Hipster Bridal Wear?

Tanvi Asher has outdone herself again. Owner and designer of Peppermint, known as the go-to dress boutique on Park Avenue, Asher has no time to bask in the glow of last year’s successes. 

Moving on to her second annual fashion show, Asher will not only be displaying Peppermint’s her ready-to-wear clothing line; she will also be debuting a line of custom made bridal designs called Asher Bridal. 

Peppermint’s Spring 2014 fashion show Sewn Seeds will showcase Asher’s latest work, local designer Josean Vargas’ new evening wear collection, exclusive prom and formal wear available at Treasure Trove Vintage,  as well as appearances from One Dance Co. of Rochester. 

Last year the Sewn Seeds was funky and educational with intermittent videos introducing Rochester to each designer and their behind-the-scenes design process. Shop Peppermint followed fashion show tradition, showcasing spring/summer ready-to-wear designs that were not yet available for purchase. Rochester retail customers, unaccustomed to fashion industry protocol, were eager to purchase and disappointed with the wait time. Rising to the occasion, Asher revamped her process for this year. She says, 

“Last year people wanted to buy everything that they saw immediately. So, this year, it’s all here already. Everything you see on the runway [in the Peppermint ready-to-wear line] is in the store, ready for customers.” 

Shop Peppermint boutique boasts of its own vintage-inspired private label and carries jewelry by local various designers.

This year’s Sewn Seeds show will be hosted Sunday March 30 from 2-6pm at the urbanite, hipster hot spot, Good Luck restaurant. (Yet, again, Asher keeping her young, trendy shoppers in mind.) The show will also feature a silent auction with a sample dress from each participant (three total). Proceeds from the auction will benefit Girls Rock! Rochester and Verona Street Animal Shelter. Tickets are available at http://inspiredtable.restaurantgoodluck.com and Peppermint. More information available http://www.shop-peppermint.com 

The Nitty Gritty on Local Fashion

When something is described as "local," what comes to mind? 

The "shop local" guilt trip? Local farmers. Local musicians. A local fashion show?

Is the "local" label something special, intimate? sub par, amateur? 

Let's talk about local, Rochester fashion. What really irks me about a lot of local fashion events is that, often times, Rochester fashion events depict what is in stores currently, rather than what is being predicted for the the future. This means we are viewing merchandise for purchase, not fresh designs. "Fashion Week of Rochester" is the prime example. I got so pumped when I heard that there was a group of people trying to bring a Fashion Week to Rochester. But...

"Fashion Week of Rochester" cracks me up! Not because I scoff at the effort to increase awareness of the industry. (No, I applaud that!). Rather, it seems unprofessional and, yes, amateur to choose a title that DIRECTLY imitates the world renowned Fashion Week(s) of NYC, London, Paris, and Milan and yet so clearly has the exact opposite mission. 

Fashion Week throughout the world is a show case of designs a year before they hit stores. During fashion week, trends are acknowledged, analyzed and assessed. Designers garner inspiration. Merchandisers plan their purchases. Celebrities make appearances and the financial elite make purchases to have their hands on trends before anyone else does. 

In contrast, Fashion Week of Rochester is a local fashion event that encourages local business by showcasing what is currently in stores and ready to buy. It is an event for advertising, publicity, and a local celebration of garment sales...direct sales to you and I, the consumer. No prediction, no trend analysis, and no Rochester designers are showcased. It's a nice enough event to show off your latest hair style and a sexy pair of heels while enjoying a fancy cocktail. 

Rochester, let's celebrate FASHION by exposing some of the unique designers that are out there making it happen in our city. Do you know that they exist? Did you even know that we have local designers? 

I would like to applaud Tanvi Asher, of Peppermint Boutique for putting together Peppermint Origins: Sewn Seeds, a local showcase of fashion DESIGNS this Saturday, April 27th. Tanvi, designer behind the Peppermint collection, will be showing her designs for this Fall 2013 in collaboration with designers Andrea Geer and Josean Vargis. This collaboration of designers is as much about the educating the consumer as it is about viewing the designs. As described on sewnseeds.com, "The Show will be more than a display of fashion. Origins will show the entire journey of the designers, documenting their processes from inspiration to finished garment."

Brava, Tanvi and the Origins Collaborators! THANK YOU for taking the time to respect the consumer. What to expect?

I expect some glitz. I expect to wear my latest hair stye, a sexy pair of heels, and have a few great cocktail, too. But, this is more than a glamorized shopping bazaar. Beyond that, I expect to be educated and invigorated to support local designers who have professional talent and a long term vision for our city's fashion culture. Let's go get some fashion cred, Rochester.

(for more info and to purchase tickets, go to sewnseeds.com)