Fashion pulsed on in Raleigh just as New York’s fashion week came to a close. Last Friday ushered in the Triangle Fashion Week that would storm the Raleigh area as the region’s top designers, fashionistas and consumers came together to celebrate the fashion community in the district.
Businesses from large department stores to small boutiques and salons collaborated with Blvd.tv , the Triangle’s media advertising company, to promote what would be TFW’s third year. According to Blvd.tv representatives, TFW was created in 2008 to construct an innovative marketing campaign for the Triangle’s fashion community.
Over the past week, businesses in areas from North Hills to Glenwood Avenue stayed open later than usual to cater to consumers and fashion enthusiasts, offering discounts and sales that would not be offered during any other occasion.
Last night at Triangle Fashion Week held their first Saks Fashion Show, where hair stylists, makeup artists, designers and program coordinators convened for another hectic, yet cohesive event showcasing high fashion.
“In our office, people are running around, flyers for Fashion Week are everywhere,” Jonathan Stevenson, videographer for Blvd.tv , said. “It’s pretty hectic in there.”
Nevertheless, a large number of attendees gathered at Triangle Towne Center’s Saks Fifth Avenue to see an abundance of designer wear. Brand names including Diane von Furstenberg , Alice + Olivia, Vince, Theory, Jimmy Choo and Tory Burch all made appearances on the models as attendees caught a sneak-peak at the latest Fall season trends on the runway.
Alison Brown, an N.C . State alumna with a degree in business, was not only an attendee of the fashion show, but was also one of the hair stylists.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Brown said. ”We did some hair for FashionSpark last week also and it’s really cool that Triangle Fashion Week is bringing fashion to Raleigh. The city is a metropolitan area and I love that the fashion scene is really starting to gain attention. I especially loved all the fur, prints, and shoes that were in the fashion show. I was drooling over the fur vests and heels.”
The fashion show was full of flowing, short dresses and fur vests for women, and classic and contemporary clothing designs for men. As the night continued on, so did the music coming from DJ Bobby Drake’s speakers. Guests were able to experience a tasteful, cosmopolitan vibe with the service and amenities offered at the fashion show.
Before the models strutted the runway, Troop 41, a local hip-hop ensemble, came out and performed two songs. Nicole Murphy, another fashion show attendee and hair stylist, commented on the group’s performance on the runway before the fashion show.
“It was definitely not something you’d think would be at Saks, but it added a fun vibe.”
TFW encouraged participants to contribute to the humanitarian organization the Helene Foundation, a foundation designed to assist mothers fighting cancer. Cara Fratto, the marketing director for Saks Fifth Avenue announced the event’s partnership with the Helene Foundation before the fashion show kicked off. Ten percent of the evening’s sales went to the Helene Foundation.
This year being the first of Saks Fifth Avenue’s participation with TFW, Fratto said the rich fashion culture in Raleigh would cultivate further partnerships in the future.
“I think Raleigh is such a transport area,” Fratto said. “We have a melting pot of people from [everywhere] that recognize name brands. They love Versace, they love Prada… they come here because they can get those brands. They like quality fabrics and they know good design. We just have really good clientele here. They just understand really good design.”
TFW exhibited a weeklong showcase of world-renowned and established designer brands. But according to Fratto, students should foresee future involvement in region-wide fashion highlighting events such this.
“I hope that in the future, students can be a part of fashion week,” Fratto said. “You [already] have your established brands, but I think you have to start with the young designers. That’s where it all begins.”
