The Runway is Back!

Who + What: NewHampshireFashionWeek2026 featuring Cocktail reception, immersive experiences and runway showcase

When: Sat.,Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.

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Where:TheGardensatQueenCityCenter, 215 Canal St., Manchester,N.H.

More: TicketsandadditionaleventinformationareavailableatNHFashionWeek.com

ABOUT THE EVENT:

New Hampshire Fashion Week (NHFW) returns on Oct. 10 to The Gardens at Queen City Center in Manchester, bringing together designers, models, artists, beauty professionals, industry creatives and fashion enthusiasts from across New Hampshire and the greater New England region.

Produced by Creative Fashion Collective (CFC), NHFW was created to be more than a traditional runway show. At the heart of the event is a mission to give emerging and underrepresented creatives access to visibility, professional experience,meaningful industry connections and opportunities that can help turn creative talent into sustainable careers and businesses.

"New Hampshire has an incredible creative community, but talent needs more than a platform to be seen, it needs opportunities to grow," said Dina Akel, founder and producer of NHFW and president of CFC. "NHFW is about creating an environment where designers, models, artists and other creative professionals can showcase their work, build meaningful relationships and leave with opportunities that continue long after the runway ends."

Behind the runway is an expanding creative network that includes 30+ designers, 100+ models and more than 50 backstage and production professionals.

A Runway Beyond the Expected
The Gardens at Queen City Center will be transformed for an evening where fashion, art, performance and imagination intersect, creating an atmosphere that feels curious, theatrical and just a little outside of reality. Guests can anticipate an experience filled with unexpected details, playful moments and immersive elements designed to unfold throughout the evening. "We want people to walk through the doors and immediately feel like something is different," Akel said."There should be a sense of curiosity, where you're not quite sure what you'll discover next. We're keeping the details a surprise because experiencing that transformation in person is part of the magic." More Than a Runway Behind the production is a larger purpose. NHFW serves as the signature event of CFC, a New Hampshire nonprofit dedicated to empowering emerging and underrepresented fashion-industry creatives through education, mentorship and business development.

Participating designers gain an opportunity not only to present their work, but to connect with buyers, collaborators, potential clients and other professionals. Models gain runway experience and opportunities to strengthen their portfolios, while hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers, stylists,production professionals and other creatives gain hands-on experience working within a large-scale fashion production.

By bringing these disciplines together under one roof, NHFW is working to create an ecosystem where creatives can meet, collaborate and discover opportunities that may not otherwise exist locally.

Building New Hampshire'sCreative Economy

NHFW is also part of a larger effort to demonstrate that fashion and the creative industries have a place within New Hampshire's cultural and economic landscape.

The event draws guests, participating creatives and industry professionals from communities throughout New England to Manchester for an evening centered around fashion, art and culture, creating an opportunity to introduce new audiences to the city while increasing the visibility of the creative talent already working throughout the region.

"Someofthemostexcitingcreativetalentishappeningrighthereinourowncommunities,"Akel said. "We want people to see that you don't have to leave New Hampshire to experience ambitious fashion, art and creative culture. We can build it here."

About New Hampshire Fashion Week and Creative Fashion Collective

New Hampshire Fashion Week is an annual fashion and creative arts experience produced by Creative Fashion Collective. Created to provide meaningful opportunities for emerging creative professionals, NHFW connects designers, models, beauty professionals, artists, photographers, stylists and other industry talent through runway experiences, professional development and community collaboration.

Through its annual showcase, NHFW aims to elevate New England's creative talent while demonstrating the possibilities of building meaningful creative careers and businesses within the region.

(CFC) is a New Hampshire nonprofit organization working to foster a collaborative ecosystem that empowers emerging and underrepresented fashion-industry creatives through education,mentorship and business development, establishing clear pathways toward sustainable creative businesses and careers.