Tick-tick-tick. In 24 hours (AKA 5 pm tomorrow, Friday March 16) submissions for designers who would like to be considered for the Merc's eighth annual spring fashion show are due to me here or here. (And yes that is a hard deadline, because I have an appointment with Adam Arnold at 5:30 re: pants.) The show is taking place on Saturday, May 12 at the gorgeous Sandbox Studio, and Portland-area apparel and accessory designers interested in participating should send us an introductory statement about you and your designs, including your background, materials, objectives, inspirations—anything that will help paint a better picture of your point of view. Additionally, please send us photographs of at least three completed pieces (the more the merrier). Supplementary materials like sketches, process photos, swatches, etc. are welcome, but *please do not send anything you need returned to you*.

The show is nonspecific in terms of season (thus the name "Open Season"); so it is open to designers regardless of their production calendar, although new work is strongly preferred. We also love to showcase pattern and textile designers, but non-apparel designers should be prepared to present their work in complete, full-body looks—creative, conceptual workarounds have been a big hit in the past. So hop to it, or you'll kick yourself later. TICK-TICK-TICK!!

Ruki at the 2011 Open Season show.