Responding to the commonly heard notion that if you wanted something fabulous to wear, you had to look outside the Philadelphia market, Phashion Phest was created in 1994 by Sharon Phillips Waxman to showcase fashion retailers from the Delaware Valley.
Sharon was brought up in Philadelphia's fashion industry, where she started as a model at age 13, worked in the fashion office of a major department store and owned a modeling agency. For the past 16 years, Sharon has owned the highly acclaimed special events production company, SPW Productions LLC.
The mission of Phashion Phest is to showcase upscale fall fashion and beauty for both men and women that are accessible to them in the Delaware Valley. More than 20 retailers participate each year and guests of Phashion Phest can go out and purchase these items for their fall wardrobe right away.
In 1994, the City of Philadelphia established the Phashion Phest Philadelphia Award, which has been presented annually since 1994. This award continues through the support of the City of Philadelphia, Mayor John F. Street, James J. Cuorato, Director of Commerce. It is presented to an outstanding individual who has made a tremendous contribution to the Philadelphia Area fashion industry. This year's recipient, the Young Artist Workshop of Moore College of Art & Design were honored, in recognition by the city of Philadelphia for providing students from of young ages with courses in the fashion and beauty industries. Sharon Phillips Waxman, Rena Rowan, Rita Eisenberg, Judith Zernik, Thomas A. Marotta, Steven and Ann Lagos, Daniel and Rebecca Matthias, Susan Lazar, Emil DeJohn, Nicole Miller, Ralph Rucci for Chado Ralph Rucci, and Jay McCarroll are the past recipients of the Phashion Phest Philadelphia Award.
In 2003, Phashion Phest held its first ever Fresh Face Model Search. The Fresh Face Model Search is open to females, ages 13-20, who are 5'9" or taller. The 10 finalists will have a chance to Model at three (3) fashion events, appear on the runway at the 13th Annual Phashion Phest on Monday, September 11, 2006, and receive a makeover at a participating Phashion Phest salon. The winner will receive a trip to New York City to meet with a modeling agency scout, visit top agencies and participate in a photo shoot with a local photographer. This year's winner was Emily Moles.
The links below showcase some of the previous years of Phashion Phest. Please feel free to click on them and learn more about the past events!
1994 Hotel Atop the Bellevue //
1995 A Celebration of Style //
2000 High Fashion, Low Tide //
2001 Mayor's City Hall Ball //
2004 Slip Inside the Dressing Room //
2007 Philadelphia's Spectacular Fashion Show
2008 15th Annual Phashion Phest Superheoes
