Fashion Gxd Magazine - Fredericksburg Fashion Week CEO Entrepreneur Cover (Print Issue NOW Available)
Interview by: Novia Rosa
This issue we sat down with the CEOS of Fredericksburg Fashion Week. In which is a partnership of independent fashion Designers, Boutiques, Producers, and Models. Fredericksburg Virginia Fashion Week (FXBVAFW) was created to increase economic development in the area of fashion design, clothing merchandising, modeling, entertainment and to enhance the visibility of fashion in the local community (Fredericksburg) and around the world . Take a look at our exclusive cover story.
Facebook : Fredericksburg Fashion Week & Instagram: FXB Fashion Week
FGM: Its an honor to sit down with you all. Tell us a little about your brand and how you've come to this vastly successful peek in your career .
Answer: Fredericksburg Fashion Week also known as (FXBVAFW) is created and resides in Fredericksburg Virginia . The Brand was created by LaToya White and Broadway Harris in October of 2018. LaToya White is the Owner and Managing Director of Fredericksburg Fashion Week and has produced and co-produced multiple fashion shows. La Toya also has a clothing company called La' Tour Leon Clothing, a Fashion Blog called Yes 1 Flash Fashion, A Hair company called Fierce Le'Del Hair Bundles and a women's platform called the LaTour Leon Melaninaire Club. She has a Fashion Degree from University of Maryland and a Business Degree from Strayer University . She also has experience in computer science, advertising, human resources, video production, and the arts. LaToya has attended fashion events in New York as well as shows in Washington DC. La Toya has worked with Broadway Harris on creating the concept that has become FXB VA Fashion Week as a way to bring NY style fashion shows to the Fredericksburg area and to spotlight the design talent, models, and creative talent that this region has to offer.
Broadway Harris , Vice President and Executive Director of Fredericksburg Fashion Week started as a professional choreographer in 2003 working as a high school coach and at local dance studios. He was also a choreographer and dancer for a DMV teen sensation opening shows for Chris Brown, Trey Songz, and Queen Latifah. He fled to New York in 2004 and attended the Broadway Dance Center. While there he conditioned his craft with celebrity choreographers and added more performances to his resume, like Times Square, the Broadway play "Wicked" along with attending Masterclasses at monsters of Hip Hop. Also in New York , Broadway worked with model agencies training their talent and helped produce runway shows. He is also the Vice President and founder of the Black Lives Matter Fredericksburg, VA. Broadway also hosts nightclubs events, manages various entertainment like music artists and professional DJ's.
LaToya and Broadway have been friends since the 6th grade and although they both had different paths in life they were still able to come together and develop this wonderful platform . The mission of Fredericksburg Fashion Week is A partnership of independent fashion Designers, Boutiques, Producers, and Models. Fredericksburg Virginia Fashion Week (FXBVAFW ) was created to increase economic development in the area of fashion design, clothing merchandising, modeling , entertainment and to enhance the visibility of fashion in the local community ( Fredericksburg) and around the world.
FGM: Who are the clients/what are the projects that you most enjoy working on?
Answer: Fredericksburg Fashion Week Models and Designers range from 6 years of age and up.
"Some of our projects that we enjoy would be our Workshops , Seminars , and of course our Main Event.
Our workshops consist of Modeling classes held by our Model Coaches . Seminars are held virtually due to the COVID impact and it is to provide a safe and secure environment for the youth and adults to speak on Social Pressures, Emotion Regulation and Mental Health. Then of course there is the main event where the models will walk the Runway for designers.
FGM: How do you feel you make a difference in the world?
Answer: Fredericksburg Fashion Week makes a difference in our community by boosting "Self Confidence" in the youth as well as the adults.
FGM: Give me the three best qualities of your brand
Answer: The top 3 best qualities we hold as an organization would be:
* Good Communication Skills
* Ability to Visualize
* Confidence
FGM: Give me an example of when you worked irregular hours?
Answer: Every day we work irregular hours, We are entrepreneurs when we have a When we open our hours until we close our eyes type of job and it is well worth it.
Creating such a fast growing Platform that has about 50 people or more, an entrepreneur will always work irregular hours to accommodate everyone's needs, questions and concerns . We take what we do with pride and much professionalism !
FGM: How did you acquire the ability to work under pressure to beat most deadlines as a entrepreneur ?
Answer: How Fredericksburg Fashion Week handles deadlines and pressures is mainly due to our drive that keeps us going. Things that need to be done just simple get done.
How do you handle stress ?
Answer:
Stress is part of the job . Unfortunately being an Entrepreneur can be stressful at times we try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective and look at the big picture.
Take perspective of the stressful situation and adjust our standards. Perfectionism is a major source of stress however sometimes we just have to take a deep breath and slow down and
focus on the positive end result.
By Pilar Scratch in Entrepreneur cover for Fashion Gxd Magazine
30 pages, published 4/14/2021
