Tampa Bay Fashion Week celebrates its 17th year with a kickoff party at TPA

Prepare that runway: The 17th annual Tampa Bay Fashion Week (TBFW) will kick off its events in style with a party at Tampa International Airport on Wednesday, September 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The free event, held in TPA's Main Terminal, is presented by WaypointeTPA, the Airport's collection of world-class shops, restaurants and more.

Attendees at this year's kickoff celebration will have the opportunity to mingle, shop and experience exclusive capsule collections from local designers including Aarushi Pratap, Global Girls Initiative by Aanya Patel, House of Colors by Sana Hassan, Observame by Karen Fultz-Robinson, That's Key by Design by Keyshonna Miller-McNeil, Urban Native by Erik Wise and Zhanna Kens.

This unique kickoff party at America's Favorite Airport will also offer an opportunity for attendees to enjoy the Airport's culinary offerings, including TPA's signature cocktail and dishes from Ulele and Columbia.

To further celebrate Tampa Bay Fashion Week, Tampa International Airport will introduce a gift-with-purchase signature travel collection inspired by the region's color trends at the event. Shoppers can find exclusive products pre-security at The Shoppes at Bayshore, The Runway/PGA Tour Shops and Tampa Bay Sports/Mindworks in the Main Terminal. And, in celebration of TBFW and Delta's resumption of daily nonstop service to Amsterdam, WaypointeTPA will also reward one lucky attendee with $2,500 in Delta gift cards.

"The goal of most Fashion Weeks is to bring visibility to the participating designers," said Nancy Vaughn, executive producer of Tampa Bay Fashion Week and principal at White Book Agency. "This year we'll host our third event at Tampa International Airport and since 2019, TPA has purchased designer capsule collections that have sold exclusively at The Shoppes at Bayshore. They've recognized the talent of fashion and accessories designers in our region, understand the value of supporting local talent, and had the vision to truly capture the essence of our work and goals in our region's fashion community."

The kick-off event is free to attend, but space is limited and an RSVP is required. To save your spot today, click here: https://tbfw2024launchevent.eventbrite.com/