Bay Area fashion luminaires and notables gathered at W San Francisco as W Hotels Worldwide, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and celebrity stylist and owner of MGK Style Mary Gonsalves Kinney welcomed guests to an intimate designer showcase featuring the designs of Haus Alkire – named “Ones to Watch” by Bazaar magazine and “Top Picks from New York Fashion Week Designers on the Rise” by Vogue magazine.

Guests had the opportunity to preview and shop the collection of the celebrated womenswear designers, Jason and Julie Alkire, in the Extreme Wow Suite (eWOW) at W San Francisco. Conceptualized by The Gathery, the eWOW suite was transformed to showcase colors, textures, and pieces that work in concert to define and represent memorable focal points connected to the Haus Alkire collection.

The hotel is the electric urban retreat and gathering place for art exhibitions, film screenings, and fashion and music events. The afternoon provided the designers the opportunity to mingle with influencers and prospect clients, building strong relationships and bonds with a key audience. A percentage of the proceeds from yesterday’s purchases were donated to the education nonprofit, Teach for America.

In 2013, W Hotels Worldwide and the CFDA {FASHION INCUBATOR} launched their global partnership, taking Incubator designers outside of New York and into markets that are important to growing their businesses. Through various levels of support – be it events such as this that provide exposure to new retailers, consumers and media; inspiration trips to any of W’s 50 hotels around the world; and much more – the partnership is a reinforcement of the W brand’s ongoing love of fashion and commitment to fostering emerging new/next talent.

Photo credit: Phil Stockbridge/SprintStep