Design District Event Tonight Aims to Enliven Downtown; Boost Local Economy

Hoping to repeat the success of their inaugural Design District event in Westport last November, Moffly Media, publisher of Westport and athome magazines is hosting their second fashion and design event tonight from 5 to 9 p.m.

The event will feature 12 downtown area retailers with a focus on home décor and fashion. Throughout the evening, stores on Main Street, Post Road, and Sconset Square, will be offering discounts, giveaways and gift-with-purchase incentives. Boutiques hope to attract shoppers with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, in-store fashion shows, book signings, and meet-and-greet opportunities with designers.  A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Save the Children.

The Design District program was created in 2008 as part of an advertising program with Moffly's athome magazine. The first Design District event was held in Greenwich in September 2008, just at the time the economy was taking a steep downturn. Small, local retailers were among the first to feel the economic pinch and needed a way to entice shoppers into the stores. Based on the success of the Greenwich event, the Design District program has expanded into New Canaan and Westport in 2009.

According to Caroline Coursen, Marketing Coordinator for the event, programs like Design District help to bring shoppers into the stores and generate excitement for the town.

"We do it for the towns and businesses," explains Coursen, "The Design District events promote new opportunities to bring in business and new people into the stores in a fun way."

Coursen says that the Design Districts in each of the towns has a different feel and focus.

"We added the fashion element in Westport with Lucy's and Soleil Toile. Lucy's does a fashion show. It's a little different in each town because of the mix of stores."

Trevor LaMarche, a manager at luxury jeweler and event sponsor Lux Bond & Green, believes the event brings a renewed sense of excitement to downtown and allows commuters a chance to experience downtown on a weeknight.

"It brings a new creativity to the town -- thinking outside the box to bring in new business. It's a great girls' night out and gives people a chance to roam from store to store and enjoy a night out downtown."

Soleil Toile Lingere and Swimwear owner Marilynn Lipton says she participated in the first Westport Design District event and has signed on again as a sponsor of this year's program. Although they are celebrating their 20^th anniversary this year, Lipton believes the event brings new business into her store.

"It's a community event and when there's something going on we like to be a part of it. We were happy with the last one. Anything that brings people to town is great. People who may not have come into the store before find us."

Wende Cohen, owner of home design boutique Bungalow on Sconset Square agrees.

"The Design District is a wonderful event that showcases the diverse assortment of shops in Westport. Many people tend to shop in the same stores and this opportunity to visit stores not on their radar can be pleasantly eye opening."

This year's sponsors include Glen Leroux Antiques Inc., HB Home, Lux Bond & Green, Lucy's, and Soleil Toile, along with Bungalow, Circa Antiques, Dovecote, Love & Co., Ranney Michaels, Rockwell Art and Framing and ROOM.

Along with the formal sponsors and participants, other local retail stores and restaurants plan to remain open late to benefit from the expected large turnout of shoppers.