The industry still revolves around fall and spring runway shows
Simone Rocha, the daughter of British fashion la femme red prom dress institution John Rocha, deftly combined schoolgirl innocence and tough attitude, while maverick duo Meadham Kirchoff sent the party home with a spectacularly whimsical show of Marie Antoinette fashion gone mad. The collection has evolved simultaneously with fashion. The industry still revolves around fall and spring runway shows in New York, London, Paris, and Milan, but the clothing looks and feels as if it can be worn in every season. The biggest change is that fashion, like food, is becoming more locally driven. Emerging designers are coming together in their home towns – like Philadelphia – to create co-ops to sell their wares. Many are trying to work together to find opportunities to manufacture clothing locally, as overseas sewing isn’t just getting more expensive, but also is linked to high unemployment rates and is becoming viewed as un-American. The Philadelphia Collection is helping create a smaller stage – one outside of New York, but just as important. It’s especially crucial la femme ruched cocktail dress 15087 for emerging labels like Bela Shehu’s Nino Brand and Nicole Haddad’s Lobo Mau, which are getting picked up in boutiques here and in other cities. The New York-based designer Ouigi Theodore, creative director of Brooklyn Circus, debuted his spring 2013 menswear line here last week, the day after New York Fashion Week ended. That’s a big deal in a style world that thrives on being New York-centric. “Philly has really helped us get our name out there,” Theodore said. “We hope to come back every year and introduce our collection here in Philadelphia.” The Philadelphia Collection was created three years ago as part of a plan to persuade high-end retailers who want to move to the region to choose Center City over, say, King of Prussia. The first year, there were just 50 events. This year, that number has doubled. The majority of the events are free and open to the public.