Darlafoxx

Let's hear it for Darla! A beacon of fashion and creativity, Skylight Park in Tower City became the stage for the much anticipated Darla Fox runway model challenge this Sunday. A gathering that not only celebrated the emerging fashion talents ranging from 3 to 19 years old, but also spotlighted the vibrant fashion community in Cleveland. Under the watchful eyes of a panel comprising the Krem-de-La-Krem of the fashion and entertainment industry, these aspiring models demonstrated not just fashion, but passion, ambition and the courage to dream big. The reason I'm here is because I run HODE Ohio Magazine, which is a high fashion publication in Ohio. And I run Ohio Fashion Week, and I manage models under DMSM. And I'm a commercial photographer with fashion editorial history. Jackie Bertolette, one of the esteemed judges, is an icon in the fashion industry and brought her expertise and vision to the forefront, nurturing the next generation of fashion icons right here in Cleveland. The event was brought to life by Cleveland 13's own Matt Greminger, whose presence as the emcee added a layer of excitement and connectivity among the participants and the audience a Tower City, more than just a venue, plays a pivotal role in nurturing and showcasing the creative energies that fuel Cleveland. By hosting events I love the edginess in Cleveland. I love how fashion forward yet reserved we can be. We have a huge fashion industry here and people are totally unaware of it. And there's a huge art underground coming up in fashion as well. So it's amazing to be in Cleveland right now. As the spotlight bulbs cooled on Sunday's event, the journey continues for these young models and the fashion pioneers guiding them. Cleveland's fashion story is just beginning to unfold and the future looks brighter than ever. I'm Joan Allaway at Tower City for the one and only. . . Cleveland 13 News!