Portland Fashion Week doesn’t officially start until October,
but this Friday, September 25, kicks off the first of a series of
exciting events on the fall calendar. It’s a testament to the number of
talented designers that live here that there is almost no
overlapping—if you’re ready to see what’s new in town, you’d
better synch up your calendar.
This week brings us FUSE, the first major event to be thrown
by the Portland Fashion Synergy (PDXFS) group, which formed last
year and has since merged with a project known as China Bound,
which last spring brought the work of independent designers to the
Henan province of China, where it was shown in a fashion week
presentation there. Now developed into the China Business Exchange
Initiative, the joint mission includes facilitating student
exchanges in design and manufacturing programs, and introducing
Portland fashion to the Chinese market, helping to establish the city
as a design hub in the international consciousness. How exactly that
will play out remains to be seen, but the FUSE event promises to be a
vibrant first step.
The first half of the show is dedicated to Portland design, with
PDXFS President May Tee, Emily Katz, and the casual
menswear line Defyance all showing full new collections.
Following that will be a rainwear collaboration mixing references to
Portland and China by a clutch of exciting up-and-coming names: Adam
Andreas, Hillary Day, Janeane Marie, Barbara
Seipp, Emily Sunnell, Christa Taylor, and Heather
Treadway.
The second half of the show will showcase visiting designers from
China, among them Cathaya, Cui Wei, and Chong
Jian, who is reported to be the most famous of the guest designers.
Next month, at the gala kickoff to the exhibit China Design
Now, which will be at the Portland Art Museum (October
10-January 17), Chong Jian will also be providing eight exclusive looks
that will be shown during the cocktail hour, an arrangement also made
in partnership with PDXFS.
Tickets to FUSE are not cheap! General admission is $100, with VIP
tickets going for $150, but because the event is a benefit, part of the
ticket price will be tax deductible, and you know, exclusivity rarely
comes for free. (Portland Art Museum’s Kridel Grand Ballroom, 1219
SW Park, Fri Sept 25, 7 pm pre-party, 9 pm fashion show,
$100-150)
After you’ve blown your budget on Friday night, Saturday is packed
with free shopping events, including a new TOMS fall style launch,
trunk shows, and the first anniversary party for E Burnside’s Frank
James boutique. Hit mod.portlandmercury.com for all
the details.