>
>
>By Tanika White
>Sun reporter
>September 15, 2007
>
>New York's storied Fashion Week ended on Wednesday, but for those still
>pining for a high-fashion fix, Baltimore now has its own Fashion Week.
>
>Baltimore Fashion Week - which started last Saturday, ends today with a
>ready-to-wear runway show at Red Maple, a tapas lounge in Mount Vernon.
>It starts at 8 p.m. and includes the creations of such local designers
>as Amy Waller, Timbro, Sara Mathes and Lindsay Michael.
>
>The show also will highlight some of the designs in the Mims line of
>clothing, which is the brainchild of Pam Haner, one of the organizers of
>Baltimore Fashion Week.
>
>"We felt that Baltimore needed more fashion things happening," says
>Haner, a ready-to-wear designer who also works as a bartender and
>waitress. "We really wanted to give local designers an opportunity to
>show things to the public."
>
>The ready-to-wear show caps a week of fashion-related events organized -
>without sponsors - by Haner and couture designer April Camlin, who is
>also a hairstylist.
>
>Haner, 26, and Camlin, 23, decided about four months ago that if other
>cities, such as Miami and Washington, could pull together a Fashion
>Week, so could they.
>
>Using their own money to pay expenses, the two launched Baltimore
>Fashion Week with two parties - a party Saturday at Metro Gallery for
>designers, models and fashion-lovers, and one Sunday at the Depot.
>
>Then, the week of runway shows kicked into high gear. Monday night
>featured some of the area's talented screen-printers. Tuesday night's
>event - at Red Maple - showcased the merchandise at small boutiques,
>such as Jean Pool, Shine, Form and B.U.
>
>Wednesday's event was geared toward lingerie and jewelry; Thursday's
>showed off "green" fashions - eco-friendly, recycled and recyclable
>clothing.
>
>Last night, Camlin highlighted her own label, Happy Accident Clothing,
>as well as the couture (handmade, one-of-a-kind) designs of other local
>names.
>
>"We've gotten a lot of people out," says Haner. "It just shows that
>Baltimore does need this."
>
>This isn't the first time a group of people has tried to bring the feel
>of New York's Fashion Week to Baltimore.
>
>Three years ago, Fashion on Charles - a showcase of Baltimore boutique
>owners and aspiring designers - made its debut with a four-hour runway
>show outdoors at Mount Vernon Square.
>
>Those behind that undertaking - a trio of young men from the fashion,
>retail and business community - had a similar vision as Haner and
>Camlin.
>
>But their biannual show has been little heard of since 2005.
>
>Camlin and Haner believe the time is right for their venture - so much
>so that they intend to do it again in the spring.
>
>After all, more and more boutiques have opened in Baltimore in recent
>years, Haner says. And everyday people - thanks to such television shows
>as Project Runway and America's Next Top Model - are becoming more aware
>of real fashion, says Camlin.
>
>"It's getting to the point now where fashion is becoming more accessible
>to everybody," Camlin, who styles hair in Mount Washington, says. "You
>have the lines at Target [featuring] the big-name designers. You have
>the TV shows. People are getting more interested in fashion."