Fashion · Apr 09, 2014

Fashion Week New Orleans- The Best Week of the Year!

This last month, March, was a whirlwind of excitement for both me as a designer and for Passion Lilie, and now that April is well underway, I thought I would take some time to reflect on the recent of events.

In March I went to the big city New York where I visited a few stores and picked up a new account- Flying A NYC.

And as soon as I got off the plan from New York, preparations began for Fashion Week New Orleans. There were fittings upon fittings- I had 19 models!

On Wednesday, March 19^th I was invited by Fashion Week New Orleans to discuss Passion Lilie on WWL radio with local TV and radio celebrity Angela Hill. It was such an honor meeting Angela. Her personality warmed the room, she gave words of encouragement and she made the on air interview feel like a dream come true. Listen to the podcast here.

WWL Radio local designers from fashion week. Local designer, Katie Schmidt on WWL radio talks about fashion week.

Thursday, March 20^th was the big day of the Passion Lilie fashion show at Fashion Week New Orleans. The night before I tried to get some good rest, but I was restless and I woke up early full of excitement and ready to go.

I arrived at 2pm to finish up fittings, coordinate jewelry with the super talented Jess Leigh Jewels, approve the hair and make-up looks, and go over the runway walks with the models.

Fair trade pants, dresses and tops on the runway at fashion week.

By 6pm with just an hour till show time, I dressed each model. I carefully draped Passion Lilie scarves on them to create tops and I placed the jeweled crowns of Jess Leigh Jewels on their heads. I gave the girls a pep talk telling them to have fun and to think about the wonderful Indian women who made these dresses. These artisans would be so proud to see their work going down the runway.

And moments before the show began I ran into hair and makeup to put myself together, but there was no time, my show was beginning. I stood backstage watching as my models walked down the runway in my designs- all 19 of them. I was in awe of what I had created.

Fair trade pants, dresses and tops on the runway at fashion week.

I saw my logo reflected on the screen and I read “changing the world through ethical fashion”, and all the sudden it hit me. An intense pride that made me want to cry tears of joy. I thought to myself, “You are doing this Katie. You are changing the world through ethical fashion.”

And after the show when I heard the chitter chatter about my line I felt good, but what made me even more happy was when I heard the words fair trade on everyone’s lips, and I knew I had achieved my goal for this fashion season.

Fair trade pants, dresses and tops on the runway at fashion week.