prestigious Domus Academy in Milan, providing her with both technical expertise and an international perspective. Her professional experience includes design roles with major brands such as Columbia Sportswear, Jantzen Swimwear, and Forever 21, where she honed her skills in commercial fashion development. After a decade of computer-based design on the West Coast, Tiki yearned to return to hands-on craftsmanship. She relocated to Nashville to pursue her true calling: teaching and mentoring the next generation of sewists.

In 2015, Tiki partnered with Catholic Charities to establish the Sewing Training Academy (STA), a workforce development program for industrial sewing. Under her leadership, STA evolved from a single course into a comprehensive one-year program training hundreds of students in essential trade skills. Beyond technical instruction, STA fostered a supportive community where students found mentorship, friendship, and shared purpose. Her vision for experiential learning culminated in 2022 with a small-batch production facility providing students with invaluable real-world work experience. While STA fulfilled her passion for education, mentoring students toward entrepreneurial ventures ignited Tiki's desire to pursue her own creative business.

"We’re continually amazed by the passion and purpose we see from Nashville’s creative community each year. We’re so excited to celebrate Tiki Quincy as this year’s Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient and look forward to watching her bring her vision for Tikivision Style Lab to life. Her work beautifully embodies the spirit of moving Nashville fashion forward—bridging creativity, community, and innovation." 
- Marcia Masulla, Managing Director & Co-Founder + Connie Cathcart-Richardson, Co-Founder, Nashville Fashion Week | Nashville Fashion Forward Fund

Previous Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipients include our 2024 award winner, Rhea Daniels of Papierdoll Factory- a statement accessory brand; apparel designers Haley Maddox, Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Eric Bornhop, Lauren Leonard Phelps and Julianna Bass Brea; manufacturer Megan Prange, fashion photographer Brett Warren; accessory designer Ceri Hoover; and Elise Joseph, brand strategist and creative director.

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee that is funded with charitable donations and proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund was inspired by the professional development provided by the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA) through programs such as the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support of our community for years to come.

#whynfw

2025 NFFF Award Winner Party

JOIN US FOR THE 2025 NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND
AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT ON OCTOBER 15TH
AT THE BAL HARBOUR SHOPS ACCESS POP-UP

We look forward to introducing you to our twelfth Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient and celebrating the award announcement with mingling, sips + eats, and shopping at this interactive gathering on Wednesday, October 15 from 5-7 p.m. at Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up in Wedgewood Houston. Bal Harbour Shops representatives will present live styling segments featuring  their meticulously curated collection of luxury brands within their stunning 17,000 sq. ft. custom-built pop-up retail and dining space.

Guests will enjoy light bites from Bal Harbour Shops own signature restaurant, The Whitman, and one complimentary signature cocktail courtesy of Tito's Handmade Vodka and Perfectly Cordial, with additional beverages available at a cash bar. 

You will also have the opportunity to meet our 2024 NFFF recipient, Rhea Daniels, Founder and Creative director of Papierdoll Factory. Please join us for this very special evening in Wedgewood-Houston.

Bal Harbour Shops has been a beloved shopping destination since its debut in 1965. Bal Harbor Shops Access Pop-Up Nashville blends fashion, curated dining, and immersive design into one unmatched experience. Thirty modular shipping containers at Wedgewood Houston have been transformed into an oasis inspired by the elegance of Bal Harbour Shops Miami home, housing an array of luxury fashion, jewelry, lifestyle brands and it's own signature restaurant, surrounded by shaded walkways under a canopy of palm trees. Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up Nashville provides a sampling of the world's best luxury brands -- Tiffany & Co., Assouline, Balmain Paris, Cremieux, DSquared2, Etro, Golden Goose, Isabel Marant, Johanna Ortiz, Monnalisa, Scanlan Theodore, Valentino and Wolford.

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee 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 charitable donations and proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week events. Previous recipients include Rhea Daniels, Haley Maddox, Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Brett Warren, Eric Adler, Ceri Hoover, Elise Joseph, Lauren Leonard and Julianna Bass.

Tickets to the 2025 NFFF Award Announcement Party are $30 and extremely limited. Secure yours now at NashvilleFashionWeek.com for this exclusive private event. 

Special thanks to SnapBack Returns for sponsoring the 2025 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award Announcement Party. Shop freely. Return confidently. SnapBack saves you time, money, and refunds by sending retailer alerts before deadlines and offering easy doorstop pickups. Get your refund faster with SnapBack by downloading the app HERE. 

Nashville Fashion Forward Fund 2025 Application

THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND 2025 APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN THROUGH MAY 30

ALL FASHION PROFESSIONALS WITH TIES TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE
ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THE AWARD
Designers, Photographers, Stylists, Models, Hair and Makeup Artists, 
Retailers, Content Creators and MORE! 

Nashville Fashion Week invites you to submit your application for the 2025 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee now through May 30. 

We hope you'll also join us in spreading the word to encourage the fashion talent and community to apply for this opportuity to invest in their craft and business.

Established in 2011, the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing a financial reward and resources for EXPERIENTIAL professional development opportunities each year from charitable donations and proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week. ALL fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee are encouraged to apply to be our twelfth Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award winner.

Previous recipients include our most recent award winner Rhea Daniels of Papierdoll Factory - a statement accessory brand, apparel designers Haley Maddox, Van Hoang, Maria Silver, Eric Bornhop, Lauren Leonard Phelps and Julianna Bass Brea; small batch apparel manufacturer Megan Prange; fashion photographer Brett Warren; accessory designer Ceri Hoover; and content creator Elise Joseph.

Detailed instructions for application submission can be found at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

Applications must arrive at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's office at 3421 Belmont Boulevard by 4:00 p.m. CST on Friday, May 30, 2025. The 2025 recipient will be announced later this year. 

Award recipients are selected by a committee of the Community Foundation board based on pre-established criteria inspired by the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a signature high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support.

Does your business, organization or philanthropic efforts align with the mission of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund? We'd love for you to consider the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund as the recipient of your next charitable event. 

Please complete the sponsorship form at NashvilleFashionWeek.com or contact Marcia Masulla to discuss potential partnership opportunities or other ways to financially support the Nashville fashion community and ecosystem through the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. We appreciate your continued support!

#whynfw