Scottsdale Gallery presents SFW08 Wearable ArtWalk

26 Sep '08

4 min read

Downtown Scottsdale is gearing up for the third annual Scottsdale Fashion Week, Thurs, Nov. 6 through Sun, Nov. 9, 2008.

The major event features a full schedule of high fashion runway shows, celebrating fashion, art and design, and serves as a showcase for downtown Scottsdale's burgeoning development as well.

The Scottsdale Fashion Week district is anchored by Westcor's Scottsdale Fashion Square on the north and encompasses Scottsdale Waterfront, the Arizona Canal, SouthBridge, and the downtown arts district which will again host the opening night's SFW08 Wearable ArtWalk presented by the Scottsdale Gallery Association.

“Scottsdale Fashion Week has become another marquee event on our annual community calendar and we are delighted to see it grow and attract visitors and residents alike who now look forward each fall to fashion, design and wearable-art-as-entertainment to enjoy in our city,” said Mayor Mary Manross under whose watch SFW was born.

Indeed, 13 percent of last year's attendees were visitors from out of state, a healthy statistic for an event in its second year, according to survey research conducted by Strategic Alliance Marketing.

In addition, eight percent of visitors stayed multiple nights at local area resorts, music to the ears of tourism officials. Significantly, SFW appealed to a broad age demographic as well.

Nearly 37 percent were 22 to 30 years old; 20 percent were 31 to 45 years of age; and 20 percent were between the ages of 46 and 64.

“Scottsdale Fashion Week is a showcase for our world-class design, art, nightlife and shopping scenes that are second to none,” said Rachel Sacco, president & CEO, Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“It's the perfect complement to all the powerful reasons visitors are lured here each year: our beautiful weather, championship golf, luxury resorts and spas, and innovative restaurants. Now, our visitors have one more reason to choose Scottsdale in November.”

Fashion-as-Theater In 2007, Scottsdale Fashion Week emerged for its vibrant shows of fashion-as-theater on an 85-foot runway stage under the stars.

Among the lineup was Donna Karan collaborator Virgil Ortiz of the Cochiti Pueblo of New Mexico. Mr. Ortiz was on hand to present his show that opened with a sans-shirt classical violinist who played 'blindfolded,' walking the long runway, followed by Ortiz's hand-selected raven-haired-andred- lipsticked models who also donned sheer black 'blindfolds,' with buff male counterparts wearing 'war paint,' all in Ortiz's Revolution-brand t-shirts, jeans and skirts – creating a powerfully dramatic runway event.

Mexico City's design duo Pineda Covalin (Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covalin) also attended to present an awe-inspiring show, including their signature monarch butterfly-patterned silks transformed into a gown reaching 20 feet high as show closer.

The duo is known for their contemporary interpretation of indigenous Mayan and Azteca symbolism applied to silk scarves, dresses and handbags featured at their flagship USA boutique in downtown Scottsdale.

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