OCTOBER 4 -10

FROM THE FOUNDER

A message to our community:⠀

I hope you are well and that you’re finding ways to adapt to these challenging times.⠀⠀

Although we are all in this together, every person, household, and organization has been faced with struggles unique to their specific situation. It’s also true that over the past few months many have found innovative ways to cope, connect, and create.⠀

Our local fashion community is no exception. Regional fashion makers responded to the need for PPE (personal protection equipment) by producing masks, gowns, and headcovers. They have made us proud.⠀

Many of us are posting images of professional memories like fashion shows and photoshoots using #TBT and #FBF hashtags to remind ourselves and our audiences that we are still fashion creatives.⠀

There is one part of the community that has yet to make those kinds of memories. Our fashion design students, especially those about to graduate from schools like Framingham State University, Lasell University, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, School of Fashion Design-Boston, University of Massachusetts, and at the high school level, Boston Arts Academy.⠀⠀

Not one of the students that have dedicated themselves to learning the craft over several years will be seeing their work included in what has become a right of passage at these schools, the annual fashion show.⠀⠀

When considering how to move forward with Boston Fashion Week we knew right away that the week would be dedicated to those students, making sure that the focus of the week of fashion programming was on this new generation of fashion designers. ⠀

The next challenge was figuring out how to make this work in light of our “new normal.” The first priority is safety which means BFW 2020 will be an online experience. That also means reimagining how to present fashion so that it’s relevant as well as engaging.⠀

That’s where our region’s fashion professionals come in. We have started to reach out to local leaders in every faction of the fashion industry (designers, hair, makeup, stylists, models, photographers, event producers, filmmakers, public relations, educators, etc.) to help design what 7 days of virtual fashion look like. The response has been remarkable!⠀

Part of the process has involved developing a menu of concepts, strategies, and tools with these leaders to help our #nextgen fashion designers debut work in a way that suits the demands of their circumstances and amplifies their creative vision. ⠀⠀

While the focus will be on all the exciting new designers coming out of our region’s educational institutions, we invite ALL fashion creatives to find alternatives to IRL programming and express themselves during the week. ⠀

The dates for ther 26th annual Boston Fashion Week this fall are:⠀⠀

‪October 4th thru October 10th‬⠀

Please consider this message your invitation to create and celebrate Boston fashion.⠀

Stay tuned for more updates as this wonderful experiment continues to unfold!⠀

Be well and stay safe.⠀

⠀

All my best,⠀⠀

Jay Calderin⠀

Founder/Executive Director⠀

Boston Fashion Week⠀

#fromthefounder⠀

#bostonfashion⠀

#bostonfashionweek⠀

#bosfw20⠀