Jersey City Fashion Week is a program is designed to highlight fashion and local Jersey City businesses and to give back to the community. In preparation for the week of events this fall, Desha Jackson’s DLJ Give to Live Foundation will hold auditions for models, hair stylists and makeup artists starting next month.
Auditions will be held at The Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County, 225 Morris Blvd., Jersey City on May 9, June 13, and July 11.
Those applying should bring a comp card of head shot and a body shot or photograph. All models should come well groomed. Women should wear form fitted clothing, little to no make-up, with their hair pulled back and wearing heels to walk. Men should wear fitted pants and a fitted t-shirt, with hair brushed away from the face.
Child models must be between the ages of 4-12 years of age. Otherwise, there is no age restriction or required experience, but models under the age of 18 must have parental/guardian permission to apply.
As in past auditions, men and women should be 5’ 7” or above.
Fashion Week will take place from Sept. 22 to 27, with opening night featuring International Designers Night at VB3 Bar and Restaurant, followed by a VIP and Couture Fashion Event at Maritime Park on Sept. 23. The Hair and Makeup show is tentatively scheduled for Hudson County Community College on Sept. 24, the children’s and a newly-established Young Designers Contest on Sept. 25 at New Jersey City University, with the catwalk Sept. 26 tentatively scheduled for the same location. The closing events will take place at Bright Side Tavern on Sept. 27.
The Young Designer Contest will feature high school and college designers for what is being called the Creative Runway.
Highlighting Jersey City
Started in the fall of 2012, the idea for Jackson’s Jersey City Fashion Week came about as a result of a discussion Jackson had with a friend who was an entertainment attorney.
“We were discussing different projects, and it was realized that while there was a fashion week for the state of New Jersey, there was not an individual fashion week for just Jersey City,” Jackson said, when she launched the program with help from the United Charitable Program.
Although Jackson is not a native of Jersey City, she practiced law in the city for a number of years, and she wanted to help and give back to the people of Jersey City.
“Jersey City is diverse so I wanted Jersey City Fashion Week to reflect that,” she said.
“Jersey City is diverse so I wanted Jersey City Fashion Week to reflect that.” – Desha Jackson
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There is no charge to audition. In past years, models – if chosen to participate – must sell tickets to the show.
Proceeds to charity
Although started with a focus on Jersey City, last year’s event was expanded to people and organizations elsewhere in Hudson County that contributed to their local community.
Proceeds from the event usually go to one or two local charities and honors are bestowed on public service organizations that have been particularly influential in the community. Last year the event gave to the Mo Hair Foundation and The Concordia Learning Center at the St. Joseph School for the Blind. This year, a portion of the proceeds will go to groups that help the homeless.
Fashion Week also honors individuals for work they do in Jersey City and elsewhere.
Some major sponsors have already signed on for the event including The Hudson Reporter newspapers, Jersey City Magazine, Macy’s Department Store, Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, County Executive Tom DeGise, the Hudson County Freeholders, Skoloff & Wolf, Attorneys at Law, the VB3 Bar and Restaurant and others.
Jersey City Fashion Week is also accepting designer applications for the 2015 event.
For addition information and applications, go to www.jerseycityfashionweek.com.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.