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Fashion Power
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Priyanka Sharma-Sindhar
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Last Updated on August, 13 2008 at 11:05 AM
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Skylier Blanchard is an enterprising woman. She trained to be a
commercial artist, practiced law for seven years, and then became a
designer who recently hit upon the idea that Oakland needs its own
fashion week.
"I know that fashion brings power to a community," says Skylier. |
Skylier Blanchard is an enterprising woman. She trained to be a commercial artist, practiced law for seven years, and then became a designer who recently hit upon the idea that Oakland needs its own fashion week.
"I know that fashion brings power to a community," says Skylier.
She first got the idea when she attended Congresswoman Barbara Lee's tenth anniversary celebration. It was crowded, it was upscale, and there was a lot of talk about youth programs. She wrote to one of the Congresswoman's reps about her idea for doing a trunk show to raise funds for Oakland Unified's after school programs.
But she didn't stop there, and she didn't care if her Congresswoman never replied. Her concept grew beyond the fundraiser. She wrote to several people in City Hall about launching an Oakland fashion week. A savvy marketer, she went to the mayor's office bearing gifts. "I made them a bag and put in a t-shirt and sweat suit for Mrs. Dellums. The bag was for (Dellums) I put up a picture of (Dellums) on the bag. I gave several reasons for why we should have (the fashion week)."
Her rationale made sense to someone in City Hall. "We're talking about production in Oakland," says Skylier. "It brings in international trade, creates local jobs and a community. We want people to understand a new Oakland is on the rise, and you got to get ready."
She began getting replies. Three City employees came to her office and discussed how to make the idea work. There's an entire group of designers, retailers, and city employees now involved in making the fashion week a reality. The initial thought was that it would be a fall event, but it soon turned to spring. The logistics may take time, but Skylier knows what she wants from it. For one – she wants to make Oakland look good.
"I wanted it to be in Jack London Square," she says. "In order for people to appreciate Oakland, I think Jack London Square will be the place to show."
Skylier, now 45, got her start in fashion with the Lilli Ann Corporation in her late twenties, after she got tired of working in law offices. "I got tired of working with a lot of documents," she says. "I went to that company and I was so happy. I gave it every skill I had."
She gave and she got. She learned to put together sample collections, to work with inventory, to do the things that she'll need to do if she opens up the chain of stores she wants to. For now, she's selling to California boutiques and restaurants, but she's working on getting her first boutique open next year.
"My goal is to be the first African-American who wants to have her own franchise like Gap, Forever 21."
And yes, she's still having that fundraiser for arts and after-school programs this November. To learn more, visit her website. |
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