In March of 2020, we were in the middle of planning Eco Fashion Week, and like so many others, we had to put our event on a seemingly endless pause. When our event space was transformed into a PPE factory to manufacture reusable medical gowns to mitigate the PPE shortage, it was hard to imagine the space ever transforming back into an event space. Finally, after two years, Eco Fashion Week returned and from April 15th to April 23rd, FABRIC was humming with events once again! We even expanded beyond FABRIC and partnered with others to host events all over the valley. Coincidently, both Phoenix Fashion Week and Tempe Fashion Week decided to host Spring events this year, so we partnered and pulled the community together in one full week of runway shows, pop-ups, panel discussions, and networking events starting with Phoenix Fashion Week and ending with Tempe Fashion Week. Below is a recap in case you missed or want to relive any of these exciting events.
PHOENIX FASHION WEEK
Presented by Kornit Digital at Chateau Luxe
FABRIC Friday at Phoenix Fashion Week was all about sustainable printing and featured brands who utilize the Kornit printer at The Fashioneer micro factory to create on-demand drops of unique printed designs. Emuleos photographed pressed flowers and engineered prints into jackets and dresses made of velvet, faux leather, chiffon, and georgette. Adea showcased a few printed capsule collections including a collection in which proceeds benefit Ukraine. FABRIC featured its new collection of Trompe L'oeil style designs and Pendelton's latest Fall 22 collection was featured. Additionally, many of FABRIC's apparel entrepreneurs showcased printed designs including Liv Tall, Skirt the Issues, Oxdx, Gail Friend, Technoir Candy, Pretty Physical, Ruby Farias, and Laura Tanzer.
Photos by Scott Hall of Creative Visual Images
TOUR OF THE FASHIONEER
Previously known as Arizona Fashion Source
AZ's sustainable micro-factory Tours were offered of the sustainable, tech-based "future-factory" in Tempe AZ making on-demand, apparel print, cut, and sew available to brands of all sizes. The tour included demos of the sustainable Kornit Presto printer. Designs made in this factory in partnership with FABRIC were featured on the PhxFW runway.
AZ COSTUME INSTITUTE SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL HOUR
At Phoenix Art Museum
Attendees gathered to network with the industry, mingle with ACI board members, make fashion friends, view the current fashion exhibit in the Phoenix Art Museum, and celebrate sustainable fashion.
BEHIND THE SEAMS OF SUSTAINABLE FASHION
At FABRIC
A panel discussion lead by Jacqui Simpson (Head of Product for Adea) on sustainable fashion featuring...
- Aimee Heuschkel - Gerber Technology, a Lectra Company; Senior Marketing Lead
- Dr. Kevin J. Dooley - Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Chief Scientist of The Sustainability Consortium, a Senior Global Futures Scientist in the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, and Co-Director of the Complex Adaptive Supply Networks Research Accelerator.
- Jessie Kosak - The Sustainability Consortium, Manager
- Sherri Barry - The Fashioneer, Founder and FABRIC, Co-Founder
reFABRICate FASHION SHOW
At Tempe Marketplace.
In partnership with Four Peaks Brewery and presented by Kilt Lifter’s Life’s Too Short for Pants campaign at Tempe Marketplace
Denim jeans donated during the Four Peaks Kilt Chaser Fun Run were redesigned/upcycled by FABRIC members/designers, as well as fashion teachers & students.
The "RunzWithScissors" award was presented to designer LaMark Cole for the best repurposed denim design.
Bye Frisbie, a sustainable brand that upcycles jeans and other garments in unexpected ways showcased a capsule collection.
SUSTAINABLE POP-UP SHOP
At FABRIC in partnership with Green Living Magazine
A sustainable pop-up shop collaboration with Green Living Magazine's Earth Day Extravaganza. Featuring fashion and accessory brands as well as other sustainable lifestyle businesses.
TEMPE FASHION WEEK
At FABRIC.
For Tempe Fashion Week, FABRIC was transformed into a lush green tropical forest as inclusivity and sustainability graced the runway. Dozens of designers, brands, and stylists collaborated and featured designs on nearly 200 diverse models.
