March 8 – 10, 2018
Art & Fashion collide as the 7th annual Art Walks the Runway fashion show returns to SBDAC! Thursday Evening join us for the celebration opening party. Friday night experience the best in local fashion as area boutiques present their hottest looks! Saturday night watch haute couture take the stage with incredible artful creations by Couture designers!
Opening Celebration Show
Thursday, March 8, 2018 • Runway 8pm | Cocktails 7pm
Tickets: $40 in advance • $50 at the door • VIP: $75
Thursday night is our opening celebration show featuring couture fashion, entertainment, and hors d’oeuvres.
FEATURING:
Vivre Couture is an organic partnership between a designer and an artist, founded in April 2016. Vivre Couture pieces are worthy of any art collection or gallery exhibition, and excitingly wearable for those premier moments of life. Bespoke by definition, gowns and cocktail attire are made with a minimum of three fittings and as part of their creation will have between 25-80 hours of hands on attention between designer, seamstresses, and artist. Learn More
Sarah LaPierre is the artist who painted the Palm Beach Collection in 2016 featured at this season’s Art Walks the Runway. Palette knives and heavy bodied acrylic paints provide the full textures and vibrant colors that are characteristics of her style. Sarah’s artwork can be found globally in the homes of her many patrons, brightening the walls of professional offices and businesses, and was featured in NY Fashion Week in 2017.
Kala Xpress collections are inspired from the world’s rich tradition and culture. Each ensemble is crafted of various ideas and themes, together with a variety of materials used including embroidery, bead work, rich patterns and textures, and hand painted designs. Sumita Bhojwani, creator of Kala Xpress, says her main focus in creating these designs is to empower the women she dresses, and make them feel confident. She likes to experiment with different things in her environment and translate them into an innovative design, where the unexpected can become beautiful!
The Hindi word “Kala” means beautiful, pleasurable, the expression of human creative skills, and imagination. Learn More
FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY:
Contortionist Katarina Danks
Katarina is a trained performer in contortion, jazz and contemporary dance disciplines.
Emma Arnold feat. John Davis
Emma is a singer-songwriter based in Fort Myers, Florida. She has been the featured performer at Whiskey Park’s open mic, and regularly plays local hot spots. In 2018, you can catch her at the Naples Strawberry Festival. Find her latest release here
John is a cellist who has played with some of SWFL best artists. In addition, John is the local host for NPR’s Morning Edition and producer and host for WGCU’s radio talk program Gulf Coast Live! Learn More
Local Fashion
Friday, March 9, 2018 • Runway 8pm | Cocktails 7pm
Tickets: $20 in advance • $25 at the door • VIP: $50
Friday night will feature fun and fabulous collections from local fashion boutiques.
FEATURING:
Forema Boutique boasts 3 locations, Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers, and Winter Park & Waterford Lakes in Orlando. Forema is known for their inviting, happy, boho atmosphere, specializing in chic, affordable clothing. Every Forema Babe leaves the boutique feeling positive & confident, thanks to the truly fabulous Forema experience! During this year’s Art Walks the Runway you can expect to see the newest trends of Resort 2018 with a Forema Babe touch! Shop Forema
Saratoga Sundress carries a large variety of merchandise. In the summer, you can find some tops, tunics, skirts, rompers, cocktail dresses, and of course sundresses. The winter collection adds coats and sweaters for those cold-weather months. To complete your look Saratoga also carries a large selection of jewelry and handbags. Saratoga Sundress currently has two locations: 493 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY, and the Bell Tower Shoppes in Ft. Myers, FL. Shop Saratoga
Hollie’s Boutique helps you build a flawless wardrobe for every season with the very latest fashions. Dedicated to stocking timeless yet of-the-moment apparel in beautiful fabrics and comfortable textures, Hollie’s infuses everyday essentials with an air of easy sophistication and understated luxury. Offering a wide array of the perfect fit denim, chic tops, gorgeous dresses, trendy pants and standout layering pieces, Hollie’s has everything you need for an effortless style upgrade. Shop Hollie’s
FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY:
Frankie Colt – Fashion & Music
Frankie Colt is a well-known independent artist based out of the SWFL area. She has been playing guitar since the age of twelve years old. Over the years, her musical styling ranged from folk to bluegrass, and now rock with her new band, Cobress. In 2018, Frankie enters the world of fashion by showcasing her edgy embellished pieces at Art Walks the Runway. More Info
International Couture Fashion
Saturday, March 10, 2018 • Runway 8pm | Cocktails 7pm
Tickets: $35 in advance • $45 at the door • VIP: $70
Saturday night will feature captivating collections from international couture designers.
FEATURING:
Marmar Halim is one of the most established and prevailing fashion designers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. She maneuvers her fine and exotic touch in integrating colors, grace and fusion trends to create her own vogue of panache Insignia. Her touch is remarkably sophisticated, mesmerizing, contemporary, unique and breathtaking! The designer label of Marmar Halim incontestably yields and creates elite fashion blends that are flanked by a fusion of Eastern and Western Couture with a sheek and lavish flair. More Info
Diana Couture is a couturier that has been active in the fashion industry for 7 years. Established from Diana Putri’s passion for fashion, the company has grown to being one of the most successful couture brands in Surabaya, Indonesia. The brand is a fabulous platform fueled by prayers and dreams. A-list socialites from all over Indonesia, as well as iconic Indonesian celebrities, have been common clients to the brand. Apart from that, the brand has branched it’s products to Beijing, China. International clients include A-list American, Korean and Chinese celebrities and socialites. As a fashion house, Diana Couture specializes in custom evening gowns as well as bridal wear. Her signature features the usage of both elegant and daring concepts, balanced in a couture piece. More Info
FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY:
Body Art Performance by Elements Of Body Art
Body art is the passion of artist Adriana Vincent-Gomez. She studied everything from beauty to special effects at Joe Blasco Makeup school in Hollywood, CA. Since moving to Southwest Florida, she created Elements of Body in 2012. Her goal is to create unique imaginative works of body painting art using the human form as a canvas to bring this art form to another level. Elements of Body has been featured in previous years at Art Walks the Runway, and always creates a living, breathing work of art. Learn More
Contortionist Katarina Danks
Katarina is a trained performer in contortion, jazz and contemporary dance disciplines.
Melissa Dehaven
Host, Emcee, Organizer
With a passion for downtown Fort Myers, the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center’s Development Director has organized the last 7 Art Walks the Runway events as well as numerous other events at the art center.
Tommy Giaime
DJ
Providing the soundtrack for this year’s and previous year’s Art Walks the Runway Fashion Show is Tommy Giaime of Sol Productions. Tommy has played at many exclusive events, including the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after party as well as Denver Fashion Week.
Haute Couture Fashion by Mariapia Malerba • AWR 2016
Art Walks the Runway Previous Years
Art Walks the Runway 2017
