Mayor Kicks Off L.A. Fashion Week
Mayor Antonio Villarigosa was on hand today at the California Market Center to officially kick off Los Angeles Fashion Week—or, as many of us have taken to calling it, Los Angeles Fashion Month.
Events begin on Oct. 8 and run through the end of the month.
“The positive impact of the fashion industry is evident,” the mayor said. “It’s a $28 billion industry and the fourth-largest industry [in the region], with nearly 200,000 employees involved in design, production selling, 53,000 buyers and exhibitors come to market and spend approximately $50 million at area hotels, restaurants and transportation. L.A. is no longer just the design capital of the West Coast, it’s one of the design capitals of the world.”
Ilse Metchek, president of the California Fashion Association, also spoke, highlighting the business side of fashion, saying, “We applaud the emerging designers and all designers but also the people who help watch your backs and pocketbooks.” Recognizing several business notables in attendance—including the CMC’s Joanne Lee, the Cooper Design Space’s Steve Hirsh, The New Mart’s Ethan Eller and Kent Smith of the L.A. Fashion District, Metchek said, “These are the people you need to know if you want to make a living in this business.”
The mayor and Metchek shared the stage with Max Azria, owner of BCBG Max Azria, and Metchek acknowledged Azria’s contributions to the fashion community, as well.
“Max, thank you for being a banner of business,” she said.
Also on stage was Cynthia Ruiz, fashion ambassador for the mayor’s office and president of the board of public works, and designer Randolph Duke, who announced the winners of the newly created Fashion Angel Awards.
The Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles and the organizers of Downtown LA Fashion Week partnered to create the awards, which were given to three emerging brands, whose work will be on the runway on Oct. 13 at DTLAFW’s Emerging Designers runway show.
Phong Hong, Fernanda Carneiro and design team Jaquetta O’Dell and Leslie Henry will each show their collections on the runway at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. As Fashion Angel winners, each will also receive $1,500 in services from CPA firm Moss Adams.
The mayor talks to the crowd
The mayor, Max Azria and Cynthia Ruiz
Randolph Duke
Nick Verreos, Sharon Ryan, Barbara Bundy, Cynthia Ruiz, Raymundo Baltazar, Silvia Valenzuela, Kimberly Goodnight
Emerging Designers Phong Hong, Fernanda Carneiro and design team Jaquetta O’Dell and Leslie Henry
Mona Sangkala, Loouie Verdad and Frances Harder
Yotam Solomon, Olga Garay, executive director of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and Raymundo Baltazar
