Origins of Fashion Prize: Interview by Brenda Yahm with Katy Larsen
It’s time yet again to celebrate our local apparel designers through the annual Fashion Prize competition! If you’ve ever been curious about the origins of this amazing initiative to support and spotlight textile artists, you’re in luck.
In 2019, Brenda Yahm with Cesar’s Entertainment interviewed Katy Larsen, the owner of local artisan marketplace The Agora Borealis and the creator of Fashion Prize (originally known as the “The Fashion Project”). The event was held at the DARE Pool at the Horseshoe Casino, which was transformed with lights, mermaids, and action. Read on for the interview.
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Brenda Yahn: Tell me about yourself and how you became involved with this.
Katy Larsen: I am originally from Texas and moved to Ruston, Louisiana to go to school where I met my husband in the LA Tech band and settled in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2009. To feel comfortable in my new home I decided to go with a long standing family dream of having an artists’ maker-space, which turned into a marketplace, called the Agora Borealis in downtown Shreveport (or as my friends and I like to call it Dreamport).
BY: What is the Sustainable Fashion Show and how did it come to fruition?
KL: In our first year of business we tried to come up with creative ways to sell our local goods and something that was lacking was sales of wearable art by local designers. So several friends, artists and family members helped create our very first fashion show in January 2015. It was small and held within our store, which maxed out at 150 people, and utilized an old wooden stage covered in rugs and clamp on light fixtures. That quickly expanded until we out grew our space after year two, and started popping up at different venues around town. We were determined to showcase local wearable art to the masses and still keep a sustainable eye on the raw materials being used in all of the runway looks. I asked designers to source local, fair trade, and sustainably; and to use as many up-cycled, recycled and reclaimed materials as possible. The concept grew and the support of locals was, and continues to be, reaffirming.
BY: Who is involved in the show? (volunteers, designers, etc.)
KL: At our very first show no more than 200 people were involved backstage, in the crowd and in media presence. This year’s show boasts 7 designers, 3 national judges, 50 volunteers, 30 stylists, 60 models, 40 sponsors, 20 crew and staff members, plus we sold out 300 VIP and general admission tickets, creating a demand for a standing room section at this year’s event.
BY: What do you want people to learn or get out of the fashion show?
KL: Don’t only follow your dreams, but back it up with drive! If we all care just a little bit more and put a little bit extra forward, we can live in a sustainable environment where you can vote with your dollars and keep your money in your neighbor’s pocket. You can find beauty in your own arts community and you don’t really NEED designer anything to stand out and feel and look your unique self.
BY: How often is the show produced?
KL: This will be our fifth fashion show, that typically happens in the spring. This year is a bit different because we have partnered with the Prize Foundation so that our fashion show became the Fashion Project, a preliminary round for what will be this year‘s first Fashion PRIZE in the fall, in the midst of PRIZE Fest (a food, music and film festival started by one of our great, local creatives and mentors of mine, Gregory Kallenberg.)
BY: Is there a theme this year? Is there a theme every year? If so, how is the theme decided on?
KL: In the past I would create themes to make our fashion show cohesive. The first year was Mardi Gras themed followed by an Into the Woods theme, which was very fairy-like. Then, focusing on aviation, architecture and locomotive styles that have influenced Shreveport, we created a show called Shrevepunk. Last year’s theme, Micro/Macro, embodied the essence of nature and sustainability with portions of the profits going to a local non-profit to help the rainforest. Going into this year, we wanted to allow each designer to have their own voice with each of their collections so the theme, “barely there,” was only used with graphics and promotions.
BY: Why did you want to partner with a Caesars Entertainment property?
8- I was approached by a friend of mine, Mike Greer, who works at the casino to help create a fashion show to highlight their pool. At first, I tried to talk him into a smaller style show because I couldn’t imagine putting on more then one fashion show a year but then I quickly realized I could have a long-standing vision of incorporating water in the show by collaborating with the Horseshoe Casino and DARE Pool. The staff have been amazing, easy to work with and very accommodating. Things I could never do on my own, I was able to accomplish within a few short months!
BY: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
KL: Support your local community. Be kind. Stay humble. Love where you are and make it a better place! Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and collaborate with your community. You can learn a lot about your city if you are willing to be flexible and work through the creative process alongside others.
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The 2022 Fashion Prize Showdown will take place this year at Pheonix 2.0 on Sunday, October 16th, 10am to 1pm. It’s brunch-style, and will be the best spot for a mimosa in Shreveport! Tickets are available at www.prizefest.com.