Models show off designer Damien Lee’s collection during a show at Baltimore Fashion Week in 2021. Photos by Kevin Higgins (Perimeter Photos) and JDH Photos.
Nate Couser started designing jewelry after his therapist suggested he use his creativity as an outlet for the pain he felt after his grandmother’s murder.
More than 15 years later, Couser now owns VashtiBlue Jewelry Studio and will be presenting his work at Baltimore Fashion Week after working behind the scenes for several years.
The fifteenth season of Baltimore Fashion Week, now called Shows at BFW, kicks off this Saturday, August 13.
Former model Sharan Nixon launched Baltimore’s inaugural fashion week in 2007, inspired by the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle she witnessed as a photo assistant at a 2005 Elie Saab show at New York Fashion Week.
Since its inception, Sharan has handled all promotional material for Baltimore Fashion Week, including press releases, social media, and website design, herself.
“It’s been a long and extensive learning experience, and I don’t regret a thing,” Nixon said.
Shows at BFW will kick off on Saturday night with the 4th Annual Fashion Umbrella Impact Awards, a fundraising gala celebrating Baltimore creatives and leaders making an impact in the community.
Monday, August 15, will be dedicated to “Off the Rack” events, a group of shows on the Baltimore Center Stage featuring local designers who don’t yet have a full collection. Featured creatives include Nixon herself, with her Carter Kennedy Showroom brand; professional stylist Sterling J; Couser’s VashtiBlue jewelry studio; and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman’s debut imprint, “Dark Lords.”
For most of the Off the Rack designers, this will be the first time they have shown their designs publicly.
Wardrobe stylist Sterling J used to attend Baltimore Fashion Week, hoping to one day see her work on display.
“I’ve been designing pretty much all my life,” said Sterling J, who will design a select number of models from his own wardrobes for his show.
The opportunity arose after Nixon was approached by Sterling J seeking a mentorship. After working under the wing of Nixon, he launched his career as a hairstylist and now works with other catwalk organizations to design his shows.
It’s also the first Baltimore Fashion Week for Bateman, who has been working on his “Dark Lords” label during his downtime between the Ravens’ regular season play and his summer workout. Bateman, who has been balancing his label debut, football preseason and a soft-tissue injury for the past month, was not available for comment.
While this is the first time Couser will showcase his collection, he is no stranger to Baltimore Fashion Week.
Couser, who is also a Baltimore City educator, performing artist and podcast host, interviewed models and designers for his podcast, “The Artist Exchange Radio Show,” during his first-ever Baltimore Fashion Week. Since then, Couser and Nixon have built a strong friendship, and Couser was selected to showcase his work at BFW Shows this year.
“I love mixing different styles and finding my own personal expression of that,” said Couser, whose ready-to-wear crochet collection is primarily inspired by the 1975 Diana Ross movie “Mahogany.”
From Tuesday, August 16 through Saturday, August 20, the Shows at BFW will host networking events, including virtual lunches, meetings and discussions with industry professionals.
Sunday August 21 is dedicated to a solo design exhibition featuring a full collection created by up-and-coming designer Elise Little.
Little began her sewing journey early in the pandemic, teaching herself to sew cloth face masks for neighbors and friends. Since then, her skills have flourished and she will be debuting her brand “Elise Sew Official” at the solo design exhibition.
While it can be easy to get sucked into the glamor of fashion week, Nixon’s sights for the Shows at BFW have only one goal: to raise money for his non-profit organization, the Fashion Umbrella Foundation.
Founded by Nixon in 2013, the Fashion Umbrella Foundation is dedicated to providing educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for the youth of Baltimore. Since then, Baltimore Fashion Week has been owned by the Fashion Umbrella Foundation, with proceeds from the show going to the foundation’s scholarship programs.
The Fashion Umbrella Foundation also hosts outreach programs throughout the year, including a mid-winter school supply update, an educational honors ceremony, and a youth open mic.
Nixon is expanding the Shows in BFW beyond their current limits.
“I am such a perfectionist that failure has never been an option,” Nixon said of his ambitions for the future.
She’s already planning next year’s events, which will include a “Designer Debut” at New York Fashion Week in September, a show for women over 30 scheduled for late March, and an emerging designer platform in June. .
To purchase tickets and find more information on the 2022 shows at BFW, visit theshowsatbfw.com.
Liv Barry is Baltimore Fishbowl’s 2022 Summer Reporting Intern. Barry is a junior at Washington College, where she is majoring in communication and media studies and double majoring in journalism, editing and publishing, and arts management.
Source: baltimorefishbowl.com