Ottawa Fashion Week has moved to Little Italy for the next three nights and taken over Preston Street's event hall Sala San Marco, turning the area into "Fashion Boulevard.”
This season's move comes in the event's fifth year. Previously held in downtown locations, the move to Little Italy – where various events are scheduled from Oct. 12-14 – is something organizers say they’re excited about.
"We wanted to showcase the neighbourhood and since Italy is synonymous with fashion, we just thought it was perfect," says Ottawa Fashion Week spokeswoman Kimberly McCarthy-Kearney.
Lori Mellor, executive director of Preston Street’s business improvement area, agrees. “It’s always been our vision to create a stage for people to come and have these type of events,” she says.
Twenty-one designers will be showcasing their Spring/Summer 2013 collections.
Nine Ottawa-Gatineau designers, including Alfred-Marcel, Alice & Alishka and Dare by Gwen Madiba, will present their lines. Other designers have come from Toronto, Montreal, and Fort Saskatchewan, AB.
This season Ottawa Fashion Week has also attracted some bigger designers from the United States, such as Jeff Garner, creator of "Prophetik."
In addition to the fashion shows at Sala San Marco, the block of Preston Street between Willow and Balsam streets will be closed between 6 p.m. and midnight, beginning Friday night and ending Sunday night.
This area is being called "Fashion Boulevard" by Fashion Week organizers.
"Imagine a mini Kodak Theatre on Preston Street: red carpet, boutique shopping, showcasing local musicians and artisans, restaurants will keep their menus open longer – Ottawa Fashion Week will literally dress up the street," says McCarthy-Kearney.
Joe Calabro, co-owner and chef at Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana, a pastry shop at the corner of Preston and Larch streets, says he's looking forward to what the event will bring.
"It's great. It's definitely going to be interesting," he says. "It'll be very eye-catching, so hopefully it will bring a lot of people."