Fashion weeks in smaller U.S. cities serve as training grounds for aspiring designers . The fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar industry, and the number of women working there has grown by more than 50 percent since 2000. Established designers attend Charleston Fashion Week to tap into new markets . In April , Nashville Fashion Week will offer a day of industry panels and several nights of runway shows featuring a mix of hometown heroes and established brands such as Tracy Reese and Nonoo . `` Not all designers are born and bred in New York , Paris , '' says Fern Mallis .
Fashion weeks in smaller U.S. cities serve as training grounds for aspiring designers . The fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar industry, and the number of women working there has grown by more than 50 percent since 2000. Established designers attend Charleston Fashion Week to tap into new markets . `` Not all designers are born and bred in New York , Paris , '' says Fern Mallis .