July is About to Get Hotter! FGI Dallas Invites You to a Mixer at Assembly!

Join Fashion Group International of Dallas at Assembly on July 22 from 6:00pm-8:00pm for one of the hottest mixers of the Summer! Scrumptious food and libations will be provided and discounts are available for all attendees.

Tickets are available at the door. Tickets are free for FGI members and $10 for guests. For more information please visit our website.

FGI San Antonio Launches Fashion Week!

Designs on local Fashion Week


By Michael Quintanilla - Express-News

If New York, Miami, Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Dallas and Austin can do it, why not a fashion week — actually four days of shows, workshops and parties — for San Antonio?

The Alamo City chapter of the New York-based Fashion Group International is setting its designs on making it happen, determined to let the rest of the world know that San Antonio's fashion image isn't just about wearing cowboy boots and hats, says Priscilla Martinez, the group's program coordinator. Martinez and Sheila Masterson, the group's regional director, and other key members are involved in pulling together the Oct. 6 to 9 event at various locales.

In the planning stages are two fashion shows. "Go Green" will kick off the four-day occasion with an eco-friendly runway theme. The other, "A Night of Stars" gala will close out fashion week with a show featuring local designers, hopefully "a big name" and later, an awards program honoring emerging talent and individuals who have made a difference in the industry, locally. While the shows require purchasing a ticket, many, if not all of the other events will be free.

Additionally, educational workshops, seminars and fashion exhibits are in the works. Several committees (publicity, sponsorship, educational and fashion show production) are in place, manned by fashion group members and other volunteers who turned out for a recent meeting at the International Academy of Design and Technology that offers a fashion program.

"With three months to go, we've got the wheels turning," Martinez says about the fall event. "We have a lot of talent here and this talent needs to be cultivated. People grow up here, learn here and train here. They go off and do big things in New York and Europe. And they tend to come back to San Antonio and bring their art back with them. San Antonio is where we want them to make their mark as well and having a fashion week will show that we do have a lot to offer."

For more information and to volunteer call Martinez at (210) 363-1891 or Masterson at (210) 825-4431 and check in at www.sanantonio.fgi.org.

FGI Dallas Announces Winners of Career Day 2009!

Green is the New Black
Student designers learn being environmentally and socially
responsible is always in style.

(April 2009 Dallas, TX) Fashion Group International of Dallas held its 41st Career Day. Career Day is the longest running and largest fashion career event of its kind in the US. This year’s theme was The Pursuit of Glamour centered around the icons of fashion and the role fashion plays in the green movement.

Keynote speaker, Rene Geneva, opened by sharing her journey as a designer with the students and encouraged students to become aware of the social and ecological impact that fashion design has on the world and to take a more responsible role in the way clothes are designed, manufactured and distributed.

David Wolfe, Creative Director from The Doneger Group, New York gave the students a sneak peek into upcoming fashion and social trends. He stayed for the much anticipated fashion show where he presented awards to students. This year’s fashion show took “recycling the past” to a new level with garments made from soda can tops, plastic shopping bags and reclaimed fibers.

With over 1,100 students from 46 schools in 12 states and two continents participating, FGI is proud to announce winners from the 41st Annual Career Day Design Competition:

The Fashion Group Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the Fashion Group International of Dallas, awarded prize money to students in the following categories:

FGI Garments

Casual

1st - Kourtney WIlliams, University of North Texas
2nd - Kristina Schakade, University of North Texas
3rd - Socorro Franco, El Centro

Career

1st - Hannah Schmidt, Texas Woman's University
2nd - Sharon Clay, Texas Woman's University
3rd - Zoe Martinez, Baylor University

Theatre/Costume/Wearable Art

1st - Erin Bunge, Texas Tech University
2nd - Kelsie Mitchel, Oklahoma State University
3rd - Ksania Lerner, Houston Community College

Cocktail/Eveningwear

1st - Frances Bushnell, Louisiana State University
2nd - Erin WIlliams, Louisiana State University
3rd - Hannah Schmidt, Texas Woman's University

FGI Best of Show Paris Scholarship

Hannah Schmidt, Texas Woman's University (Currently in Paris courtesy of FGI Dallas!)

Four-Legged Fashion awarded prize money to the top three students for their design creations of canine couture to be modeled at the Four-Legged Fashion fashion show in May.

1st - Mindy Oglesby, Oklahoma State University
2nd - Ginny Hornsby, The Art Institute of Dallas
3rd - Abigail George, University of Nebraska - Lincoln


Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and Texas Food & Fiber Commission (TFFC) are long time supporters of FGI Career Day that awarded prize money to Trend Board and Garment design winners in the cotton, wool, and mohair categories.

TDA Trend Board

Cotton

1st - Jovita Lektzian, Texas Tech University
2nd - Audrey Russell, Harding University
3rd - Courtney Lantrip, Texas Woman's University

Wool

1st - Charlotte Moreland, Texas Tech University
2nd - Jessica Shropshire, University of Central Oklahoma
3rd - Angela Sepulveda, University of the Incarnate Word

Mohair

1st – Laci Colette Weikert, Texas Tech University
2nd - Autumn Hicks, Texas Woman's University
3rd - Alexandreia Smart, Stephen F. Austin State University

TDA Garments

Cotton

1st – Emily Mackinnon, University of North Texas
2nd - Stephanie Montes, University of North Texas
3rd - Melissa Bergemann, University of North Texas

Wool

1st – Sara Hoffman, University of North Texas
2nd - Stephanie Montes, University of North Texas
3rd - Monir Sadeyhaini, Texas Woman's University

Mohair

1st - Monica Gaytan, Texas Woman's University
2nd - Christina Jackson, Texas Tech University
3rd - Georgia Wilson, Delta State University

TDA/Lectra

Emily MacKinnon, University of North Texas

TDA/Janome Sewing Machine

Corey Payne, Baylor University

TDA Paris Scholarship

Stephanie Montes, University of North Texas (Currently in Paris courtesy of TDA!)

Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA) awarded prize money to top three students for their design creations of denim jackets to be auctioned at future DIFFA events.

1st - Brooke Burch, University of Wisconsin - Stout
2nd - Kathy Moseley, Texas Woman's University
3rd - Allie Nielsen, University of Nebraska - Lincoln


DAVACO, Inc., a national provider of retail services, awarded prize money to the top three students for their garment designs.

1st place - Lindsey Jones - Texas Woman's University
2nd place - Kelly DeRouen - University of Louisiana at Lafayette
3rd place - Dana Padgett - Stephen F. Austin State University

FGI Dallas is Rolling Out the Purple Carpet!

FGI Dallas is rolling out the purple carpet for the chicest event of the year: The Fashion & Lifestyle Awards! Join us on Friday, November 20, 2009 at the former LFT space at Victory Park Dallas to honor Bachendorf's Harry Bock for this year's Iconic & Legendary Award. Stay tuned as we unveil our honorees in Lifestyle, Home, Fashion, Accessory, Jewelry, Art, Communication & Retail.

Prepare yourself for the coolest event this Fall! See you on the purple carpet!

Career Day 2009 DVD Preview

Rockstar Motivation for Rockstar Success

Have you ever needed a little push to keep moving toward your goals? Have you ever needed someone to say in words what you feel in your heart? The small book handed out at our recent Become a Marketing Rock Star in a Rocky Economy program might just be what you are looking for. The little book called simply Success is filled with inspiring quotes that will help you flip your switch to success.

Here are just a few of the amazing quotes you will find:

"If you know you want it, have it." - Gita Bellin

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are." -J. Pierpont Morgan

"You must be ready not only to take opportunities, but to make them." -Rod Moore

Donna Bender of The Donna Bender Company recommends reading a quote a day for motivation and inspiration. But don't stop there! Give this book to your entire staff. Motivate your team. Inspire your co-workers. Everyone needs a little push to reach their highest potential. Get your copy of Success today from The Donna Bender Company On-line Store!

Marketing Rock Stars Brave the Stormy Climate (literally)!

Not even tornadoes and civil distress sirens could stop FGI Dallas members and guests from attending Become a Marketing Rock Star in a Rocky Economy on Wednesday, June 10th! Professionals from the fashion and lifestyle industries donned red boas and sampled sumptuous hors d'oeuvres and wine at Tootsies in The Plaza at Preston Center as they listened to panelists discuss how to "flip the success switch."Terri Provencal, founder Provencal Consulting Group, moderated the panel discussion. Panelists included: Donna Bender, President and CEO of the Donna Bender Company; Susan Morrow, Principal with Marketing Symphony; and Julie Overholt, President of International Coach Federation.

When tornadoes began to touch down and civil distress sirens began to wail in the background, everyone moved to Tootsies' basement for safety. But this did not stop these marketing rock stars from pursuing success. Undeterred by the rocky weather, guests continued a spirited discussion of what it takes to become a marketing rock star in the current economic climate. This spirit of flexibility exemplified a point the panelists made over and over: "Success requires the willingness and the courage to embrace change." Panelists answered questions about everything from personal development to the emerging social media tools and provided advice for a riveted crowd. When the storms lifted everyone returned to the top floor to continue eating, drinking and most important networking.

FGI Dallas raffled off two extraordinary prizes with proceeds benefiting the Fashion Group Foundation. Barbara Dianis won a Starr Perry lithograph and FGI Dallas' own beloved Patti Frenette walked away with a bottle of Osborne brandy in a bottle with a lable designed by Salvador Dali. Every attendee received a small book full of inspiring quotes like the following:

"If you know you want it, have it." - Gita Bellin

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are." -J. Pierpont Morgan

"You must be ready not only to take opportunities, but to make them." -Rod Moore

The evening ended in the calm after the storm and members and guests emerged motivated and better prepared to flip the success switch in a rocky economy. Thanks to everyone who helped make this program a success!