Chatting With Brian Heath, Founder Of Detroit Fashion Week

by angela
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009

So it’s almost that time - Detroit Fashion Week is set to kick off on Sunday, September 13th.

We touched base with DFW founder Brian Heath to talk about this year’s lineup, the “other” big fashion event coming in October and why he believes Detroit Fashion Week continues to lead the way, locally.

Hey Brian! Thanks so much for chatting with us. We see that you got some reality show stars on this year’s roster - Designer Reco Chappele from The Fashion Show and Bianca Golden, Americas Next Top Model Season 9 - what urged you to have them jump on?

I think they represent the here and now in fashion. We wanted to bring some new and exciting to our runway which has an appeal to all segments of the fashionista audience as well as attracting new models who have made it into the ranks of the industry. Bianca has been signed to one of the country’s top model agencies - Major Model Management in NYC - she represents to our local models that the possibility exists to be the best if you just put yourself out there.

Reco, like so many designers who have made it to the ranks of reality designer shows, is an excellent designer who is making his mark on the industry and we wanted to be certain to give metro Detroit the opportunity to experience his talent first hand. Our stylist C. Deon Embry has worked Mercedes Fashion Week over the years as well as styled for many of the girls on Americas Next Top Model and brings a very professional backstage experience to DFW designers. This is the next phase of creating the industry of fashion we need so desperately. Great fashion shows are always fun, helping to bring the local designers, stylists and models the opportunity to raise the bar again makes it all worth while.

(Angela McBride)

This in mind, what else can guests look forward to this year and how do you try to keep DFW fresh and new each year?

This year, one of the greatest things that happened is that Michigan’s Fashion ambassador and couture designer Katerina Bocci is sponsoring her intern/designer Robrena Davis this year at DFW. This is what helps to create an industry atmosphere and encourages young designers. All of our designer showcases are on Saturday the 19th. We have a new event on Friday, our Salon showcase featuring Azenza Salon of Birmingham, Salon Ray of Farmington Hills and Imago Salon & Spa of Shelby Township.

There is a photo shoot for Bianca for her book, styling by C Deon Embry, a models workshop and talkback with her and Deon will talk to stylists about working for professional designers and models. We are introducing our first short film screenings for local filmmakers at Goldfish Tea his year hopefully starting to build a bridge with the fashion and film industry professionals. On the educational side we have great sponsors with The Art Institute of Novi and IADT in Troy. Students from both schools are creating eight foot fashion illustration panels to dress the Farmers Market in Royal Oak. The students are also our backstage and front of house interns. We have an open door policy at DFW and we try to become a part of the community we produce our showcases in.

Restaurants like Black Finn, D’Amatos, Vintners Cellar are all contributing to the week of fun. Scion will have cars on display throughout the week and CW50 Detroit Gossip Girls will make special appearances at DFW events, Metro Times sponsoring full page advertising. Noir Leather, Shapes, Metals in Time and Betsey Johnson have all been asked to provide various wardrobe for Bianca’s photo shoot. We believe in involving local businesses in what we do and we try to keep them involved with us throughout the year.

(Rani of St. Pucci)

Sounds great! Who’s showing this year? Any new designers that haven’t showed in the past at Detroit Fashion Week?

New to DFW are the Salon Showcase at D’Amatos Sept 18, 2009. Designer Reco Chappele from Bravo Network’s The Fashion Show, William Malcolm and the William Malcolm Collection, Liudmila Pershyna, Jenna Kator, Reginald Robinson (Ooshé), Deana Ansara, Matthew Berger & Arron White (IADT), Rea Marie Verburg (Kent City High School Winning Garment Presentation). Returning - Robrena Davis, Shajuan S. Gray, Femilia Couture, Luminita Murphy, Angela McBride, Camille McKelton (Central Michigan University).

How do you see the designers will benefit from participating?

The designers benefit is in the promotion and marketing of the event and introducing them to potential buyers who attend the show. Some of our designers have been written about in industry news magazines like WWD after showing at DFW. We have been contacted from as far away as India Fashion Week and Toronto Fashion Week to discuss collaboration in sharing designer contacts for our shows. We are always asked to provide information on local designers for showcases for outside events. The best thing is that local designers who want to venture into industry events like New York Fashion Week will get an understanding of what is expected of them at that level of industry events.

(Brandi Wade)

You’re likely in the know about Fashion In Detroit coming in October. Is this a competition for Detroit Fashion Week?

Joe Faris (Fashion In Detroit founder) and I sat and talked about showcasing his line at Detroit Fashion Week initially, but the timing just didn’t work out. He decided to launch his line in his own event, Fashion In Detroit. I don’t see that DFW has competition in that we have worked with everyone and will continue to do so. That’s what sets up apart from being a fashion show and rather an industry event. Designers who will show in Fashion In Detroit have been in DFW showcases many times in the past and some launched their careers with us. Femelia Couture will do both events this year. It’s a credit to us that the designers have an opportunity to show in other forums. When Katerina Bocci, NYFW decided to put her line on our runway in three showcases we knew we were special. She is the top selling designer in the state of Michigan and has been recognized around the world and brought much attention to DFW. We know we have given the community a very special gift in helping to creating the atmosphere in which more fashion organizations want to help in building the industry here. We will continue to lead the way and stay focused on our goals.

Lastly, how do you feel Detroit Fashion Week has grown since its inception five years ago?

I set a goal five years ago to have DFW be an industry based event organization. We are a member of Fashion Group International, sit on the program advisory committee at The Art Institute of Novi Fashion Merchandising Program, created and teaching a fashion program component at Lawrence Technical University with the GM design team, keynote speaker at IADT graduation and have spoke to students at a number of schools and universities here in Michigan. DFW is truly a fashion incubator organization with a very clear focus on helping to create our fashion industry learn, grow and prosper. We have worked with Dior and Saks on charitable events, with Oppenheimer Investments, Prudential Insurance and the Links organization with community events, the Heidelberg Project and other charities on arts and culture events. We have been recognized by WWD and IMG - Mercedes Benz Fashion Week marketing agency in New York and have been listed on fashion event websites around the world for our efforts in providing opportunities to the designers who support us. Our web site has an alumni page of designers and sponsors which show the power of working together. Some of those designers and sponsors are still with us today.

For more on Detroit Fashion Week including a schedule, tickets and more, visit DetroitFashionWeek.com.