Fashion designer Brooke Atwood can get a buying guide of her designs — a “look book,” in fashion speak — done in a day in Savannah.
“I could do it by tomorrow,” said Atwood, sitting near sketches and a rack of clothes in her Ardsley Park studio.
That’s just how the Hostess City is.
Ready photographers, models, stylists and designers are a phone call away. And with influence from Savannah College of Art and Design and local boutiques, the Southern city has no problem nurturing the six-day Savannah Fashion Week event that kicks off April 28.
Growth
“We wanted to take Savannah Fashion Week to the next level,” said Heather Burge, president of Savannah Fashion Week 2014.
“There’re too many creative people here for it not to grow,” said Leah Lancaster, co-owner of Red Clover Boutique.
New additions to the fifth-year event: a feature film, a runway show in picturesque Forsyth Park with styles from local boutiques and designers, a chance to buy runway pieces, and a charitable spark igniting new fashion careers.
The week celebrates style, and more specifically, Savannah style.
Style
“What’s nice about (style) is the fact it’s something that you can do to actively express individuality or taste preferences,” said Tara Kirkland, owner of Custard Boutique.
A power suit or the perfect little black dress “can transform your mood,” she said.
Then there’s Savannah style.
Kirkland calls it “Lowcountry luxe,” as in luxury.
Savannahians want the right “hand-to-fabric” feel. And texture, print and color are important. They are comfortable wearing more than just New York black.
Southern girls like bright, pretty florals, Burge said.
“It’s very inspiring that the women here aren’t afraid to wear color and print,” Kirkland said. “They don’t mind being bold and noticed.”
See Savannah styles — plus wedding gowns, children’s fashion, 60s mod pieces and black western-inspired wear — in the May 1 runway show, the week’s highlight.
Runway
Nine designers will each show five looks and one all-white design. Retail shops show nine looks.
“If I’m only doing six, I might as well do something that’s spectacular,” said Cate Lyon, a Savannah designer working on a beaded dress for the show. The gown is 40-plus hours in the making — with at least 10 more hours to go.
The show brings together fashion veterans like Lyon, who designed for Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, with newbies like Catherine Fain in her first runway showing.
But all designers faced a key question if they wanted to be included: “Any local tie?”
Designers
Of the designers is April Johnston, a former contestant on “Project Runway All Stars.” She is a SCAD grad.
Troy Allen, who wowed officials with his jaw-dropping collection in the recent Junk 2 Funk fashion show at Savannah Arts Academy, is a local high school student.
And the designer behind some of the fashion worn on the red carpet at the recent Academy of Country Music Awards is Emily Bargeron, who has a downtown boutique.
“It’s all about Savannah,” Burge said.
Shops
Retailers, too, had to make their mark locally to be included. They needed to be locally owned and in business at least two years in Savannah, among other criteria.
The local shops open April 28 for a variety of specials throughout the week.
Design a leather clutch or cuff keychain on April 28 at satchel, or let girls find matching outfits for themselves and their American Girl Dolls at Sara Jane Children’s Boutique on April 29.
Then shop swimwear from James Gunn or Trunk 13 on April 29, and designer Faith Thornburg’s bridal wear on May 3. Events are listed at savannahfashionweek.org
Film
Then see the life of Carine Roitfeld, former editor of Paris Vogue, in the April 30 documentary “Mademoiselle C” before the fashion show. The film plays at the Jepson Center, 207 West York St.
Buy runway items on May 2 at 201 W. Broughton St.
“I’ll say, ‘I have to have that dress,’” Burge said of a runway piece. “And then you go and get it.”
Models
Models for the runway are by way of Savannah, too. The 68 needed for the event came from 150 tryouts at Savannah’s Halo Models & Talent Group.
But the event is “a little bit deeper than a runway show,” Burge said.
Give back
This year, proceeds help fund scholarships and a summer camp. Organizers want to inspire fashion careers in area students.
Students wanting careers in fashion meet with resistance, sometimes from family, Burge said. She wants people in the business to encourage them.
Inspiring city
But sometimes the city itself is encouraging enough.
When Fain, a longtime retail worker, owned the Copper Penny downtown, fashion-forward SCAD students worked in her shop.
Being around them and other creative people in town helped her step into her dream of being a fashion designer.
“I don’t know that I would have done it if I hadn’t been around that kind of atmosphere,” Fain said. “It made it seem like it could be done.”
SCAD
“SCAD brings a lot of creativity to Savannah,” said Thu Tran, Red Clover Boutique co-owner.
With international students and tourists, Tran calls the city a melting pot.
Fashion students at SCAD represent more than 40 countries, estimates Marie Aja-Herrera, professor of fashion design at the college.
“Without SCAD, I don’t think Savannah would really be what it is,” said Aja-Herrera, who is from England. “(Students) bring in new ideas and new cultural ideas from all over the world.”
Charm
“There’s something for everyone,” Burge said.
Los Angeles, New York City and Miami: “I’ve done that,” Lyon said.
She chose to live and work in Savannah after being wooed by its charm. “It’s such a beautiful place,” Lyon said.
And she wanted a place with many events — and therefore customers — to support her dress-designing business.
But on the other side of the customer counter is another facet to a supportive Savannah.
Teamwork
Again and again, locals involved in Savannah Fashion Week mention their alliance.
Lancaster thinks that people have a hard time believing their teamwork of photographers, models and boutiques.
“We love collaborating with everyone,” Tran said.
“People (in Savannah) are always wanting to work and do creative things,” Atwood said. “People are excited about it.”
“Savannah is a smaller city,” Lyon said.
“But for its size, there is a lot of interest in fashion and the arts.”
2014 PARTICIPATING RETAILERS, DESIGNERS
Retailers: BleuBelle, Custard Boutique, J. Paige, James Gunn, Red Clover Boutique, Sara Jane Children’s Boutique, satchel., Trunk 13 and Zia Boutique.
Designers: Brooke Atwood, Catherine Fain, Cate Lyon, Faith Thornburg, Emily Bargeron, Kathryn Hayes, Nicole Edge, Troy Allen, Mary Liz Pulk and April Johnston
IF YOU GO
What: Savannah Fashion Week
When: April 28-May 3
Where: Various Savannah sites
Cost: $50-$250 tickets online
Info: savfashionweek@gmail.com or savannahfashionweek.org
Highlights:
• “Mademoiselle C” documentary, 6 p.m. April 30, Jepson Center, 207 W. York St., $10 or $5 with student identification
• Runway show, 7-10 p.m. May 1. Forsyth Park, $50,
• Shop the runway, Noon-7 p.m. May 2, 201 W. Broughton St. $5
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