Gerry Navarrete
Events are looking quite different this year. But, in an industry that thrives on creativity, it’s no surprise that Nashville Fashion Week found a way to continue supporting Nashville’s fashion community even in the most unconventional times.
With five days of interactive, digital programming, NFW 2020 continues its decade-long commitment of fostering the creativity of the fashion community by inviting anyone to participate from the safety of home.Kicking off on August 4, NFW will go virtual through August 8 featuring 19 designers, Shop Nashville retailers, and a variety of digital fashion talks and learning labs.
Of this year’s designers selected to show their collections, 11 are NFW alumni, eight are newcomers, and for the first time ever, all designers are from Middle Tennessee (with the exception of special guest designer Tanya Taylor). Although designers will not be able to showcase their collections on the physical runway this year, they will still share their vision, work, and studio space just as personally—and with their own voices—during scheduled time slots on NFW’s social media channels.
John Hillin
“Whether a designer presents their work on a runway or through submission digitally, it is personal. It takes a tremendous amount of vision, creativity, and courage to put yourself out there to the masses,” says Marcia Masulla, Nashville Fashion Week co-founder and managing partner.
NFW 2020 will also include Shop Nashville, a city-wide celebration designed to support the local retail and maker community. Some of the participating retailers will host in-store, social-distanced events, while others will offer promotions and web-based events encouraging Nashvillians to support local businesses. Additionally, the digital experience will feature several educational opportunities to engage and connect through Nashville Fashion Week Learning Labs. Digital “Fashion Talks” kick off the week, and will focus on the current state and future of the industry in relation to diversity, inclusion, and COVID-19.
In the days following, participants can look forward to three digital Learning Labs including: “In Dialogue: Suffrage, Style, and Social Movements”; “Sustainability, Manufacturing, and the Future of the Fashion Industry”; and “Fashion Law for Your Fashion Business.” By signing into any of these digital Zoom events, attendees will be entered into a drawing for two free all-access passes to NFW 2021.
All proceeds from NFW benefit the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. This endowed fund works to support the next generation of fashion industry professional with ties to Middle Tennessee, through financial awards and resources for professional development opportunities. As tickets to the NFW Digital Experience are complimentary, donations to the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund are immensely appreciated.In a year with so many cancellations, NFW felt it was only fitting to adapt to change to continue supporting what they value most—the men and women who work in the fashion industry.
“We recognized that in times like this, we need to be a support system more than ever. So many feel stifled with creativity, are struggling to keep their businesses going, and are just overwhelmed due to the state of the world,” Masulla says. “So, while the digital platform paired with the $500 gifts we granted the 19 participating designers were nice, it was more about giving them all a nudge to say, ‘Keep going. We believe in you. You’re not alone. Now, get back to it and make some magic.’”