BK STYLE Foundation and Board Members Initiate a Fashion Phenomenon

January 16, 2007, New York, NEW YORK—With the fashion season rapidly approaching, it’s only fitting that we celebrate a major force in the fashion world, The BK Style Foundation, which is making a serious impact both locally and internationally. The BK Style Foundation (BKSF) is a non-profit organization created by co-founders Rick Davy and Cybele Sandy in late 2004. The organization’s original brief was to develop Brooklyn design; however, the BKSF is now expanding its mission to include young regional and international design talent. The foundation will provide funding for young designers, as well as build interest in careers in the corporate side of fashion; in this way, the Foundation hopes to nurture a successful, indigenous fashion industry in Brooklyn, one that acknowledges the unquestionable contribution of the borough to the style dialogue. The BKSF will be the catalyst for a new batch of entrepreneurs and will generate job opportunities.

The foundation is governed by a Board consisting of a distinguished group of Directors from the political, business and entertainment industry: Jamie Markowitz, community activist and wife of Brooklyn’s Borough President, Marty Markowitz; Freddy Leiba, an acclaimed stylist and Creative Director for INSTYLE magazine; Douglas Gordon, entrepreneur and publisher of the Miami-based OCEAN STYLE magazine; Tucker Reed, Executive Director of the DUMBO Improvement District; Jennifer Lex, Director of District Marketing, New York City Department of Small Business Services.

Moving forward, the BKSF is committed to building BK Fashion Week{end} into a twice yearly powerhouse. In all, BKSF has been able to develop a memorable brand, synonymous with quality and precision presentation. Fashion has been described by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a 32 billion dollar business. The rechanneling of even the smallest percentage of this to Brooklyn, via a solid, well-produced destination event like BK Fashion Week{end} is certain to have an extraordinary ripple effect that is not confined to fashion-centric businesses, but would impact service entities, transportation, restaurants and nightlife.

The BK Style Foundation is also committed to being a catalyst of positive change in Brooklyn, by including disadvantaged youth in its programming, assisting charitable related organizations like Dress for Success and by initiating programs that would train for careers in both the business and creative sides of fashion.

Fashion activities will commence with the following 2007 SCHEDULE: March 14: The inaugural Brooklyn Muse Award (presented to the celebrity style icon and designer best exemplifying the Brooklyn aesthetic); March 16-18: Fall 2007 Collections; October 5-7: Spring 2008 Collections

The foundation is looking forward to a year that cements Brooklyn’s leadership role as an integral part of the global fashion calendar- a year in which the fashion engine will truly begin running, in a way that supports and accents the economic and cultural life of the entire borough.

For more information on the BK Style Foundation, visit www.bkfashionweekend.com.

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