Following on previous successes in launching emerging talent to national prominence, PFW will hold auditions Aug 22, with a runway competition show for finalists at Portland Fashion Week on Thursday, October 7th. Judges Panel will include industry apparel buyers, store owners, and Project Runway Season 7 Winner Seth Aaron.
On Thursday October 7, 2010, the Portland Fashion Week runway will again light up with emerging talent, getting an exposure boost while competing for the winning title and a prize package to include a free, full-collection runway show in the regular designer lineup at Portland Fashion Week 2011, look-book models, photo shoot and design, marketing consultations and more.
Making a high-production fashion week affordable to independent designers by utilizing business sponsorship, Portland Fashion Week reaches a wide audience of press and public. Emerging talent finalists bask in the light of the built-in press and buyers’ interest that comes to the PFW platform, with local, nationally and internationally known designers showing, and an industry panel judging the competition. The winner is further catapulted to career success by the professionally designed prize package.
“We’ve built a history of accommodating up & coming talent during economically-strapped phases of their business development, and have been elated to see talent on the PFW runway go on to reach extraordinary heights,” says PFW’s Chris Cone. “This year,” PFW Executive Producer Tito Chowdhury elaborates, “”Catapult” will continue the tradition in a juried show & competition, making emerging designer collections accessible to press, public, wholesale and retail buyers and consumers.”
Project Runway winner Seth Aaron, who as well as being a judge, is himself debuting a widely anticipated solar-inspired collection at Portland Fashion Week, commented on the competition, “I’m glad to be a part of selecting the finalists and winner for this year’s emerging talent competition at Portland Fashion Week. After being on the hot seat for a year, it’s nice to be on the other side of the table! But what’s more, it’s another way of letting the world know about the fashion talent that both resides in, and converges on the Portland area for Portland Fashion Week.”