5 reasons to care about Fashion Week

If you have not already heard, Fashion Week of Rochester is about to hit downtown. Celebrating its sixth year, the event will take place over six days, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13. For the first time, events for all six days will be in one location: A 15,000-square-foot tent on Main Street in downtown Rochester, fashioned with a 96-foot runway, and retail and food vending areas.

For fashionistas, Tuesday’s kickoff can’t come soon enough. For others, Tuesday is just, well … Tuesday. As with most Fashion Weeks around the world, people tend to fall into two camps: the enthusiasts and the refrainers. If you happen to fall into the latter, just know, I am hoping to convert you. Here are five reasons why you should care about Fashion Week of Rochester:

It pays it forward

Fashion Week of Rochester helps make an enormous difference in the lives of young people in our area by bringing awareness to and supporting The Center for Youth’s homeless programs. It marries art, design and talent to important causes and campaigns. Last year alone, our city’s Fashion Week raised more than $250,000 for The Center of Youth, helping it launch a new independent residential facility for those who are completing school and beginning their career.

It celebrates diversity

If the term “fashion week” conjures up an image of size-zero models donning extravagant fashions that you could never, or would never wear, I bring great news: Fashion Week of Rochester is different. It features people of all sizes, shapes, colors and ages wearing an extensive range of fashions from casual and chic to vintage and avant-garde.

On Thursday night, a runway show will be re-creating Ebony Fashion Fair and applauding trailblazer Eunice Walker Johnson who founded the original Ebony Fair in the 1950s. “African-Americans weren’t given many opportunities to be on the runway before Ebony Fair. It seems to me, if Johnson hadn’t started it, a lot of us African-Americans may not have the opportunities we have today to be in different fashion shows and be the models we aspire to be,” shared Kaydian Hayle, 33, of Rochester, who is modeling in Thursday night’s show. “We have to applaud both her and Rochester’s Fashion Week for giving a mixed show. People will see all body types, ages and color and that is wonderful because everyone is different. This event shows real people and real clothes on the runway.”

It supports local businesses

A wide variety of local businesses take part in Fashion Week of Rochester, supporting entrepreneurs in our areas and fueling the local economy. Some of these businesses include Chic Feet, Effortlessly Healthy food truck, Panache, Peppermint and more. You can get up close and personal with these businesses during Tuesday’s Fashion Exchange event, happening from 3 to 8 p.m. Bring up to two pieces of new or gently used clothing, shoes or accessories and exchange them for another piece of inventory donated by local boutiques.

It offers a flexible program schedule

With six days of events, there is something for everyone’s schedule. If you want to take in a lunchtime runway show, consider Wednesday's Fashion 9 to 5, featuring great business wear, daytime yellow prom dresses and classic day-to-night looks. For a family friendly runway show, check out We Are Family at 7:30 p.m. Friday, featuring families, twins, brothers and sisters, silver foxes and more. Don’t miss Democrat and Chronicle’s Mary Chao and her daughter, Noelle Nafus, who will be modeling at Friday night’s show.

There will be puppies … enough said.

Back by popular demand, Wednesday night's Puppy Love event will no doubt be one of the cutest runway shows you will ever see. Models and dogs dressed in their finest will strut their stuff down the runway. If fashion isn’t really your thing, but adorable animals are, this show provides the perfect way to experience fashion week and give back to the community through the purchase of a ticket.

Speaking of tickets, entrance to each show ranges from $10 to $100 and can be purchased at Wegmans. The Fashion Exchange on Tuesday is free.Read more at:grey prom dresses