Does Portland need a Fashion Week

Since being launched in 2003, Portland Fashion Week has faced a bumpy road getting where it is today. In 2004, Incubator Fashion, the organization that was producing PFW, discontinued staging the event. In 2005, SEMPER Fashion stepped in to revive PFW's production. Since then, PFW has had its share of contoversy and setbacks, as well as reasonable success in promoting sustainable fashion and emerging local designers.

Much of the tension that surrounds PFW stems from the required participation fee that designers must pay. Portland's fashion scene is made up of small, independent fashion labels, most of whom don't have a lot of extra money to throw around. Critics complain that the event generates income for the production team, but does not guarantee sales for the designers.

The PFW producers counter these complaints by pointing out that the participation fee does not go toward generating profit, but is necessary in order to be able to put on the desperately under-funded event. As Tito Chowdhurry, PFW's executive producer points out, this is a one-half-million dollar production and (it's) growing.

Given the number of local fashion events, not to mention shows put on by individual designers, that take place in Portland, it is easy to overlook the service that PFW provides to many emerging local designers. Part of one night of the weel is devoted to showcasing the work of recent AI graduates, who participate for free. This provides new designers who have no zero budget a great platform for promoting their work. It should also be mentioned that the cost of participation is a great deal less than it would cost an individual designer to produce their own show, which involves paying models, hair and makeup, etc.

It is difficult to come up with a solution that would satisfy all the diverse personalities that exist within the local fashion community. The solution would have to be cost effective for everyone involved, while providing designers with a strong platform to help them connect with buyers and press. Whether Portland Fashion Week is the answer or not, the local fashion community should strive to reach an agreement on how to effectively nurture all the local talent that Portland has to offer.

Toby Robboy