High fashion is getting a much-needed makeover thanks to Fashion X.
Fashion X is breaking the mold for delivering relevant, fun, interactive and informative fashion content through highly interactive live events. Our events pack all of the spectacle and impact of a New York Fashion Week — without the ego and the elitism.
Fashion X has already created three of the must-attend fashion events in the country with Austin Fashion Week, Fashion X Dallas and Fashion X Houston. Our events already have a reputation in the fashion community as the venues to discover new and emerging talent that the fashion establishment overlooks.
Since the days of Coco Chanel, the fashion industry is an exclusive club. Catwalk shows are traditionally only open to the rich, the famous and the industry buyers. And for designers, it’s been less about what you can do than it has been who you know.
But while high fashion has remained the same, the world around it has changed — and so have fashion audiences. Today’s fashion followers today are young, they are informed, and they are much more interested in discovering interesting, innovative local and regional brands that reflect who they are, than in flocking to the same big names in fashion who have ignored them for years.
And there’s plenty of talent in local markets to be discovered. There are hundreds of talented designers every year just waiting for their opportunity.
But that’s all changing with Fashion X. At Fashion X, we know that fashion is ubiquitous. From the time we pick out our first outfit to wear to school, fashion helps define our personalities and grabs our attention for a lifetime.
We create an experience that reflects the central role that fashion plays in our lives and the way we express ourselves.
That experience is Fashion X.
The Fashion X mission is simple: democratize fashion. We cut out the elitism and exclusivity from fashion events, and focus on the good stuff: the glamour, elegance, and, of course, the clothes.
The result is a new breed of fashion event: one where fashion students rub elbows with Hollywood elite, and where a young designer’s talent matters more than the size of their checkbook.
Fashion X is well on its way to the goal of instigating a revolution in the way fashion is experienced — and who gets to experience it.
We have established recognition in the fashion community with our annual events in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Austin Fashion Week is the largest fashion event in Texas and the 4th largest fashion week in the US, and a national reputation as the fashion week that small, emerging designers come to to be discovered.
Fashion X Houston and Fashion X Dallas, now in their 2nd and 4th years, are quickly gaining momentum as well, and that energy is translating into meaningful traction. In 2016 alone, Fashion X received massive media & social media coverage:
We have built relationships with major global brands like Cadillac, Bernina, Anheuser Busch, LUNA Bar and more, all of whom have sponsored one more Fashion X events in the past. We have also developed strong relationships within the fashion community, including with several popular designers from the Project Runway TV show.
The fashion and media worlds are taking notice of Fashion X:
Now we’re setting our sights on a new challenge in one of the most exciting, dynamic, and fashion-forward cities in the world. The city of stars: Los Angeles.
The powerful thing about the Fashion X formula is that it’s ubiquitous. We can recreate the same experience that has defined our Texas events in markets across the country, creating even more opportunities for designers to make their mark and connect with the public and media in a meaningful way.
And with our Texas events established, we’re ready to launch into our next adventure: Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the city is a goldmine of fashion talent begging for a platform to share their unique voices.
Fashion X Los Angeles will feature all the hallmarks that have come to define a Fashion X event: world-class venues, jaw-dropping production, major brand sponsorships, and, of course, the most cutting-edge, forward-thinking fashion.
Our plan is to start Fashion X Los Angeles as a once-yearly concept for the first two years, before moving to a twice-yearly concept beginning in year 3. We believe the LA market will easily support a Spring and Fall version of Fashion X LA but would like to ease in as we build a deeper audience.
The result will be a concept that will take hold and ultimately become the “it” fashion week concept in Southern California.
Interested in learning more about Fashion X Los Angeles and how you can be part of bringing it to life? Request access to the Business Plan tab of this profile, and let’s talk!
The Fashion X team is proof that that you don’t need an army of people to make big things happen. At just two full-time employees and a team of production vendors, we’ve built not one, but three thriving fashion events — and we look forward to repeating our success with Fashion X Los Angeles. Who needs sleep, right?
The visionary behind Fashion X, Matt Swinney is a serial entrepreneur who has owned his own companies since he was 24. He owned and published a lifestyle magazine in Austin from 2004 – 2009 before launching Austin Fashion Week in 2009, as well as scaling a company called Modern Home Tours to 25 US and Canadian markets before selling that company in 2013.
Kylie is responsible for managing all non-sponsorship-related activities. She coordinates with designers and manages the sales cycle with them, as well as helming the Fashion X content and social media presence. Prior to joining Fashion X, Kylie handled production for Omaha Fashion Week.
While it runs in the family, Matt’s dad Mike helps bring a more corporate perspective to an entrepreneurial brand. Mike has C-level experience with companies such as Iwerks Entertainment, Sony Corporation of America and Lucasfilm Ltd.