Many of our area's most innovative designers have nowhere to set up shop, so the fine folks at Fashion Week Tampa Bay have developed a project in the hopes of giving them some much deserved exposure. PURE Haus, which stands for Pop Up Retail Experience, will provide local fashion and accessory designers their own pop-up shop or showroom. A treat for fashion aficionados and an opportunity for designers to establish their brands and customer base, the grassroots operation will showcase Tampa's style elite — including Ivanka Ska, Essence Flowers and K.Hendrix — at storefront locations in Hyde Park, the 600 Block of St. Pete and other areas during the month of September, with designers showing couture dresses, tops, skirts and swimsuits. In order for this fashion dream to become a reality, Fashion Week Tampa Bay has established a fundraising goal of $18,000. Be a part of local fashion history by seeing your name on the pledge wall when you donate $10 at kickstarter.com/projects/tampabayfashionweek/pure-haus (you are not charged if the PURE Haus goal is not met); for more info, contact purehaus@fashionweektampabay.com. Pledge deadline is Aug. 19.
This article appears in Aug 11-17, 2011.