What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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2 WHAT'S UP! SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2019 Diversity And Inclusion Fashion Week shows 'everyone wears clothes' LARA JO HIGHTOWER NWA Democrat-Gazette T he 2019 Fall Fashion Week in Northwest Arkansas will mark Robin Wallis Atkinson's sixth run as executive director. But this whirling dervish does not believe in letting things get too comfortable. "The second we get things under control, I'm like, 'Cool — let's add a bunch more elements that will make it much more difficult,'" she says with a laugh. "I keep us on our toes. I will say that we're getting to the point in the process where we're fine tuning things, and the user experience is better than ever for the guests. We're getting in there and putting all of these nice finishing touches on the experience, partnering with brands to create the right kind of vibe, and getting everybody on board with the mission — so there are a lot of relationships that are coming into maturity, which is helping us provide a better experience than ever before." One important part of the organization's mission that continues to grow and expand is its commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its process. "[NWA Fashion Week] model Sarah Conley just had a big piece come out in NYLON magazine about the real problems of body diversity in New York Fashion Week," notes Atkinson. "The New York fashion industry is really reluctant to embrace body diversity because, on a manufacturing level, it makes a lot of sense to put your head in the sand and say, 'Sample sizes only' — which start out a 0 and size out at 8. But who is an 8? I'm not an 8. I don't know many women in my life who are 8s. Sixteen is a median size for women in this country. "One of the things that people who have come down from New York to our shows have been impressed by is the fact that we're not only championing it, but also expecting it. Our designers have to have diversity from all angles: age, ability, race, ethnicity and also size, because the fact of the matter is that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and all of them have to wear clothes." We asked some Fall Fashion Week models to tell us a little bit about their experiences working with the organization. Autumn Audiss Q: How did you get involved in NWA Fashion Week? A: A friend of mine sent me a link to their Facebook page and suggested I go to the open audition that they were having for the spring '18 shows. I was already modeling full time for a living as a plus-size fit-model for Walmart and had been wanting to venture into other types of modeling, so this opportunity was perfect! I went to the auditions, got a call back and my runway career had officially begun. Q: How do you feel about the NWA Fashion Week's commitment to diversity and inclusion? A: It felt so amazing to be welcomed into the NWAFW family with such open arms and such a strong love for all types of models. I am such a diverse model myself because of my size 18, 5-foot-10, 260-pound frame; my age (I'll be 30 in October); and my race (Hispanic-American). But I never felt out of place on the runway because of all the love I received backstage from the staff and fellow models, a lot of whom are just as diverse themselves. Q: What's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you on a runway? A: Definitely when I got to model in a bathing suit twice during the NWAFW spring '19 shows. As soon as I began to walk, the audience went crazy with cheers and happy words of encouragement as I strutted fiercely by. I felt like such a success to the plus- size community! COVER STORY Courtesy Photo Autumn Audiss says she's "a diverse model myself because of my size 18, 5-foot- 10, 260-pound frame; my age (I'll be 30 in October); and my race (Hispanic-American)." FAQ NWA Fashion Week Fall 2019 WHEN — 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3-5; doors at 6 p.m. WHERE — Jett Aircraft, 4500 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville COST — $25-$150 INFO — 422-7305, nwafw.com