USA -- NOVA Fashion Week 2009 will be held at The George Washington Masonic Memorial from Feb 23 - Mar 01, 2009. The earliest fashion week, held in New York City in 1943, was intended to attract attention away from French fashion during World War II, when fashion industry insiders were unable to travel to Paris to see French fashion shows. Fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert organized an event she called "Press Week" to showcase American designers for fashion journalists, whose innovations had been previously neglected. Buyers were not admitted to the shows and instead had to visit designers' showrooms.

NOVA FASHION WEEK 2009
Tentative Schedule of Events

02| 23 | 09 – Monday - Press Conference
The NOVA Fashion Week producers will participating sponsorships, designers, fashion student designers, contributors and supporters of first NOVA Fashion Week, define NOVA Fashion Week’s mission and unveil its plans for the upcoming week (e.g., schedule of events, celebrity appearances, etc).

02 | 24 | 09 – Tuesday - Welcome Reception and Charity Fundraiser
This charity fundraising Welcome Reception will feature participating designers, sponsors, contributors, stakeholders and producers, industry leaders, buyers and fashionistas. This charity fundraising reception event will kick off the first official NOVA Fashion Week to take place in Northern Virginia. This event is open to the public, and each ticket purchased will help to generate funds for Fashion Week Spring 2009, provide resources and funds to independent and student designers, as well as local fashion houses for the Washington Metro Area. This event will open with remarks by the producers of the NOVA Fashion Week and a public introduction of its mission, contributors, sponsors, featured designers and event layout; providing information on the monies raised, which will be used to increase the awareness of NOVA Fashion Week and its mission to serve the fashion community.

02 | 25 | 09 – Wednesday - Student Designer Competition Fashion Showcase
During the course of NOVA Fashion Week, student designers prepared and displayed their works which the general public, fashion industry professionals and fashion show designers judged. This ALL-DAY event will allow the student designers to present a collection of the works that have been on display through the January 2009. Once the designs have made it down the runway, the designers will be judged and awarded. The winner will be announced at the fashion show. The winning designer will be featured in this year’s finale fashion show with international, national and regional designers and receive a scholarship from NOVA Fashion Show producers. This event is complimentary and open to the public. This day will be dedicated and represented by each college/university designer.

02| 26 | 09 – Thursday - Independent Designer Fashion Showcase
Independent designers will have the opportunity to display their designs with one specific day dedicated to their fashion showcase. During this time, designers will walk the runway featuring their individual Spring 2009 designs to attendees. This ALL-DAY event will not only shine a spotlight on regional and local talents to buyers and fashion industry professionals.