While fashion month winds down in style capitals around the world, it's just heating up in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week returns Monday through Saturday for its fourth year under the direction of the Downtown Community Development Corp. Previously, the multiday event that spotlights local up-and-coming designers was presented by model Miyoshi Anderson, who ran it since its inception through 2015.
This time, organizers are trying something new with “The Fashion of Flesh,” a celebration of tattoo artistry and fashion design at HIP at the Flashlight Factory on the North Side. They will also continue some key events, including a kickoff party and a designer runway show.
The buzz surrounding this year’s lineup is “the best it’s ever been,” says DCDC executive director John Valentine. He credits partnerships with a mix of local and national sponsors like Sephora and having Pittsburgh Fashion Week ambassadors out “pounding the pavement.”
“They went to boutiques, they went to salons, they talked about Pittsburgh Fashion Week. That’s the first year we did anything like that,” he says.
On Monday night, about 250 influencers, innovators and fashion enthusiasts will toast the start of this year’s festivities at an invite-only party at Sienna Mercato’s rooftop bar Il Tetto on Penn Avenue in Downtown.
Wednesday is the debut of “The Fashion of Flesh.”
“It started off just as an idea of showcasing tattoos in a way that wasn’t body modification but more as permanent accessory, and it kind of just steamrolled from there,” says event producer T.J. Harris, who used to own a tattoo shop on the West Coast.
He’s also a DJ with a background in event production and concert promotion and works in the wedding industry, too.
The event will open “like an art show,” he explains, with models lining the walls so guests can see their tattoos up close while mingling and enjoying drinks and light bites. Then guests will be seated for the runway show, which will be emceed by drag artist Cherri Baum and feature apparel designs by Anika Ignozzi, Melody Joy, Bethanie Lynn, Suz Pisano and Victoria Kerestes.
“We really wanted to avoid anything that was like too high-end fashion that wasn’t going to make sense ... and different types of accessories that would take away from what we were showcasing,” Mr. Harris says. “This is body art. That’s what you're looking at.”
After the show, there will be more mingling and musical performances.
“I just thought it was a really cool idea,” Mr. Valentine says. “I think it’s an experiment, but I love to experiment. We have to take risks to grow.”
The annual designer runway show will take place Thursday at PPG Place’s Wintergarden, Downtown. This year it’s headed by creative director Katherine Delgrande-Zesch.
Despite recent construction in the space, more seats have been added to accommodate what’s expected to be a sold-out crowd. The designers are Amber Adda, Stuart Frick, Carrie Ann Lehrman, Jamie Miller, Christianna Murray, Yetunde Olukoya, Jules Przybylska with Tim Nelson-Pyne, Teresa Reynolds, Evita Scoccia, and Elaine Tierney.
"The direction we want to go in is having clothes that are what I call wearables, lines that the designers can sell," Mr. Valentine says. "That fits into our mission of not only creating a great fashion community but also having it be an economic development tool."
The fashion fun will continue into the weekend with a South Side fashion show on Saturday that’s being produced by Claire Pro. It will highlight clothing from shops that span from 1st through 30th streets in the neighborhood. Models will sport the looks while walking along a chalk runway created by local artist Jordan Bush.
There’s also been an emphasis this year on education, he adds.
“We made a conscious effort that we were going to do a model’s class and [classes for] hair and makeup,” Mr. Valentine says. “One of our roles has to be mentoring, having people feel they can be part of this community.”
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: September 28, 2019, 12:00 p.m.