Last night was such an exciting evening for Midwest Fashion Week ~ the gathering of the creative fashion minds in Indianapolis held a press junket at the Indy Fringe Building. The MC of the event was Jill Dittmeyer the topic of conversation was "How to make Indianapolis a part of the fashion world"
Panelists
1. Craig Von Deylen – Developer of architecture with great designs for Commercial and Residential housing.
2. Catherine Fritsch – Designer and Pattern Maker in Costume Design. Freelancer in costume design. Owner of Mercurious Designs in Noblesville (Sweet Revenge Lingerie)
3. Penny Rosenthal – Chair and instructor of Fashion Merchandising at Harrison College. Conservationist at IMA, Eiteljorg, and Indiana State Museum
4. Nikki Sutton – Owner of Level Interior Architecture and Design, Wardrobe Stylist
5. Alpha Blackburn – Pres. and CEO of Blackburn Architects, Indiana Civil Rights Committee, Board Member of IMA, Howard University
6. Berny Martin – Catou Couture and founder of Midwest Fashion Week
The event jumped right into the topic when Jill asked for an update on Midwest Fashion Week to this point and the background of how Midwest Fashion Week came to be, Berny Martin stated "There has been a definite change in attitude in the last few years regarding fashion in the area. Why Indianapolis? Why not? The awareness of a fashion scene in Indianapolis has grown due to the use of marketing (PR) firms, partnering with the mayor’s office, etc..."
Midwest Fashion Week has the potential to bring all of the artistic communities in Indianapolis to a higher level. By working together with developers, artists, and local businesses, we can connect to create a “Fashion District” in Indianapolis. This would allow for a community of designers to feed off of each other’s ideas. Everyone on the panel definitely agreed the infrastructure needs to be in place to make it happen.
Alpha Blackburn made reference to the Stuz Building and the artistic community that exists there and using that as a model or a bench mark for an up and coming fashion district. Making a distinct preminission that it could also give Indianapolis the opportunity to create a manufacturing base for the developing fashion industry.
Alpha stated “While there is a market for all that (easy clothing), there is also a market for ‘refined design.”
Local Stylist Nikki Sutton pointed out "We have many paths we can take, looking to the arts development as a reference. Everybody in NY is conditioned to value the arts (including fashion), whereas in Indy that is not the case, BUT it could be over time. There is still a lot of open mindedness in the city about where this “fashion district” could be located."
If Indianapolis had a textiles district like NYC or Los Angeles the Midwest would not lose so many of our graduates from various colleges and universities here in the state. Indiana has at least five colleges that offer Fashion Merchandising programs Indiana State Univeristy (where I hold a BS in Textiles Apparel and Merchandising from), Purdue and locally Harrison College.
"Fashion Merchandising at Harrison College is a way to help feed the pipe into the local fashion scene. We need to have a good scene here, though, to make that happen. An apparel center is needed in Indianapolis for placement of graduates. A textile wholesaler is needed. Also, a wholesaler of fine fabrics is needed. All of this will feed into the local scene, as well." said Penny Rosenthal
The question was asked to local designer Catherine Fritsch "Why are you staying here?" Catherine stated very simply "I want to. I don't want to live in NYC" she went on further to say that she would like to see manufacturing brought to Indiana she currently has her lines manufactured in LA. "We need a plan and we need support, especially from retailers. The local boutiques still feel that the LA and NYC designers are who they need to bring in and feature. We also need support from the community."
"We need to support the local artists – architects, fashion designers, artists, etc... again, “Why Not, Indianapolis?” Craig Von Delyn added
The conversations are definitely being had, what seems to be happening is that there is this sort of underground fashion world in Indianapolis and the Midwest that needs to be brought to the surface and getting involved and supporting the local talent in the fashion and arts needs to happen! What better time than now?! Sundance film festival carved out its own identity showcasing the Independent filmaker and that is what needs to happen here in the Midwest we need to carve our own identity and our own path. "We are the crossroads of America, at the center of everything in the U.S. It is cost effective to be located here. It is not as advantageous to be located in Chicago as it is in Indianapolis. "Precious" became noticed first at the Heartland Film Festival. We don’t want to be NY or LA. Midwestern culture has not been promoted nationally yet." stated Berny
I think the best statement came from Alpha Blackburn when she noted strongly "We are no longer isolated in the Midwest as we were in the past. We can create a new industry in the Midwest around the notion of fashion."
If you want to get involved I strongly encourage you to contact Berny Martin to see how you can personally bring change to the Midwest and be apart of this exciting time for fashion the arts in the Midwest and Indianapolis
Midwest Fashion Week, LLC.
PO BOX 24784
Indianapolis, IN 46038
Phone: 317-408-9186
Fax: 317-536-3544
information@midwestfashionweek.com
http://www.midwestfashionweek.com/
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