CONTENT 09: Portland's Fashion Event

Holly Stalder

Sarah Seven

Adam Arnold

The Ace Hotel in the Pearl District was buzzing with energy last Sunday (the 18th). The crowd started at Stumptown Coffee, and continued down and around passed The Cleaners. I stopped to gawk at the live models in the window, then passed through velvet ropes to get stamped on the wrist. I was then directed with arrows through more velvet ropes through a sketchy side door to the second floor of the hotel. I was already hot from the flight of stairs, and even though the sticky air was not helping, I could not have hoped for more.
CONTENT 09 “is a platform for the independent fashion designer as artist” (www.content-portland.com). CONTENT 09 was an opportunity for local independent designers to show off their work, accessories or apparel. Each designer was given a room as their canvas to do with as they wish; highlights of the collective included room 214, my favorite Portland designer, Adam Arnold, as well as room 223, Sarah Seven. Sarah Seven was actually a student at Ai for a few terms when she decided to create her own company. She’s been featured in the Portland Mercury and has participated in New York Fashion Week 2010.
Overall, the event show-cased all things good in Portland fashion. The designers answered any and all questions CONTENT-goers had, the atmosphere was almost electric, and the goods on display did not disappoint. Downstairs The Cleaners served as an open gallery featuring installation pieces from Seth Neefus, music by DJ Automation as well as live models.
The geniuses behind the collective are the women of How We Develop, a local blog about fashion, design, and art. The event last Sunday was the debut of CONTENT, but this is just the beginning. There are already calls for entry in 2010 CONTENT.

- Justine B.