SPONSOR UPDATE: ALIAKIM

ALIAKIM is a distinctive accessory and clothing line that blends fashion with activism.

ALIAKIM’s pieces uniquely combine cultural icons with high-end fashion elements to artistically raise awareness of current world affairs.

It is their heart felt mission to provide women with clothing and accessories that reflect their activism as much as their exceptional taste. Cosmopolitan women everywhere will have the opportunity to express their social consciousness as sophisticatedly as they express their femininity.

Giving meaning to the term “revolutionary chic” is the intention of this line; to put the “wear” in “awareness” and as a result inspire change.

Three Thirty Couture: Gainesville's newest walk-in closet

Butler Plaza is home to Gainesville’s newest boutique, Three Thirty Couture nestled between Campus Outfitters and Bonefish Grill.

Owner, Nicole Snodgrass has created what she calls a walk-in closet by using closet cabinets, a dark color scheme and footstools scattered throughout the store. The words posh, sleek and sexy-sophisticate flash from the window display.

Three Thirty Couture opened its doors on February 16, 2011. This store is Snodgrass’ first venture in selling her own line. After prior experience in retail, she negotiated with designers out of Los Angeles to create her own line.

Shoppers can expect a cross that boasts the quality of Bebe with prices closer to Forever 21. The most expensive item in the store is $70. The collection ranges from silk dresses to casual wear in vibrant colors. Shiny baubles of jewelry are scattered throughout the store. A line of lingerie is also offered.

Three Thirty has a lounge where customers, and the men that so eagerly accompany them, can enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. In the future, the boutique will host private shopping expos for groups and individuals. In Snodgrass’ opinion, these two aspects set apart her boutique from the rest.

Snodgrass chose the Gainesville market because there is a huge market of 30K plus girls in the area. They outnumber the shopping choices offered to them. She specifically chose Butler plaza on the basis of convenient parking and heavy foot traffic. With a greek shopping base in mind, she hopes to target customers of Campus Outfitters.

If you missed opening day, be sure to catch up with the boutique and us at the Three Thirty Couture Posh Grand Opening and GFW Model Meet & Greet on March 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Add them to your foursquare to-do list

Information on this event can be found here and general store information can be found on its Facebook page or official website.

Regular store hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

The UF-BSU Fashion Xclusive 2011

We were super excited to be able to spend our Friday night with the University of Florida's Black Student Union for their Fashion Xclusive Show in honor of Black History Month this month.

For those of you that missed it Fashion X-clusive was on fire!

Audience members flocked the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom and took pictures on our GFW red carpet.

The good looking Fashion Xclusive e-board with some of our committee members.

We want to thank BSU for letting us share the stage with them to speak a little about GFW.

The show was amazing and we even saw one of our models Keyanna McGill take the stage!

Thanks for including us in the FISS weekend festivities and see the full red carpet album here.

GFW participates in ACEL Kickball Charity Tournament

It was so nice to spend a day in the outdoors with our team members and the community! This February the GFW team joined Alachua Country Emerging Leaders (ACEL) for their fifth annual charity kickball tournament.

Neutral 7 joined forces with GFW, young professionals and community leaders at Diamond Sports Park to watch 32 teams compete to win money toward a fantastic abundance of charities.

Of the 32 teams 16 won cash prizes toward the non-profit charity they supported such as The Gainesville Pet Rescue, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, The Arthirtis Foundation, The American Heart Association and March of Dimes just to name a few.

Some of our committee members enjoyed the day outdoors away from our busy office at the neutral7 studio.

GFW & Rocket in Our Town Magazine

Scanning the magazine racks at the grocery store yesterday I noticed something special in the local section.

Grab the Spring 2011 issue of Our Town magazine to see the article on Gainesville Fashion Week and their sub-organization Rocket for the Arts.

Click here to read the article or grab your copy on newsstands now!

This season GFW, LLC launches the non-profit that was created to foster youth art education and more quality art programs in Alachua County.

As I mentioned in the article, I remember that moment when I knew I wanted to make this "media thing" a career - but I'll take it a step further.

I went to school in the West Indies where I did it all: painting in watercolors and acrylics, graphic design with tracings from a light box and guache paints, sketches in charcoal, pastels and ink, ceramics, woodwork, sewing, and pottery. You name it, I was there!

But, there was a defining moment when I made the switch to digital...and ultimately broadcasting and that one teacher (who funny enough was my history teacher/drama teacher/local morning show radio personality) that really pushed my interest.

Here we are, a little more than a decade later. I don't use my hands as much as I'd like..but I still remember our conversations and the classes from my great line up of teachers.

I think an Art Education, in any form, is so important to developing your personality.

We hope that you feel as strongly and make plans to attend the Rocket for the Arts Black Tie Gala on Friday April 9th benefiting the organization with dinner, dancing, a silent auction and a night of great conversation.

~melanie.

Official Model Photo Shoot 2011

We want give props to one of our sponsors, University House on 13th Street, for letting us host the Official Model Photo Shoot at their beautiful clubhouse over the weekend (seriously, this is a really nice place!).

We revealed our 77 hot, new models that made the final cut for the 2011 season.

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The afternoon was full of fun as we mingled with our new model friends!

Domino's Pizza and MONSTER Energy guaranteed we made it in one piece on the picture perfect day.

I mean, who wouldn't wan't to spend their day surrounded by hot models an awesome team like ours? (Just saying).

For more behind the scenes, behind the fashion coverage:

• check out the pictures here
• and on Facebook
• view all our awesome videos
• and see the model headshots and more details on our website!

Have you seen our new video?

Well here it is.

Behind the scenes footage from our 2011 Model Callbacks held last Wednesday at The Vault.

This Sunday, we hold our official 2011 GFW Model tPhoto Shoot, so you will soon see the new faces of GFW2011. We're so excited and impressed with the caliber of talent - it's going to be a great season.

CHECK IT OUT, NOW! and remember you can watch all the action at GFW-TV.

The Casting Diaries III: Model Callbacks

Callbacks 2011 were off the chain this year!

Definitely one of our biggest crowds in three seasons of Gainesville Fashion Week.

Our team now must undergo another difficult task: narrowing down our 136 potential new models....once again, you guys are making this way too hard for us!!

Here's a little inside scoop on what went down at the callbacks:

• As models flooded the doors at the Vault they were assigned a number by our lovely interns into groups of 15 to keep the chaos down to a minimum
• PNM's then strunted their hot stuff down the runway to the beats of DJ Klarc Shepard and Codeman, thanks again guys!
• At the end of the runway were our surprise celebrity judges: athletes Chandler Parsons, Adam Allen, Trey Burton & Steven Wilks
• PNM's then had a second chance to walk, show off their HOT bods and undress for Sironna swimware who was with us last night

Check out more highlights from last night's casting callbacks here and take a look at our GFW 2011 committee.

The Casting Diaries II

Our official model casting for the 2011 season is over!

We can't express enough how much we want to thank you all for coming to our casting call this Friday and last Sunday. The level of talent we saw this year left us all so overwhelmed that its going to be extremely difficult for us to narrow it down.

We will be announcing who made it past round one soon, so hold tight Potential New Models!

In the meantime, check out the highlights from our casting call or watch the video below.

The Casting Diaries

First a HUGE "Thank You" to all of the attendees at Sunday's casting.

We had about 200 guys and girls show up to neutral7 design. Applicants drove from as far as West Palm, Tampa and Savannah, GA - we truly appreciate your efforts.

(That, of course, also goes out to our locally based talent)

How many interns does it take to pitch a tent? Well, it depends on their height but after some struggling (and a little help from our stage manager, Brandon) we got things rolling and started processing our first slew of applicants.

Take a look at these beautiful people!

Some applicants got some great swag from our downtown salons, ChaoticVibes kept the crowd moving while Monster Energy made sure we were fueled all afternoon long.

For those who could not make it; here's what went down:

• After completing our application and getting the awesome, limited edition GFW button models applicants were sent indoors for photos: headshots, full lengths and profiles
• They were measured by a team of professional, but still giggly interns, masterfully led by Kristi who had the "inseams" measuring spot last year
• Then they walked our makeshift runway for local designer, Bobby K, and co-producer, Gwen

Check out some candids from the Casting Call powered by Monster Energy here and subscribe to GFW-TV on YouTube to see clips of this and all of our events.

Why else do you think Brandon has such a huge grin on his face? He knows our videos are amazing!