| I also was aware of many creative designers living and working in the state of Virginia who were not getting any local exposure. Another major goal was to promote fashion in Virginia and promote Virginia as a “fashion destination” thus benefiting both the artist, and the region’s economic growth. Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to attend Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York’s Bryant Park as well as shows in Las Vegas, Miami, and other markets and I knew the quality of show I wanted to produce and bring to Virginia. In 2006, I had the opportunity to spend several weeks in Scottsdale Arizona, and meet with several people in the fashion community. Scottsdale was planning its first fashion week at the time and had support from Fashion Square Mall as well as major boutiques and department stores. While Virginia Malls are much less supportive of new ideas and high fashion, Scottsdale represented a mid-sized market that was able to make this a success and achieve a lot of exposure as a fashion and shopping destination. 
Another example of a community that had benefited immensely from the Fashion Industry is South Beach in Miami. Multiple boutiques and shops line the streets of Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive, many designers call the region home bringing new life to a place that a few decades ago was the seedy setting for shows like Miami Vice. In Virginia Beach especially, I have been saddened in recent years to see so many beautiful boutiques shut their doors and hope by bringing attention to this area to stimulate a new interest and help those in business now to thrive as well as for more fashion to come to this area. Another goal I had was to be able to give back to the community. For our third season, in 2009 VA Fashion Week is proud to partner with the Food Bank of Southeastern VA and the Virginia Beach SPCA. A percentage of sponsor fees will be donated to these organizations and they will be prominently featured in our events. This year’s VA Fashion Week will feature exciting events throughout the week with the final two days of shows at the beautiful Sheraton Oceanfront the culmination of years of planning and learning. This year’s shows will spotlight each designer in a customized runway presentation. We will feature many designers who never have shown in Virginia before. I’m especially excited to be working with Lili Forrest. Lili recently moved to Williamsburg after years of living in LA. She has designed multiple lines over the years; her clothes have been featured in many major movies, TV shows and fashion magazines and have been worn by celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Cher, Beyonce, and many others. Other designers showing in VA Fashion Week this year for the first time include Soreyda Begley, a native of Honduras whose line, “S. Benedit”, is based out of Lexington, KY and Cesar Rosario, a designer now based in Miami and originally from Puerta Rico. Other designers will be returning with new collections and new show concepts including Karen Domino White (daughter of Fats Domino) and couture designer Mathew Cashe. Of course many of our designers call Virginia home. They include talented Hampton Roads residents April Spring whose line “Foxers” is becoming an international phenomenon, Stephon Stallings who designs the innovative line “Vintage Hazel” and for the first time, a young Virginia Beach resident named Brehon with a fashion collection known as “Noihsaf” (Fashion Backwards!). Photographer/artist Yulia McClamrock, a native of Russia now living in Virginia Beach, will debut her “art to wear” line “Yulia Rock”. From elsewhere in the state we are proud to show the newest collection from Richmond’s Michael Taylor, as well as introduce “Silken Moon” created by Virginia McConnell. | 
