The first-ever Austin Fashion Week occurred July 13-19, 2009. Produced by Launch787, Austin Fashion Week was critically acclaimed across the board. Unlike prototypical Fashion Weeks, the Austin version aimed to merge a local burgeoning design community with a thriving boutique-inspired retail community. The results were astonishing.
Over 400 boutiques, salons, designers, models, photographers, hair stylists and makeup artists
officially participated in Austin Fashion Week and the Austin Fashion Awards.
The week itself was filled with over 150 events at participating locations, attended by over 15,000 Austinites. The coup de grace was the elegant yet edgy Austin Fashion Awards at the renowned Long Center for the Performing Arts where 2,000 guests were treated to a first-class awards show, over-the-top live music and stunning fashion.
Nationally recognized, LA based, contemporary women’s designer Corey Lynn Calter opened the first-ever pop-up shop in Austin during Austin Fashion Week. Additionally, Johnathan Kayne Gillaspie (Project Runway Season 3)
showed his newest gown collection during the Austin Fashion Awards.
Media coverage was astounding, including clips from over 500 local traditional and social media sources along with dozens of national sources.
2009 STATISTICS
50 official participating boutiques
19 official participating salons
69 official participating designers
34 official participating hair stylists
29 official participating makeup artists
66 official participating models
41 official participating photographers
Over 15,000 attendees at over 150 events during Austin Fashion Week
2000 attendees at the Austin Fashion Awards
Over 500 local and national traditional media & social media outlets covering Austin Fashion Week & the Austin Fashion Awards
Over 1 million impressions for sponsors for Austin Fashion Week and the Austin Fashion Awards
Over 40,000 votes cast for the Austin Fashion Awards coming from over 20,000 users
Over 30,000 unique users visiting FashionWeekAustin.com
Over 250,000 page views (hits) on FashionWeekAustin.com
Media partners in print, radio, television and interactive
Over 40 Facebook fan pages created about and during Austin Fashion Week
Over 1000 Twitter mentions during Austin Fashion Week
The longest and most impressive red carpet (80 feet long x 12 feet wide!) in the history of Austin at the Austin Fashion Awards (longer and more well-attended than any red carpet during SXSW)
2009 AUSTIN FASHION AWARD WINNERS
Note on the voting processes:
All READER’S choice awards were determined through shear votes tabulated through the online voting system at fashionweekaustin.com. Almost 30,00 votes were cast. Users could only vote for each participant one time per IP address.
All other awards were handed out using a “CRITIC’S CHOICE” system. 81 local boutique owners, salon owners, designers, photographers, media-types and others were asked to submit their votes in the other categories listed here. The results are listed based on shear number of votes in each category. The people on this panel were not required to vote solely for businesses or individuals that participated in Austin Fashion Week.
FASHION BOUTIQUES
Best Overall Fashion Boutique:
Peoples’s Choice: TOUCH OF SASS
Critic’s Choice: ESTILO
Critic’s: Best Overall Women’s Boutique: SOLID GOLD
Critic’s: Best Overall Men’s Boutique: SERVICE MENSWEAR
Critic’s: Best Vintage Boutique: FEATHERS BOUTIQUE
Critic’s: Best Denim: HEM JEANS
Critic’s: Best Accessories: TOUCH OF SASS
Critic’s: Best Shoes: CREATURES
Critic’s: Best Jewelry: ELIZA PAGE
Critic’s: Best Handbags: TOUCH OF SASS
Critic’s: Best Customer Service: SOIGNE BOUTIQUE
Critic’s: Best Kids or Baby Boutique: WEE
Critic’s: Best Store Atmosphere/Interiors: GIRL NEXT DOOR
Critic’s: Best Quality While Keeping Budget in Mind: SOLA
Critic’s: Most “Austin” Boutique: AUSTIN HANDMADE
DECOR BOUTIQUES
Best Overall Decor Boutique:
People’s Choice: SANCTUARY
Critic’s Choice: AVIARY
Critic’s: Best Atmosphere/Interiors: MERCURY DESIGN
Critic’s: Best Customer Service: AVIARY
Critic’s: Best Gifts: SANCTUARY
Critic’s: Best Antiques/Vintage: UNCOMMON OBJECTS
Critic’s: Best Modern/Contemporary Decor: KIRK GALLERY
Critic’s: Best Home Linens: WILDFLOWER ORGANICS
Critic’s: Best Furniture: NEST MODERN
Critic’s: Best Quality While Keeping Budget in Mind: ROOM SERVICE
Critic’s: Most “Austin” Home Decor Boutique: MERCURY DESIGN
SALONS
Best Overall Salon:
People’s Choice: AVANT SALON
Critic’s Choice: ANN KELSO SALON+CITYSPA
Critic’s: Best Atmosphere/Interiors: SALON BY MILK+HONEY
Critic’s: Best Customer Service: ROAR SALON
Critic’s: Best Women’s Cut: JACKSON-RUIZ
Critic’s: Best Men’s Cut: WET SALON
Critic’s: Best Color: SIRENS SALON
Critic’s: Most “Austin” Salon: BIRDS BARBERSHOP
DESIGNERS
Best Overall Designer:
People’s Choice: CATHERINE NICOLE
Critic’s Choice: RENE GENEVA
Critic’s: Rising Star: BROKEN EAR PRODUCTIONS
Critic’s: Best Jewelry Designer: DEAN FREDRICK
Critic’s: Best Handbag Designer: SWEET POTATO ISLAND
Critic’s: Best Women’s Clothing Designer: RENE GENEVA
Critic’s: Best Men’s Clothing Designer: MINT OWL
Critic’s: Best Bridal Designer: LINDA ASAF
Critic’s: Best Children’s Designer: LA*TEE*DA*KIDS
Critic’s: Best Home Accessories Designer: DEBORAH MAIN DESIGNS
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHERS
Best Overall Fashion Photographer:
People’s Choice: JONYROSE
Critic’s Choice: CHAD HARLAN
Critic’s: Best Product Photographer: CORY RYAN
Critic’s: Best Lighting: TANIA QUINTANILLA
Critic’s: Best Editing (Photoshop): ANDREW CHAN
Critic’s: Most Creative Photographer: DARLA TEAGARDEN
HAIR STYLISTS
Best Overall Hair Stylist:
People’s Choice: ANGELA CASLER
Critic’s Choice: LISA BROOKS
Critic’s: Best Women’s Cut: BRANDI COWLEY
Critic’s: Best Men’s Cut: RORY MCNEIL
Critic’s: Best Color: LISA BROOKS
MAKEUP ARTISTS
Best Overall Makeup Artist:
People’s Choice: LECIA HARKINS
Critic’s Choice: MANDY MORRISON
Critic’s: Best Use of Color: MARIS MALONE CALDERON
Critic’s: Best Technique: NISA NICOLE
Critic’s: Most Creative: MARIS MALONE CALDERON
MODELS
Best Overall Female Model:
People’s Choice: LAURA ANN
Critic’s Choice: ZION FRANCIS
Best Overall Male Model:
People’s Choice: CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ
Critic’s Choice: RUSH KEMP
