The haute, the boho-chic, the creative, the urban wear, the costumes, the strutting, the hip hop and the opportunity-making will return to Colorado Springs after all.
An announcement at the beginning of June that the local Fashion Week scheduled for the last week of June would be canceled this year by the company that had produced last year’s inaugural event brought groans and complaints that have quickly turned to cheers and a frenzy of preparation.
Clothing designers, models, photographers, videographers, artists from hairstylists to musicians and all kinds of vendors again will have a chance to flaunt their wares during the new Hashtag# Fashion Week that will be held June 24-30, the same time as originally had been planned.
“I love seeing the music community and the fashion community intermingle,” said Tom Woodruff, who will be presenting his work as a clothing designer, a music performer and a model. “We’re all here to help each other.”
All events will be free admission, said organizer Nayada Moore, owner of Hashtag Co., a resale clothing boutique, who’s producing the event with her business partner Antwone “A.P.” Peterson, owner of 4Digital Media photography and videography.
The seven-day Fashion Week extravaganza kicks off June 24 with “Eyes Wide Shut,” a masquerade-style fashion show with attendees in business casual attire and wearing their own masks.
Top models in Colorado Springs will take to the runway, along with special appearances to include Colorado Sen. Tony Exum Sr. showing off an outfit by DeVaughn Jones, designer of the dedecollection.com.
“He’s going to be walking next to one of my lingerie-line designs, so I’ve got to keep it classy,” Jones said. “I will put my all in and do what I do best and put on a great fashion show.”
The starting event will be held at 2727 Palmer Park Blvd., Moore’s and Peterson’s office and event center, which is being remodeled free by Adam Fredinburg, owner of CO Estimates and Designs. The family-owned general contractor has repaired damaged drywall, removed walls, painted the center, and is making it brighter and classier.
“They were in a tight spot, and we happened to have the time to help them,” Fredinburg said, adding that his company does up to four large charitable projects each year.
Fredinburg quotes his mother, who has taught her children and others, “If you have the ability, you have the responsibility to help others.”
The week also will feature battles of hairstylists and makeup artists on June 25, along with another runway show, happening at 12245 Voyager Parkway, Suite 168.
A model mingle from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 26 will be held at the Manitou Art Center, 513 Manitou Ave., offering a chance to connect talent to business and creative offerings and learn how to advance their careers.
“Fashion is wearable art,” said Natalie Johnson, the center’s executive director. “It’s the first way we’re able to communicate about our personalities and who we are.”
While Colorado Springs is not as fertile a fashion landscape as other cities, it’s not as barren as some might think.
Of the center’s 50 studio artists and 2,500 members, a number of local artists make their living by making clothing, costumes, jewelry and other accessories, Johnson said. As part of the art center, they have access to commercial and regular sewing machines and classes and industry certificate programs.
Also on the Fashion Week agenda: a Netflix’s “Bridgerton” historical romance-inspired tea party with full-regalia attire; Urban Vogue from 5 to 9 p.m. on June 28 at 2727 Palmer Park Blvd., featuring a show that fuses urban wear with high fashion and hip-hop and rhythm and blues music; Project Super Nova from 5 to 9 p.m. on June 29 at the same location with an out-of-this-world theme; and ending with a “Kids Choice Experience,” from 2 to 6 p.m. June 30 at 3819 N. Academy Blvd.
Also, a strut with downtown small-business owners wearing clothing they sell will begin at noon on June 29, at Sailing Stone Real Estate, 101 N. Cascade Ave.
At the final event on June 28, kids will model cool clothing and everyone can enjoy activities, performances and prizes during the family-friendly afternoon.
The large-scale presentation been a lot of work to pull together in just a few weeks, Moore said. But her team has attracted at least 50 sponsors from local businesses and nonprofits that have been willing to donate through sponsorships and in-kind services.
Cb Thecreative designed a website and social media as a philanthropic gesture.
“Many people who have relocated to Colorado are familiar with Fashion Weeks that are held in New York, Chicago and Atlanta,” said Brian Lynch, who owns ICU Visuals with his wife, Deija, and is working on marketing for the event.
“A lot of people are passionate about Fashion Week because it’s such a big deal in other cities,” he said. “We’re developing a scene here and making sure it’s celebrated.”
While the Pikes Peak region has models and photographers, it’s difficult for models to find paid work here, said Dwan Petti, owner of Modeling in Colorado Springs.
“It’s not really on the map for fashion,” she said, but she’s hoping this year’s nod to all things fashion turns that around.
“Fashion Week is important because this kind of exposure brings more models into businesses and open up opportunities for them to be brand ambassadors,” Petti said. “They say competition happens at the bottom and collaboration happens at the top.”
For the schedule and more information, go to https://cosfashionweek.my.canva.site/.
