Nov. 12-15 at the Wortham
In bid for top European & American designers, Fashion Houston moves its date
Fashion Houston has new November dates. A scene from last year's show.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
A dress by David Peck was recently featured on the cover of Women's Wear Daily.Courtesy Photo
October isn't a great month to stage a fashion show unless you're in Milan or Paris. That's the time European designers unveil their collections for the fashion press and buyers while designers in New York are wrapping up orders from stores across the country and around the world. Even so, Fashion Houston has built a solid foundation the past two years despite a less-than-attractive early October date at The Wortham Theater Center.
Now, organizers are ready to take it up a notch.
"We've had some great success with American designers, but never with London, Milan and Paris," said Fashion Houston creative director Neal Hamil. "This makes a huge difference."
In its third year, Fashion Houston is moving to a mid-November date. This year's edition is scheduled for Nov. 12-15, again in the Wortham's Grand Foyer.
With the new dates, organizers believe they can lure some top name European design houses to show in Houston as well as some United States designers who were unable to work previous Fashion Houston events in their schedules.
"We've had some great success with American designers, but never with London, Milan and Paris," said Fashion Houston creative director Neal Hamil. "This makes a huge difference."
Audi is back on board as presenting sponsor and Neiman-Marcus is again a partner in securing name designers who will also present trunk shows at the Galleria store, said Fashion Houston founder Jared Lang. Also, Houston fashion veteran Jeanne Ruberti has been brought on board as executive producer.
"Between changing dates and improving the lineup, I think it will be the best year ever," Lang said. "We're really stepping it up this year with the quality of the team and the designers. We're really excited."
The Fashion Houston team has gotten a great response from designers and are close to finalizing an impressive list, Lang said.
For the local perspective, Houston designers David Peck, Chloe Dao and Jerri Moore have committed to show their collections during Fashion Houston.
A dress designed by Peck was recently featured on the cover of Women's Wear Daily — that's a huge coup for any designer — while Dao earned wide acclaim after winning the second season of Project Runway in 2006 and has steadily built her business from her Houston base since then. Moore, a native Houstonian, showed her first runway collection at Fashion Houston last year.
Fashion week organizers are also looking at ways to team up with the Cinema Arts Festival Houston, which will take place Nov. 7-11 at Sundance Cinemas and other venues in downtown Houston as well as the Museum District. The back-to-back festivals ensure that November is going to be one busy month for fashion and film lovers in the Bayou City.
