This Tuesday kicks off Nashville’s First Fashion Week. From the media release:

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (November 29, 2010) – Nashville joins the ranks of other cities around the country with the launch of an annual Nashville Fashion Week, March 29–April 2, 2011. The citywide event will celebrate Nashville’s thriving fashion and retail community and its array of creative talent. Proceeds from the event will benefit the newly established Nashville Fashion Forward Fund, to be administered by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and awarded annually to advance the career of select local talent with demonstrated experience in a fashion-related field. (read the rest here).

Here is the schedule overview:

Tuesday, March 29, 2011
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. In-Store Boutique Events
7:30 p.m. NFW Official Runway Shows
Jamie and the Jones, Akiko, Loretta Jane, Sylvia Heisel, Kevork Kiledjian
9 p.m. Kickoff Party Hosted by Manuel
Pinnacle at Symphony Place

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. In-Store Boutique Events
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Fashion Industry Panel Discussions
7:30 p.m. NFW Official Runway Shows
Melissa Tabor, Gado Gado, Betsey Johnson, T. Rains, Ben Sherman
Nashville’s historic downtown Arcade

Thursday, March 31, 2011
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. In-Store Boutique Events
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Fashion Industry Panel Discussions
7:30 p.m. NFW Official Runway Shows
Olia Zavozina, Cooper by Courtney Warren, White Rabbit, Union of Angels, Christian Siriano
Crystal Fountain Church, 1003 Russell Street in East Nashville

Friday, April 1, 2011
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. In-Store Boutique Events
12 p.m. Kelly Cutrone at the Belcourt Theatre
7:30 p.m. NFW Official Runway Shows
Coquette, Norma Clare, Julianna Bass, Katharine Kidd, Gustavo Cadile
War Memorial Auditorium
9 p.m. Official After Party

Saturday, April 2, 2011
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. In-Store Boutique Events
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Nash Fash Dash, the Official Marketplace of NFW
– presented by What’s-In-Store
12 p.m. – 4 p.m. The Mall at Green Hills/NFW Events
Nashville Fashion Week Shopping Day
7:30 p.m. NFW Official Runway Shows
Valentine Valentine, Leona Collection, Steven OO, Robert Graham, Aman Stovall
Pinnacle at Symphony Place 

In addition to showcasing up and coming brands and designers from the area, there will also be shows by Betsy Johnson and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano

 PR powerhouse Kelly Cutrone (the founder of People’s Revolution), will also be speaking on Thursday, April 1, 2011 at 12:00pm at the Belcourt Theatre about her book If You Have To Cry, Go Outside (This is a must read. I recommend this book to any woman interested in entrepreneurship or climbing up the corporate latter. Her journey is inspiring). Tickets are $20 and may be purchased online or at the door.

Visit http://nashvillefashionweek.com/ to get the full schedule of events and to learn more about the designers. 

Are any of my Memphis Fashionistas making the trek to the Ville? I’ve heard rumblings about Nashville’s growing fashion scene so I’m excited that Lexus is hosting this; there are hopes that it will grow and join the ranks of New York and L.A. 

Memphis’ scene is slowly growing as well-how long do you think it will until we’re able to host a week of this caliber? Let’s discuss!