Local Designers Discuss Kansas City Fashion Scene During The Real Modern Show

Barbecue and tech took a rest Tuesday, October 6, when The Real Modern Show hosted a live discussion concerning a topic people may not think of when it comes to Kansas City: fashion.

"Kansas City has the potential because there are a lot of hard workers in this city. It's a good place to try new things," said West 18th Street Fashion Show co-executive producer Jennifer Pfeifer. Pfeifer was one of four locals serving as panelists during the discussion.

Local community on Kansas City fashion

Peregrie Honig, creative director of the West 18th Street Fashion Show, expressed how a local women who was transitioning couldn't find clothes that fit or were "even attractive". This served as inspiration to produce more garments to suit people in all stages of life.

Bringing technology and fashion together has proven to be another way the Kansas City community supports local designers and fashion in general. Union Station in Kansas City is home to 3D printers that are available to the public, making 3D fashion plausible.

Global community on Kansas City fashion

Get involved: Panelists share upcoming design community events.

Though Kansas City isn't globally known as a leading fashion community (unlike Nashville, Tenn., who has launched a campaign to be number three behind Paris and Milan), these locals are part of the community who are working to positively impact fashion through manufacturing.

Pfeifer, founder of RightfullySewn.org, creates competitive opportunities for designers while simultaneously providing job placements to those in need. These labor models and practices feed the communities where trade and economy can be valued through key strategies. A. Empower at-risk women by teaching them a trade and assisting them with job placement, thereby elevating them out a a systemic situation. B. Cultivate fashion designers by providing them access to a designated space, state-of-the-art fashion technology, and staffing resources through competitive designer residencies.

“Rightfully Swen will lay a path to a contemporary version of Kansas City’s 20th-century golden era of garment design and manufacturing.”

Personal commentary:

Being introduced to these amazing, creative people through The Real Modern Show made me aware of a industry in Kansas City that is still unexplored. While tying into the local economy, my knowledge of a 'Kansas City fashion scene' didn't extend beyond KC hear shirts from the Bunker.

However, where there is something to be sold there's going to be a common connection. Walking through Westport one can see how locals are taking a unique approach to K.C. fashion. The Jeweled Gypsy, a mobile fashion boutique (and the only one I know of) sets up shop across the street from The Foundry practically every Saturday-giving the bustling neighborhood an additional place to shop. The Jeweled Gypsy can be seen at various events in the city throughout the year, including the West 18th Street Fashion Show that was actually held at the K.C.P.L. Central Branch earlier this year.

Being mobile, and not just a pop up store around the holiday season, illustrates a unique approach to Kansas City fashion marketing-if not production. Clothez Minded, also in Westport, is a nicer-end resale store which purchase slightly used clothing. Not being a chain, Clothez Minded is operated by a local mom who (in my experience) handles greeting, purchasing, and customer service (the customer selling clothes).

Economy can be an indicator of how a community is responding to a local industry. It would've been great to have seen these ladies on the panel as well.

In addition to being a Kansas Citian, I was intrigued by this panel discussion because of a Last Week Tonight episode I stumbled upon earlier this week discussing fashion and labor laws. Of which I will leave you with here:



Rebecca RomanComment