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Spring Fashion ’22

Created in 2012 by Arrow co-founder, Abby Phillips, and run by a talented team of volunteers, Memphis Fashion Week (MFW) this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. The event is held each spring to showcase spring and summer collections. MFW is about cultivating and celebrating local and regional fashion through designers, photographers, models, and boutiques.

Wardrobe exclusively provided by Indigo.
Models (left to right): Mycah Bates, Josie Brown, Emma Roberts
Amanda Uprichard Sicily Dress, $229; Shoes: Sam Edelman Jade, $140; Barrettes, $8.50
Amanda Uprichard Giancini Romper in English Blue, $238; Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
Rancher, $260; Barrettes, $8.50
Amanda Uprichard Candia Dress, $233; Shoes: Schutz Kaila, $148; Tiana Bag, $145

This year’s events will showcase local emerging designers through The Emerging Memphis Designer Project (EMDP), as well as national designer Amanda Uprichard, presented by local boutique, Indigo. The EMDP was built out of a need in the Memphis community for local emerging designers to present their pieces to a wider audience. MFW and EMDP liaison Sonin Myatt and her team work with selected designers through a seven-month process to educate and promote local designs. At the end of the process, MFW hopes to see the designers grow their skills, promote their businesses, and enhance the design industry in Memphis.

Amanda Uprichard Evie Dress in Shocking Pink, $207; Shoes: Circus by Sam Edelman, $90; Mignonne Gavigan Mini Lola Hoop Earrings, $110
Amanda Uprichard Giancini Romper in Shocking Pink, $238; Barrettes, $8.50
Amanda Uprichard Evie Dress in Marina, $207; Shoes: Schutz Ariella, $118; Style Junkie Earrings, $16

Arrow Creative, grown out of the Memphis Fashion Design Network, seeks to make art more accessible in order to inspire the creative spirit in all Memphians. Arrow is a premier source of creative entrepreneur enrichment, arts education, and art immersion for the entire community. Arrow encompasses the fashion design community as well as photography, woodworking, ceramics, painting, graphic arts, book arts, and more.

Abby Phillips says, “Celebrating Memphis Fashion Week’s 10th year at Arrow Creative’s new home in Midtown feels like we’ve come full circle. To have grown this event into a full-fledged arts organization that encompasses all arts mediums and to see our fashion design participants using equipment purchased from Memphis College of Art feels like a real win.”

With Memphis Fashion Week, the Brother Sewing Lab, and EMDP, leaders in the Memphis fashion industry will help to cultivate and educate local Memphis designers. Join Arrow in supporting local fashion at Arrow Creative on April 22, 2022. Proceeds from official events benefit Arrow Creative, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

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With Focus on Emerging Designers, Memphis Fashion Week Hits the Runway Aug. 25th

The highlight will be on emerging designers from MFW’s Emerging Memphis Designer Project (EMDP). This project was started in the second year of MFW and has continued to be successful, ensuring that new designers’ ideas make it from the sketch pad to the runway.

Thirteen emerging designers will have their designs featured on the runway this year. All are local and range in age from 17 to 60. These designers work with University of Memphis professor of fashion design Sonin Myatt for seven months. From concept to runway and everything in between, designers are mentored during this time. “We are so lucky to have Sonin Myatt to mentor our emerging designers,” says Abby Phillips, MFW founder and executive director of Arrow Creative. “What she has done by moving the fashion department at U of M to the art department has been incredible for fashion in Memphis.”

All emerging designers apply through an application process and enter one of three divisions — Singles: one to three garments; Mini Collection: five garments as part of a matching collection; and Teen: garments designed by an Overton High School student this year.

While the highlight is on EMDP, Phillips also has other surprises in store. “Thursday we will have a creative class, and Friday a pop-up fashion night out,” she says. “And don’t forget the tour of our new location on the 25th. This year is going to be exciting.”

Memphis Fashion Week, various locations, memphisfashionweek.com, Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 25-27, $60-$150.

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Arrow to Build New ‘Forever Home’; Passes on Plan for MCA Space

Paradigm Marketing and Creative

A rendering of the proposed Arrow building in the Broad Avenue Arts District.

Arrow, one of the organizations that had bid to take over Rust Hall next year when the Memphis College of Art closes, has pulled out of consideration and will instead set up its headquarters in the Broad Avenue Arts District.

Abby Phillips and Dorothy Collier, co-founders of the nonprofit creative co-working space, made the announcement Monday evening at Arrow’s temporary space at 2535 Broad.

Arrow has raised about $2 million toward acquiring the property and will mount a capital campaign to get another $10 million.

“The space will be more than a building, more than a program, and more than just studio space,” Phillips said. “Arrow will be a one-roof creative district in the heart of Memphis. We will house micro retail opportunities, creative community education with a focus on workforce development and artist development.”

It will have studios and creative offices, as well as co-working and shared equipment. Arrow has acquired some of the equipment from Memphis College of Art that will be available to the Arrow community.

“This space provides a unique opportunity with easy access,” she said. “We are 20 minutes or less of a drive from anywhere in the city, the street is already an established and thriving arts district, and over the next few years, there will be over 400 apartments in the surrounding five blocks.”

The 80,000- to 100,000-square-foot project is expected to take more than a year. Meanwhile, Arrow will remain in its temporary “concept” space that has six studios and already has artists working there. “We wanted to be closer to our forever home and to prove our concept that access to foot traffic does help these artists,” Phillips said.

Arrow is also offering classes and hopes this summer to have a summer camp for students much like MCA has offered for many years.

The city has selected several finalists who have proposals on what to do with the 75,000-square-foot MCA building, which will become vacant at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Arrow had been one of the finalists. The city is also looking for ideas for the 86,000-square-foot Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, which plans to move Downtown in 2024. 

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2016 Memphis Fashion Week EMDP Emerging Designers

As Memphis Fashion Week (MFW) celebrates its 5th year, the Emerging Memphis Designer Project (EMDP) continues the cultivation of local talent with more designers than any other year — 16 selected from almost double the submissions than last year.

“This year’s group has blown us away,” MFW director Abby Phillips says. “The age demographic is the most diverse that we’ve had, as is the experience level. All designers have worked hard to learn and become better at their designs and the sewing. The part that impresses me the most this year is how many designers are creating their own textiles through dying, painting, and weaving unconventional materials.”

These emerging designers will show their custom designs on the runway at the Memphis College of Art Saturday, April 9th at 8 p.m. Former EMDP designer/winner Tara Skelley of Dilettante Collection will also show her spring collection following the EMDP show.

MFW supporter and stylist Augusta Campbell will be this year’s guest judge along with designer Andra Eggleston of Electra Eggleston. They’ll decide which designers will receive a scholarship to the Memphis College of Art Continuing Education classes.

Tickets to this runway show and other MFW events can be purchased at www.memphisfashionweek.org.

Learn more about each designer below.

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ANDREA FENISE
Concrete Rose is a love story. It’s a visual expression of the process of love. Blending texture in sequin and soft flow-y crepe-back satin to visually express evolving and growing through love was the idea for my collections 

The Andrea Fenise woman is modern, unconventional, and contemporary. 

I want my designs to express what women love, what interests them — using personal style as an expression. It’s my hope to design clothes for the fashion industry that tell a story not just hang on a rack. 

Years designing: 3 years 

AVIANNE ROBINSON
My garment is a blend of the 1990s and 1800s fashion. I used elements of both eras to make a garment that pays tribute to history as well as incorporates some of the more modern-day looks.

I was designing for the modern-day online influencer. I could see a fashion editor or street style blogger wearing this.

I hope to bring a unique style of clothes that is able to incorporate elements of other time periods In a fashion-forward way.

Years designing: 5 years, but I have always done some form of art.

CASEY BECK
My pieces are simple, clean designs created from rich suede and silk. My pieces represent my personal design style which features simple, well-crafted staple pieces with sparks of intrigue and individuality. 

I design for a woman who is on-trend but adds her own individuality to achieve a personal style. She is always growing, meeting new people, and traveling to different places. Her style is simple but strong, and her experiences help add a uniqueness to her wardrobe. 

What I hopes to bring to the fashion industry? Staple pieces with hints of intrigue and individuality.  

Years designing: 1 year

CHRISTINA DANG
I like cleanliness and structure. My mini collection has a lot of hard lines and color blocking, creating a nice pristine and crisp look. I like boldness and for things to make a bold statement because fashion is bold. It communicates with confidence. I played on hard and soft in textiles and color to maintain that spring/summer feel. 

[I design for ] definitely someone who’s edgy. Someone who loves oxymorons and does not play safe. Spring/summer is often light and airy, and my collection is heavy with vinyls. There’s no reason to conform; I like to have fun. 

Other than more originality, I hope to bring a new face to the industry. Especially within the ethnic community. Representation is so important to me, especially growing up in the U.S. from an immigrant family. It’s nice to be able to look up to someone who looks like you and can relate to you and it’s nice to be able to be that for someone. 

Recently, in the past two years, I’ve been trying to expose myself to the industry more in attempt to spark something. Although I’ve been drawing for a long time, my sewing/design skills are not as developed. Other than a home economics class in high school, most of my skills are self taught through books and YouTube. EMDP has allowed a platform for me to expose myself to fashion design more and provided resources to grow and develop professionally. 

DARA BRANSON
My inspiration came from a book of medieval fashions. I borrowed some of the shapes and the idea of embellishment as a form of armor and made the look more modern and feminine. The sheer materials and pastel pinks soften the overall look for an almost ethereal feel.

My designs are more formal, but elements can easily be taken and worn more casually. This woman is feminine and enjoys following trends. She loves dressing up for special occasions, but also needs pieces that are comfortable and versatile.

I think a lot of modern fashion is more gender neutral and focused on comfort rather than style. I want to make clothes that are just as comfortable as they are beautiful, and I want to embrace and celebrate femininity.

I began sketching clothes sometime in middle school, around 12-13 years ago, doodling in my class notes. In high school I began designing in earnest, learned to sew, and made my senior prom gown in 2009. I decided to study Apparel Design at Purdue and earned my B.S. In 2013.

DENISE BECKETT
My theme is young ladies having a night out in town.

The person who is wearing the outfit should have a bold, strong, and confident attitude. The ideal person would be around the age of 18-25. Someone who loves bold and bright colors.

I hope to bring a sense of confidence, that you don’t have to dress trashy to feel good about yourself and fit in.

I have been designing for 9 years going on 10.

KATHRYN HEARD
For EMDP 2016, I created custom, hand-dyed fabric and removable feather embellishments inspired by the Northern Lights.

I design for the sophisticated woman who appreciates one-of-a-kind statement pieces.

I hope to bring a positive light to the fashion industry.

Years designing: 3

LINDSAY CHASTAIN
Technique: bright, colorful embroidery

Theme: whimsy; based on woodcut designs found in the children’s book “Drummer Hoff”

Designing for a bold woman on a day about town.

I hope to bring playful and imaginative designs that draw from nature and art.

Years designing: 3 years

LINDSEY WIDICK
The piece is designed for a night out. It is bright, bold, and edgy. However, the train makes the design more formal and also adds softness and a touch of femininity to the piece

My design is for a woman who likes to take risks with her fashion and standout in a crowd. 

I love designers like Mara Hoffman because of the bright and bold patterns she uses, and I love designers like Zuhair Murad because of the intricate and beautiful designs he puts on the runway.  I could only hope my design falls somewhere in between. 

This is my first year in design. 

MARY AMBROSE
Each design in my collection was inspired by birds, specifically the woodpecker, the jay, cedar waxwing, grackle, and the tawny frogmouth. Each bird is interpreted in the garment design by use of feathers or reproducing the feather somewhere in the garment. I also use a signature feature in all the garments through the use of bicycle inner tubes. Some garments are completely made of inner tubes with some fabric accents. I enjoy proving that inner tubes can be crafted into a beautiful garment that looks as chic as leather. 

This collection was designed for a confident woman. I like to incorporate elements of soft and hard, to create a sensual edgy look. She doesn’t mind being different and wants a one-of-a-kind garment.

I enjoy creating the wow factor, so at times I have to edit so it doesn’t go too costume. I really enjoy pulling out all the stops from the garment itself to the jewelry, shoes, hair, and make up. I love to see what Lady Gaga is wearing because it always has a wow factor. I love that the fashion industry is becoming more accepting of nontraditional materials. You see more and more designs using items such as pearls, drapery tassels, metal cuffs and eyelets, orange snow fencing, and even molded plastics.

My first designs where entered in Curb Couture and Trashion Shows two years ago. I have gradually incorporated more fabric into the design but using unconventional items really makes fashion fun and stretches the designers creativity. Just think outside the box. That’s what I try to do with the rubber inner tubes. I love to see how amazed people are when the see a garment created out of something unexpected. 

MEGGY MULLER
The dress has many cutouts on the dress. The back has cutouts, as well as the side of the dress.

It’s a formal dress for a girl who wants a high-low dress.

I hope to bring something different and creative to the fashion industry.

This past summer when I went to Scad [Savannah College of Art and Design] and I learned more about fashion design. This is my first real year of designing and making dresses, since I am only a sophomore in high school. This summer I am going to Parsons to further learn more about fashion design. 

MEREDITH OLINGER
All of my materials are either handmade or hand painted. I like to use recycled materials, when I can, and for this collection I used a lot of old t-shirts and recycled paper.

For this collection, I was thinking about a woman who is not afraid to be a little over the top. She always goes for one more accessory, one more print. She is comfortable with who she is and knows what she wants. 

I’m really interested in how things get made, and I like to innovate with new materials and new processes. 

I’ve been designing clothes since I started drawing. Fashion is my first love and it is what made me want to become an artist. But I’ve only been creating my designs for about two years now. 

RACHEL KUPERMAN ECHNOZ
My singles collection is inspired by mosaics and bright colors. For all the looks, I hand-painted silk.

The girl I am designing for is someone who has a unique sense of style.  She loves clothes that are classic with a modern twist.

I would love to bring a new perspective of design to the fashion industry.

I have been sewing and designing since I was 10 years old. I am so appreciative to Memphis Fashion Week for giving me the opportunity to showcase my designs on the runway.

SHAKIA COUCH
The theme that describes my collection is youthfulness. 

I would be designing for a very fun and energetic person. Clothes that are not revealing, but where everyone can feel as equally beautiful covered.

TIENA GWIN
I am designing for the ultra-feminine woman who wants designs that expresses her true eclectic self.

I hope to bring to the industry clothes that create a positive emotional response. Clothes that pull at your heart strings. 

I have been designing since 2011. 

Zoe Vu
Theme or technique that identifies my design: geometric shapes and a nod towards athleisure.
 
I am designing for a girl who loves style and comfort equally.
 
In the future I hope to create a clothing line full of pieces that are made from hand-printed fabrics and that can seamlessly transition between athletic wear and everyday fashion.


Years designing: 1 year

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Photos by Faith Pool and Sophorn Kuoy. Shoot location: Memphis Slim House.
Congratulations and good luck to all these emerging designers. See you at fashion week!

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