Last week was Indiana Fashion Week! It was a full 5 days that started off with a youth design challenge and ended with the runway shows! I was able to be one of the photographers for 3 of the 5 days and I had a blast!
Most of you probably do not know this but when I was a child I wanted to be a fashion designer! I have a 3 ring binder full of all of my fashion designs and I even was slated to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and had an advisor there when I was just 16. However, around that time was when I started working in the music industry with marketing and I was torn on if I wanted to continue pursuing fashion design or if I wanted to pursue marketing and advertising. Most of you know that I decided on marketing and advertising and went to college for that along with film studies. However, my love of fashion design never left and I minored in theatre so I could take all of the costume design classes! I then went on to work on costumes for the theatre shows at Purdue University, Maples Repertory Theatre, and spent 3 years working for Norwegian Cruise Lines as a wardrobe supervisor for their shows on board their cruise ships. During that time I was still working in the music industry and touring so I was really doing both of my dream careers.
Now my careers have switched again and I'm a full time wedding photographer and love it and wouldn't change it for anything! Being able to document this special time in couple's lives for the last 8 years has been the best! When I found out that Indiana Fashion Week was looking for photographers, I jumped on the chance! It was so much fun being able to combine my love of photography and fashion and for this event! I didn't get to photograph the runway shows since we had a wedding that day but the events I did get to photograph were a blast!
Keep reading to learn more about the events and see some of the images!
The first two days of Indiana Fashion Week was the Youth Design Challenge. 6 young designers were given $20 to go on a shopping spree at Goodwill. They were able to pick items that they would be able to re-design into new outfits. The first day was the shopping day, which I didn't photograph. Day two was the day that they got to design their new outfits and that was the first day I was a photographer. It was so much fun seeing their designs and vision and watching them turn the clothing they found into gorgeous creations!
Each youth designer was assigned a mentor who helped them bring their vision to life and helped them with the sewing machine.
International opera singer Angela Brown, who is also an accessories designer, came out to speak to the kids about following your dreams and that you can make it!
Day three of Indiana Fashion Week was the Press Preview Party. This event gave press and media the chance to see the Emerging Designers and one of the outfits that they would be debuting at The Runway Show. Fern Mallis, the creator or New York Fashion Week, gave a few words at the end of the party.
The outfits that were on display from the emerging designers.
The emerging designers and their outfits.
The press meeting and chatting with the designers.
Creator of Indiana Fashion Week, Denisha "Dlang" Ferguson, and New York Fashion Week creator, Fern Mallis.
Fern with all of the emerging designers and their designs.
Some of the Indiana Fashion Week speakers.
Day 4 was the Making it In Fashion Industry Day Conference. A few of the models were on hand to make everyone feel welcome.
The conference started with a conversation with Angela Brown and was moderated by Temara Payton.
Next Anna Tragesser, the Artist and Community Service Manager, talked about the local grants that are available for creatives.
Next up was the Indiana Industry Panel: Our Industry: Maximizing & Expanding in Indiana. Panel included: Anj Blanchard-Carter- Stylist & Creative Director, Meghan Smith- Indiana State Museum, Madison Hromadka- Fashion Arts Society, Aicha Balde- Tales & Turbans, and Polina Osherov- Pattern Magazine.
Dlang was presented with the decree that June 18-22nd was declared Indiana Fashion Week by Indiana Governor Holcomb.
After a quick break it was then time for the Industry Panel: This is Fashion!: The Evolution of the Industry. Panel included: Elliot Carlyle- Industry Consultant & Coach, Sarah Chiwaya- Fashion Blogger & Consultant, Chris Lavish- Fashion Week Online, and Channing Hargrove- Refinery29.
David Prentice of OnPoint Manufacturing talked about their new business.
Then came the Style of Greatness Interview with Fern Mallis. Fern Mallis is the creator of New York Fashion Week and has worked in the fashion industry in a few different capacities. It was so great hearing her talk about her experiences.
The night ended with the Presentation of the INDFW Legendary Trailblazers of Fashion Award. First Lady Janet Holcomb presented the award to Fern Mallis.
Afterwards Mich gave a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to Dlang for making the first Indiana Fashion Week a success!
Day 5 was The Runway Shows! I wasn't able to be there that day since we had a wedding but it looked like it was a blast! Each Emerging Designer got to have a show and the Youth Designers got to show off their creations too. The show ended with featured designer Larry Underwood and then the winners were announced!
Emerging Designers:
Dontae and Chey of Unfollowed Creator
Yemi Sanni of Stylenspire
Jennifer Felts of Tokyo Twiggy
Codi Banks fo Witty by Codi
Barbara Riordan of Pariah
Misty Dodson of Bond Girl No. 9
Monique Burts of Mo Glo
Maria Maura of Mau et Cie
Youth Designers:
Shyliah Reed- Harris
Zairion Lester
Sikia Ewing
Sarah Villines
Don'Ajha Carter
Ella Kister
If you missed out on INDFW this year, you will want to make sure you check it out next year!