Baltimore's not exactly fashion central.
But lately, a mini-scandal has been brewing in the city's fashion scene.
It all started last week, when Mayor Sheila Dixon announced the debut of Baltimore's Fashion Week. It's under way at the War Memorial Building, and features the work of local and international designers all week with a gala and finale tomorrow.
The problem?
Turns out, it's not actually the city's first fashion week after all.
Last year, Baltimore-based clothing designers April Camlin and Pam Haner spent five months organizing the inaugural Baltimore Fashion Week. It spanned six days in September and featured works by two dozen local designers at four locations in and around Mount Vernon.
Whoops.
"I wish we'd known about that earlier," said Sterling Clifford, the mayor's spokesman. "Wow. ... We should have made sure it was the first fashion week before we called it the first one."
Camlin and Haner paid for the event themselves - it cost a couple thousand dollars - and originally planned on bringing it back this year. But the folks from the other fashion week beat them to the punch.
"It is a little bit disturbing," Camlin said. "I'm a little bit disappointed and discouraged, but I'm not trying to sling any mud. That doesn't do anybody any good."
When asked for comment, Sharan Nixon, founder and CEO of Baltimore's Fashion Week (that's the upstart), tried to opt out on a technicality. Last year's event was called "The Baltimore Fashion Week," and her event has a slightly different name, she said.
Well, yeah, but it's still a sequel, said Kevin Sherry, co-founder of local T-shirt company Squidfire. Squidfire showed at last year's fashion week at the Metro Gallery in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District.
"Pam and April did it first," Sherry said. "It took a lot out of them. It was quite an undertaking."
But the first fashion week didn't have Dixon in its corner. Nixon's fashion week has City Hall's stamp of approval and promotion, though no actual cash.
"It's the first one the city's recognized, so as far as I'm concerned, it's the first one," Nixon said.
Nixon said she reached out to Camlin and Haner via MySpace last summer but didn't hear back from them. In the meantime, she helped organize a week of runway shows, makeup workshops and fashion photography, among other events. Most of the designers are from the region, but some hail from as far as Japan. A portion of the proceeds go to several charities.
In the future, Nixon said, she'd love to combine both fashion weeks.
"Hey, the more the merrier," she said.
Camlin's not sure if she and Haner will bring back their fashion week this year. It was fun, but she was late on her rent payment last time around, she said.
"It was totally worth it," she said. "I felt so good about what we did. I'd love to do that again - maybe if I can afford to do it this year."
And there's no bad blood between the two fashion weeks, Camlin said.
"It's still important that it's happening," she said. "The people who have put it together have worked really hard, and it's commendable what they've done."
[Courtesy of the Baltimore Sun - sam.sessa@baltsun.com - August 14, 2008]
[Baltimore Fashion Week Video 2007]
[Baltimore's Fashion Week 2008 Kick Off Fashion Show Video]
What do you think? It's funny how I receive negative feedback about my blog with maybe 200 reader when the article written in the Sun Paper with thousands of readers.
6 comments:
First off I love this blog site, my girl Ty killin it as always! But in response, I honestly felt in advance that BFW 2008 was not going to live up to my expectations of "Chic". I personally was asked to collab with this event at a early notice but meeting with the Founders I quickly declined by lack of current knowledge of the industry (basics)and by looking at the provided coverage I was correct.
I personally beieve that in doing any major production work there needs to be a passion and major experience/references. I personally believe that the head creators had neither and by doing a huge production as intended that was a mistake.
By looking at the coverage of 2008 (Personally I dont even want to get on 2007 "good gracios No")I can see that there was no stern focus on models and the structure and foundation of the event.
In conclusion I can discuss this all day but ending I will say that I have a personal relationship with a lot of high fashion designers and publications and to introduce Baltimore to fashion week events this is not going ot work to even be respected one bit.
-Anonymous Comment
It's a bit confusing to see comments from the article in the Sun like "It is a little bit disturbing," and "I'm a little bit disappointed and discouraged..." as Camlin stated when referring to the most recent Fashion Week held Aug 11th-15th - because that is how I felt about her event in 2007. I was very excited last fall when I heard about Pam and April's Baltimore Fashion Week...yet was confused that no casting calls were held nor local designers contacted about participation. So I attended the 2007 shows and watched what was REALLY disturbing: "Models" not industry standard for runway, "models" who did not know how to walk, some of who were drinking IN the Designer's clothing and designs that were just not respectable representations of what Baltimore has to offer in fashion! As a model in this industry I was disgusted by what I saw. The Baltimore fashion week of 2007 really felt like an event for friends of the organizers who wanted to be a model for a day and only reached out to boutiques/designers they knew. If people want Baltimore to stand out in the Fashion industry, they really need to do their research. Pam and April may have done it first, but this years Baltimore Fashion Week with all it's flaws was at least a better Fashion Week. Hopefully people will learn from 2007 & 2008's mistakes, put egos/drama behind and next years event can have both minds (and more) come together to show all elements of Baltimore Fashion.
Listen folks you are really killing the fashion show. I look at everything with an open mind and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. being in the fashion industry for many years here in Baltimore I only dream of a unified fashion community. I did read the article in the Sun paper and it is pretty crazy how all of this has played out. Here we have 2 entities in which they have no knowledge of the fashion industry and they want to go back and forth as to who did it first. Baltimore or Baltimore's fashion week. I feel like I am watching a rerun of Coming to America. Is it McDonalds or McDowells? They have the Golden Arches we have the Golden M. We have the 's they dont. We dont have a clue as to what we are doing, they didnt either. Even if this dosent have to do with fashion, what happened to integrity when it came to doing business. It's cool because you put an 's on it. Enough about that. You are killing the fashion show. I have worked for several fashion publications and have been for several years trying to find the right individuals to work with here in Baltimore. Things like this is the reason why you all... we all... )I will include me too since I live here also) no one wants to do anything here in your home town of Baltimore. I really believe that you all should stick to what you know. Stop exlpoiting an already weak industry here in town. Things like this only hurt the cause. I almost feel used for the simple fact that these folks are exploiting my industry for their own personal gain. STOP YOU ARE KILLING THE FASHION SHOW!
It appears that a lot is being said "behind" the scenes has anyone reached out to the people from this years show, to discuss your concerns or issues?"
I think this community needs to work together and stop bashing each other. Lend a hand or an idea, that is how anything here in Baltimore is going to be successful!We can do it together.
Yes...I love this blog and I'm glad it is being recognized that these 2 young ladies did the BFW first and foremost. I will also add their event was much more cohesive and unified (minus the 1 man show we got from the BFW 2008). For once Baltimore had a really really good spotlight this year to highlight some of Baltimore's hottest designers, but did not maximize the exposure to its advantage especially since there were SOOOOOOOO many other notable and accomplished Baltimore designers who were not incuded or showcased. Did I mention that any and every fashion week all over the globe focuses on DESIGNERS. Unfortunately, this BFW did not include some of Baltimore's FOR REAL - FOR REAL fashion heavy hitters which was a bit disappointing nor did any showcase include the presence of buyers, which again is the 2nd sole purpose of any and every fahion week. Did I mention the 2nd intention for any and every fashion week is for DESIGNERS to showcase their hottest work for BUYERS who in turn make certain designers are marketed to the buying public. Anyhew, if Fashion Icons produced BFW, it surely would have been SMASHING and the most AIR-TIGHT PRODUCTION ever seen in Baltimore...I vote for Ty!
Post a Comment