Blog: "The Runway Couturier About Town"

RUNWAY COUTURIER presents...TWO NEW DEBUT FASHION SHOWS: May 18th & July 3rd!

04/10/2013 17:49:00

We are pleased to announce our next two productions:

Runway Couturier presents... RUNWAY! - at the ASIAN HERITAGE STREET CELEBRATION" - Sat., May 18th, 3:30 PM, LITTLE SAIGON, SAN FRANCISCO (Larkin & Eddy)!

"RUNWAY COUTURIER presents... RUNWAY!" - at the Crocker Galleria - Wed., July 3rd, 5:30 PM, 5O POST STREET (at Montgomery), SAN FRANCISCO!

Featuring brand new collections by Tomboy Tailors, Sam Shan, Tina Maier, Huab Vue, Nwe Oo, Drew Shanklin, Rezina Pradhan, and more! Two new-designer contest-runways, themed "The Future of Asian-America" and "American Equality." Featuring celebrity and fashion-industry judges panel: Donna Sachet, SF Supervisor Jane Kim (Dist. 6), Linda Blake, Jenn Indra & "THE INDRA" Lowenstein. Hot new DJ Dre spins the runway. Offering complimentary cocktails, catered tidbits.

For information & reservations, please visit out "Events" and "RSVP" pages: http://www.runwaycouturier.com/Events.html &

http://www.runwaycouturier.com/Contact-Us---R-S-V-P-.html.

See you on the runway!

Happy holidays and a Fabulously Fashionable New Year!

12/10/2012 17:12:00

As we approach the end of the year, we at Runway Couturier have been hard at work for months planning every aspect of our four quarterly fashion shows in 2013. Our new friend, San Francisco City Supervisor Jane Kim (District 6), has been so very helpful connecting us with other inner-city change-makers, and news about a fantastic and super-huge event in May is on the horizon. We're also planning a never-before-seen SPECTACULAR annual gala, benefiting a venerated and critically important San Francisco AIDS charity. Our most recent fashion-design-contest winners are busy finishing their collections, which will debut all year long, even as we announce new winners. Stay tuned for exciting details. YOU CAN HELP transform San Francisco into the dominant, west-coast fashion-city THIS YEAR, whether you are a potential sponsor, fashion designer, event-production superstar, publicist, journalist, or just interested in being in the fashion industry in some way. Student internships available. Interested parties, please contact Executive Producer Fritz Lambandrake at 415.385.5055 or Fritz@RunwayCouturier.com. Meanwhile, happy holidays and a fabulously fashionable 2013 to you and yours from all of us at Runway Couturier - Fashion-ONLY Event Production!

Five "RUNWAYS!" in Our 1st Year and Here Comes 2013!

11/01/2012 20:29:00

“Runway Couturier presents… RUNWAY!” is the plucky little fashion show that could. We’re extremely proud to have produced five runway events in our very first year, and we’re busy planning all of our 2013 fashion shows now. As I think back on how much we’ve grown during this challenging and incredibly rewarding first year, I literally pinch myself. We’ve reached for the stars, not quite touched them, and then reached even higher with every event.

Along the way, we’ve shown the debut fashion collections and individual designs of nearly thirty rising fashion-design stars, all Bay Area residents. We insist on showing fresh designs that have never been shown. After all, if you’ve seen it before, it’s not fashion; it’s just clothes. We’re so proud to say that we’ve never charged any of our designers a dime – and we never will. Hundreds of guests have poured through our doors. None of them has ever paid a cover, and they never will. Why not?

The mission of Runway Couturier is simple: to use fashion to revitalize San Francisco’s beleaguered downtown area and to take financial obstacles out of the way in order to show the creations of the greatest number of the most deserving designers, whether they have money or not, to the greatest number of fashion-lovers, whether they have money or not. We like to think that our open doors welcome the widest variety of people, some of whom have never seen a fashion show. We know that many of them leave surprised, realizing they liked what they saw. We often hear from them that they appreciate how much it takes to make all that fantastic fashion come to life in an approachable, celebratory way. We love to hear it. That’s what makes it worthwhile for us.

On a business note, we just recently signed our newest sponsors – Stolichnaya, an international purveyor of vodka for sixty years, and Stella & Dot, a skyrocketing, Bay-Area fashion-accessory brand. We also are a proud supporter of REAF – The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, a nineteen-year-old non-profit company that provides funding for countless, critically important Bay Area health organizations. We’re honored to associate with such venerable companies. And we’re not even a year old – it’s all a bit surreal!

It has been my great privilege and one heck of a thrill ride to take Runway Couturier through our adventures in 2012. I can hardly wait to see what happens next! Please be our guest while we find out, won’t you? Thanks.

- Fritz Lambandrake,

Executive Producer

Runway Couturier presents... RUNWAY on March 30, 2012!

03/12/2012 15:29:00

Don't miss our Spring,-2012 spectacular: "Runway Couturier presents... RUNWAY" on March 30 at the Hotel Whitcomb at 1231 Market Street (at 8th). Featuring runway shows and the American debut collections of four designers, it will be a show to remember. Designers include Pashma, F.O.B, Zoe Bikini, T Fabiano, and the jewelry of Sikara & Co. and Stella & Dot Never a cover charge. Donation net proceeds benefit international-civil-rightsorganization, the Harvey B. Milk Foundation. Seating is limited. Kindly R.S.V.P. See you there!

Fashion Show Producer Ups His Game

01/13/2012 09:41:00

“Runway Couturier presents... RUNWAY" San Francisco's only monthly runway fashion show outgrew its host venue in one shot with a max-capacity crowd and two guests of honor: Anne Kronenberg (MILK Foundation) and Melvin Fujikawa (San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus). For the January, February, and March events, “RUNWAY” has already contracted state-of-the-art Madrone Studios, an upscale production house and green business. This month’s show takes place Wednesday, January 25th at 8:00 p.m. at 1417 15 Street (at Folsom), San Francisco, CA 94103. Admission is FREE; however, donations of $15 or more are encouraged. Donation net proceeds benefit The Harvey B. Milk Foundation, a non-profit (501C3), international civil rights organization. Featuring exciting collections by local, regional, and national fashion designers and specialty retailers, this month’s "RUNWAY" will be attended by an irresistible mix of fascinating people from all walks of life... and a very special surprise guest! Complimentary signature cocktails and hearty hors’ d’oeuvres will be served.

Seating islimited. Kindly R.S.V.P. via:

Web: www.RunwayCouturier.com or

Phone: 415.385.5055.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Runway Couturier, LLC is a fashion-ONLY event producer, with a community-oriented mission: to promote local and regional fashion designers and retailers, reinvigorate the city’s downtown area, and unite its many geographic, ethnic, and socioeconomically diverse communities. Says Executive Producer Fritz Lambandrake, “Fashion is a bridge to all communities, and community-building is at the heart of what we do. San Francisco’s downtown area needs a shot in the arm. Our monthly runway show will deliver just that.”

New Large Venue for next "RUNWAY" on Jan. 25, 2012!

01/06/2012 01:02:00

Having sold out our last "Runway Couturier presents RUNWAY" to capacity and then some, we have spent the holidays finding a bigger space! We are pleased to announce that our next event will happen at state-of-the art Madrone Studios, in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood, on January 25, 2012 at 8 PM. We have plenty of surprises in store. If you liked our last show, you'll love the next "RUNWAY" at Madrone. As always, admission is free, and you'll enjoy complimentary cocktails and heavy hors' d'oeuvres all night. Donations in the amount of $10 or more encouraged. Guests donating $20 or more also receive special recognition from the runway, preferred seating, exclusive appearance in event photos, and a gift bag of real-value items.

Come prepared to bid on even more beautiful, sensual, and luxurious items in our silent auction. At our last "RUNWAY", a $500 one-of-a-kind Victor Tung hand-painted, silk-organza jacket was captured for only $190, and a breathtaking $180 Stella-&-Dot necklace went for just $115! With Valentine's Day around the corner, why not find that special something for your sweetheart at "RUNWAY" and give yourself a taxable-donation write-off all at once? Your secret's safe with us. See at the show!

Bay Area Reporter covers "RUNWAY"

12/13/2011 10:42:00

In this week's edition of the Bay Area Reporter, Donna Sachet reviewed our recent event: "Runway Couturier presents RUNWAY". The review was good! See for yourself:

http://www.cpanel.ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=onthetown&article=192

Mark your calendar for January 30, 2012, the date for our next "RUNWAY"! Free admission, complimentary cocktails and hors' d'oeuvres. Donation proceeds benefit the Harvey B. MILK Foundation, an international civil rights organization. Seating is limited. See you at the show!

Fashion Show Producer Stakes a Claim in Downtown San Francisco

11/12/2011 16:25:00

Runway Couturier presents..."RUNWAY" on MON., NOV 21, 2011 at 8 PM!

San Francisco's only monthly fashion show will launch at CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Admission is FREE; however, donations are encouraged and gratefully received on behalf of the Harvey B. MILK Foundation, an international civil rights organization.

Featuring the collection of Fine-Artist-Fashion-Designer, Victor Tung, "RUNWAY" will be attended by an irresistible mix of fascinating people from all walks of life... and a very special surprise guest! Complimentary signature cocktails and heavy hors’ d’oeuvres will be served throughout the two-hour event.

SEATING IS LIMITED. KINDLY RSVP:

On-line: www.runwaycouturier.eventbrite.com

Phone: 415.385.5055.

HERE IT COMES! NOV. 21 AT 8 P.M. - OUR FIRST SAN FRANCISCO SHOW!

10/28/2011 08:39:00

LEGENDS BEGIN SOMETIME. Runway Couturier presents... "RUNWAY!" San Francisco's only monthly fashion show will launch on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21st at 8:00 p.m. at CounterPULSE: 1310 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. There will be NO COVER CHARGE, however, donations are encouraged and gratefully received for the *HARVEY MILK FOUNDATION, a not-for-profit international civil rights organization. Featuring exciting collections by local, regional, and national designers, "RUNWAY!" will be attended by an irresistible mix of fascinating people from all walks of life... and a very special surprise guest! Complimentary signature cocktails and heavy h'ors douevres will be served throughout the event. See you at the show!

- Fritz Lambandrake, Executive Producer

* "The Harvey Milk Foundation’s Goals: to empower local, regional, national and global organizations so that they may fully realize the power of Harvey Milk’s story, style, and collaborative relationship building - are large and bold as Harvey taught us! The Foundation, through Harvey’s dream for a just tomorrow, envisions governments that celebrate the rich and universally empowering diversity of humanity, where all individuals – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, the young, the disabled – all who had been excluded can fully participate in all societal rights without exception."

- http://milkfoundation.org/

Buenos Aires Makes Great Photographers!

09/29/2011 14:26:00

Introducing... Facundo Bengoechea -- the Bay Area's newest arrival, and what a talent he is.

We spent the morning co-producing a photoshoot with Facundo Bengoechea and models form Ford and Star Agencies. Mr. Bengoechea is Argentina's favorite son and one heck of a talented photographer. Check him out at www.estudiobengoechea . Facundo also works in Puerto Rico and New York and offers the ideal balance of risque artistry and sensual elegance. Photos coming soon. Stay tuned.