New York, NY. Full Figured Fashion Week™ founder, Gwen DeVoe, wants to change the way the fashion industry thinks about plus-size women. "Plus-size consumers are accustomed to being marginalized. But we have buying power; we're spending over $25 billion dollars a year on clothes," says DeVoe. Last year, thousands of designers, retailers, models, store owners, shoppers and style makers converged on NYC for the inaugural Full Figured Fashion Week(tm). Following up on that success, this year's event promises to make a serious impression on a thin-focused industry. "2009 was a big year for plus-size fashion," says DeVoe, "Crystal Renn became a household name. Vogue Curvy debuted to great fanfare. Stores like Forever 21 and Target launched new, hip plus size lines. But we're still not there--plus-size fashion is still not being taken seriously enough by the industry. It's not a novelty--it's a reality for millions of women across the country."
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This year's Full Figured Fashion Week(tm) line-up promises great things for aspiring models and designers while offering access to new looks for fashionistas size 14 and up. The four days of panels and events will be capped off with a full-scale fashion showcase hosted by the original plus-size supermodel, Emme. "Emme was the perfect choice for us," says DeVoe. "Her contributions to the plus-size fashion industry are unparalleled." Models and designers from all over the country have submitted audition tapes and portfolios to win a spot in the finale showcase. DeVoe says, "We're looking for new faces and new looks that will really wow the crowd. This a celebration of curvy bodies--so we're looking for designers who know how to show them off best."
In addition to the finale fashion showcase, confirmed highlights for Full Figured Fashion Week(tm) 2010 include:
A panel for aspiring models moderated by Sharon Quinn, the "Original Runway Diva"
A guided shopping tour of NYC's plus-size shopping hotspots organized by Marie Denee, Founder of The Curvy Fashionista
A day-long shopping expo
A panel on the state of the curvy community including some of the freshest voices in the plus size community
For a full schedule of events, ticketing and travel/hotel information, please visit: http://www.fffweek.com/.
