Kids Fashion Week gives young talent experience
In light of the growing number of “fashion week” types and locations, a sartorial week dedicated to children was bound to make its way to the Natural State.
Sure enough, the spotlight is on young people during Arkansas Kids Fashion Week, whose Season Two is planned for Sept. 6-9 at the Maumelle Event Center in North Little Rock.
But this is not just a fashion-show experience. Arkansas
Kids Fashion Week is a program designed to provide children from 5 to 17 with modeling, acting and entertainment opportunities. Member-participants take part in activities throughout the year to hone their skills for work in the modeling and talent industry.
The week is under the umbrella of 9-year-old organization Funk Fusion, a youth dance company led by Chante Duncan. The 34-year-old Conway mother of three loves children, sees the wealth of young talent in the state and wants to guide them to their destinies.
A native of Morrilton, Duncan is a traveling dance teacher, modeling coach and pageant coach who has been in the business some 20 years. She came up with the idea for the fashion week when she saw similar undertakings in other cities. Arkansas, she says, doesn’t have a big “paying” market for dancers, models and entertainers. Her goal is “to open up that market” and to raise awareness of the state’s talented children.
Last year was the first for Arkansas Kids Fashion Week, which was held at the Conway Expo Center and featured nearly 30 models and nearly 10 designers. The show is put on entirely by kids: master of ceremonies,
entertainers, photographer, concession workers. This year’s Fashion Week logo has even been created by a young designer, Savvy Straessle, 11, a sixth-grader at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic School in Little Rock.
“These are kids that are good,” Duncan emphasizes.
Participants and their parents are responsible for raising sponsorships that must total at least $100. Half the contribution goes to help pay the organization’s expenses. The other half goes into the child’s entertainment account, of which parents are kept up to speed. If the child wants to take a dance-, modelingor talent-related class or needs photos, Duncan uses the money in his account to pay for it.
“Parents love it,” she says. “I’ve got people who still have money in their accounts.” Some parents collected as much as $500 and haven’t used it all, she adds.
In addition, Fashion Week program participants become part of a talent pool. Whenever someone needs a young model, dancer or other entertainer, Duncan will refer the child who fills the bill. The children also do community activities together as a group — last year they performed at Children’s Hospital and did a kids book drive.
Duncan is in the process of finalizing the schedule and the designer lineup. The event will include a Friday night Candy Land Night — “all fun fashion, cool school clothes, hats,” she says. Also
included will be a Twins Take-Over, featuring seven sets of twins, as well as a Mommy-N-Me segment. “It’s fun, it’s upbeat, it’s high-energy.” Also featured: an Arkansas Cutest Kid contest for children 2-4 years old. Saturday will be a Kids Night of Elegance with pageant and prom dresses, church dresses, tuxedos.
“What’s cool this year is … we’ve got some out-ofstate designers,” including one from Los Angeles who is supplying formal wear for the event, Duncan says.
Ticket prices will be $30 for adults each night, $10 for children ages 5 and up and free for children under 5. Finalized details will be in the Sept. 3 Dressing Room column. Parents can register their children by Wednesday at arkfw.org by submitting a professional head shot of the child and buying a $25 Fashion Week T-shirt. Duncan will contact each registering parent to find out what, if any, modeling and talent experience the child has (experience not required) and make sure the parent’s expectations are in line with program requirements.
For more information, call (501) 504-3356, visit arkfw.org or email arkfw@yahoo.com.
TRUNK SHOW
The 2017 Regalia Handmade Clothing Trunk Show, featuring comfortable, natural fiber clothes by Mark Hughes of Eureka Springs, will be Aug. 25-26 at Cantrell Gallery, 8206 Cantrell Road in Little Rock. Friday evening features a wine and cheese preview party from 6-8 p.m. The trunk show will continue 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. For a sneak peek at Hughes’ designs, visit regaliahandmade.com. For more information about the show, call the gallery at (501) 224-1335.
MALL DOINGS
Simon Properties recently announced a number of new retailer renovations and expansions at McCain Mall in North Little Rock. Victoria’s Secret, the lingerie retailer, has reopened after undergoing remodeling of its more than 9,000-square-foot location. Also, rue21, purveyor of inexpensive trend wear, recently expanded its selection to include rue+, the retailer’s plus size collection. Old Navy has been busy remodeling its current location on the second level, while remaining open for the duration. Jewelry retail chain Zales will move this fall to a new location in the center. Brow Art 23, an eyebrow-threading boutique, will open this month and provide threading, waxing, henna tattoos, skin care consultations and more.