Spotlights Rhode Island’s Fashion Business
StyleWeek is always a buzz with creative energy stirred by the excitement of discovery and admiration. Established in 2009 as the brain-child of Rosanna Ortiz Sinel, StyleWeek completed its 9th
season in August
Rosanna Ortiz Sinel Photo by: Pnina Pressburger
2014. Rosanna came from California but has established deep roots in Rhode Island. Her love
for RI is apparent in her desire to create a vehicle for bringing business and trade to our State.
After graduating from Suffolk University in Boston with a degree in Advertising, Rosanna managed various PR accounts for some high-rollers in the fashion industry. She continued to feed her interests in the field by becoming a fashion editor and blogger for a Boston publication. During this time, Rosanna lived in Providence when the idea of StyleWeek came to her. “I realized that I was in the center of fashion between Boston, New York City, and Montreal. I knew that Providence was a great location to begin growing my new idea,”she explains. “I had lived in Rhode Island for a while and got a good sense that people from this State would gather together to make a difference.”
Rosanna’s vision was to create an event, like the one in Bryant Park in New York City, but on a level that
8 | Rhode Island Creative Magazine
by Tracie Seed Freelance Writer
benefits everyone involved and brings together designers, manufacturers, businesses and the overall Rhode Island community.
“I had to win over the city government first and sell StyleWeek as a trade event,” Rosanna says. “I had to teach them that StyleWeek could be a money-maker for the State. I believed that designers were creating and producing lines that could sell, produce jobs, increase manufacturing, and cultivate great economic growth for Rhode Island if done right.”
And did Rosanna do it right! In June 2009, with a mere $7,000, Rosanna and the team she enlisted created a seven-day fashion industry event showcasing in various area venues such as the Marriott, the Renaissance Hotel, and Hotel Providence. Unlike other fashion shows, the focus wasn’t only on the clothes, or gorgeous models, or how great the cocktails tasted. Rosanna wanted to develop an event to celebrate style, showcase emerging designers, provide a platform for industry networking, and introduce the fashion industry to Rhode Island.
“This was clearly needed. So many people wanted to attend,” Rosanna explains. “We had to do the first season as an invitation-only while we got our feet wet. Then we were able to open it up to ticket sales as well.” Since premiering in Spring 2010, each show has been standing room only, full of industry experts, the community at-large, members of the press, and fashion enthusiasts.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30