FWSD18 Spring Showcase Recap | by Erin Riley
Few places blossom in the way that San Diego does. This radiance was more vibrant than ever as the FWSD18 Spring Showcase unveiled on Saturday night at Carlsbad’s Flower Fields. Set at the foot of the gorgeous landmark’s fifty acres of giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, this event gave guests a sneak peek into what will be coming their way this October: collections from 15 emerging fashion designers. Just as unique as the city it’s held in, FWSD provides so much more than just one week of runway shows; it delivers an entire year of events, with this Spring Showcase being the first to kick off the timeline.
Beginning in the evening, this annual gathering flourished into a night of mixing and mingling, weaved with a runway show where each designer previewed one look from his or her collection that will debut this fall. Beautifully set up at the back, in a quaint, rustic setting covered with glowing strands of lights, designers and sponsors set up an exclusive pop-up space where guests enjoyed a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.
Sleeping Giant set the mood with ambient tunes as the venue filled up with invitees dressed in their finest. Families, bloggers, business owners, stylists, and more made up the crowd—blooming a garden of trend-setting outfits, blissful smiles, and inspiring conversations. See snapshots below of some of the chic attendees spotted throughout the night.
NBC 7‘s beloved weather anchor, Jodi Kodesh, hosted and opened the night by introducing FWSD’s founder and director, Allison Andrews. Pioneering this event from the ground up, and crafting it to be stronger and better each year, Allison greeted the audience by presenting a cherished philanthropy that has developed from this longest-running fashion week: the non-for-profit Fab Authority, a platform that helps budding creatives break down the stereotype that business planning is not their forte. Partnering with entrepreneurs in fashion, art, beauty, and more, Fab Authority offers workshops, marketing opportunities, funds, and more—nourishing brands with the resources they need to grow. Each year, hand-selected members of Fab Authority are proposed a slot at FWSD. Allison brought out the nominated designers on stage for a special introduction: Paige Serrano of I Am Sublime, Bryan Vaughn from VaughnBerry, Kunal Ghose from Haus of K2, and Dana Dinerman of Hulabelle graced the stage with unbeatable energy. Read more about their inspiring stories [here]
Preceding the runway opening, a short video went up on screen, outlining the past 10 years of Fashion Week San Diego—an awe-inspiring decade open to the industry and general public—providing a fresh foundation for over 100+ designers from all over the world to grow into the thriving brands that they are today. These clips illustrated how FWSD has bloomed more than just fresh fashion. What has been created is a unique experience that doesn’t just put designers on display, at a distance, with one runway show—it provides a platform for brands to gain exposure through many gatherings, fundraisers, shows, and more. Fashion Week San Diego is a package that is anything but ordinary; it’s a path of growth for brands to connect with the market and reach a place above and beyond their potential.
The show uncovered in a two-part feature as each designer sent one look down the runway. This year’s participants are not just Southern California locals; brands from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Las Vegas, Peru, Ecuador, India, Moldova, and Mexico were selected for FWSD18. The diversity of this crew manifested as each look adorned the runway—from hand-painted clothes and couture gowns to statement-making silhouettes and unconventional street wear—it’s evident that these seventeen designers will each reveal a vision in October that will take our breath away.
The runway show wrapped up, but the night kept on with the catwalk lit up and the trunk show booming as guests shopped and socialized with FWSD18 designers and partners. It was a spectacular night that unfolded a preview of an exciting year to come.
As promised, FWSD has several events that are coming up quick, so mark your calendar! Read more [here].
PASSES FOR THE FWSD18 OCTOBER RUNWAY SHOWS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!