Tyler's Eve in Dallas
DALLAS—Richard Tyler debuted his Richard Tyler Eve eveningwear line on March 26 during the grand-opening market at the FashionCenterDallas.
Actress and Texas native Jennifer Love Hewitt presented Tyler with an award for visionary leadership in the industry at the Friday evening event.
Tyler’s young contemporary line, Tyler by Richard Tyler, and his Eve line were the finale in “An Evening With Leon Hall,” a fashion show featuring key trends from the showroom floors, hosted by E! Entertainment Television’s Leon Hall.
Richard Tyler Eve is a younger, more affordable version of Tyler’s couture collection. Tyler said he created the sexy, modern evening line to fulfill a demand for the look and sensibility of the couture collection at a lower price point.
The Richard Tyler Eve Fall collection includes approximately 18 cocktail dresses and long evening sheaths in taffeta, chiffon and velvet. Tyler said he plans to keep the line small but will later add sexy evening suits and jersey dresses. Tyler introduced the line a year ago as an exclusive to Henri Bendel in New York and is now offering it at wholesale.
Richard Tyler showed both lines in Scene, the temporary designer, contemporary and bridge area of the FashionCenterDallas.
Tyler was one of approximately 200 designers who appeared at the inaugural market and grand opening of the FashionCenterDallas. The FCD, which has replaced the International Apparel Mart, occupies the upper floors of the World Trade Center. The center contains approximately 12,000 lines, 550 permanent custom showrooms and 650 temporary booths of apparel and accessories for women, men and children. The new facility combines resources from the apparel, accessories, home, gift and design industries, offering retailers cross-buying opportunities and one-stop shopping.
California lines at the Dallas market include Joey and T, Tag Rag, Emmm, Sanctuary Clothing, Riley, Hurley, Kevan Hall, Marylou, Melanie Apple, Drunknmunky, Chip & Pepper, Corey Lynn Calter, Joe’s Jeans, Juicy Couture, True Religion, Mandalay and A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz.
Dallas was buzzing over the new $21 million state-of-the-art market center and its competing venue, the Fashion Industry Gallery. FIG, located nearby in downtown Dallas, was in full swing during its second market.
The Dallas Market Center reported that the FCD opening increased market attendance by 70 percent.
The DMC hosted a series of weekend events to celebrate the opening of the market center. Buyers and sales reps joined DMC President and Chief Executive Bill Winsor, DMC Chief Operating Officer Cindy Morris, and Dallas Mayor Laura Miller for the grand opening “Unzipped” fashion show. During the show, Miller dubbed March 25 “Dallas Market Center Day” in Dallas.
Other events included contemporary and Western fashion shows, cocktail parties, walking tours of the FCD, educational seminars and a five-car Volkswagen Beetle giveaway. —N. Jayne Seward
