Washington DC’s First Lady Michelle and Mayor Adrian Fenty
T
im Gunn grew up in Georgetown, is a graduate of the Corcoran School of Art, celebrity mentor on the Bravo television reality series, Project Runway and Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne, Inc. Prior to joining Liz Claiborne, Inc., Gunn served as a member of the administration and faculty at Parsons The New School for Design for close to 24 years. In 1990, he became Associate Dean. When asked who sets the pace for fashion in Washington, DC, he replied, “I think the real barometric gauge of fashion in Washington comes from the top.” “Mayor Adrian Fenty and his wife, First Lady Michelle Fenty, have great style.” But, he cautioned, “it is up to them to send a profound enough message that can alter how others view the Nation’s Capital.” Is Washington, DC becoming a fashion destination? “Possibly,” Gunn explained during a 2006 interview aired at the Capital Catwalk Fashion Event held at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium. “It starts with education in the high school at the very least and ideally in colleges with solid curricula. It helps to have support for young designers through something like a fashion incubator. And it helps to have a retail environment that is welcoming to young entrepreneurial designers.” Several months later, Washington, DC has taken
steps to develop its own fashion culture. In November 2006, DC Fashion Attorney, Mariessa Terrell White drafted The Commission on Fashion Arts and Events Establishment Act also known as the Washington, DC Fashion Bill 17-173. The Fashion Bill will create a Fashion Commission in Washington, DC tasked with promoting the District as a fashion destination, developing community initiatives to benefit school aged children, assisting in the development of a retail corridor within the District of Columbia and promoting the District’s unique retailers and fashion talent. On April 3, 2007, the Fashion Bill (17-173) was introduced before the full DC City Council. Fashion Bill supporters included, Washington, DC City Council Chair Vincent Gray and DC City Council Members Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, Carol Schwartz, Harry Thomas, Jr. and Tommy Wells. After a favorable vote in the City Council, the Fashion Bill was forwarded to the Committee on Economic Development for review. In April 2008, Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the “Fashion” Bill into law. In addition to supporting the creation of the Fashion Commission, Mayor Adrian Fenty launched a retail action strategy to identify best practices on how to grow the city’s retail offerings without
sacrificing local independent boutiques. The Mayor also hosted a District Summit to explore how the city can leverage its creative economy (an economy fueled by the power of innovative thought and ideas) to improve the city’s overall economic vibrancy. As the District’s creative “fashion” industry continues to grow, efforts to develop educational opportunities related to the fashion industry have become a priority. In 2008, Stephany Greene, University of D.C. fashion educator and former Tommie Hilfiger fashion designer successfully convinced city government officials to help resurrect the University of the District of Columbia’s (UDC) Fashion Merchandising Program that was terminated over 10 years ago. The UDC Fashion Merchandising Program will enable District students to earn a Bachelor or an Associate Degree in Fashion Merchandising or an Associate Degree in Marketing with a concentration in Fashion Merchandising. By encouraging the flourishing of small businesses and the development of creative artful elements in education, Mayor Adrian Fenty, like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has taken steps to create and grow a new economy in the city; a fashion economy.
www.BravoTV.com/Tim_Gunn
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