Retailers Come Together for Chester Fashion Week
Designers and retailers from in and around the city have joined forces for Chester Fashion 2006, (CF06) which runs from Friday September 22, to September 30. CF06 will be showcasing the fashion industry in Chester in an inaugural event that follows hot on the heels of London Fashion Week.
CF06 aims to promote Chester as a fashion destination by creating a series of catwalk shows and a search to find the Face of Chester. The contest will be held at Chester Zoo where the male and female winners will receive a year’s modelling contract.
There will also be events held at Chester Town Hall, The Forum Shopping Centre, The Mall Grosvenor and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. CF06 will be supported by a range of smaller events and promotions provided by the city’s retailers.
Stephen Wundke organiser of the inaugural Chester Fashion Week said:
“Every year Cheshire Oaks attracts seven million visitors to its unique brand of Designer shopping. Both the city and Chester fashion week understand the importance of the role played by Cheshire Oaks in helping create ‘Chester the brand’ as a must see destination. This partnership has just started developing. It is the first major event in which we have co-operation between all the major retail destinations in the area. It is one that I am confident will see Chester blossom as one of the country’s fashion destinations, through events such as Chester Fashion Week.”
A Fashion Show will be held at a Marquee in Car Park C at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet from 4.30pm on Friday September 22. This event, which kicks off Chester Fashion 06, will be a showcase for formal and casual wear with a professional catwalk show including designer brands such as Karen Millen. The event is free to attend and seats will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Chris Burke, general manager of Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, said:
“Chester Fashion 06 is a great way to celebrate the talent and success of Chester’s fashion industry and we’re glad to be a part of it. The show will be a big draw so anyone wishing to watch the catwalk show should get here early to avoid disappointment.”
Chester Zoo will be holding two events on Monday September 25 and Tuesday September 26. On Monday, there will be a showcase of the very best graduate fashion, which will also feature a little black dress, where Cheshire designers have been invited to design the perfect little black dress. Tickets cost £17.50. There will also be a Face of Chester competition on Tuesday where the winners will receive a year’s contract with North West agency Boss Model Management. Tickets cost £7.50.
Liz Child, Head of Visitor Services, said:
“The Chester Zoo shows are two fantastic evenings that fashion-followers wouldn’t want to miss. We are delighted to be hosting two prestigious shows in what is a unique environment.”
There will also be a Mid Cheshire Graduate Fashion Show held at The Forum Shopping Centre, Northgate Street on Thursday September 28. This will include collections designed by Higher National Diploma Fashion Second Year students at Mid Cheshire College. Also, First Year Higher National Diploma students will present company collections. Shows, which are free to attend, will be held at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm.
Deborah Davidson of the Creative Industries Support Project (CRISP) based at Mid-Cheshire College said;
“Chester Fashion Week is an exciting addition to the Chester Social calendar. CRISP is heavily involved and work from 2006 HND graduates will be featured at the HSBC New Designers Evening at Chester Zoo on Monday which includes the HSBC Premier Little Black Dress competition, the winner of which will be promoted in the Chester Christmas Marketing Campaign.
Shoppers will also get the chance to see Mid Cheshire students work at any one of three catwalk shows which will run throughout the day on Thursday 28th September at the Forum Shopping Centre in the centre of the city. Students and staff will be on hand to discuss their work and the new Foundation Degree in Fashion, the only Level 4 Fashion course in the county. Mid Cheshire Television Make-up students will be styling the professional models for both events.
CRISP is also working with new Cheshire based fashion and accessory designers to co-ordinate a specialist Craft Market in the Town Hall Square on Friday 29th September and Saturday 30th September as part of the event.
A number of key Fashion retailers will also be showcasing Autumn/Winter Collections at catwalk shows in both Chester Town Hall and at Cheshire Oaks during the week; and a competition to find the Face of Chester will be launched with the winner receiving a year’s contract with Boss Model Management as first prize.”
Chester’s Fashion 2006 is organised on behalf of Chester City Council and CHARISMA, with support from the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Visit Chester & Cheshire; the tourism board for Cheshire and Warrington, Creative Industries Support Project (CRISP), Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, The Mall Grosvenor, The Forum Shopping Centre, Chester Zoo, HSBC, Mfm 103.4 and Trinity Mirror.
Tickets for all events can be ordered by calling 01244 350233.
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Chester Fashion Week 2006 listings:
Friday 22nd September
The Designer Outlet Centre Fashion Show at Cheshire Oaks features designs from the Designer Village and starts at 4.30pm.
Monday 25th September
New Designers Evening at Chester Zoo is a show promoting the best of young/graduate fashion in the North West. The evening will highlight talented young designers from Cheshire. This is an opportunity for the general public to experience haute couture first hand.
The evening will also feature the final of “The Little Black Dress” competition, where Cheshire designers have been invited to design the perfect little black dress.
Tuesday 26th September
The Face of Chester in Association with Independent Chester Retailers at Chester Zoo.
The final of the competition to find the Face of Chester – male and female. The winners will receive a year’s contract with top Northwest agency – Boss Model Management. The evening will feature the 16 finalists (eight male/ eight female) and clothes from independent retailers new Autumn/Winter collections.
Wednesday 27th September
Marks and Spencer Fashion Show at Chester Town Hall where M&S will be featuring their new Autumn/Winter collection.
Thursday 28th September
To compliment Chester Fashion Week – a one-off fashion accessory market will be held outside Chester Town Hall.
Mid-Cheshire Graduate Fashion Show at The Forum Shopping Centre Chester Fashion is proud to present the collections designed by HND Fashion 2nd Year Students from Mid Cheshire College. In addition, first year HND students will also present their company collections. “We hope you will enjoy the shows and are sure you will agree that the collections are of an exceptionally high standard.”
The show is FREE to attend and held at 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30
Friday 29th September
To compliment Chester Fashion Week – a one-off fashion accessory market will be held outside Chester Town Hall.
One Woman Fashion Show at The Forum Shopping Centre. The fashion show will run throughout the day and will involve one model constantly changing from outfit to outfit. Retailers from The Forum Shopping Centre will be featured.
Saturday 30th September
The Mall Grosvenor Fashion Show and Make Over Competition at The Mall Grosvenor.
Open catwalk event in The Mall Grosvenor featuring a range of retailers including River Island, H&M, Laura Ashley, Principles, Boss and Top Shop/Top Man.
The fashion shows will run in conjunction with The Mall Grosvenor’s Makeover competition. Top stylists will be on hand to provide four winners with a makeover on the day.
10.30am – Mall Grosvenor Make Over Competition 11.15am – Mall Grosvenor Fashion Show 12.00pm – Mall Grosvenor Make Over Competition 12.45 pm – Mall Grosvenor Fashion Show 1.30pm – Mall Grosvenor Make Over Competition 2.15pm – Mall Grosvenor Fashion Show 3.00pm – Mall Grosvenor Make Over Competition 3.45pm – Mall Grosvenor Fashion Show
Notes to Editors
London Fashion Week was established in 1993 and runs from September 18 to 22, 2006. For more information on Chester Fashion Week please visit: www.visitchester.com/festivals
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705 Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370 MARKETING PROJECTS : Tel: 01244 330000
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