New Jersey Fashion Week is the surprising new platform for emerging designers

 by Candy Washington

Donnella Tilery was the recent special guest on Goddess Talk, a segment on Blog Talk Radio, created and hosted by Juanita Kelly, and she shared some on the ins and outs of NJ Fashion Week, the industry as a whole, and where up-and-coming designers fit in.

One of the most notable quotes of the evening was, “Success is not an accident,” which Donnella so confidently informed. And over the last eight years she has been working diligently to make NJ Fashion Week the success that it is today. Priding itself in being a new platform for emerging, diverse, and international brands, NJFW is often a gateway for designers to showcase their talents before graduating onto New York, Paris, Milan, or LA runways. NJ Fashion Week is the premier place for buyers and retailers to gain first access to the next big “It” designers. This is where the next Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, DVF, and Tracey Reese’s are born.

Another big draw for retailers to this fashion soiree is the screening and selection process conducted by Donnella and her board of advisors to ensure that only motivated and inspired designers make the cut. In order to be chosen for the shows, the designer’s line must be cohesive and tell a story from beginning to end. The collection must make under $100,000 per year, the designer must submit a three page application, and have an established brand voice prior to entry.

What’s next for the already arrived NJ Fashion Week? Donnella has big plans of expansion. Soon it will be a bi-annual event, tripling its size of participating vendors. The week will also be fleshed out into a global market week and a highly sought-after building block for developing talent. Donnella and NJ Fashion Week also know the importance of giving back and have donated $8k to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. The next NJ Fashion Week is scheduled for October 9-13 ^th, 2011.

For more information and how to register:

DC Showroom
23 Anderson Street
Raritan, NJ 08869
Attn: Donnella Tilery, NJ Fashion Week
info@newjerseyfashionweek.com
Media/Press: pr-njfw@studio25inc.com
www.newjerseyfashionweek.com