Sacramento Fashion Week is celebrating local designers and trendsetters with seven fashion-related events Thursday through Sunday, benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Sacramento and Northeastern California
Northeastern Sacramento
Throughout the week, fashionistas can enjoy a variety of events. Need to unwind after work Thursday evening? Grab a cocktail at Lounge on 20 and chat with local designers. Interested in learning more about fashion design techniques? Catch a workshop or fashion forum with local design speakers. Don’t forget to grab a seat at one or both fashion shows, featuring local student and established designers.
Duane Ram, a part-time model, actor and accountant, is the producer and director of the 2011 Sacramento Fashion Week.
For the past six months, Ram and a promotions team searched around Sacramento looking for models, scouting designers and hiring interns to help.
“I want to get the look and the presentation right,” Ram said.
Fashion Week started in 2007 and, with the exception of last year, has continued every year.
“This year is more established than the last fashion week,” Ram said. “I’m looking at the big picture and at the long run.”
This year’s events will kick off Thursday with a free Sac Fashion Week Launch Party from 7-10 p.m. at Lounge On 20, 1050 20th St.
On Friday, the Emerging Designer Showcase will take place at the Elks Tower Ballroom at 921 11th St. featuring local student designers.
Noognuv Thao is a Sacramento State senior currently working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology and will be showcasing her collection at the Emerging Designer Showcase.
“Fashion design is my creative outlet,” said Thao, whose collection was inspired by clowns.
“I wanted to go opposite of what people expect. I used black, gray, cream colors, highlighting the eyes more,” Thao said. “I wanted to steer away from the fear.”
The Finale Showcase on Saturday, also at the Elks Tower Ballroom, will present this year’s fall/winter collections and couture collections from local fashion designers.
Sisters Rachel and Lindsay Smith of LINZEL Couture will feature a Miami-inspired collection.
“It’s eclectic, lots of colors and denims,” Lindsay Smith said. “We put a lot of detail into our dresses. There’s corsets, lining, interfacing and beading.”
Rachel and Lindsay were born and raised in Sacramento. They took a couple of classes at American River College but were mostly self-taught.
“We’re putting Sacramento on the map and letting people know about Sacramento fashion,” Rachel Smith said.
“As long as we get one thing out of (Sacramento Fashion Week), that’s rewarding, whether we get one order or get some contacts,” Lindsay Smith said.
Following the Finale Showcase is an after party at Lounge On 20.
Other fashion-related events will be held during the week. On Friday, there will be two free workshops open to the public. The Patternmaking and Draping Basics Workshop will be at 10 a.m. at the International Academy of Design Technology of Sacramento, 2450 Del Paso Blvd, room 203.
The second workshop, the Make It Beautiful Fashion Theme Board Presentations, will be at 1:30 p.m., in the Sacramento Campus room 205.
A fashion forum, produced by the Sacramento State Student Fashion Association, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday and will take place at Sacramento State, 6000 J St. This is a free educational workshop with a panel of guest speakers for fashion designers, merchandisers, models and photographers.
Tickets prices vary for each event and are online only. To purchase tickets, you can click here. General seating for Friday’s Emerging Designer Showcase, and General Seating and V.I.P. seating for Saturday’s Finale Showcase are already sold-out. Tickets range from $50 – $125, depending on seating.
Click here to find out more information about the Sacramento Fashion Week.
Click here for the Facebook event page.
Editorial Note: A correction has been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added
