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Courtney ThomasSpokesmodel for Baltimore Fashion Week 2010

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A Message from the Founder,

It is with great passion and love that I write this letter to you. I feel it is important that you know how much your support over the past five (5) years, six (6) years, if you count the time the idea was conceived, means to me on behalf of this organization and event Baltimore Fashion Week.

Baltimore Fashion Week was birthed to be a platform for all lovers, enthusiasts, and cheerleaders that reside and respect the Arts and Fashion. I started this business, so that others who appreciated and exuded an outward connection to arts and fashion could share their talents with the universe on an elevated platform.

I am proud to say that over our five (5) year production span we have had many great designers to grace our runway representing the USA, Japan, Nigeria, United Kingdom, and London. It is always a moment of astonishment when we receive registrations from countries outside the USA. To me, it means we are doing something right if they want to showcase in Baltimore, especially when we know there are plenty of other places they could be, but they chose to participate in our fashion week, your fashion week, Baltimore Fashion Week.

Although, Baltimore Fashion Week started out as an elevated platform for artists and designers, it has evolved into a philanthropic initiative. With the inclusion of the Emerging Designer Competition in 2011, this

Sharan Nixon

competition was open to registrants as young as 13 years of age or middle school students to any age of a “current” college student. This competition awards a cash prize and a showcasing presence in a Bostonian magazine for the winning designer. This will be an ongoing initiative over the years.

In 2010, Baltimore Fashion Week introduced another initiative the Baltimore Fashion Week Scholarship Award. Originally, this award was open to registrants with an interest of becoming a fashion designer, but the requirements were revised because we realized that in order for anyone to run a successful business education is key. Whether it be an artist, designer, or model the understanding of business basic is a necessity, so we partnered with Nixon Development, Inc. (NDI) who is the scholarship and administrative arm for this award to assist us in culminating this effort. In 2011, NDI awarded a cash scholarship prize to a Georgia student. This year we received five (5) scholarship awards and will be awarding four (4) scholarships this year. We are really excited about the scholarship award and look forward to its success for years to come.

I hope you truly enjoy this labor of love that was created for you on behalf of this event. I whole heartedly love what I do and my passion for this organization and city is un-measureable. I love Baltimore, but I love the Arts and Fashion just a smidgen more . . . . I think.

Sharan Nixon

Designer: Akinyi Ragwar

DESIGNER: AntoinetteMarie

DESIGNER: Bernice Morgan & Bertha Moniba

DESIGNER: Christina Wade

DESIGNER: Edward Harvey

DESIGNER: Evette Monique Street

DESIGNER: JMarie Creations

DESIGNER: Michael Sierra

DESIGNER: Mikki Taylor

DESIGNER: Janeen Brown

DESIGNER: L’Oreal Johnson

DESIGNER: Anjorin Babatunde Adeniran

DESIGNER: Carmella Matthews

DESIGNER: Carolyn Smith-Malone

DESIGNER: Caryn Stockwell/Second Star Designs

DESIGNER: Eric Randall, Jr.

DESIGNERS: Frances Harley/Jojuan Gross

DESIGNER: Ilka Harrigan

DESIGNER: Intreya “Treya” Edwards

DESIGNERS: Kevin Hall & Lateef Reid

DESIGNER: Lanae Johnson

DESIGNER: Nelson Arrington

DESIGNER: Sheila N. Scott

DESIGNER: Crystal Dombeck

DESIGNER: Eileen Harberts

DESIGNER: Faith Linton

DESIGNER: Hyi Lim / Brides & Grooms

DESIGNER: JMarie Creations

DESIGNER: Krystal Speight

DESIGNER: Latonya Dickens

DESIGNER: Monica Janowitz

DESIGNER: Nikke Shanabrough

DESIGNER: Patrise S. Carpenter

DESIGNER: Tawaunna Jones

DESIGNER: Terri Wood

DESIGNER: Will Chandler

InsideBack Cover

InsideBack Cover

The Baltimore Fashion Week Kru“Baltimore Fashion Week would not be what it is today without the undying help, assistance, and recommendations from my team. This is more than a team we are like family. No idea is too strange and no question is too crazy. If I do not say it enough I just want to personally

say on a global note, THANK YOU for all of your help over the past 6 years,” stated Nixon, Founder/CEO of Baltimore Fashion Week.

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct indi-vidual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common

people to attain uncommon results.” ~ Author Unknown

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATORMichele DavisVirginia Jackson

DESIGNER CONSULTANTFelicia Peele

DÉCOR ADVISORDenise SmithDiane Freeland

PUBLIC RELATIONSJaclynn A. Cross

MODEL SELECTION/ RUNWAY COACHRobert Mercer

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTIONAntoine “Mr. Geeks” BrownJohn E. FortuneRobert Nixon

KEY MAKE UPLaDonna BrooksMarian HoustonValarie Tilghman

KEY HAIRAziza MinorLisa Parker

SECURITYBodyguard Plus

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTMartie Brown

FASHION WEEK ASSISTANTSCandice ButlerDarius ThompsonNicole JohnsonTiffannyParks

HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHERSDoug HoltonMikael AaronJay DeVriesJeff Butler

FASHION WEEK BLOGGERiFreeWritingMzMahoganyChicSharSays

HOUSE DJDavid “Big Dave” Ortiz

HOSTESSMiss MamaNicole Flowers

MEDIA TEAMBxposed RadioUp ‘N Coming Magazine

“Faith is taking the fi rst step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

SUCCESSSTORYAn Interview with the Founder

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: What ignited the spark in you to start new business venture or to make significant changes in an existing business?

Sharan Nixon: WOW, this is such a difficult question to respond to. I guess I have always been considered the odd woman out. I have always walked to a different beat and as I got older I stopped worrying about what others had to say, and decided to live my life the way I wanted to live it and hopefully provide happiness along the way. I think I have achieved that aspect of my life with what I am doing for the betterment of Baltimore and to add to the movement of Fashion.

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: How did the idea for your business come about?

Sharan Nixon: Well, I have always modeled, so once I was bit by the fashion week bug in New York, it was over (O V A H as they say) and I hit the ground running and never looked back. Although, with every road travelled there are some obstacles, and luckily I have been blessed to overcome those that have been in my way.

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?

Sharan Nixon: It’s funny, because since I have trust issues, I never really looked for anyone to assist me. But this business was started with my family and all of my team members have been in my life circle for quite sometime, so the trust is there and I would endear my life and my business to them. It’s funny they seem to find us.

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: How important is it to have a good employee to your success?

Sharan Nixon: Employees are key, but when everyone is on a volunteer basis, you have to value their time and most of all realized “their time frame of getting something done may not be the same as your time frame” and its okay. In life when anything is started you have to have the mindset that you are “in it to win it” and that if another one does not do it, you have to pick up and get it done. Time waits for no one, and neither does SUCCESS!!

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: What three pieces of advice would you give to young adults who want to become entrepreneurs?

Sharan Nixon: (1) Make sure this is what YOU want to do and not what someone else thinks you should do; (2) Get a mentor who is or has done what you want to do and LISTEN to the advice they have to offer; and (3) Never start any business if it is all about you – the success rate will be 0%. I personally believe if a person wants to start a business they should do it for the betterment of something or someone else, not for self-gain or self-worth.

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?

Sharan Nixon: I think I would have started much earlier in life. I remember one time I mentioned that to my mom and she replied, “had you done this when you were younger you may not have succeeded,” and I believe her because my mind set would have been totally different. I think having been through what I have gone through in life has made me not only stronger, but wiser and I am still learning as the days go by.

Up ‘N Coming Magazine: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

Sharan Nixon: You all ask some really great questions, okay let me think. ...ummm (1) Marketing;(2) wVisual Conception; and (3) Accounting.

Photo Credit: Jay DeVries

CASSIEThe Face of Baltimore Fashion Week 2012

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CASSIEThe Face of Baltimore Fashion Week 2012

Cassie was born in Baltimore and has always stood high above the rest. She grew up in a home that promoted dancing, singing and acting. At the age of 11 she wanted to model. After several photo-shoots she knew she wanted to walk the runway, and she has a natural talent for it! Cassie will be a 10th grader in the fall and is extremely active

on her high school dance team and cheer leading with a recreational group and her high school. Cassie is also an active volunteer with Lilly Pond Foal Rescue. This rescue strives to find forever homes to abused horses! She has a passion for life, family, friends and animals.

Cassie came into our lives at the end of 2010, during the audition for Baltimore Fashion Week. I knew when I saw her that she would be fab. Once you meet Cassie, you will see why she is such a magnet. She attracts people and at the age of 15, she is truly a force to be reckoned with on and off of the runway. Her vibrant sense of youthfulness, carefree demeanor, and playful personality, it is no wonder why she is such an absorbent force. It can appear at the snap of a finger, although we do not do that here at Fashion Week Universe, Cassie can snap into a model stance and walk with complete perfection and style. As she graces the runway she displays a true depiction of what I like to call the Three “Fs” face, fierceness, and a ferocious style.

When it comes to the runway, Cassie is a natural runway devourer and the garments she showcases demand respect and Cassie delivers. At a height of 5’ 8” she can stand toe-to-toe with any model on a runway 5’10” or taller. The technique of elongating a body has been a trait she has perfected without an ounce of correction needed.

We are not only glad to have her as a model of Baltimore Fashion Week, but also the most active talent of the BANY agency (www.thebanyagency.com).

WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT MY MENTORS?

Brian Heath – Founder/CEO – Detroit Fashion Week

During my quest to fi nd a mentor for Baltimore Fashion Week, I reached out to Brian Heath, Founder/CEO of Detroit Fashion Week and he welcomed me with open arms. After reaching out to many fashion week producers, he was the only one to share his lessons learned and tricks of the trade for a successful fashion week production. I will never forget the fi rst time we spoke on the telephone, I was at work. I was so embarrassed because I had to basically sneak the entire conversation. Since the telephone convo at work was not a good option, we decided to talk on the weekend. It was July 1, 2006, when we fi rst spoke and we talked for 3 hours on the phone. I remember it well because I had an appointment at a hair salon and I ended up cancelling it because I missed my spot three times, but at the end of the day it was so worth the three missed spots. Sorry Q, now you know why I was on the telephone so long.Brain has been a wealth of knowledge and support to this event. When I am down and out I just give him a call or send him a message and no matter how busy he is he will take a few minutes just to talk. Detroit Fashion Week is a great fashion mechanism and is getting larger each year. I know with a mentor like Brian Heath, I can never go wrong. If you ever get the chance check them out www.detroitfashionweek.com. Detroit Fashion Week is September 23 – 29, 2012.THANK YOU BRIAN for your time, patience, and honesty. I am so glad you answered the phone to a perfect stranger, now your mentee for life.

Sofi a Davis, Founder – BTETV

Sofi a is a rare gem, that is really all that needs to be said, but I will let you know a little more of how we met. Sofi a and I met through a mutual friend and when she heard of what we were doing for Baltimore on behalf of Baltimore Fashion Week, she was a bit amazed that someone was doing a fashion week in Baltimore and I can only imagine she wanted to meet this person. I will add that when I went I was nervous, because New York is the Fashion Mecca of the Universe among others like Paris, Italy, and Milan. For someone from New York with the type of credentials she has I was honored to even meet with her. Sofi a is a very strong individual and when we met she told me the nuggets of the life in New York and how to bring the two together with a creative and vibrant synergy between the two cities. We discussed these nuggets over lunch and to this day I cannot remember what I ordered, because I was so engulfed over the conversation that I was totally focused on the words and thoughts of future connections.Sofi a, hosts many events in the New York area, but my fav is her Fashion on the Hudson, which takes place in July in Harlem, New York along-side the Hudson River. Sofi a has been a calming breath of fresh air, always providing guidance and heart guided critiques. I remember when I fi rst started I did not take too kindly to critiques, but I learned in order to be successful you have to take the good with the bad.SOFIA, thank you for E V E R Y T H I N G. All the invites, meetings, and colleague introductions. I am so glad we met and I intend to keep building upon the bridge that you and I have constructed between New York and Baltimore.

To Brian and Sofi a, you mean the world to me.

Special Affect Fashion Cosmeticsspecialaffectfashioncosmetics.com

PHONE: 800-506-6653

OWNER: Brenda Laney

mikael aaronphotography

Baltimore Fashion Week Offi cialRunway Photographer

mikaelaaron.com

13 seasons Mercedes Benz Fashion week

BALTIMORE FASHION WEEK would like to thank

BALTIMORE FASHION WEEK the following sponsors

Healthcare Access Maryland

Baltimore Choral Arts Society