– Gainesville Fashion Week
Even though the first day of New York Fashion Week is on Feb. 6, fashion hasn’t completely taken the nearest runway out of Gainesville.
Gainesville Fashion Week will host its first ever casting call for designers on Feb. 1, welcoming both aspiring and experienced designers to try the industry on for size. No experience is needed, and all guests should bring is a good attitude, a portfolio and an application.
“Our theme this year is growth,” said Holly Kobus, director of designers. “Following that, we wanted to reach out to the newest, freshest talent we can find and give them a platform for exposure that’s hard to get at larger fashion weeks, even those in the Southeast.”
This is the first time the seven-year-old fashion week will host a designer casting call along with its modeling casting call, also taking place on Feb 1. Both experienced and amateur models are invited to show their skill on the runway and in front of the camera.
“Some of our models have gone on to sign contracts with leading modeling agencies around the country,” said Shea Perez, director of models. “Despite its size and location, Gainesville Fashion Week puts models to work in much the same way as larger fashion weeks. It’s definitely an authentic experience.”
Regardless of skill or experience level, the Casting Call is a chance for all applicants to reach a new audience, gain experience working with a multiplatform event, and see an idea jump off the rack and onto the runway. Gainesville Fashion Week has always been about opportunity, and not just for design and modeling talent.
Since its inception, dozens of students from the University of Florida interested in fashion and retailing have interned at Gainesville Fashion Week. Through the event, these students have gained fashion-relevant experience they might have had to leave Gainesville to find.
“It’s impractical for many passionate students to pack up and move to New York City for six months,” said GFW co-founder and producer, Tiffany Williams-Propes. “By interning for GFW, they can develop the skills they would get at a much higher price in New York.”
The Designer and Model Casting Call will be at Neutral 7 Design Group at 2444 N.E. 1st Blvd., Gainesville, Fla. 32609. Designers will be reviewed from 10 a.m. until noon, and models will be reviewed from noon to 5 p.m. Applications can be printed from gainesvillefashionweek.com and submitted at the event. A $25 application fee must be remitted for models.
