Athens, Ga. – The third annual University of Georgia Fashion Week, hosted by the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, is set for Feb. 21-28 and will feature visits by some top names in the fashion industry.
Fashion Week, organized by faculty members and students within FACS’ textiles, merchandising and interiors department, is both a showcase of student work as well as a networking opportunity.
“We want people to see how creative we are, how talented our students are,” said Emily Blalock, a lecturer within the textiles, merchandising and interiors department who helped organize the week of events.
Blalock said there are 202 fashion merchandising majors within the department as well as 150 minors. Almost all are involved in one of the four student organizations within TMI: Fashion Design Student Association, The Agency, Student Merchandising Association and the Little Red Book.
All four student groups will be featured throughout the week.
“This is a collaboration of not just fashion merchandising majors, but also these diverse students from disciplines all over campus that highlight the importance of fashion for careers in the U.S.,” Blalock said.
One of the highlights of the week is the “Fashion That Gives Back” seminar on Feb. 26 featuring nationally known entrepreneur and Live Worldly founder Kael Robinson.
Live Worldly “has a social mission of being for fair trade and being sustainable,” Blalock said.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, students will have a major networking opportunity hosted by the Georgia Education Soft Goods Foundation. UGA alumna Kaki Read, public relations coordinator for Warby Parker eyewear, will be the keynote speaker.
Student tickets for the Thursday event are $5 and include admission to the SMA fashion show later that night. Another fashion show, hosted by the FSDA, will be held Friday night.
Local retailers have provided much of the apparel for the fashion shows, while several national companies, including Vince Camuto, Rent the Runway and ASOS, have contributed free giveaways as door prizes.
The week also will feature the grand opening of Couture a la Cart, UGA’s first mobile pop-up retail shop operated by students selling student-created designs. These designs will be sold from a golf cart on campus every Tuesday and Wednesday during the semester.
“It’s just a proud moment,” Blalock said. “The things our students are capable of doing, the elaborate details of the shows, the incredible quality of the clothing they design, the creativity in the details and production is all really amazing because they’re putting their majors into practice.”
UGA Fashion Week
Friday, Feb. 21 – “Fashion’s Night Out,” Fashion Showcase, Fab’rik, 142 E. Clayton St., 7-9 p.m. Free admission.
Monday, Feb. 24 – Pop Art Pop-Up Dance Party, 8 p.m. (location TBA). Free admission.
Tuesday, Feb. 25 – “Fashion that Gives Back: Wear Responsibly” party, Highwire Lounge, 269 N. Hull St., 7-10 p.m. Free admission.
Tuesday, Feb. 25 – Couture a la Cart grand opening (mobile pop-up retail shop operated by students), Tuesday and Wednesday, Tate Center lawn, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 26 – “Live Worldly: Fashion that Gives Back” seminar featuring Kael Robinson, MLC Room 148, 6:30-8 p.m. Free admission.
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Georgia Education Soft Goods Foundation cocktail and networking reception, UGA Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries, 6:30-8 p.m. Student tickets $5. Industry executive tickets $50. Advance tickets only. Contact Diane Kesler (dkesler@fcs.uga.edu or at 706-542-4888) to reserve a ticket.
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Aqua Fashion Show, UGA special collections libraries, 8 p.m. Student tickets $7, non-student $10 (admission free for GESGF attendees).
Friday, Feb. 28 – “Never After” student gallery and fashion show mix, Hardeman Sams House, 6:30 p.m. Student tickets $7, non-student $10.
