New CEO for KC Fashion Week; transition keeps an industry champion on the runway
June 8, 2023 | Startland News Staff
A shift in leadership at Kansas City Fashion Week is expected to emphasize the brand’s commitment to showcasing and promoting local and national talent within the industry, its outgoing executive said.
Teisha Barber, Kansas City Fashion Week
“The future of the fashion industry in Kansas City is in the best possible hands,” said co-founder and CEO Philip Willoughby, announcing the sale of Kansas City Fashion Week to the organization’s president, Teisha Barber. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Teisha is becoming a national leader in the fashion industry and is bringing national focus to our local industry stakeholders,” Willoughby continued.
During the past 13 years, co-founders Willoughby and Barber have built KCFW into a prominent platform for designers, models, and fashion enthusiasts, they said.
“I firmly believe in the incredible potential of our local fashion community and the transformative power of this event,” said Barber, who now serves as owner and CEO. “My goal is to further cultivate the creative talents in our region, nurture meaningful industry connections, and create an unforgettable experience for fashion enthusiasts worldwide.”
Barber intends to introduce innovative initiatives, forge strategic partnerships, and enhance the overall experience for attendees, designers, sponsors, and media partners, she added.
View this post on Instagram
Kansas City Fashion Week 2022; photo by Mustapha Darboe
In February, the KCFW leaders announced that Jennifer Lapka, founder of Rightfully Sewn, would help lead its non-profit arm, the Fashion Arts Fund — which provides catalyzing support to Kansas City fashion designers through scholarships, workshops, and mentorships. Willoughby is expected to continue his work with the Fashion Arts Fund.
KCFW also was recently selected by the Council of Fashion Designers of America as one of 12 participants in the inaugural CFDA Connects program.
The annual two-week event features local, national, and international designers, who partner with models, photographers, stylists, and make-up artists to showcase their collections on the runway.
Following each event, individual buyers can purchase apparel and accessories worn by models on the runway.
This year’s CFDA event is scheduled for Sept. 16-23 at Union Station, with Kansas City Fashion Weekend planned for July 21-23.
Kansas City Fashion Week 2022; photo by Alex Todd
Featured Business
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
New mix in the Cauldron: Anti-capitalist storefront with obscure books, vegan food brewing
A worker-owned, community-centered bookstore and plant-based cafe — manifested by Cauldron Collective and Turnsol Books — is expected to fully open soon in the Crossroads. “I’ve thought about the space in various ways for my whole life,” said Olive Cooke, self-proclaimed “cooking witch” and co-founder of the Cauldron Collective. “I believe in manifestation, like when…
A comfy sweatshirt when the world is on fire? It’s just the start for this mental health advocate-turned-entrepreneur
Clever Babes founder Hannah Milks is passionate about building community around mental health and self care in Kansas City, she shared. The Liberty native is using her knowledge of design and somatics — plus her lived experience tending to herself through various mental health stages — to help other people care for themselves and connect…
This gumbo hits The Spot: How Prospect KC’s own students cooked up a prize-winning competition entry
Gumbo Fest brought two victories for Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant and the Prospect KC. Not only did the weekend event earlier this month raise money to support the Prospect KC’s mission — empowering individuals and communities through increased food access, nutrition education and culinary job training — the Prospect KC’s culinary students also took home the…
Money in the tank: Health tech startup lands Pure Pitch Rally’s biggest catch of the day
The support of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community — and the “land sharks” at this year’s Pure Pitch Rally — means the world to MedCurate founder and CEO Ashley McClellan, she shared. “They have just wrapped their arms around me as I’ve transitioned from corporate America to the entrepreneurship space,” she continued. “I’m very grateful for…