Design Week Portland is back in a new springtime slot with pretty much every design discipline imaginable covered. Here are just a few of the week's events that are specifically apparel focused, but make sure to visit 2016.designweekportland.com for the full schedule:

Hand-dyed textiles have been a longtime trend both in fashion and home décor, and for those of you who would like to delve deeper into the process, Rowland Ricketts of Ricketts Indigo is hosting a lecture. Ricketts boasts an impressive résumé, which includes training in indigo farming and dyeing in Japan, plus he's an assistant professor in textiles at Indiana University's Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Art. His work has been exhibited in New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC, and has been published in several textile and design magazines.

MFA Applied Craft & Design Studios, 421 NE 10th, Wed April 20, 6:30 pm, free

Piers Fawkes, founder of New York-based brand development firm PSFK, will provide an overview of their Future of Retail 2016 report, "Designing the New Shopper Experience." The evening will focus on fashion and the retail experience using Wildfang's West End retail space to explore current and future trends, followed by a Q&A. Beer, wine, and appetizers will be on hand to fuel the discussion.

Wildfang, 404 SW 10th, Thurs April 21, 7 pm, $25

  • Amy Dotts
  • OL Schmidt

Portland Fashion Institute will host its fifth annual fashion show to spotlight the seven graduates from its Fashion Forward program, Eva Boryer, Melanie Bowman Clark, Jessy Burris, Amy Dotts, Clio Rebillon, Stephanie Mendes, and Becca Price. Past graduates of the Fashion Forward program have gone on to great success, and this show is a good way to preview the newest additions to the Portland fashion landscape. Also, proceeds benefit PFI's Fashion Design Scholarship for Teens, which prepares Portland-area high school juniors and seniors for a career in the fashion industry. (Full disclosure: I am one of the producers of this show.)

Data Systems Plaza, 975 SE Sandy, Sat April 23, 7 pm, $25-35

More Events!

  • Wendy Ohlendorf
  • OSI Photography

77 Salon will host the Fashion Factory, a celebration of fashion, art, and hair. The salon will showcase collaborative work by hairstylist Emily Mazour and photographer Holly Seeber, as well as a fashion show featuring looks by Wendy Ohlendorf, Vava Lingerie, and Kate's Couture. There'll also be a raffle and drinks.

77 Salon, 1100 NW Glisan, Sat April 2, 6 pm, free

The Portland Women's Expo is back and boasts tons of booths featuring fashion, food and beverage, health and wellness, and more. There will also be a beauty bar by the Portland Beauty School and a massage garden by the Body Bunch for those who want to relax, and a rock wall for those who want to blow off some steam.

Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK, Sat April 2, 10 am-5 pm, $12

Know a high-schooler? Nonprofit organization Abby's Closet is hosting the 12th annual Prom Gown Giveaway. They're giving away 7,000 prom dresses in a wide range of sizes, and each attendee will also receive accessories. All gowns and accessories have been donated throughout the year by businesses and individuals across the country.

Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE MLK, Sat April 2, 8 am-4 pm, Sun April 3, 10 am- 2 pm, free, high school ID required for entry

Sundaze Collective, a fashion and lifestyle pop-up shop curated by Yo Vintage!, has a rotating lineup every month on first Sunday. This round will feature products from AK Studio, Howard, Maak Lab, Mica DeMarquez, Primecut, Studio Olivine, Alexa Stark, and more.

The Cleaners at the Ace Hotel, 403 SW 10th, Sun April 3, 11 am-6 pm, free

This month has SO MANY events that we didn't have enough space to include them all, so be sure to visit portlandmercury.com for complete weekly style event updates. Got a fashion event? Drop us a line at fashion@portlandmercury.com.