Fri 3/13 – Sat 3/21
Fashion Week Cleveland celebrates 10 years as it kicks off a week long affair of fabulous events. We sat down with Donald Shingler, CEO and Founder, for a brief convo on a few things he’s excited about this year, how far they’ve come from inception and what makes Fashion Week Cleveland (FWC) unique.
CoolCleveland: What are you most excited about this year?
Donald Shingler: American fashion designer Indashio will be showing his work at Fashion Week Cleveland on Saturday, March 21 (at The Arcade Hyatt Regency). A production team will be filming this show, which will be aired on the Style Network. Also, American fashion designer Althea Harper, of Lifetime Network’s Project Runway show will be showing her new collection at Fashion Week Cleveland. Also, I was very excited that Better Homes & Gardens magazine called us a “must see” event in Cleveland.
What was the intention when creating FWC 10 years ago?
We started by bringing the downtown “retail fashion show” back to Cleveland — we called it The Cleveland Fashion Show. This was a single night of retail-style fashion shows, much like downtown department stores that you see in black and white photos from the 1930s to the 1960s in Cleveland and every American city. Our first was in 2002 at The Club at Key Center. We wanted to bring folks back to a much neglected downtown. The idea was to promote the city as much as anything.
From year one to year ten, how has FWC evolved?
Like I mentioned earlier, we started as a single night of retail-style fashion shows in 2002. Today we are a week of events, mostly educational, regarding the importance of fashion design, merchandising and retail. These events begin with “Retail’s Night Out!” at the 5th Street Arcades, and culminates into an evening of designer runway shows. Plus, we have our designer runway show and black-tie reception to finish off the week.
What do you attribute FWC’s successes to?
Two things — creating a new category of fashion week, the “regional fashion week” and developing our distinctive competency, that of being “the educational fashion week.”
In your opinion, how does FWC compare to other fashion weeks in other cities?
Fashion Week Cleveland was the first to create (what is now called) the “regional fashion week” model, and we are still the leader, by far, of this model. That said, we are the model that all other cities follow. Our distinctive competency is being known as “the educational fashion week,” which makes us unique.
Fashion Week Cleveland is focused on EDU-TAINMENT, educational programs held at leading retail and cultural institutions. These events are fun and creative learning experiences that focus on the importance of fashion design, retail and merchandising. Fashion industry leaders and consumers come together for entertaining programs throughout the city. This year there are two featured programs’ Retail’s Night Out! (03/13) at the 5th Street Arcades and a documentary screening of Valentino; The Last Emperor. (03/18).
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Here’s a preview of FWC highlights 2015:
Fri 3/13 @ 5PM – 8PM: Retail’s Night Out! Downtown retail returns to Cleveland. An entire city block of enclosed street awaits you at the 5th Street Arcades. There will be pop-up boutiques, trunk shows, sidewalk sales, international foods and DJ Samantha Gray will be playing music. There’ll be complimentary beer and wine and admission is free. This is where retail meets happy hour as we create a vibrant downtown shopping experience in Cleveland’s “Retail Triangle”.
Sat 3/14 @ 8PM: GlamJam Check website for further details.
Sun 3/15 @ 2PM: Fashion Exhibit Check website for further details.
Wed 3/18 @ 6PM: Fashion on Film See the critically acclaimed documentary Valentino; The Last Emperor. This film is a look into the life and times of legendary fashion designer Valentino. The film documents the colorful and dramatic closing act of the fashion icon’s celebrated career, tells the story of his extraordinary life and work, and also explores the larger themes affecting the fashion business today. But at the heart of the film is the unique relationship between Valentino and his business partner and companion of 50 years, Giancarlo Giammetti. Free admission and free popcorn.
Fri 3/20: Media Meet and Greet Party Check Website for further details.
Sat 3/21 @ 7PM – 11PM: Designer Runways Shows, Black-Tie Reception and Official FWC Afterparty VIP and special guest admission is a black-tie affair. There are also balcony seating tickets available where black-tie attire is optional. The evening will be one to remember, immersed in fashion and style at one of Cleveland’s best known landmarks, the Arcade / Hyatt Regency (420 Superior Avenue).