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Meet Biancalea Figueroa of Phoenix Fashion Week in Downtown Phoenix

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Biancalea Figueroa.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Biancalea. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally in 2015, I volunteered in October for Phoenix Fashion Week through TREND a fashion and business club at The University of Arizona. I was so impressed by the quality of the show, the team and the emerging designers I returned in October 2016 for Phoenix Fashion Week again through the TREND club. After the second time around I knew I NEEDED to be apart of this amazing company. I honestly can’t remember how many times I DM’d the PHXFW Instagram account or emailed Brian Hill the executive director! But finally June 2017 Niya DeGroat the mastermind behind PHXFW’s Social media emailed be about an ambassador opportunity over the summer leading up to PHXFW. The very first meeting was probably the most memorable for me, listening to everyone’s backgrounds and how much PHXFW has grown since it first began (Where Brian was a volunteer at the time) was incredible. I hadn’t realized this company was more than just a show in October, they were helping designers develop their brand, launching new models, stylists, hair and makeup stylists and educating students on the fashion world and how to succeed. After my first PHXFW in October 2017, another ambassador and I were chosen by Brenna Moses the Operations Director to assist in a national campaign photoshoot for U.S. POLO ASSN. which was just an honor, we steamed clothes, prepared props, grabbed food for the models and stylists for two days and just watching our models and stylists we had worked with creating these ADs was so much fun! The amount of detail that goes into the photos and behind the scenes on another level.

After just six months with PHXFW I had helped launch careers for models, designers, stylists, AND assisted in a national campaign for a major fashion company it was just a dream! I earned my way into the PHXFW Team and I remember thinking “There’s no way I’m getting paid to be on set of a professional ad photoshoot, or attending events where I’m meeting people who are doing exactly what I’d what to do or even looking through designer look books” And it’s interesting I get the same question “Do you work for PHXFW? What do you do there? Model? You guys have fashion shows?” and No we focus on bridging designers and buyers, we help with the business aspect of a fashion designers brand, we develop models, teach them how to walk, how to take photos, how to brand themselves! We help emerging talent! And time after time designers share with us how unique our company is, we don’t just focus on established designers we love to watch EMERGING designers thrive! I’ve now been officially on the team for two years mainly on the Designers & Buyers team but have worked hard to try to move around and experience different roles anywhere from education to operations.

We have several events throughout the year leading up to PHXFW so there is room to move around. In the spring we have Spring Into Style which is where we showcase stylists in Arizona, we also have our Shop Garment Designer Launch Showcase which takes place in August, we introduce our new emerging designers, models and welcome buyers to get an exclusive sneak peek at our designer’s garments. We also produce fashion shows for other events like Suits and Sneakers and the Polo Party! We are more than just a week, we are a brand in AZ that attracts talents from all over the world and hope to keep expanding! And from just working with our designers and tips and tricks I’ve learned from the Designer boot camp I was inspired to start sewing and designing and who knows maybe shortly I’ll be showcasing my work on our runway!

Has it been a smooth road?
There have been small hurdles, one being I live two hours away in Tucson. I can’t attend every single meeting or event and it’s a little different to be on a conference call to engage with the team and new ambassadors but I’ve managed to make it work for two years and I don’t plan on stopping. There’s A LOT that goes into being apart of a brand that does so much year round and having other people’s brands in your hands sort of speak but having teammates who work together toward one goal helps alleviate the pressure.

We’d love to hear more about your company.
As a company, our mission is to bridge the gap between national and international designers and premier retailers and prestige fashion media. Phoenix Fashion Week’s ultimate goal is to garner global exposure to Arizona’s fashion industry. Through educational fashion seminars, year-round fashion events, and charitable partnerships, Phoenix Fashion Week is gaining rapid acclaim for its community-service efforts and for infusing world-class innovation into the Southwest. Fashion. Education. Community.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Phoenix has many opportunities for designers. ASU offers a Fashion Design Program, we are a rapidly growing industry and Phoenix is growing with it. PHXFW focuses on emerging designers, we specialize in helping those who are new to the industry succeed.

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