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Dressed on Washington St.

Washington St.
Ypsilanti, MI

Dressed on Washington Street is a presentation of Design Arts in Couture Collections designed by local students and professionals. This event will take place May 30, 2009, on Washington Street under a heated tent. The students will be drawn from Eastern Michigan University, local design schools, colleges, high schools and community outreach centers including the Ozone House Drop in Center and others. The Washtenaw area is home to a number of professional designers who will attend by invitation.

The event will take place on N. Washington Street in Ypsilanti, a site designed by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority to be easily closed to traffic. The location is readily accessible, based on its relative location to public parking and public transportation. The site and available restroom facilities meet ADA standards. A large heated, tent will be erected to enclose a stage, runway, sound and lighting, food displays and beverage stations. Businesses fronting Washington Street will make private space available for dressing, hair and make-up.

There will be two shows on May 30, 2009. The first show will be from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. and the second show will be from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Each show will showcase: emerging designers, professional/community designers, wearable art, and recycled clothing.

Participants may use their own models and will be paired with local hair and make-up stylists and students in these arts. It is anticipated that there will be a minimum of 30 designers. In addition to the designers, we anticipate 12-24 hair stylists and make-up artists. The downtown Ypsilanti Area is home to 8 hair salons and each will be asked to participate. Additionally, there is a beauty school in the community we anticipate their students participating as well.

Dress rehearsal for the event will take place on the runway. The designers will have the opportunity to walk their models through using the music they have selected to represent their work. The sound and lighting companies we plan to use are professional local companies with stage and sound experience. Interns from Eastern Michigan University will be selected to act as stage managers, stage hands and publicists.

Ypsilanti is home to a number of artists who design jewelry, purses, shoes and other accessories. They are invited to show their work inside What Is That Gallery. Admission to the Accessories Show will be free and open to the public. It will feature accessories in a variety of price ranges. As with the runway show, artists are asked to submit pieces that could be considered for daily use and dramatic, wearable art.

Management and Feasibility
The appropriateness of Dressed on Washington Street runway project and planning rest on the more than 20 years of gallery, theater, public arts creation and installation and business management experience by the main coordinators. Appropriate, experienced interns and volunteers will work from detailed plans and have a thorough knowledge of how to conduct this affair.

Director Leslie Austin has had more than 20 years experience in owning and managing businesses. As a fashion designer and fabric artist herself, she has a thorough understanding of the art form. Ms. Austin has experience in supervising venues both behind the scenes and in front. She will supervise the staff. Co-director David Austin has 22 years experience organizing and running gallery openings and public art showings.

To ensure the future of this program, Dressed on Washington Street will collect written evaluations from volunteers, paid staff, artists, models and attendees.

Artistic Merit
Dressed on Washington Street is committed to achieving high artistic standards in all aspects of its operations including its designers, stage facilities and personnel and gallery. This event is intended to become a signature community event that grows annually. Tickets will be priced so that individuals of all income levels can be exposed to the best designs local and regional artists offer.

In addition to viewing the designers work, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the artists during scheduled meet and greets. The artists will, in turn receive immediate feedback from their market. Dressed on Washington Street will choose a diverse group of designers both culturally and artistically from the Washtenaw County area. We believe that it is important for visitors to see artists of all skill levels from their community displaying their craft in a professional yet accessible manner. This provides an opportunity to promote the artistic community while underscoring the accessibility of the arts.

Community Impact
Dressed on Washington Street 2009 will celebrate the collective talent of local artists and designers, by bringing the regions fashion, arts, and business communities
together. The event aims to create an exciting fashion environment where these collective communities have the opportunity to thrive. We will achieve this by providing
a showcase event for one-of-a-kind fashion, related arts and businesses, and audience to participate and support each other.

Dressed on Washington Street will attract a large and diverse audience including children and young adults. Sponsors for the designers come from a variety of stores in the community. Many of the designs - both clothing and accessories - will be offered for sale. For many this will be their first opportunity to generate an income based on their passion for design. A signature event of this type will draw more economic activity to all sections of the local economy. The artists, drawn from the community will in turn, generate more economic activity: they shop, eat and pay taxes here.

In-kind contributions will come from the immediate vicinity for printing and food services for the participants. Programs will be printed and gift bags will be provided. Local restaurants, clubs and retailers will offer special incentives for attendees to further explore the community to during their visit. This inaugural signature event will draw its audience from the region. Those attending will gain exposure to the diversity and quality of services available to them in Ypsilanti.

Dressed on Washington Street will focus on encouraging collaboration to showcase regional creative talents of individuals and businesses. It will pair professionals with students in a mentoring/sponsorship opportunity in all areas of a Fashion Runway Show. The event will fund itself through sponsorships, grants, individual donation, patronage, fund raising, ticket sales and the selling of products. Additionally, it will provide Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College an opportunity to work collaboratively with the community. A short term goal is to establish a self-sustaining event.

Promotion is designed to reach the greatest number of people possible. Our promotions staff will work with area newspapers to pitch stories of the event. Articles will be placed in Concentrate (an online web magazine) sponsored by the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority and the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Concentrate focuses on positive events in the community and does a weekly blast of 10,000 emails. There will be advertising in local newspapers as well as Hour Magazine Another 5,000 flyers and 100 posters will be printed and distributed in Downtown and Depot Town Ypsilanti and throughout the Washtenaw County Area. Web pages devoted to the event will be available through our partnerships with the Ypsilanti Convention and Visitors Bureau, the YDDA, the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti, YpsiNews.com, and links to these will be embedded in our sponsors websites.

It is our desire to create an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Participants will leave feeling that Ypsilanti is an exciting, welcoming community, and will look forward to attending other activities here. The experience will leave them anticipating next years Runway event and planning designs for 2010.

Kid Friendly: No

Dog Friendly: No

Non-Smoking: No

Wheelchair Accessible: No

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