Is the River Arts District Asheville’s new fashion district? This month, check out three designers and a Shakespeare-themed fashion show.

by Olivia Springer

Perhaps it’s difficult to pinpoint Asheville’s fashion epicenter to begin with. Lexington Avenue? Haywood Street? Wherever it is, a handful of River Arts District designers want to direct your attention to what they call “fashion on the fringes”—the scene that’s emerging from studios in the River Arts District. On August 6, the Artery Gallery at the Asheville Area Arts Council’s outpost in the RAD will host a fashion show and month-long exhibit, Immersion, showing clothing by two designers, Stina Andersen of ARTeries and Kristina Benshoff of Provocation. The Roberts Street designer Moe Donnelly also has an opening show in the Phil Mechanic’s Pump Gallery on August 6.

The Immersion kickoff will include runway walks by models wearing Andersen and Benshoff’s designs, along with video projections by Michael Folliett and photography by Yve Adams. Immersion, which runs through August at Artery, will draw attention not only to clothing, but also to the fashion design process, Andersen says.

Benshoff and Andersen joined forces last August when they opened The Fashion Sewing Studio and Boutique in their Wedge Building space. They sell clothing from their shop and teach sewing classes, along with specialized workshops on pattern drafting and custom garment design. Andersen has a bachelor’s degree in sculpture and fibers and describes herself as a “renegade seamstress.” She says her recent excursions to Slovenia, Europe and Mexico have helped influence her funky, ethnic upcycled clothing. Benshoff, a fashion “groundbreaker” at the spring Asheville creative festival Hatch, has a degree in fashion design from Savannah College of Art and Design. She calls her vintage-inspired clothing Provocations, and the pieces are provocative—lately, she’s using leather and designing outfits with circus themes.

Planning the fashion show, the two were inspired by the flowery, floating Shakespeare character Ophelia, and models will do theatrical performances accordingly. With an appearance by children’s book author Cindy Bowen dressed as Gaia and documentary photography and writing by Melinda Tennison, Bevin Coffee and others, the event sounds like one that’s not to be missed.

Immersion: A Fashionable Experience kicks off with a reception and fashion show on August 6 from 6-9pm at the AAAC’s Artery Gallery at 346 Depot Street in Asheville. Call Stina Andersen at 828-423-1296 for details, or check out www.ashevillearts.com.