NFFF press release 12-22-11-1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

Rebecca Finley [email protected] (615) 321-4939 or Cindy Wall [email protected] (615) 974-9066

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Announces Designer Julianna Bass as Inaugural Recipient of Nashville Fashion Forward Fund Award Made Possible by Proceeds from Lexus Nashville Fashion Week 2011 NASHVILLE, Tennessee (December 22, 2011) – The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee announces that designer Julianna Bass has been selected as the recipient of the first Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award. The award was made possible with the proceeds of Lexus Nashville Fashion Week 2011. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which manages the fund and the award application process, selected Bass as the first recipient of an award from the fund. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund was established to support the next generation of fashion industry professionals with ties to Middle Tennessee and provide financial awards for professional development. Bass was born in Pulaski, Tennessee and attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro where she studied apparel design and costume design. She launched her eponymous collection in 2008 after design studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Last spring, she presented her Autumn/ Winter 2011 collection at Nashville Fashion Week and photographed her Spring/ Summer look book in her hometown of Pulaski. Bass currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. “I was interested in fashion from an early age. Like so many other designers, my grandmother gets the credit for my early interests,” said Bass. “She taught me to

sew, and was more than encouraging when I wanted to take apart my Barbie clothes to see how they were constructed, and then sew them back together ‘my way.’ I was a very animated child (imagine that!) and my grandmother always embraced my antics and ideas with open arms. She made my childhood so colorful, and that color has spilled over into adulthood. I can't imagine life without her influence. I plan on using the award to explore opportunities for international sales, which is an essential ‘next step’ for a designer. Specifically, I know I need to establish better relationships with buyers in other fashion forward cities outside of the U.S., and the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund award will be so helpful in making that possible. It makes me prouder than ever of my Tennessee roots.” The establishment of the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund was inspired by the professional development opportunities provided by the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA) through programs such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. The Nashville Fashion Forward Fund ensures that Nashville Fashion Week is not just a signature high-profile event to celebrate creativity, but also an ongoing, sustainable focus for philanthropic support. "What a difference the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund is already making! And what a difference it will continue to make to enhance our region's role as a place which nurtures creative talent and opportunity, " said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. "As the Nashville Fashion Forward Fund grows with the proceeds from Lexus Nashville Fashion Week 2012 and future fashion weeks, so will the support available to the next generation of talent in our local fashion industries." Lexus Nashville Fashion Week 2012 will be held March 20–24, and planning for the week’s events is currently underway. About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 800 charitable funds, providing customized philanthropic solutions with flexibility for donors, nonprofit organizations and the community. In the past 20 years, The Community Foundation has distributed more than $540 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or 888-540-5200 or visit www.cfmt.org.  

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