The Mall at Green Hills and Ritholz Levy Fields to Present NFW Fashion Talks 2020: Diversity + Inclusion

THE MALL AT GREEN HILLS AND RITHOLZ LEVY FIELDS TO PRESENT NFW FASHION TALKS 2020: DIVERSITY + INCLUSION

Moderated by Fern Mallis with designers Tanya Taylor, Timo Weiland, Peter Som and Nordstrom Nashville Chanel Ready-to-Wear Brand Ambassador Barry Grider

Join us on Monday, March 30 from 5:00 -8:30 p.m. for "Fashion Talks: Diversity and Inclusion", an interactive Nashville Fashion Week Learning Lab sponsored by our host The Mall at Green Hills and Ritholz Levy Fields LLP. This engaging conversation will be moderated by Fern Mallis, the award-winning creator of New York Fashion Week. A panel of industry leaders - designers Tanya Taylor, Timo Weiland and Peter Som with 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. A Meet and Greet with Fern Mallis will be from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. with a limited number of her book, Fashion Lives: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis, available for purchase before the discussion. The Mall at Green Hills will host a Mall Crawl afterwards from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Tickets are now available for $30 at NashvilleFashionWeek.com to benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Nashville Fashion Week is welcoming back our friend and mentor Fern Mallis for the sixth year and third installment of the "Fashion Talks" series. Along with confirmed press appearances in Nashville, Mallis is also slated to meet with participating NFW designers for a private meet and greet, attend special events and accept the first ever NFW x Fern Mallis Mentorship Award on the opening night of Nashville Fashion Week in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville on March 31.

Our educational sponsor, Middle Tennessee State University, will facilitate and produce the live-stream which will be aired on Nashville Fashion Week's Facebook and InstaStories channels.

Photographed by Sophie Elgort

“I’m so happy to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Nashville Fashion Week. Congratulations to the best team ever! I’m proud to have been able to support the talent, creativity and passion here in Nashville." - Fern Mallis

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.

The Mall at Green Hills is the presenting host of Fashion Talks 2020. The Mall at Green Hills is located in the heart of Nashville's Green Hills community and within striking distance to the vibrant downtown area. With more than 100 specialty stores and eateries, the mall offers an unparalleled mix of luxury, everyday brands, and approximately 55 unique-to-market brands and retailers. The Mall at Green Hills features Tennessee’s only Nordstrom, Gucci, Crate & Barrel and  RH Gallery. A preferred retail destination among travelers, the shopping center received the TripAdvisor 2018 ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for earning outstanding consumer reviews. Explore stores, dining, events, sales and offers at ShopGreensHills.com, Facebook.com/MallAtGreenHills, @MallAtGreenHills on Instagram and Snapchat.

NFW Shop Nashville...Mall Crawl* from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Let’s Go Shopping Nashville! Following the NFW Fashion Talks 2020 panel, enjoy exclusive discounts by showing your RSVP confirmation at select retailers. For a list of participating retailers in our Mall Crawl visit ShopGreenHills.com.

“The Fashion Talks panel discussion not only kicks off Nashville Fashion Week, but marks the first in the mALL Talk series at The Mall at Green Hills. mALL Talk aims to inform and inspire, featuring lively discussions with thought leaders from a variety of industries.” – Norah Buikstra, General Manager, The Mall at Green Hills

mALL Talk aims to inform and inspire, featuring lively discussions with thought leaders from a variety of industries. Plan to attend mALL Talk on the third Monday of each month at The Mall at Green Hills. For the mALL Talk line-up, visit ShopGreenHills.com/mALLTalk. Next up: April 20.

* All offers valid Monday, March 30th, 2020 only. Some restrictions may apply, and all offers are subject to change. See store for details. Must present RSVP confirmation email, or your event credentials, to receive offer. While supplies last. Discounts are supplied before tax. No cash value. Offer valid at The Mall at Green Hills locations only.

Ritholz Levy Fields LLP is the supporting sponsor for this special event. 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

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’m thrilled Nashville Fashion Week is kicking off events by discussing the importance of inclusivity and diversity. I’m honored to be a part of the panel with legend Fern Mallis and I’m looking forward to seeing these topics take center stage throughout the week.” - 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. The Timo Weiland brand, co-founded in 2010 with Alan Eckstein and Donna Kang, won the prestigious Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation award, Forbes 30 Under 30 List for Design, as well as the Council of Fashion Designers of America x Cadillac Retail Innovation grant. Recent projects include co-founding The Lead, creative direction for GAP's Banana Republic, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG Worldwide), and one of the world's largest direct-to-consumer optical brands, Zenni. He works between his creative offices in Brooklyn, retail operation with Groupe on the Bowery, recording studio in Flatiron, and venture capital offices in Lower Manhattan. Timo has been recently profiled in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Vogue, WWD, Forbes, and Fast Company. 

Levy's Clothier will host a Shop Nashville Meet and Greet and Pop Up Shop with Timo during Nashville Fashion Week. Levy’s is a family-owned business offering a wide variety of men’s and women’s upscale designer apparel. Open since 1855, Levy’s has been run by the same family for 164 years. We are recognized as the oldest men’s clothing store in America, and one of the best in the nation. Since its inception, Levy’s has been honored as Esquire’s Best of Class Gold Standard Men’s Specialty store, which recognizes stores that “continuously raise the bar on what it means to be the best in the business”. 

“I am thrilled to return to Nashville for Fashion Week not only to show the latest TW collection, but to have an important conversation with my mentor & friend, Fern Mallis, Tanya Taylor and Peter Som who I have had the pleasure of getting to know through the CFDA. The discussion on Diversity & Inclusion couldn't be more timely or urgent with the upcoming 2020 elections and toxicity of the current political climate.” - Timo Weiland

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 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.

"Fashion is a reflection - and hopefully sometimes a prediction - of where we are as a culture. It’s so great that the conversation is being facilitated  around the country and of course here at NFW. The blinders are off on how we design, how we shop and how we define beauty. All of us get to celebrate the beauty of our uniqueness and individuality and that’s a great cause. It’s not that there’s ‘room at the table’ for everyone, it’s that we’ve decided to build a new table that’s bigger and stronger and more resilient than ever." - Peter Som

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.

"As people continue to move to this great city, there is a growing opportunity to collaborate more in our industry." - Barry Grider, Chanel Ready-To-Wear Ambassador at Nordstrom Green Hills

Fashion Talks is part of the NFW Learning Lab series. This is one of five educational opportunities that have been announced to provide a platform to engage, learn and connect experientially within the community. Please make plans early to attend at least one of these special events.

Tickets for Fashion Talks and the other Learning Labs can be reserved 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. 

NFW Sustainable Summit at oneC1TY on April 1

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK PRESENTS FREE SUSTAINABLE SUMMIT ON APRIL 1

Moderated by Special Guest Fern Mallis

The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry with the environmental damage increasing as the industry continues to expand. Did you also know that the fashion industry has a broken labor system in place within our fashion supply chain? The good news is that there are solutions to mitigate these problems. Nashville Fashion Week will launch our Learning Lab Series with a Sustainable Summit moderated by Fern Mallis on Monday, April 1 at oneC1TY. This FREE event is the first of five NFW Learning Labs throughout the week. These educational opportunities provide a platform to engage, learn and connect experientially within the community. Please make plans early to attend at least one of these special events.

Join us on Monday, April 1 at oneC1TY for an interactive event that will include Nashville's first fashion-focused discussion on sustainability. Our panel of industry leaders - Chrissy Fogerty, Fauxgerty; Barrett Ward, ABLE; David Prentice, OnPoint Manufacturing and fashion designer Van Hoang, our 2018 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient - will share their insights on how to turn ideas into action and experiences with sustainability. Transparency, business ethics and brand missions impact both people and the planet. Sustainable initiatives are top of mind for today's consumer and the fashion industry, but many of us don't understand what we can do to contribute to the ecosystem. From labor rights, human rights or the environment, we are each a key variable to help correct the problems that currently exist. Organizations like Fashion Revolution and this event will share how we can change the model, material and mindset.

There are a limited number of tickets available to attend the Sustainable Summit which will include include interactive pop-up experiences by the panelists and Fashion Revolution, who spearheads the global movement Fashion Revolution Week (April 22 - 28), refreshments and bites from Pastaria and the live-stream panel conversation. Educational sponsor, Middle Tennessee State University, will facilitate and produce the live-stream which will be aired on Nashville Fashion Week's Facebook and InstaStories at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the event.

Fern Mallis, the creator of New York Fashion Week, will moderate the conversation to discuss tangible ways that these businesses are addressing sustainabiity and how we can assist in making a difference in our world. Nashville businesses are leading the way with sustainable solutions. It's time for the rest of us to join in.

“I applaud NFW for taking on the issue of sustainability…which is top of the minds for everyone in the fashion industry now….and if it’s not it SHOULD BE. I’m looking forward to participating in their Sustainable Summit, as we all have so much to learn to figure out how we can save our planet and ‘do the right thing’ before it’s too late. Sustainable conferences are the new black!” - Fern Mallis

This community-wide event will include Pop-Up Shops and educational material from Fauxgerty, ABLE, OnPoint Manufacturing and Fashion Revolution prior to the panel discussion and a photo booth from Hi-Fi Media to commemorate the event. 

“As a LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) project with an emphasis on open space for pedestrians, nature, and healthy buildings; it was only natural for us to be the host for the first fashion-focused sustainability summit in Nashville. We at oneC1TY are long-standing supporters of the work that Nashville Fashion Week has contributed to our community and wanted to continue contributing in a meaningful way since we believe that Nashville is home to progressive thinkers, the most innovative minds in technology, and a community hungry to obtain a sustainable lifestyle." - Ryan Doyle, OneC1TY

SUSTAINABLE SUMMIT: Nashville Turns Ideas Into Action 

Monday, April 1 | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

An Interactive Event and Panel Discussion with Fauxgerty, ABLE, OnPoint Manufacturing and Van Hoang | Moderated by Fern Mallis

Location: ONEC1TY | 8 City Boulevard, Suite 402, 37203

Admission: FREE, Individual ticket, light bites and refreshments from Pastaria that includes Crispy Risotto Balls with pomodoro sauce & herb aioli, Caponata Bruschetta with lemon ricotta & mustard greens and Burrata Toast with chilies and basil.

FAUXGERTY

Fauxgerty is committed to people and the planet. That means sustainable fabrics, ethical factories, and a team that feels like family. Their goal is to empower women to shop consciously and consider the impact of every purchase. With that in mind, Fauxgerty creates long-lasting pieces that can be worn with the closet you've already built. Their design team makes easy-to-wear, stand-out silhouettes and we sample each piece in multiple sizes to ensure the fit translates from sizes 00-24 seamlessly. From repurposed materials to cruelty-free leathers and suedes, their sustainable materials are a big part of who they are. Most of their vintage fabrics cannot be replaced. So, while their silhouettes restock, most colors and prints are exclusive. Their design team makes easy-to-wear, stand-out silhouettes. On average, it takes two hours to sew a Fauxgerty garment. They count on skilled seamstresses to transform their fabrics into the highest quality pieces. Their sewers in Alabama are paid 71% over minimum wage,are offered paid time off, health insurance and work in a temperature controlled facility. Fauxgerty's goal is to design garments that adapt to lifestyle, body type and personal style seamlessly. 

"Nashville is a place where Fauxgerty hangs our hat often as we launch new collections, events and support the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund so it when this opportunity arose to be a part of leading the way with sustainable options for consumers, we wanted to be a part of the conversation with other like-minded brands and individuals." - Chrissy Fogerty, Founder & Designer

Chrissy Fogerty set out to create environmentally sustainable garments that adapt with any woman's lifestyle. It all started with a collection of faux leather motorcycle jackets that felt and lasted just like real leather. That line inspired the Fauxgerty name and paved the way for a full collection of ethical pieces.

ABLE

ABLE is a rapidly growing ethical lifestyle brand challenging the culture of the fashion industry by creating transformative opportunities for women. Their handmade jewelry, leather bags, clothes, and shoes are made both locally in Nashville, and globally in Ethiopia, Peru, Mexico, and Brazil. In 2018, ABLE became the first fashion brand to publish it’s lowest wages because the company believes complete transparency is the only way to protect and empower the industry’s vulnerable workers – most of whom are women. 

“ABLE is extremely proud to partner on the first ever Nashville Fashion Week Sustainable Summit because it represents our city’s fashion community and leadership in protecting people and the planet. While the topic of sustainable fashion is trending, we believe it’s not a passing trend. ABLE is committed to challenging the culture of the fashion industry by equipping consumers with education and creating solutions that can transform the industry and the lives of its workers. We hope our #PublishYourWages movement will inspire consumers to demand living wages for all of fashion’s vulnerable workers, most of whom are women.” - Barrett Ward, CEO & Founder of ABLE

Barrett Ward, the CEO & Founder, is leading his team to challenge the culture of the fashion industry by creating transformative opportunities for women. What began as a literal thread of an idea to sell handwoven scarves made by women overcoming hardships in Ethiopia has grown into a lifestyle brand with beautiful leather bags, jewelry, clothes, and shoes. Barrett’s ever growing ambition and heart for social justice has resulted in recognition from prestigious organizations, including the GQ Leader of the Year Award in 2014.

ONPOINT MANUFACTURING

OnPoint Manufacturing specializes in purchase activated on-demand mass customization of apparel. OnPoint has developed technically advanced manufacturing and distribution solutions for the apparel industry. Our factory model automates and integrates almost every aspect of the manufacturing process from order entry to delivery. The integrated components that are driven by compex software allow OnPoint to manufacture millions of unique SKU's on-demand reducing inventory costs and streamlining the whole supply chain. OnPoint maintains a manufacturing facility in Florence, Alabama, with headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.

“It is an honor to partner with and sponsor the 2019 Nashville Fashion Week. It goes without saying, Nashville is quickly becoming a hub for the fashion and apparel industry, and with new designers and brands being introduced every year in this area, we believe the Nashville Fashion Week is a must have event in this key market. We are proud to be welcomed into the Nashville Fashion Week family.” - David M. Prentice, Sr. VP of Sales and Marketing, OnPoint Manufacturing.

VAN HOANG

Van Hoang is a sustainable womenswear designer based in Nashville, TN. Her clothing is modern yet timeless as well as versatile and functional. She strives to create pieces that can easily be incorporated into an existing wardrobe yet still maintain their unique characteristics. They range from one-of-a-kind to ready-to-wear and everything is handmade in her studio. Her collection for Nashville Fashion Week will primarily be made from deadstock and remnant materials to reduce unnecessary waste and promote awareness on this issue.

“I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of this years Nashville Fashion Forward Fund. This award will enable me to attend the Copenhagen Fashion Summit which is a global conference about sustainability in fashion and this opportunity will allow me to learn from top leaders in the field. I hope to bring this knowledge back to Nashville and turn ideas into action.” - Van Hoang

FASHION REVOLUTION USA

Fashion Revolution USA is proud to be a part of the international mission of Fashion Revolution focused on programming, events, and educational resources. Their mission is to educate and engage people in the US about the social and environmental impact of their clothing purchases, so that they demand a more sustainable fashion industry and circular economy for all. Fashion Revolution Week is April 18-22, 2019. 

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Middle Tennessee State University is a destination of choice for students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of signature programs with national and international acclaim. MTSU’s College of Behavioral and Health Sciences offers degree programs in both Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising. Students who have a passion for design and fashion can apply their creativity in classes which expand their knowledge of all aspects of the business. Learn more about MTSU’s Textiles, Merchandising, and Design major at MTSU.edu/HumanSciences.

"Middle Tennessee State University is excited to be the exclusive university partner for Nashville Fashion Week. While MTSU’s live broadcast of the Sustainable Summit benefits the fashion community, MTSU’s Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising majors also gain invaluable industry experience." - Dr. Rick Cottle, Assoicate Professor, Middle Tennessee State University Textiles, Merchandising & Design

ONEC1TY

oneC1TY is a vibrant, walkable LEED for Neighborhood development (LEED ND) project featuring abundant green space and public gathering places positioned at Charlotte Avenue and the 28th/31st Street Connector in West Nashville. oneC1TY has transformed a site of underutilized warehouses into a sustainable and interactive community featuring office, residential, hospitality and retail uses as well as a community lawn that encourages enjoyment of the outdoors, music and art. oneC1TY is widely recognized for its approach to healthy real estate and is a recipient of the Urban Land Institute Excellence in Development Building Healthy Places Award.

Tickets for the Sustainable Summit can be secured at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. The event is FREE, but a ticket is required. 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 April 2-6 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville. Tickets to all events are available in a wide range of prices at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. 

Anna Sui & Fern Mallis to be Featured Guests at NFW 2018

ANNA SUI AND FERN MALLIS TO BE FEATURED GUESTS AT NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2018

From the runways of New York to the backdrop of OZ Arts Nashville, fashion icons Anna Sui and Fern Mallis will share their creative insights and work with Nashville's fashion community and entrepreneurs. Designer, Anna Sui and legendary New York Fashion Week Founder, Fern Mallis, will be our featured guests on Friday, April 6 at Union Station Hotel and on Saturday, April 7 at OZ Arts Nashville.

“We are incredibly honored to be hosting both Fern Mallis and Anna Sui as part of our 2018 program,” said Nashville Fashion Week managing directors and co-founders Marcia Masulla and Connie Cathcart-Richardson. “To have Anna Sui participate in such a meaningful way is tremendous gift to our community especially with her thoughtful ties to both Third Man Records where she designed the uniforms, shares Detroit roots with Jack White and has worked with Nashville’s very own supermodel, Karen Elson, who has been a staple on Sui’s NYFW runways and the muse for her recent collaboration with Macy’s I.N.C. collection. We are also thrilled to reunite and host Fern for her third Nashville Fashion Week. She has been an unwavering mentor of our mission, the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund and has also led the charge to bring Sui to our city.”

Kicking off the weekend will be NFW Fashion Talks with Fern Mallis and Anna Sui taking place at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6 at Union Station Hotel. Sponsored by Union Station Hotel and UAL, the event will include a VIP reception where patrons will have the opportunity to meet and receive a signed copy of Mallis’ book Fashion Lives: Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis. Following the reception, Sui and Mallis will take the stage at 4 p.m. to share insights and personal stories of their expansive experiences in the fashion industry for the main program. Middle Tennessee State University’s School of Textiles, Merchandising and Design will live-stream the conversation during the event and individual copies of Mallis' book will also be available for sale. 

“I’m thrilled to be back at Nashville Fashion Week to see the talented designers along with our special guest, designer Anna Sui, from New York,” said Mallis. “Nashville continues to be one of the coolest cities in the country, inspiring us all with music, food, and style." 

Hailed as the award-winning creator of New York Fashion Week, 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, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Tom Ford, Michael Kors, Diane von Fürstenberg, Polly Mellen, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, André Leon Talley, Bruce Weber, Bill Cunningham, Valentino, Leonard A. Lauder, Tim Gunn, Victoria Beckham, Rosita and Angela Missoni, Alexander Wang, and Christian Louboutin.

SATURDAY FINALE RUNWAY SHOW

The Nashville Fashion Week Finale Runway Show will showcase Anna Sui’s 2018 spring collection on Saturday, April 7 at OZ Arts Nashville. Internationally recognized and beloved by the world’s most influential people, the career of Sui is a classic American success story. With over 50 boutiques in eight countries and her collection is sold in 300 stores in over 30 countries, Sui opened her first flagship store on Greene Street in Soho in 1992. The boutique’s vibrant mix of black Victorian furniture, purple walls, papier-mache doll heads and rock n’ roll posters closely reflects Anna Sui’s decorating style and has been the model for all of her shops. The late 1990s was a time of significant growth for Sui; she embarked upon a hugely successful expansion in the Far East, where she quickly established a huge cult following. She also launched cosmetics, fragrance, shoe and accessory licenses. Her devotion to detail is apparent in every one of her products, which are all intimately connected to her world. Her iconic make-up packaging and fragrance bottle design have even become collectors’ items. This special opportunity is sponsored by the Westin Nashville.

“I’ve been wanting to visit Nashville for a quite some time…legendary home of Country Western Music, the Grand Ole Opry, Hot Chicken, and Manuel: Tailor to the Stars!," said Sui. "In recent years, I’ve been hearing so much about exciting things happening in Nashville.  Many people I know have moved there to take part in the evolving super cool Music Scene.  I’m totally excited to discover it all for myself first-hand…and to present my Spring 2018 runway collection!”

American menswear brands Hickey Freeman Tailors Gold and h American Tailor, both presented by Levy's, will open the Saturday night runway show. 

“As a supporter of Nashville Fashion Week from the very beginning, Levy's is thrilled to be partnering with Hickey Freeman and h for the final evening of runway shows during Nashville Fashion Week 2018,” said Levy’s owners David and Ellen Levy. “Featuring the iconic brand, Hickey Freeman, and the company's rising star of fashion, h American Tailor, it gives us great pleasure to present these two collections made in the USA. Timeless and fashion-forward, just like this great city of Nashville, these collections are a perfect representation of Levy's.” 

Nashville Fashion Week will be held April 3-7 in partnership with OZ Arts Nashville with all proceeds benefiting the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Tickets to these two experiences and other individual events are available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.