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Needle & Thread
Fashion Lifestyle Show Puts San Diego On The Style Radar
May 2005 V4.5
By Keriann Greaney
We’re always on the lookout for a new style that rivals the credit card vixens of The O.C., but in many cities, fashion has become a melting pot with Bebe and Juicy Couture protégés walking the streets every where you go. Slowly but surely, individual style has swept through San Diego making it an ideal place for local fashion designers to express themselves. The Thread Fashion & Lifestyle Show has infiltrated our hometown-inflicting locals with a new sense of individualistic style and worldwide culture. As the gathering place for independent fashion and lifestyle designers, this even showcases unique creations in women’s and men’s fashions, bags, shoes, jewelry, fine art and home décor.
Lara Matthews, found and event director, says she started Thread about a year and a half ago because she was fed up with not having an outlet for one-of-a-kind pieces. “There’s no other show like it in San Diego,” she says. “It’s different than going to the mall. You’ll find things here that you can’t get anywhere else.”
She describes Thread as having a relaxed, cool and hip vibe where people can come out to shop and network. The entertainment for the upcoming show includes a fashion show sponsored by Fashion Careers College, a martini bar featuring a recently launched brand of vodka, music provided by internationally recognized DJs, and an art show introducing new contemporary artists from California and Mexico. All of the merchandise will be on display and available for purchase. This show will also feature more new designers and men’s lines than previous shows. Gift bags for the first 500 visitors are also currently in the works.
With five successful shows under her belt, Matthews hopes to put San Diego on the map as a design center like L.A. or New York. Rebe, a past Thread participant from L.A., creates funky Bohemian-style skirts, T-shirts, bags and more. She is very excited about this years show. Lacy Thomas, who creates unusual yet exceptional leather accessories like watches and cuffs, will also be a participant. Many of the exhibitors are local, and about 1,500 to 1,800 people are expected to come to the show.
Thread is a one-stop shopping event where exhibitors display their unique creations while the public can purchase them at reasonable prices. This all-day event hosts exhibitors from A to Z, some of which you may recognize, but most are new designers that you’ll just have to check out for yourself.
