City of Atlanta Announces New Official Atlanta Fashion Week

Could Atlanta join the big four fashion weeks — New York, London, Milan and Paris — as a fashion powerhouse in the coming decade? Ragtrade founder Angela Watts seems to think so.

Watts announced plans for the new 2020 Atlanta Fashion Week (ATLFW) alongside city officials, corporate executives and local fashion moguls during a press conference at the W Hotel Atlanta – Buckhead on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.

Atlanta Fashion Week press conference at the W Hotel Atlanta – Buckhead on Oct. 17, 2019.

The four-day fashion week is set to take place from Aug. 5 to 9, 2020, and will feature runway shows, fashion presentations, industry talks and shops.

“We are looking for the best in class designers and brands to bring this four day experience to life,” Watts said.

(left to right) Tracey Lloyd, district manager of JC Penney; Phillana Williams, Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment; E. Vincent Martinez, educator and founder of Fashionado.net; Robert Woolridge, general manager of W Atlanta-Buckhead; Lonnie Saboor, director of small business development for Invest Atlanta; and Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta council member.

ATLFW is not to be confused with Atlanta International Fashion Week, which has taken place since 2007. The main distinction is that ATLFW is officially supported by the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta and other major private and public entities. It plans to reach new heights, establishing the city as a premiere fashion hotspot, as it has been for music and movies.

“Atlanta Fashion Week is committed to evolving into a global fashion destination with a mission of celebrating diversity, innovation and creativity in fashion,” Watts said. “Our primary goal is to create an interactive hub for fashion designers where trend-setting work will be celebrated before it reaches the mainstream audience.”