LOS ANGELES FASHION AWARDS
FROM THE HIGHLANDS TO HOLLYWOOD
In 2006 the Los Angeles Fashion Awards and the Scottish Fashion Awards established a new creative cultural exchange program designed to promote emerging talent in the respective territories and offer fashion designers a chance to experience new locales, seek out new buyers, and explore new sources of manufacturing and inspiration. By networking across the globe, a foundation was laid to facilitate an exchange of ideas, information, resources (and fun!) that might never happen otherwise.
Their common language and adjacent histories made this exchange fabulously easy. But quickly the differences were revealed: Scotland is an essential center of European cultural pride and tradition. Los Angeles is the ultimate modern day multi-culti megalopolis. Scotland is damp and verdant. Los Angeles is dry and breezy. And of course the density: Los Angeles has 14 times more people per square mile than Scotland . (Pardon my elbow while I tie my shoe….)
The surface differences are obvious, but it’s the subtext that most fascinates, and it is aptly captured in their respective events: The Scottish Fashion Awards recognizes the achievements of the sons and daughters of Scotland , wherever they may be in the world. The Los Angeles Fashion Awards recognizes the achievements of those headquartered in LA, regardless of birthplace.
By this simple quirk of perspective, our own darling Fraser Ross, founder of Kitson and born in Aberdeen , could potentially qualify for both events. Kitson’s keen merchandising vision and celebrity superstar clientele are world-renowned. Kitson is where LA’s “it girls” (like Paris, Lindsday and Nicole) like to shop. Some will tell you Kitson instigated the ultimate coup, turning the stargazer weeklies like Us, In Touch and People into a fashion force more powerful than Vogue. As a testament to Fraser’s influence, Kitson has been recognized by the LA Fashion Awards each year, alternating and sometimes occupying both the Marketing Excellence category and Retailer of the Year.
The 2007 Winners:
- Designer Juan Carlos Obando, winner of the Moss Adams Fashion Innovator Award
- Manufacturer/retailer Guess by Marciano, winner of the Marketing Excellence Award
- Retailer Fred Segal, winner of the Retailer of the Year Award
- Designer Max Azria, winner of the Wells Fargo Century Fashion Achievement Award
- Journalists and instigators DailyCandy.com, winner the Fashion Communication Award, for their LA edition
- Popular TV show, Project Runway, winners of the Inspiration Award
- Fashion upstart J Brand Jeans, winner of the Denim Designer of the Year Award.
Save the date: The fourth annual LA FASHION AWARDS will take place October 17, 2008 in Los Angeles . Nominations are already underway.
Details at www.lafashionawards.com