Founder’s Journal
Day One - September 7, 2007
At 4pm I shut down my computer. That’s when it became real. At that point all that I had to do is get dressed and pick up the outfit I designed for the Haute Cuisine part of the evening. It’s a great concept, pairing designers with chefs to develop food for the event that reflected the vision of different local designers. I was partnered with a great chef, Eric Brennan at the Excelsior. It was a good match because he’s very talented, so he was very creative about interpreting what I had created. More importantly he’s a real nice guy. I think that’s probably one of the best things about Boston Fashion Week. So many of our local talents can hold their own when compared to their peers anywhere else, but they’re accessible and generous. It’s like what they say about Boston being a big city with a small town feel.
The Fashion Boston launch party was probably the best opening night Boston Fashion Week has ever had -- red carpet and all! There were photo ops for everyone. You could even get you picture taken by Buick’s new, very fashionable car – the Enclave. I looked up the definition of enclave and it said, “an enclosed territory that is culturally distinct from the foreign territory that surrounds it”. I thought that this was a particularly fitting partnership for Boston Fashion Week. Even after all these years, most people aren’t aware of Boston’s local fashion scene, but it continues to thrive even though it sometime feels like it’s an underground subculture of the city.
Once the event got going, I was kept very busy meeting and greeting for the rest of the evening. I’m really a behind the scenes kind of guy, but I have to admit I enjoyed connecting with people because everyone there seemed to get it. I mean they were earnestly celebrating all that Boston fashion had to offer. There wasn’t just one fashion show, but four! The editor of Fashion Boston, Alex Hall put together each show to reflect the trends that she sees a Boston audience embracing this fall. I am so looking forward to how this new publication dedicated exclusively to fashion will serve the city and the local industry. Many of the models featured in the show were participants in this year’s modelBOSTON competition, including this year’s winner Kristen Kish.
Day Two - September 8, 2007
The fashion shows and parties are great, but closest to my heart are the educational events that take place during Boston Fashion Week. When I was starting out in the industry I would have done anything to access industry professionals who were willing to share their experience and resources with a new generation of fashion hopefuls. I was privileged to work with the School of Fashion Design and the Boston Public Library to present Fashion Prep, a talk for teens about the fashion industry. We invited a panel of professionals to share their perspectives on fashion, photography, fashion show production, styling, journalism and modeling. I can’t thank Lisa Baker, Tracy Aiguier, Dee Rodrigues, Keri Callahan, Victoria Dominguez and Eddi Phillips enough for coming out on a sweltering Saturday afternoon to play a roll in nurturing an eager group of teens we’ll probably be working with very soon!
The next event on my schedule was the Boston Design Laboratory’s group show at Hotel Commonwealth. They hosted it in a great retail space that had intimate little alcoves where guests felt like they had a private showing. It felt like I was in one of the couture houses of yesteryear which was very appropriate for the first designer to show. Industry veteran Shirley Willet wowed the audience with a retrospective of her work. Her early work was revolutionary when she developed it during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. What really struck me was that it wasn’t at all dated. The clothes remain high fashion today – good design, quality and fit are timeless.
Teresa Crowninshield has been one of Shirley’s protégés and was next to show her collection of very smart silk and cashmere jackets and coats. I could hear many of ladies seated around me hypothesizing about where they’d wear one piece or another – having already purchased them in their minds. After a brief intermission that featured some of the new talent the BDL is developing, we were witness to a very important presentation. Ilma Paixão, the founder of Handeira Linens & Lace introduced a DVD that captured the mission of her project with images, words and music very well. The designs on the runway were the fruits of cooperative she began with lace makers of the Xuquru tribe of northeastern Brazil. Proceeds from the sales of these garments provide much needed income to poor families in that region. A project like this speaks to a growing social consciousness about issues that our industry faces every day. Fair trade practices and global warming are a very real concern considering the scope of influence our industry yields.
Day Three - September 9, 2007
I was looking forward to the Shaunt Sarian handbag show at Emerge Spa and Salon for several reasons. Personally I can’t have the experience that Shaunt’s customers enjoy because I don’t carry a handbag. But, as a creative person I have such respect for what I can call works of art without exaggeration. His combination of leathers, hardware and design that follows function is the very definition of the creative process at its best. Animating these little treasures were a team of lovely models from Dynasty Models, many of whom I’ve gotten to know over the past year through modelBOSTON and many projects that they’ve taken part in. Sometimes people forget that good models breathe life into every inanimate objet d'art a designer creates. In addition to all this I could think of no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than at this luxurious locale. They have a men’s area that really inspires a regular guy like me to think about indulging in gentlemanly pleasures and that it’s OK to get a little pampering every now and then. I also knew that if it was a Shaunt event it was going to be brimming with good food, great wine and lots of hearty laughter. This man knows how to celebrate life! Needless to say no one was disappointed. After the show guests enjoyed all of the above on a private rooftop deck.
Day Four - September 10, 2007
Today felt like a week unto itself. So many events on a Monday! Go figure. It was a busy night for fashion in Boston. It also happened to be the first day of classes at the School of Fashion Design. I’m teaching several courses so I was in full teacher mode when Joyce Kulhawik from WBZ-TV came in to speak to a couple of students about Boston Fashion Week for her broadcast later that day. She had just met with designers Denise Hajjar and Michael DePaulo for the same piece. She was raving about the clothes at both houses. I knew I’d see Denise’s new collection later this week but I was so disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to see Michael’s show for myself. I heard only great things from everyone who attended.
I had another kind of fashion treat in store for me. I was moderating a conversation between eight incredible women – all influential professionals in the local fashion industry – for the Style Summit at the Boston Center for Adult Education. This event reinvigorates me every time I do it. Having women like Tracy Bennett Stewart, Marie Galvin, Mary Garthe, Sondra Grace, Denise Hajjar, Alexandra Hall, Erin Byers Murray and Lisa Pierpont all in one room is an experience in itself. But, being able to ask them questions and then see them explore answers to those questions amongst themselves stimulates every creative bone in my body. I almost forget that there is a room full of guests who also get the chance to have their questions answered. The dialogue was passionate, informative and sometimes just plain funny. The greatest reward for me takes place after the talk is over – seeing guests line up to get a private word with those speakers that they really identify with. As it was mentioned in the discussion, this whole week is about making real connections that lead to relationships, not just networking to see how many cards you can collect by the end of the night.
As if that weren’t a full enough day, a group of us headed over to the Hotel Marlowe for an event that was put together by Arturo Martinez featuring some of his work and also included a fashion show by designer Samuel Vartan. As tired as I was, this show was a real shot in the arm. Samuel’s collection was soft, sinuous and very wearable but also had the power of a Matrix-like heroine. Joe Freeman of Dynasty was very proud that his models were cast in the show and rightfully so. These girls (I can call them girls because very few of them were out of their teens) were impressive -- strong, sexy, and very glamorous.
Day Five - September 11, 2007
Being the sixth anniversary of 911 most people shied away from putting on a show today. Daniel Hernandez took the opportunity to honor the memory of that day by starting his event with a moving performance by opera singer Katherine Wright, followed by a creative presentation of his work at the Boston Center for Adult Education. Daniel placed his audience center stage to ensure that each guest had a front row seat, while the models slowly paced in a serpentine pattern around them and allowing them to see every detail of the clothes up close. The garments were tailor made for young, body conscious professional women.
Day Six - September 12, 2007
Designer Jess Meyer hosted an informal presentation of her latest work at one of Boston’s most fashionable and earth friendly locations, the Macallen Building. Jess’ collection featured vintage fabrics that reflected the building’s green manifesto. The event put many of the women there in a shopping frame of mind as they encountered mannequins dressed in Myre originals, artfully placed throughout this glamorous building’s new screening room and outdoor pool plaza. Everyone agreed that the clothes were great but it was Jess herself that everyone marveled at. She was charming and bright as she hosted the party, restricted to a wheelchair due to a very serious car accident barely over a week ago. Just days after the accident and in traction, she emailed me from the hospital to ensure that her showing would still take place. She is an inspiration to everyone.
The second part of my evening was devoted to Sam Mendoza’s debut fashion show at the Estate. The excitement started to build as guests lined the red carpet waiting to take their seats inside. Betty Riaz, owner of Stil boutiques, played her roll as patron of the fashion arts with a flair and joy that made me smile. Latin music filled the air as we waited for the models to hit the runway. I had no idea what to expect and was delighted by Sam's refreshing perspective on fashion. There was nothing predictable about it and it displayed the designer’s obvious instinct for combining color and texture. It will be so interesting to see how his work will evolve.
Both Jess and Betty are among the fifteen honorees being presented one of the first annual Ladder Awards at the Copley Fairmont Hotel. Other names joining those ranks this year include Kristie Babbin, Tracy Bennett Stewart, Meredith Byam, Sara Campbell, Robert Casey, Lisa Baker, Joe Freeman, Joyce Hampers, Marissa Hart, Kristina Kozak, Dana Moscardelli, Amy Ozay and Shirley Willet. The awards recognize professionals who take advantage of their time and resources to nurture new talent, as well as those who are on their way up the ladder and already making a difference. I am so grateful to Mary Garthe & Anna Costa, the co-regional directors of Boston’s chapter of Fashion Group International for their passion in championing these awards.
Day Seven - September 13, 2007
The Ladder Awards couldn’t have gone better. Presenters and honorees represented the history and the future of Boston Fashion Week. The event brought people together and gave everyone the chance to identify and honor many of the individuals who might not otherwise be in the public eye, because their strengths lie in making things happen behind the scenes!
After a bite to eat I met a few friends at Boston Public for a group show featuring OKW, Nirva and Tonn’s Fabulous Little Shop. We were greeted enthusiastically by event guru Jay Manciocchi, who made us feel very welcome. The party had a great energy and it was certainly a glamorous crowd. I’m getting a little old for midnight shows and my body was telling me that I should head home and get some much needed rest. Luckily, I was able to touch base with Henry Wong, Waheeda Ali Salaam (both from OKW) and Nirva before I left.