Don’t miss these back-to-back fashion shows in Northwest Arkansas this weekend

WORDS / KODY FORD

It’s an excellent weekend for Fashion Lovers as two must-see events are taking place in Northwest Arkansas featuring many local designers on Saturday, June 22nd. Kick off the afternoon with the 1/4 Pipe Urban Fashion Event at the Glass Smoke Boutique in Fayetteville at 4 pm.

Eddie Rodriguez, chief designer of Z Labs and founder of Ozark Urban Events: Bridging Communities Through Culture and Creativity, organized the event with Andrew Jacobi Jeter of Creative Circuit Studios. Billed as “a groundbreaking fusion of the skate and fashion communities,” Rodriguez has curated pieces by innovative designers that cater to the dynamic lifestyles of skaters, blending streetwear aesthetics with high fashion. Jeter will emcee the event. Glassmakers Bufo, Ninja and Zoo will showcase their wares. Craft, food and drink vendors will be on hand. Catch music by DJ Starflyer, Invespertine, Swell, Yxng Strange, Texas Drivers and 3DEADIDOLS. 

“The 1/4 Pipe Urban Fashion Event is more than just a runway show; it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and the spirit of collaboration,” Rodriguez said. “By bringing together skaters, fashion enthusiasts, and local businesses, Ozark Urban Event and Creative Circuit Studios aim to create an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impact on all attendees.”

Designers include The Library Vintage Collection, Gusto, Drew Deener, Technomilk, Allterie, Rodriguez’s Z Labz and Danielle Ferguson, of Danielle’s House of Spiders. 

Ferguson’s design concept for the show is waste and opulence—something simple that can look chaotic. She recently learned no-waste patterning techniques and put them to work on the five summer dresses she made for this show. She said, “When you think of the no-waste concept regarding sustainability, you think you are using less fabric, which is what I thought, but in reality, you are using more fabric. For a no-waste technique, you’re using every bit of it; nothing goes to waste.”

She described her pieces as “very colorful and frilly; childlike,” adding, “You can run around and throw them around—it feels very organic. I’m heavily styling the pieces—my first time doing that in a show. I want to style pieces so people can see themselves in the clothing, which I think is sometimes hard with fashion.”

Ferguson and Rodriguez are pulling double duty this weekend. After the 1/4 Pipe Urban Fashion Event, their work can be seen that night at 7:30 pm at The Medium, for Brandy Lee Harris and Big Sister Studio’s sure-to-be-epic Fashion Fit For (A) Queen, an original fashion cabaret tribute to the band Queen. Magnifico, a Queen cover band, will perform at the event. Advance tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here. Partial proceeds go to NWA Equality.

Fashion Fit For (A) Queen is a project of The Medium’s Creative Exchange Fund (CXF), supported by the Tyson Family Foundation. Established in 2021, CXF provides a platform for creative risk-taking. CXF gives creatives like Harris three essential resources: time, money, and space. Since June 2021, CXF has awarded over $250,000 to 69 individuals, groups, and organizations. Harris and Big Sister Studio received $15,000 from CXF to produce the show. Fashion Fit For (A) Queen is sponsored by Cheap Thrills, Rambler Sparkling Water, Maxine’s Taproom, Forge Productions and Block Street Records. 

Regarding the inspiration for the show, Harris said, “Honestly, the music was the driving force behind the show. For the last couple of years, I have been wanting to push the boundaries of where fashion and performance meet, but last summer, after seeing Magnifico in Austin, I started formulating this idea. When I began researching Freddie and the music it became really clear that mixing fashion and dance with a live show was not only going to be a good fit for the fashion but a really good fit for the music.”

For “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy,” Harris created four brand-new men’s suits. Tailoring is something that I have had to work really hard at, so I wanted to highlight that. Additionally, there are about six different headpieces across the show. Several of them are for “Somebody to Love,” which is a nod to the bride and the veil.

Harris feels the show will be fun for fans of Queen or lovers of fashion. She said, “It’s summer, and life is challenging. This show is just a nice opportunity to sit back and be entertained with a little song and dance. For an hour and half, let us entertain you.”

Other designers include Ferguson, Rodriguez, Isreal Rios, Darcy Harris, Braxton Carney, Alyssa Graves, Faux L’Beau, Aubrey Grace Costello and Rosie Rose.

Get more information for Fashion Fit For (A) Queen here. Find out more about Big Sister Studio here.