A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER/CEO:
August 11-15, 2008, Butterfly Productions will host Baltimore’s first official fashion week – a showcase for the region’s fashion conscious, bringing industry leaders and savvy consumers together to celebrate Baltimore’s unique style and remarkable flavor. As the premiere fashion event for the city of Baltimore, Fashion Week will feature a schedule of runway shows, workshops and mixers intended to display the city’s young, aspiring designers and artists – including several from local graduate-level fashion programs – before a national audience.
“This is a chance for local designers to participate in a professional, but affordable showcase,” says Sharan Nixon, Founder/CEO of Baltimore’s Fashion Week. “Getting the right exposure can be difficult for professionals outside of New York and Los Angeles. This is a way to get directly to the buyers, stylists and press essential for success in this industry.”
Whether they’re showing a line for the first time or are seasoned designers, the organizers welcome both emerging and established talent to these events. “There’s a wealth of untapped talent in Baltimore,” says Nixon. “We’ve hand-picked several students from local fashion programs to show their designs on opening night. If your line has the style and flavor to represent Baltimore, we want to hear from you.”
Baltimore’s Fashion Week will also premiere a series of workshops for anyone interested in learning more about fashion – from how to apply makeup, to becoming a fashion photographer, to developing a signature strut on the runway. World-renowned photographer Roy Cox of Roy Cox Photography and Tim Coburn Photography are among those scheduled to appear.
The organizers – committed to using the program to highlight the best of Baltimore – have challenged the industry to make a difference in the community. Proceeds from the events will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Maryland, Health Education Resource Center, Today’s Youth Center, and the Sylvan Beach Foundation, four established organizations dedicated to improving job and educational prospects for local residents and a educational arm for children.
I hope that you enjoy the weeklong schedule of fashionable and educational events.
Baltimore’s Fashion Week 2009 will be here before you know it, so mark your calendar for August 10, 2009 through August 14, 2009, when the fashion begins all over again, with a fairy tale twist in mind. Also visit us on the web at www.baltimoresfashionweek.com.
Thank you for your support,
Sharan F. NixonFounder/CEOButterfly Productions, the home of Baltimore’s Fashion Week
photgraphy : awcreative groupcreative director : sharon so : stillista agency
royCOX
Making a naMe in Fashion PhotogrPahy
In a refrigerated room lays a set of mirrors soaking in a trail of water...
The model walks onto the set wearing a 25-foot long hair braid. She kneels down to the floor and she begins to brainstorm her first pose. A few feet away, a camera is set up then, the first flash of light hits the model’s face and the photo shoot begins. This is just another typical day in the studio of photographer Roy Cox. “A typical day at work in my studio is very hectic, fast paced and challenging,” Cox said. We are constantly interpreting and meeting the needs of many different kinds of clients. Each day I have a mix of consultation meetings, photography sessions, post-production work and managing/teaching of my interns and assistants.”Shooting 1 to 3 clients a day, Cox has turned his balancing act of management into a business making a name for itself in Baltimore for over five years. As a
Words By: Paulette Wilson
Making a naMe in Fashion PhotogrPahy
Words By: Paulette Wilson
Baltimore native, Cox hopes that Baltimore’s Fashion Week will un-wrap the talents of fashion in this city to a national level. “The idea of having a fashion week in Baltimore definitely came as a surprise to me when we were first solicited for the event,” Cox said. I would sincerely like to see this event create awareness in the Maryland, Virginia and the Washington DC area and hopefully bring those fashion professionals from outside these areas into relationships with current professionals who are actually making a living in the fashion industry here in Baltimore.”
Cox persists in making the art
of fashion photography shine locally though his ideal of viewing clothing as a palate for his work. His skills for getting the right shot in front of a 35 mm lens comes from a cinematic approach.“I come from a cinematography background and have always had a passion for imaging,” Cox said. Still photography was a hobby of mine while working in cinematography and quickly became a full-time interest.”
Besides using his background in cinematography, he has much admiration for the fame
“I decIded to partIcIpate In thIs event In efforts of helpIng
thIs movement get momentum”
photographer, Frank Wartenberg, known for artistry in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and other intensity.”
Lighting may be his favorite part of his job. But, this soaring fashion photographer believes there is a movement in Baltimore that will excel after fashion week.
“I decided to participate in this event in efforts of helping this movement get momentum,” Cox said. I immediately thought the event was a great idea.”
Words Paulette WilsonPhotographer Tim Coburn
AMES ORNWELL
‘Artistry in hair, makeup, and clothing can not only change the look and face of your subject, it can also change their life.’”
“You can’t have Dolce without Gabbana.”
“You can’t have Dolce without Gabbana.”
You can’t have Dolce without Gabbana. You can’t have Peaches without Herbs. You can’t have Tim Coburn with
James Cornwell. Cornwell’s pair of skillful hands creates the signature make-up and hair that changes the lives of his clients.
“I [remember when I] did a lovely young lady for a photo competition, Cornwell said. Her mother was coloring her hair with products she could buy from the local store, she was a very light blonde, and it was a very bad color. Her hair was also very long. She was just signed with a local agency, we worked on her model portfolio for her, I knew she had much more potential-she just needed a new look. “
Cornwell decided to ask her agent if the team of him and Coburn could
give the young lady a makeover. Within a few hours, the agent approved and Cornwell falicitated a makeover with impact.
“She told me I changed her life,” Cornwell said. To me that is what a makeover is about. We shot a new portfolio for her for free! It made such a difference!”
Cornwell treats all his clients with the same respect and gratitude because a makeover isn’t just skinning deep, but it’s life altering.
“I want them to feel that they were advised,” Cornwell said. Their opinion of their hair and how it works in to
their lifestyle matters to me. When you communicate you gain your clients trust. When these elements come together you can create a look that people are happy with, a look that people can style, and you keep them feeling fresh and fabulous!”
Cornwell has been working the circuit of the fashion industry for more than seven years. However, his first attempts into the world of hair and make-up were a bit fuzzy, yet learning experience.
“If you want to go way back in the day, it was one of my cousins and I am not so sure it was pretty,” Cornwell said. My actual
first attempts for makeup were good, if I do say so myself. I was told early on I was a natural. My first attempts on hair were okay, however it did not take me long to get the feel of a good cut!”
With his first attempts behind him, Cornwell carries on his artistry in the images of Tim Coburn photos as well as in the organization of PR at Partners.
“I have a quote that I wrote and I firmly believe it: ‘Artistry in hair, Makeup, and clothing can not only change the look and face of your subject, it can also change their life.’”
“i want them to feel that theY were aDviseD”
“i want them to feel that theY were aDviseD”
Baltimore
Baltimore is a combination of northern and southern cultures. Our dialect makes us pronounce
Maryland as Murland and makes us pronounce Baltimore as Bawldamer. We simply call our dialect, Baltimorese. Baltimore is a place that embraces being different and yet innovative.
LET’S TAkE A LOOk AT BALTiMORE’S CULTURE TO FiGURE OUT THE STyLE OF
A BALTiMOREAN.
DefineD By Style
Every year in the month of May, thousands of people come to the Pimilico Race Track for Preakness to see our lovely horses. Drawing inspiration from the traditional Crazy Hats seen at Preakness, we have created the Preakness Prowler.
Preakness Prowler
Metro Go-Getter
Just like New York City, the sub-way is a big part of our culture. With 14 major stops, the subway can take from one region to the next within minutes instead of hours. Drawing inspiration from the Lexington Market subway stop, we have created the Metro Go-Getter.
DefineD By Style
When you think of Baltimore fashions in the 1950s, a beehive, and a bright picnic dress may come to mind thanks to the vision of Baltimore native, John Waters.
The “Hairspray-esqe” culture still exists in the area of Hampden, Canton, and Highland town today. Drawing inspiration from the Pink Flamingo on Hampden’s Main Street, we have created the Bee Hive Screamer.
Bee Hive Screamer
Club Music Hopper
Our city even has it’s own music genre called Baltimore Club or Baltimore House. Our genre is a mixture of call and response and dramatic beat breaks. Drawing inspiration from one of the birthplaces of club music, Paradox, we have created the Club House Hooper.
Baltimore is a city filled with rowhouses, and corner stores. We are known for loving our world renown seafood, and especially our crabs. Drawing from inspiration, Charles Villiage Rowhouses, we have created the Neigborin’ Stepper.
If you ever looked at Maryland closely on any map, you will notice it’s a city surrounded by water. There is no place more filled with water, then Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Where else would Baltimore get its crabs? Drawing inspiration from the Pride of Baltimore II, we have created the sea porter.
Neighborhood Stepper
Sea Porter Inner Harbor Central
Soulful Striker
Since the early 1920s, Baltimore has been a home for jazz music. Local jazz musicians such as Eubie Blake and Chick Webb used to perform on The Block located between Calvert Street and Gay Street. Drawing inspiration from the legendary songstress and Baltimore native, Billie Holiday, we have created the Soulful Striker.
KAS COLLECTION, INC – FEATURED DESIGNER FOR FASHION WEEK 2008Artistic SoleB. SassyBakhita Couture JewelryBluPrintBMORE CreativeCheryl’s Fashion DesignsCheryl GouldCotrice DesignsDialloElena Crochet DesignsEyeKandieFlex ClothingFQ DesignsHouse of JkareIndashioIrregular ExposureJ. Pilar
Fashion week Designers
Fashion week DesignersJazzy Couture
LadyLepe Fashion (Jewelry Provided By:
Azul Designs)LT Dickens
Luxirie | l-r-gMaine Strome
Matt TomMiyoko A.
NI AssociatesNoir
Pieces of MeRimarjo
SwaggdogThe Clothing Warehouse
VammochoViolla Ricci
Ying Edge Clothing