In its humble beginnings of Portland Fashion Week patrons (including me) would crowd into places like the Greek Cusina and Pala’s Fashion Lounge to see novice designers send out their pieced together collections while also nibbling on a falafel.

My how things have changed. 

After some internal shuffling, former PFW producer Tito Chowbury left to start FashioNXT (taking place Oct 9–12), and PFW seemed to be gone forever. But, just in time for their tenth anniversary, new producer Jessica Kane stepped in to revive the show determined to take the well-known name and bring it back. The result has turned into an ambitious weekend of events running from September 12–14 including six fashion shows in just three days with dozens and dozens of designers. 

In a newsworthy change, for the first time in 15 years, The Art Institute of Portland will no longer have a stand alone show at Pure Space in June, but will take over main billing for opening night of Portland Fashion Week showcasing a mix of both current student’s work and the lines of their fashion alumni successfully making a go of it as independent designers in the city, followed by an entire segment of Avant Garde looks for runway drama.

Additional changes include a dedicated bridal show on Friday day with gorgeous looks (I’ve already seen them and they're good) from well established Sophie Chang, and new and incredibly promising talent Sunjin Lee.

Moving the venue from the Swan Island Shipyards (FashioNXT will still take place there) to the Oregon Convention Center meant the producers had a cavernous space to work with. Some of that will be filled with a nightly pop up shop open two hours before and after each show allowing attendees to pick up items directly from the designers and shops participating.

It’s a first time experiment to see how two weeks of fashion shows so close together fare, but the only way to find out is to dive in, start planning your outfits, and figure out which shows are at the top of your list.

Portland Fashion Week Designer Schedule:
Oregon Convention Center | For tickets visit portlandfashionweek.net

The Future of Fashion
Thursday, September 12 - 8pm

• Alumni and current students of AiPD (must see - German Madrigal and Ryan Edmonds)
• Briana Jacobs – 2013 Emerging Designer
• Karen Davis - 2013 Emerging Designer (must see)
• Rachel Rector - 2013 Emerging Designer
• E.G. Page
• Adorn 

Bridal Show
Friday, September 13 - 12:30pm

• Sophie Chang (must see)
• Sunjin Lee (must see)
• Kimmie Designs
• Amrapali

Ready to Wear
Friday, September 13 - 8pm

Designers Featured:
• Eliza Harrison – Hello Eliza (must see)
• Nelli Millard
• Kate S. Mensah (must see)
• Youtheary Khmer
• Brady Lange (must see)

Youth Show
Saturday, September 14 - 11am
Featuring looks from Woodburn Premium Outlets & Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets

Fit for Life Athletic Show
Saturday, September 14 - 2:30pm
Featuring looks from Woodburn Premium Outlets & Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets

Luxe High End Fashion Show
Saturday, September 14 - 8pm

Designers Featured: 
• Andres Pinedo
• Deyonte Weathers 
• Devonation (must see)
• Built for Man (must see)

(We labeled out the ones we're most excited about. Who do you want to see?)