Phoenix Fashion Week Photo Credit: James Almanz pieces for its permanent collection,” said Sewell, the Jacquie Dorrance curator of fashion design at Phoenix Art Museum. “The works in ultracontemporary are head-to-toe looks that represent the purest expressions of the designers’ ideas as they were presented on the runway, but more than that, they are expressive of our current time.” Phoenix Fashion Week has been the leading fashion industry event in the Southwest since 2008. By bridging national and international designers with retailers, boutiques, fashionistas and top fashion media globally, the event is making serious traction inside and outside Arizona. And its statewide fashion seminars and workshops led by top industry experts are ushering in more talent. Brian Hill, Phoenix Fashion Week’s executive director, had his mom’s advice in mind when he took on the task of developing the organization. She told him, “Create what doesn’t exist.” And so he did, leading the nonprofit to focus on the business of fashion first. The event has silenced naysayers as it makes strides to help emerging designers build sustainable and successful fashion brands locally. Today, Phoenix Fashion Week is available via livestream, so fashion fans around the world can enjoy it from the comfort of their phone, laptop, desktop and tablet. And the organization continues to champion new talent by launching initiatives like the Emerging Designer Bootcamp, which helps in representing fashion talent, finding them paid work and investing in curated GIVING IN STYLE CONTINUED Yas Couture by Elie Madi at Phoenix Fashion Week. Each year, Phoenix Fashion Week introduces Arizona to work by new designers, such as Christine Adar ( below ). High-end fashion house Yas Couture is located in Kuwait, but has made itself known in Phoenix. 38 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | NOVEMBER 2018

emerging brands for long-term success. These strides have taken the Valley into another stratosphere that now attracts established as well as emerging designers. In fact, the resources we now have in Arizona are bringing talented designers to learn and potentially utilize our resources. The latest example of this will be seen when “Project Runway” designers come to F.A.B.R.I.C. in November to share their latest collections. Richard Hallmarq from the show’s 11 th season will showcase his knack for embracing the best of street style. Emily Payne from “Project Runway” season 13 will also take part in the event, sharing her line of luxury streetwear. What’s more, Payne plans to leverage the trip to find the perfect place to run her line’s production. It’s actually among the reasons she is visiting; her goal is to see if LabelHorde would be a good fit for her line. With so much momentum, the sky is the limit for Phoenix’s fashion scene, which is innovating and creating its own culture and vibe, emerging as something fresh and uniquely Phoenix. “Project Runway” designers Emily Payne ( below ) and Richard Hallmarq ( far right ) will soon hit a local runway to celebrate F.A.B.R.I.C.’s two-year anniversary. Tyler Butler FASHION WRITER givinginstyle.net “Project Runway” season 11 alum Richard Hallmarq specializes in fashionable jersey knit clothing. "Ewok Hoody" designed by Emily Payne. NOVEMBER 2018 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 39