Forget Fashion Week, March in New Orleans has been Fashion Month, as the city hosted two fashion shows: NOLA Fashion Week (March 3-10) and Fashion Week New Orleans (March 21-25), each having showcased completely different but equally amazing designers.
NOLA Fashion Week (NOLAFW), a biannual event, is hosted by the NOLA Fashion Council and “aims to create opportunity and exposure for both established and up-and-coming Southern based (or born) designers while making an economic and artistic impact on the fashion industry”. NOLAFW, which debuted last March, includes runway shows and presentations as well as educational workshops to “encourage budding Southern industry hopeful about the business of fashion and beauty”, and a fashion market, which is open to both buyers and the public.
Fashion Week New Orleans is inspired by Fashion Week New York as well as the diverse culture of Louisiana, and its goal is to showcase the talents of both established and emerging fashion designers, brand houses, boutiques and retailers. Unlike NOLAFW, Fashion Week New Orleans presents over 35 runway shows with its participants competing in a Project Runway style competition, which each vying for the title of “Top Designer”. The goal of Fashion Week New Orleans is to redefine fashionable while giving back to the community.
Each of these weeklong fashion events is an opportunity for a city usually known for its cuisine to showcase another talent: incredible fashion.
Don’t fret; if you missed the events this time, NOLAFW will occur in the fall as well, and both will be back for Spring/Summer ’13!
Sources:
http://nola-fashionweek.com/
http://fashionweeknola.com/