Looking back on Fade to Light and on to West Daily.
Marjorie Skinner
Marjorie Skinner is the Portland Mercury's Managing Editor, author of the weekly Sold Out column chronicling the area's independent fashion and retail industry, and a frequent contributor to the film and other arts and feature sections of the paper. She has been writing about Portland life and culture for the Mercury since 2001, produces one of Portland's largest annual spring fashion shows, and occasionally answers emails.
Posted inMovies & TV
Meru Tops the Average Mountain-Climbing Doc
Terror, Ice, and Solitude—at 20,000 Feet
Terror, ice, and solitude—at 20,000 feet.
Posted inFashion
New In: Fashion/Retail/Design News with NINI Signs, Gretchen Jones, and Orox Leather Co.!
• Election season is coming! That’s what Portlander Jillian Hall of NINI Signs wanted to remind me when she introduced her line of attractive (yet repellent) no soliciting signs—NINI is an acronym for “No I Am Not Interested.” Says Hall, “I’ve had an aversion to unannounced visitors since growing up in Portland a latchkey kid. […]
Posted inFashion
The West Daily Fall Womenswear Launch
This week, Physical Element hosts the launch of fall womenswear from emerging Portland brand West Daily, including a kimono-style jacket exclusive. We asked West Daily designer/creator Jason Calderon about the brand: MERCURY: How does your activewear sensibility play into this collection?JASON CALDERON: I aim for my designs to be directional, but maintain a level of […]
Posted inFashion
New In: Fashion/Retail/Design News with Wildfang, Tanner Goods, and Textile Hive
• You already knew that Wildfang was opening a second shop in the West End, in the former Martinotti’s space, but did you know that they’re teaming up with White Owl on an in-store bar that will serve canned boozes? Now you know. You can plan on drunk shopping there as soon as early next […]
Posted inFashion
The Best of Fade to Light: Sara Bergman, Bryce Black, & A PDX Carpet WTF
The lineup for Wednesday’s Fade to Light fashion show at the Crystal Ballroom featured seven lines of clothing from Portland designers (plus one from Louisville’s Gunnar Deatherage)—a lineup that felt a little more pared down than it has been. Editing seemed to be the inadvertent theme of the evening, with historically high-drama Fade to Light […]
Posted inPortland
“We Don’t Need Your Stinking Rules”: This Week’s Letters Section!
BUGGER YOUR BURGERS! RE: Burger Week (Aug 10-16), an annual citywide bonanza of limited-edition $5 burgers. Promotion of the event includes reminders to order additional items and tip appropriately, AKA the Commandments of Burger Week. DEAR MERCURY—I hate to break it to you, but guess what? Being a civil human being with some semblance of […]
Posted inFashion
New In: Fashion/Retail/Design News with West Daily, the PDX Collective Sale, and the First Mention of a Holiday Sale in 2015!
• The elegantly minimalist, active wear-influenced womenswear collection from West Daily is coming to the racks of Physical Element, which naturally calls for a celebration. There’s a launch party scheduled for Thurs Sept 3 at the shop (5-8 pm), with designer Jason Calderon on hand to share some of the story behind the designs, including […]
Posted inFashion
Final Fade to Light Teaser: Bryce Black!
Regular attendees of the semi-annual Fade to Light fashion shows know that Bryce Black likes to bring the house down. He’s been responsible for some of the most show-stopping moments in the event’s history, like getting professional dancers to infiltrate the runway, not to mention the high-drama tendencies of his actual clothing, which relishes in […]
Posted inFashion
New In: Fashion/Retail/Design News with Imelda’s & Louie’s, Frances May, & Grant Money for Portland Apparel Businesses (!)
• The early fall is on its way, and Imelda’s & Louie’s Shoes are calling it with their new lookbook for the season, featuring the newest arrivals in their shoe and accessories departments: Imelda’s & Louie’s Peep the whole thing here. • Speaking of lookbooks, Frances May just released theirs, titled “I Could Tell the […]
Posted inFashion
This Week’s Style Events: Red Clouds Collective, Elizabeth Mollo, Michelle Lesniak, & More!
NOW! • Red Clouds Collective is currently having a BTS sale with 20 percent off handy, durable items like leather and canvas backpacks, pencil/paintbrush rolls, and durable work-ready pants. Now through Sept 1! Red Clouds Collective • Hand-Eye Supply‘s having a sale on “any sharp thing in the shop,” and they’re calling it Knife Week, […]
Posted inFashion
Wildcraft, Reif, & Content: The Day’s News in Fashion, Design, & Retail
• If you’re starting to feel those back-to-school fall feels, take a look at the schedule of upcoming textile workshops being offered at the Wildcaft Studio School, including a two-day focus on a Pacific Northwest Native American technique for cedar hat-weaving, raw wool rug-making, loom weaving, and basic leather crafting with Sara Barner. Wildcraft Studio […]