Quinn Sealed

First Ever, Fashion Week for Full Figured Women

Recently our team at SWAK Designs had an opportunity to take part in an amazing historical event. Our owner Brad Capo sent Rhasaan Perry (VP of Sales/Merchandising) and myself to New York City to participate in the first ever Full Figured Fashion Week produced by Gwen DeVoe CEO of DeVoe Signature Events (DSE) on Thursday June 25 until Saturday June 27, 2009. This event showcased the latest in plus size fashion as well as brought the plus size community together in hope to change the way retailers think of plus size consumers and plus size fashion in the industry today. For those of you who keep up with us and read our weekly articles and blog, you know that we had announced this exciting event and its schedule a few weeks ago urging anyone who is into plus size fashion and the latest trends to attend. So, hopefully you did not miss out on the festivities and were able to attend. If not, you are in luck because I have the details of how it all went down.

The FFFWeek events started on Thursday June 25th with an amazing shopping soiree at Re/Dress boutique in Brooklyn. This event welcomed the out of town guests while they enjoyed shopping. Together with Pockets and Purses with a Purposes Tracey V. Bell (Chairman and President, PPWAP) and Kim Coles (Global Spokesperson, PPWAP) customers shopped vintage plus size clothing and were given the opportunity to donate their lightly used purses and wallets for the foundation which later will be bundled with personal care products and counseling services for women/children in Domestic Violence Shelters.

Later that evening they had a designers showcase and networking event with a plus size fashion show which took place at Club Blvd. The fashion show featured fabulous new designs by Ashley Stewart and en.v. new york by Designer Just Raymona. Unfortunately, due to our work schedule here at SWAK Designs our team had to miss out on Thursday’s events but by all the pictures out there, the event looks to have been a success for all involved.

The following day we spent the morning fitting some of our beautiful plus size models that were going to be wearing our fashions in the finale runway show. After that we made our debut at the FFFWeek Buyers Market. This sales event was put together to help connect the attending plus size fashion buyers and boutique owners with participating FFFWeek designers and suppliers. This was a great business networking opportunity for us as an on-line retailer and wholesaler. It helped open some new doors and create some great opportunities for us as well as meet some amazing buyers and boutique owners in the plus size industry.

During this time the “The State of the Curvy Community” panel discussion began at another location with moderator Sharon Quinn. This panel discussion addressed the current state of the plus size community and the significance of Full Figured Fashion Week, through the eyes of some of the industry’s leaders, bringing different perspectives from various experiences and points of views from all attendees. Since we were participating in the Buyers Market at that time we were unable to attend the panel discussion, but from what I heard it was an extremely powerful, positive, and uplifting discussion.

Later that night we attended the Media Reception/Press Party at the Taj Lounge which was a blast. It was great to meet and network with such a variety of professionals from media, designers, and models. The night went on at the Sage Theatre without us at the Full Figured Friday mini-concert hosted by Queen Aishah who is a comedian, actress, radio personality, and philanthropist. The venue had performances by Queen Aishah, Crystal P. (Detroit’s new Queen of Comedy) and The Glamazons, the fierce foursome plus size pop group whose mission is to show the world that talent comes in all sizes. After the Media Reception was the FFFWeek Friday Night Dance Party at the Stitch Lounge. This was an opportunity for all attendees to dance, mingle, eat, and celebrate FFFWeek and all of the events.

Saturday, the final day of FFFWeek was also actioned packed with events from morning to night. They began the day with a Small Business Workshop which taught attendees how to market their business or organization online using social networking. After that was the Curves in the City Shopping Soiree which was open to the public and had discount shopping with participating FFFWeek designers and vendors. Unfortunately, Rhasaan and I were unable to attend either event as we were doing final fittings with our models and preparing our collections for the finale runway show.

Then finally that evening was what we all had been anticipating…..the Finale Runway Showcase at The Prince George Ballroom. It was a semi-formal, finale designer showcase featuring the collections from Agape Goddess Wear, Ashley Stewart, Big Girls United (BGU), Candi Apple Couture, Jewel Shannon Designs, LaMaica Fashions, Monif C., Osun Design, Qristyl Frazier Designs, Robert E. Knight, and yours truly Sealed With a Kiss Designs. The show was incredible and the designs were amazing. It was really hard to choose but I would have to say that the designs by BGU and Qristyl Frazier were my absolute favorites in the show besides our collection of course. When it was time for our designs to hit the runway we were dressing and fixing our models as fast as we could to get them perfect before they stepped out on the runway. It was so interesting to be on the other side of a runway show this time around, not participating as a model but as a representative of a clothing line. I was feeling such a different type of nervousness that I’ve never felt before. Although Rhasaan and I were battling our nerves, all of our models were somewhat calm and really rocked it out for us. Our designs were a hit as well as our models who were looking beautiful and we received so many great compliments from people at the show. What a rush! After all of the designs were shown it was pictures and networking time and as a plus size model, this is my favorite thing to do. Later there was an after party where attendees were able to dance, mingle, and eat while celebrating such an amazing show. Needless-to-say it was a late night with an early flight the next morning, but so worth it.

FFFWeek was an definite success for us as a whole. We hope that next year Gwen DeVoe with DeVoe Signature Events (DSE) will bring this ground breaking event to us here in Los Angeles. We feel so blessed to have been part of such an amazing, ground breaking event for the plus size fashion industry. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to share our designs with such a welcoming, enthusiastic, supportive audience. For those of you that Rhasaan and I crossed paths with on this adventure it was such a pleasure to meet you all and hope you will stay in touch. If you have any comments or feedback please feel free to do so below. We would love to hear from you.

Danielle Line, Plus Size Model and Guest Writer for www.swakdesigns.com

 

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