Fashion Week Cleveland sets high bar, taps Fern Mallis

By

Dani Greene

Published
May 2, 2016

Fashion Week Cleveland 2016, which runs from April 30-May 7, features a designer runway show plus music, film, retail and education events. This marks the 15th annual Fashion Week Cleveland (FWC), which was founded in 2002.

 
Fashion Week Cleveland (FWC) kicked off on April 30 with “Glamjam,” which showcased the intersection of music and fashion. FWC continues with "Fashion on Film", a "Retail Showcase/Retail's Night Out!" and a "Night at the Museum" education program.

FWC’s main event, the designer runway show, closes out the week on May 7 at 9PM at The Arcade. Designers include Victoria Cohen and Matt Sarafa from Project Runway Junior, Season 1, designers Lissa Marie Krueger and Cybele Pawlowski of Magnolia & Lace and Ohio-based Maria Pujana, jewelry designer and founder of Marise Designs.

Craig James, co-founder of Cat-Strat Services and Fashion Week Cleveland 2016 PR Director said, "Fashion Week Cleveland's ascent and success is significant to Cleveland's overall resurgence. It's not just about fashion—it's about education, energy, entertainment, retail and design. Fashion Week Cleveland's existence demonstrates that Cleveland's historic leadership in the garment industry has evolved to present-day leadership in design, fashion and culture."
 
Fern Mallis, founder of New York Fashion Week, will be the keynote speaker at the FWC Speaker Series and is special guest at the runway shows. Mallis has also led the movement to expand fashion week events to cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, Berlin and Mumbai. She served as executive director of The Council of Fashion Designers America, and was senior vice president of IMG Fashion from 2001 to 2010.

Fashion Week Cleveland, founded in 2002 by Dr. Donald C. Shingler, has aimed to reinvigorate Cleveland’s retail garment district. This year, over 600 guests are expected to attend the May 7th events alone.