Behind the Scenes of Fort Worth Fashion Week

This issue of Madeworthy is all about design—home design, landscape design, and fashion design—so it was natural to reach out to Phillip Maximillian, the founding genius and Creative Director of Fort Worth Fashion Week and the owner and designer of a bespoke clothing brand in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Fashion Week is a whole week of events that happens twice a year – Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. Most events of this size can take an entire year to plan for that one day, so imagine a whole week of events with multiple events on the same day. As Fort Worth Fashion Week events grow and evolve, I constantly need to think bigger and better and outside of the box, and it all starts with questions.

How are we going to approach this season? Is there a theme? Are there specific genres or trends of clothing that we would like to focus on? Are there brands or designers that are releasing their new collections?

And then it’s Fashion Week, and we are hosting the shows. My favorite part of the whole process is the production of the shows. During each show, I have to be really dialed in because the production level is so important. As an owner of a clothing company and a designer myself, I understand how much work goes into creating a collection and how important it is for the designer to present their pieces in a way that best conveys their vision to the audience.

Fashion Week begins with coordinating with the designers and brands on what they envision for their fashion show. We discuss everything from the individual pieces and the models to the choreography and setting. Every fashion show is different. Music, proper lighting, down to the arrangement of seating – it’s all in the details. And it gets pretty wild backstage. It’s a room full of models getting their hair and makeup finished, designers doing garment logistics, photographers and videographers trying to get the best shots, all while I have to ensure everything operates seamlessly before, during, and after the show. This insanity lasts seven consecutive days, not including all the pre-show rehearsals.

Once all the shows in a season of Fort Worth Fashion Week are over, we are already planning the next season. There are no days off for me. While I’m planning and organizing each Fashion Week, I’m also creating the next collection for my brand, Mener Grand Train Co., which specializes in men’s bespoke suits and women’s couture. Designing forces my mind to be creative, and it allows me to keep perfecting my craft. From patternmaking to construction, designing gives me a keen eye for seeing every detail down to the stitching and thread.

Fort Worth Fashion Week has given our whole team the chance to meet and work with so many amazing people and make a difference in our city. Our partnerships with TCU’s Department of Fashion Merchandising and with the Fort Worth Independent School District provide students with valuable experience in the fashion industry by offering opportunities for hands-on learning and career development. We collaborate with the students on their school projects, and we host annual fashion show fundraisers that support students’ growth and development in the field of design and merchandising. We are mentoring the next generation of designers who may debut their collections at Fort Worth Fashion Week.

For all the craziness, I love that I get to pursue my passion, and having a great team by my side has made all the difference. Each season brings something new. Nike showcased their latest Nike Well Collective collection in Autumn/Winter 2023. We brought multiple Texas universities together for the first-of-its-kind collaborative fashion show at the Modern Art Museum. That event, in particular, was a huge success.

We’re excited for the upcoming season of Fort Worth Fashion Week. We’ve been working on a significant project for it, although specific details cannot be revealed at this time. However, I can share exclusive information about one of the season’s main events, which focuses on creating a new historical moment in Fort Worth and honors a pivotal event in American fashion history. You can expect a unique approach to the fashion show, with leading designers presenting their collections on the runway. I can’t disclose the location yet, but I can confirm that it will take place at a Fort Worth landmark in late autumn.

We look forward to sharing more details about our upcoming events very soon.