While New York Fashion Week is incredible, it can be pricey, hard to get into and a few hours out of the way for a student attending Saint Louis University. Thanks to the St. Louis Fashion Fund, the city of St. Louis has innovative, affordable and connected fall fashion events to offer in its own right.
The Saint Louis Fashion Fund is a non-profit, led by a 32-member board of directors. These board members are leaders in fashion, higher education, culture, law and business. The Fund has been supporting the Saint Louis Fashion Week events for the past ten years.
On Nov. 10, the Caleres Fashion Entrepreneur Competition (FEC) will be held at Majorette. “In its tenth year as St. Louis’ fashion scene catalyst, Saint Louis Fashion Week has launched a brand new signature event as the keystone of its 2016 season and will support more than 10 weeks of fashion-focused activity this fall,” states the Saint Louis Fashion Week website. The “fashion-meets Shark-Tank-style event” will present five St. Louis-based fashion designers and their lines.
In addition to endless industry connections, the designers will be competing for the $10,000 grand prize and the attention of the fashion industry. The money is supposed to help the entrepreneur break into the fashion industry. The Fashion Entrepreneur Competition includes interactive fashion presentations, brand new designs, live pitches from the finalists and video displays of the brand. Following a presentation of all five lines/ 2016 LouFest preview: Who not to miss this weekend in Forest Park very well could be the best concert series for its price in the country. While those are all supplemental reasons as to why LouFest is worth the time and money, the main attractor should be the lineup, because this year boasts one of the strongest lineups in LouFest’s six-year history. Tough the entire lineup is well worth exploring, here are some acts that should be bolded, underlined and circled as “must-see” on everyone’s schedule. Be sure to set your alarms nice and early on Saturday, because you’d be mistaken not to be at the festival right after noon on Saturday to witness the one-two punch of Foxing and Diarrhea Planet. Foxing will be bringing their beautiful chaos to Forest Park in the form of ambient emo music, playing their brands, the winner will be decided the same night and presented to the audience. A panel of distinguished members of the fashion and business communities (yet to be announced) will judge the competition and determine the winner.
The Caleres Fashion Entrepreneurs Competition is just one of many STLFW supported events happening this Fall 2016 season. As St. Louis is a rising hub of fashion, the fashion doesn’t end here.
Other Fashion Week events include: the Celebrate Style Runway Show benefiting Siteman Cancer Center, local designer trunk shows, St. Louis Fashion Week Panel Discussion, An Evening of Ballet & Fashion with Saint Louis Ballet and Saint Louis Fashion Fund, a local designer runway show, book signings and more.
Saint Louis Fashion Week is an incredible time to network, learn, get involved or simply enjoy the artwork all around you! Get to know the city, culture, people and design. St. Louis is becoming a hub for the fashion industry. Without participants in Saint Louis Fashion Week, the show wouldn’t go on. Try something new and buy a ticket (for as low as $10!), go to a book signing or an art display. St. Louis does an amazing job on these events and with some located so close to SLU’s campus, check it out with a friend!
