New York has Fashion Week,
Austin has Style By.
From the 1960s through the ‘80s, Austin’s live music scene’s roots were firmly planted. In the ‘90’s and ‘00’s, the film and interactive industries followed with support from everyone from former Gov. Ann Richards to Facebook, who recently opened a new office in Downtown Austin. Now, in the 2010s, Austin’s fashion scene is coming of age with both men’s and women’s boutiques opening regularly along with a slew of vintage, sneaker and accessory shops as well.
Style By is where emerging fashion from around the world is showcased in front of the coolest and most buzz worthy creators of all things music, film and interactive.
But Style X will not only champion the emerging trends in Austin’s style sphere, but also the imaginative and noteworthy talents from across the globe. Debuting during the 25th Anniversary of South by Southwest Music, Style X is the next and natural evolution of the internationally-renowned festival and conference.
Style X includes a pop-up retail showcase that will serve as the official shopping experience of SXSW with dozens of brands from around the country bringing the latest designs in screenprinting and design, women’s, menswear, streetwear, swimwear and accessories. Also, Style By will host multiple fashion shows, each celebrating a different segment of style. Stay tuned for more information on the runway shows.
Music has always been a source for fashion trends and style and Style X is the world’s first event bringing those two together with a keen focus on the up-and-coming. Just as the music, film and technology makers reflect the innovative and creative capital of their respective industries, Style X will represent the inventive and inspired work of style makers from all over the world. They will be from places as far as Houston and Hong Kong and they will offer everything from eyeglasses and t-shirts to dresses and sneakers. The style will be by them, but this event will be for you.
The style will be by them and for you.
About Austin
“A thriving music scene, ethnic and cultural diversity, fabulous outdoor recreation and great nightlife.”
- Richard Florida, author, The Rise of the Creative Class
City Population: 786,382 (15th in the US)
Metroplex Population: 1.7 million
Median Income: $42,000
38% College graduates (US average: 27%)
44% of population 18-44 yrs old (US average 37%)
Notable employers: University of Texas, Whole Foods, Apple, Dell, Facebook, LiveStrong, Motorola, AT&T,Freescale
It doesn’t hurt that this is the capital of Texas and home to eight colleges and universities, including the University of Texas. Austin’s cultural scene is exceptional, with two giant music festivals each year, a vibrant nightlife, and eclectic, up- and-coming neighborhoods…
Outranks San Diego, Seattle, Boston, New York and Washington DC on Creativity Index*
Top U.S. city for job growth, - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
One of the best cities for recession recovery on Forbes.com
America’s top retail city: “[Austin] shows consistent healthy growth in gross metropolitan product, personal disposable income and consumer expenditures…” -Pitney Bowes Business Insight
#1 of America’s best bargain cities on Forbes.com
#1 for job growth potential - NewGeography.com
One of the Top 10 Budget Travel Destinations for 2009 - Budget Travel Magazine.
About SXSW
Twenty-five years ago South by Southwest debuted as the premiere music conference and festival celebrating both Austin’s famous live music scene and emerging musical talent from around the world. Eight years later, SXSW grew to include the burgeoning film and tech industries in Austin. Today, the festival is world-renowned for its ability to provide a one-of-a-kind convergence of up-and-coming bands, upstart filmmakers and technology innovators alike. This doesn’t even include the tens of thousands of appreciators of these talents and their art forms. In 2010 alone, SXSW’s economic impact was estimated at more than $113 million with more than 36,000 official badge holders. Now, as SXSW celebrates 25 years of existence, the brand and festival are reaching further into the stratosphere of all things cool by introducing Style By, showcasing noteworthy stylemakers from around the country.
In the self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world, music and business creativity riff off one another. The city’s famous South by Southwest festival, where concerts, independent film screenings and emerging technology overlap, is a prime example.
Always in search of the fresh, undiscovered and emerging talent around the world, SXSW is now dipping a lot more than a toe into the fashion industry because while the majority of fashion events and trade shows celebrate established, well-known labels and lines, there remains a need to showcase the cutting-edge designers, ear-to-the-streetwear labels, visionary yet not yet commercialized manufacturers of style. This should come as no surprise to those who have enjoyed SXSW for many years since the event has already become one of the most-fashionable events in the world even without a direct fashion-focused event.
SXSW, with Austin as its backdrop, has shown it can provide a perfect meeting grounds for creators and appreciators of music, film and interactive. Now, with Style By, we’re taking it to a whole new level in 2011.
