The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala To Celebrate Nashville’s Creative Community On Closing Night of Nashville Fashion Week

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala To Celebrate Nashville’s Creative Community On Closing Night of Nashville Fashion Week

The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and co-chairs Kimberly Lewis and Gen Sohr invite you to celebrate and support the entrepreneurial spirit of Nashville’s creative arts and fashion community at the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Gala on Saturday, April 8 at Track One in the burgeoning Wedgehood Houston area. The Fashion Forward Gala is the culmination of Nashville Fashion Week’s five day celebration featuring local, regional and national designers and industry professionals in an array of creative events throughout the city. The Gala will be designed and coordinated by AmosEvents.

Nashville Fashion Week is excited to announce that Butch Spyridon, President of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, will speak to the importance of the arts and creativity as a cornerstone of the Nashville economy. Natalie Chanin, founder and creative director of Alabama Chanin, will be the guest speaker for the evening followed by a musical performance by singer-songwriter Shelly Colvin. 

“I am honored to be included in this event. Fashion has become the next step in the creative “thread” that speaks to Nashville’s unique and authentic offerings,” Spyridon said.

Nashville Fashion Week will present its third Nashville Fashion Forward Awards at the Fashion Forward Gala to recognize community leaders that have made an impact on the Nashville fashion industry. Sandra Lipman is the 2017 Nashville Style Icon. Awards will also be presented for the Fashion Forward, Legacy, Face of Fashion (sponsored by Picture Booth), Rising Star (sponsored by The Mall at Green Hills) and Point of View (sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka) recipients at the event. 

Butch Spyridon
Natalie Chanin
Shelly Colvin

“All of us at Alabama Chanin are so honored and excited to be participating in Nashville Fashion Week. It has been wonderful watching the industry unfold, connect creative individuals, and flourish in our communities. It has only just begun,” says Chanin.

In 2013, Chanin won the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge, an award competition that identifies and celebrates the greatest American designers working in the realm of sustainable fashion. Chanin continues to learn and to teach craft traditions, using them to bridge generational, economic, and cultural gaps. Steluta will host an Alabama Chanin Lifestyle Pop Up Show featuring collection pieces and home goods curated by Alabama Chanin on April 1-9 in their East Nashville boutique. 

“Nashville Fashion Week has grown to have a significant impact on young designers, and the industry as a whole is paying attention. It’s an honor to sit on their advisory council during this exciting time, and I’m especially thrilled to perform at this year’s gala, where my friend Natalie Chanin will be speaking,” Colvin says.

Colvin has written and recorded two full-length albums, and collaborated with numerous artists on stage and off including John Prine and The Black Crowes. Shelly is featured in the critically acclaimed music documentary Heartburn Highways Revisited and has performed at many festivals and historical venues including Bonnaroo, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Stagecoach, Lincoln Center and was most recently a featured artist at Dylan Fest at the Ryman Auditorium.

Individual tickets to the Gala can be purchased for $200, tables of 10 for $2,000, and sponsored tables for $2,500 at NashvilleFashionWeek.com and includes The Gala Late Party. Others can join the festivities following the awards ceremony at 10 p.m. Late Party tickets are $50.

Nashville Fashion Week will be held April 4-8 at unique locations throughout the city. Runway and All Access Passes as well as tickets to individual events are now available in a wide range of prices. All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week 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 Announces Runway Show Locations With A New Runway Pass For All Three Nights

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES RUNWAY SHOW LOCATIONS WITH A NEW RUNWAY PASS FOR ALL THREE NIGHTS

Locations for Nashville Fashion Week 2017 are set and tickets are on sale for all events. The seventh annual five-day event will kick off on Tuesday, April 4 with the Nashville Designer Showcase and close on Saturday night with the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala and feature sixteen designers throughout the week. Many other events will be held city-wide throughout the week to showcase all aspects of Nashville’s thriving creative fashion community.

Nashville Fashion Week opens with the Nashville Designer Showcase in collaboration with Oz Arts Nashville on Tuesday, April 4 at Oz (6172 Cockrill Bend Circle). NFW alum Amanda Valentine, Any Old Iron and Ona Rex and Truly Alvarenga will be joined on the runway by Cavanaugh Baker and Minxx. Oz will spotlight the creative process behind each designer’s collection. The evening will end with the official NFW Opening Night Party in the Oz Lounge and Patio overlooking the Sculpture Garden. Oz is an inspiring destination for world-class innovative contemporary art experiences that supports the creation, development and presentation of significant performing and visual art works by leading artists whose contribution influences the advancement in their field. The Nashville Designer Showcase is sponsors by William Edge Salon and Opry Mills.

"I'm elated to be back for a third year with Nashville Fashion Week! It's been such an honor to showcase my work each year on the runway, as I could not be more proud to be representing my hometown", says Ona Rex designer and native Nashvillian Ashley Balding. "As our city has grown and changed massively in the recent years, there remains a fantastic community of creatives and leaders of whom I'm so appreciative to be a part of. I can't wait to see all the hard work of our city and beyond!" 

Designers Andrew Gallivan, Lily Guilder Design, Madness Is, Nasheli Juliana and Splashed by DKG were selected from hundreds of applications to show their collections on Wednesday, April 5 at the Emerging Designer Runway Show on the Veranda at the historic Union Station Hotel (1001 Broadway). Guests are invited to celebrate with the designers at the official After Party following the show at the hotel. Union Station, a 100-year old railway station, is a shining gateway of the past, blending modern convenience with warm, historical elegance. The Emerging Designer Runway Show is sponsored by The Mall at Green Hills.

"Participating in Nashville Fashion Week is a great honor. I am proud to be from a city that supports its local artists and American businesses!", Andrew Gallivan said. Gallivan now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Fauxgerty, Lagi Nadeau, Michael Drummond, Patrick Assaraf and Shea Steele will share the runway at the Ready-to-Wear Runway Show with musical guest singer/songwriter Erin McCarley on Friday night, April 7 in the Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) Lobby (10 Music Square East). BMI is the bridge between songwriters and the businesses and organizations that want to play their music publicly. As a global leader in music rights management, BMI serves as an advocate for the value of music, representing nearly 12 million musical works created and owned by more than 750,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. 

"I love when the arts come together to celebrate. I've always had a love affair with the art of fashion and am thrilled to be a part of this year's NFW," McCarley said.

Menswear designer Patrick Assaraf from Canada will be presented by Levy’s Clothing. Patrick said "For me, Nashville is the new city of music and fashion. Nashville is attracting young and creative people into their spectacular city with so much to offer. It is a pool of talented people all in one place and they keep coming every day."

"From Oz, a contemporary art facility, to the history of Union Station and musical roots of BMI, Nashville Fashion Week continues its legacy of finding unique locations that celebrate the creativity of Nashville to host our events. Nashville Fashion Week has popped up in a variety of settings over the years,” said Mike Smith, one of three Nashville Fashion Week co-founders. "Whether high above the city at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place to historic locations such as The Arcade and The Parthenon or with the Tennessee State Capitol as our background, our guests know that they are going to experience something fresh and exciting.”

Details for this year’s Nashville Fashion Forward Gala, Shop Nashville Week, Thursday's Photography + Art event, Educational Experiences and a new Blogger Brunch will be announced separately.

This year Nashville Fashion Week has added a new Runway Pass to the menu of ticket options available for events throughout the week. The $150 ticket provides access to all three nights of runway shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with the option of a $50 upgrade for guaranteed seating. All Access Passes, individual night tickets and Nashville Fashion Forward Gala tickets are available for purchase at NashvilleFashionWeek.com. 

All NFW ticket holders get FREE admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts from April 3-16 featuring the exhibit of iconic fashion photographer Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty with proof of purchase. 

Proceeds from all Nashville Fashion Week events benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, 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 Makes Lots Of Announcements at Kickoff Party

We had a great time and made a lot of big announcements at the Nashville Fashion Week 2017 Kickoff Party at The Hermitage Hotel Ballroom last night. The event sold out quickly, but don’t worry if you missed it, here’s all of the inside scoop.

SIXTH ANNUAL NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND RECIPIENT NAMED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Fashion photographer Brett Warren has been named the sixth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT). A committee of the Board of CFMT selected Warren amongst a group of experienced fashion industry applicants with ties to Middle Tennessee. Warren is the first photographer to be selected as a recipient of the fund. 

Brett Warren lives in a world where anything is possible. While studying design and photography at MTSU, Brett became passionately inspired to present the world as it could be through images that would appeal to the mind and imagination. What started with a dream and a Nikon Cool Pix has turned into a means to convey emotion, and to share untold stories and convictions. Along the way he found encouragement through a personal encounter with Wayne White, a more-than-serendipitous internship with Annie Leibovitz, and invitations to shoot at New York Fashion Week.

Since 2011 he has produced multiple events, spoken at Universities, worked behind the scenes on sets for Vogue, art directed major label music videos, and had his work featured in local and national publications. In addition, Brett has been highly active in the local community by serving on the Nashville Fashion Week Advisory Council, and is an avid supporter of the Nashville fashion community. He has been recognized among his peers, for his “Point of View,” and built long-lasting relationships with those in and out of the fashion world.

While he has worked with easily recognized brands such as, Billy Reid, Surface Magazine, and GQ, he is just as passionate about working with some that may not be as familiar…yet.

Established in 2011, the objective of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is to provide an award that recognizes the individual achievements of a fashion industry professional. The financial resources that accompany the award are intended to provide an experiential professional development opportunity for the recipient to further advance their career in the fashion industry. 

2017 DESIGNERS ANNOUNCED

Nashville Fashion Week 2017 will include three nights of runway shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights. For the first time, NFW will offer a Runway Pass that includes entry to all three events plus the option to upgrade to guaranteed seating.

We're excited to announce sixteen designers that will be featured at unique runway locations throughout the city during year seven of the five-day event. 

NFW will open with the Nashville Designer Showcase on Tuesday April 4. NFW alumni Amanda Valentine, Any Old Iron, Ona Rex and Truly Alvarenga will join Cavanagh Baker and Minxx on the runway.

Andrew Gallivan, Lily Guilder, Madness Is, Nasheli Juliana and Splashed by DKG were selected from hundreds of designer applications to show collections on Wednesday night at the Emerging Designer Runway Show.

Fauxgerty, Lagi Nadeau, Michael Drummond, Patrick Assaraf and Shea Steele will present their collections at the 2017 Ready-to-Wear Runway Show on Friday night. 

Bios and photos of all designers are available at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

SANDRA LIPMAN TO RECEIVE THE 2017 STYLE ICON AWARD AT THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD GALA

Nashville Fashion Week 2017 will close with the fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala. Last year’s Gala Co-Chair Gen Sohr, co-founder of Paper and Pencil, is back this year and will be joined by Emerson Grace boutique owner, Kimberly Lewis to chair this year's celebratory event featuring the Nashville Fashion Forward Awards presentation. The 2017 Style Icon Award will be presented to Nashville philanthropist and fashion maven Sandra Lipman. The Fashion Forward, Legacy, Face of Fashion, Rising Star and Point of View Awards will be announced at the Gala.

Nashville Fashion Week will also host a Photography + Fashion event on Thursday. City-wide shopping events and educational experiences will fill the official schedule. More specific event details will be announced in the next few weeks.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Nashville Fashion Week 2017 will be held April 4-8. All Access Passes, Runway Passes and tickets for all events are on sale now at NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

All NFW ticket holders get FREE admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts from April 3-16 featuring the exhibit of iconic fashion photographer Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty with proof of purchase. 

All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, an endowed fund established to support the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities.  

PURCHASE TICKETS

ABOUT NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK

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 NashvilleFashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Nashville Fashion Week and AMAX Talent Announce Model Search 2017

Nashville Fashion Week and AMAX Talent Announce Model Search 2017

AMAX Talent is searching for aspiring models to debut at Nashville Fashion Week 2017. Eligible male and female applicants ages 13-30 have the opportunity to meet with AMAX Talent scouts on April 1 from 1 - 3 p.m. at Macy’s 2nd Level at The Mall at Green Hills. 

The 2017 winner will be announced on Wednesday, April 5 during a Nashville Fashion Week event. The winner will receive a prize package that includes:

  • $1,000 modeling contract with AMAX Talent
  • The opportunity to meet one-on-one with top national modeling agents including IMG, Next, Elite and Ford
  • A professional photo shoot with photographer Mark DeLong

    No experience is required, but applicants must meet all of the physical and age requirements specified on amaxtalent.com. Only models NOT represented by other agencies are eligible to participate. All Model Search applicants will also be considered for Nashville Fashion Week model casting.

    The AMAX + NFW Model Search has been a launchpad for many successful modeling careers since 2012. Only two weeks after being named the 2016 Model Search winner, Molly Rothe was selected to walk for Carolina Herrera. She has since received multiple contract offers from top agencies around the world. 2015 Model Search winner, Briggs Rudder, is currently in development and has been photographed by several notable photographers. 2014 winner, Sydney Chiyoko, signed with Next Model Management and has walked in Nashville Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week. 2014 finalists, Camryn Clark and Sarah Beth Elder, have signed with IMG Worldwide and FORD Chicago. 2013 winner, Olivia Brunner, has been featured in Justine Magazine and worked for TJ Maxx. Caleigh Darraugh, the 2012 Model Search winner, has worked in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Asia. Her clients include Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade, Gilt Group, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire France and L’Officiel and she has appeared on the cover of WWD and L’Officiel Morocco. Lydia Touchton has walked the runway in every Nashville Fashion Week since she was a finalist in 2012 as well as for Monique Lhuillier, Christian Siriano and Marchesa.

    ABOUT THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND
    The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that receives proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week each year. The establishment of 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 signature high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support.

    ABOUT AMAX TALENT
    AMAX is a full service agency representing models in fashion, commercial and lifestyle, actors and children, as well as hair, make-up and wardrobe stylists. AMAX models have been featured in campaigns for CHANEL, Marc Jacobs, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, FENDI, COACH and American Eagle, as well as walked the runways of Marc Jacobs, Prada, Versace, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and many more. Through an emphasis on both local and direct booking, scouting and developing local models for international placement, AMAX has quickly risen to become one of the premier agencies in the Southeast. AMAX Talent has a history of discovering and developing fashion stars such as Vogue cover girl Binx Walton, Saint Laurent muse Sarah Engelland and 2015 Sports Illustrated cover girl Hannah Davis.

    Nashville Fashion Week 2017 Kickoff Party

    NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2017 KICKOFF PARTY

    Join us for the Nashville Fashion Week 2017 Kickoff Party on Monday, February 20 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Hermitage Hotel Ballroom. Guests will enjoy wine provided by Mouton Noir and light bites.

    The 2016 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient, 2017 emerging and Nashville designers, fourth annual Nashville Fashion Forward Gala chairs and Style Icon Award winner and other exciting details about NFW 2017 will be  announced. All proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

    The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund supports the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee by providing a financial award and resources for experiential professional development opportunities to assist in career advancement within the fashion industry. Past recipients include Eric Bornhop, Ceri Hoover, Elise Joseph, Lauren Leonard and Julianna Bass.

    Tickets to the Nashville Fashion Week Kickoff Party are $20. A limited number of tickets are on sale now. 

    PURCHASE TICKETS

    ABOUT THE NASHVILLE FASHION FORWARD FUND
    The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an endowed fund that receives proceeds from Nashville Fashion Week each year. The establishment of 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 signature high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support.