The first-ever Aspen Fashion Week, a five-day event celebrating the "Mountain Lifestyle", has been slated for March 1 - 5. Aspen Fashion Week will serve as "a consumer showcase and industry marketplace for winter sports products," a fast-growing sector that took in nearly $3 billion last year, organizers note. Combining "the stunning backdrop of the Rockies with Bryant Park glamour," the week will feature nightly fashion events, in-store presentations, and après-ski soirees. An estimated 15 designers will showcase their Winter 2009/2010 collections to fashion buyers, media, and customers from around the world; full-scale runway productions are slated for the following year. Confirmed sponsors for the inaugural event include W magazine, Veuve Clicquot and the St. Regis Aspen Resort.
