The 10th Annual Fashion On The Square
(FOTS) WEEK ended on July 27, 2014 with a finale runway show at the
InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco that did not disappoint. The goal of FOTS Week was not only to
showcase the best in fashion here in the Bay Area and honor trailblazers in the
fashion and art industries, but it was a fundraising effort for FOTS+The Arts, a
non-profit organization that gives grants and scholarships to students in the
fashion industry who blend fashion and art in their work, whether it’s on the
runway or in a visual representation.
On Saturday, July 19th FOTS Week
kicked-off with a surprise FashMob in the middle of Yerba Buena Gardens in San
Francisco. A Sacramento dance troupe was
a pleasant surprise to people standing around waiting for the ‘free summer
music series’ to begin and the crowd really began to gather when they saw more
than 15 models create an outdoor runway on the pavement in the middle of the
gardens. Even children who were not part
of the fashion show found their way to the runway to take part in the festivities. We were in, out and done all under 10
minutes. It was epic.
On Saturday, July 20th at Imagine
Affairs in Oakland, the FOTS+The Arts Awards and Fashion Show was a phenomenal
event and the awardees and attendees certainly made their red carpet attire
appearances in style. From the vintage look in fashion by La Belle Moi (Ronita
Wheatfall) to enjoying classical pianist and honoree Marcus McCauley, the
evening was one that the Bay Area has never experience and it left everyone
wanting more and more. Other honorees
who received FOTS+TheArts awards were Brownie Sims, Teresa Washington, Tevia
Gray and Nana Kofi Nti.
On Wednesday, July 23rd a VIP and
Sponsor Appreciation Reception took place at the Jenkins Johnson Gallery in San
Francisco and it was no stopping the designers that evening as they did not hold
back on what they wanted everyone to see.
Guests, including FOTS Fashion Icon Awardee Wilkes Bashford and media
mogul Dexter Davis, enjoyed sneak peeks from each designer of one of their
signature looks that was going to be shown on the runway. To add more enjoyment to the festivities, it
was an entertainment surprise when ballerina Amanda Whipple tip toed her way down
the staircase to the lower level of the gallery performing a very energetic
routine while guests were nibbling on delicious miniature cupcakes and sipping
Apple Pie wine by SF MEAD.
W San Francisco partnered with FOTS for their
Inspire Series Luncheon on Thursday, July 24th
and the guest speaker Caity Shreve, Fashion, Fun and Fitness Blogger. Caity shared amazing tips on ‘Work-Wear’ and
it was enlightening to hear the tips and tricks of the best dress when
transitioning careers and fitting into a new environment in the workplace. It warmed my heart when W’s General Manager presented
me with the W Inspire Award. So excited!
The weekend of fashion, fashion and more fashion
took place July 25th at W San Francsico with Fresh Faces of FOTS,
July 26th on Maiden Lane with the children and teen show which
included two adult wear designers and then the finale show on July 27th
at the InterContinental Hotel.
Throughout the entire weekend, more than 5,000 people enjoyed FOTS
fashion and it was amazing how the FOTS+TheArts t-shirts sold like crazy the
entire weekend. Designers included Cindy
Quach, Rachel Riot, Christina Morgan Cree, Lauren Barisic, Ricky Lee, Jake
Wall, Sebastian Threadz, Jordan Epstein, Soazig Kaam, Wesley Yu, Wenting Tina
Yu, Kanyarat Tapeneeyakorn and others.
There is always very little time between ending a
FOTS year and preparing for the next year.
The 10-year journey has been a solid stepping stone for what is ‘to come’
and the only common denominator that you will find in FOTS 2015 is ‘it will
happen’. Rest assured what is to come
for FOTS and FOTS+TheArts next year is nothing that has been seen or done
before. And go!
Press Coverage of FOTS Week: Wear Your Voice {Pre FOTS} Wear Your Voice - FOTS+TheArts Awards FaFaFoom
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