The surge in Georgetown’s foot traffic during the second annual Fashion Art Design Georgetown was negligible compared to the recent surge in the neighborhood’s creative innovation.
The event, presented by the Georgetown Business Improvement District on Oct. 25, celebrated Georgetown’s diverse array of fashion boutiques, art galleries, and design showrooms. Each of the 15 participating merchants held promotions and special events, from pop-up shops and silent auctions to musical guests and artwork.
The BID’s “idea with this event is to bring together all of the creative, visually inspiring things our retailers are doing for people to explore,” said Communications Director Rachel Cothran.
The D.C. premiere of the documentary Advanced Style was FAD’s signature event. The film is based on a street photography blog following real women over 60, who flaunt their keen fashion sense and ebullience on the sidewalks of New York. These women epitomize the theme of style, art, and design daily. Their passion for personal expression expands the minds and creative visions for all who watch it. Despite the rose-tinted presentation of the fashion industry, these women challenge viewers to meld playfulness with high fashion, helping to embrace the eclectic and often eccentric ensembles presented at FAD.
FAD encourages collaboration between these boutiques and D.C. artists to drive forward Georgetown’s creative culture and mutually push the envelope of fashion, art, and design.
A number of the stores featured in FAD sought to harness that energy through special events. Janus et Cie, a boutique for high-end home decor, challenged 10 designers to use only 3 yards of a Janus textile of their choice to create any item. The results ranged from skirts to lounge cushions.
The eccentric pairings at the event sparked inspiration to act on style and self-expression in ways that contribute to the community. Other events throughout the year similar to FAD, like the French Market in the spring, invest in Georgetown’s artistic community. These exchanges attempt to transform the perception that Georgetown supports high-end brands over independent artists.
“[Georgetown] is a hub of fashion, art, and design in D.C.,” Miyahira said. “We have the most of everything here, and that includes the people who work in these establishments, who are some of the most creative people in the city.”
With the steady pulse of ambition across a variety of fields in Georgetown, FAD brings together the people in those fields to be their most creative, honest selves. Lina Plioplyte and Debra Rapoport of Advanced Style urged viewers to become a part of the movement, celebrating ageless style and unceasingly curious creativity.
“Georgetown is a great destination for all things fashion, art, and design,” Showroom Manager of Janus et Cie Katie Pope said. FAD Georgetown gives an opportunity for artists, consumers, and business owners to share in the diverse creative pursuits in the community: the latest fad in the neighborhood.
