Walk Fashion Show Miami

Absolutely Fabulous Event Broght To In This Post By Dagr8fm.Com and Marleana Wells:

Founded in 2009 by Daishawn Franklin and Crystal Bailey, WALK was created to add to the emerging fashion industry in their hometown of Detroit. WALK averages over 500 women to each casting call and over 2,000 fashion forward show attendees from the metro Detroit area and around the country each year.

WALK has proven its success by hosting sold out events at lavish venues such as 320 Studios New York City during New York Fashion Week, Michigan Science Center, Detroit Opera House, Masonic Temple, Cobo Hall Convention Center, The Detroit Roostertail, and The Charles H Wright Museum of African American History. With celebrity hosts such as Naima Mora winner of America’s Next Top Model cycle 4, Teyona Anderson winner of America’s Next Top Model cycle 12, Whitney Thompson winner of America’s Next Top Model cycle 10, and Dominique Reighard of America’s Next Top Model cycle 10, WALK has built successful relationships with modeling agencies and buyers across the country to add value to the WALK brand making it the largest fashion show in the Midwest

A NEW WAY TO WALK

By Emerald Shaw

It’s no secret that there is a fairly narrow spectrum encompassing the things Detroit is known for by communities abroad. The auto industry, the Motown sound, and the crime rate are just a few common buzz topics. A true Detroiter, however, knows that there is more to this place than historical fame and present day propaganda. In all actuality it is a melting pot of talent. These city limits house an abundance of brilliant and creative individuals carving out their opportunity to burst through the ceiling of adversity with their dreams in tow. Among those persons are Crystal Bailey and Daishawn Franklin, the masterminds behind WALK.

After the birth of their daughter, Bailee Dai, Crystal Bailey, a model, developed an interest in exploring other areas of the fashion business. Her experience combined with the marketing savvy Franklin had acquired as a successful event promoter proved to be the perfect recipe for fashion show production. Like all great things, their shows started off small but grew as success came rapidly. Initial ventures such as “Upgrade” and “Blue Carpet Treatment” were popular among local fashion enthusiasts. It was evident then that the future of this collaboration was bright until one show failed follow the trend. At their largest venue yet, COBO Hall, Bailey and Franklin put on the show that served as the disastrous turning point in the direction their business was going. The show lacked refinement and lead to the realization that there was also an absence of any concrete branding.

Sometimes inspiration manifests in the most unorthodox forms. In 2007 Bailey and Franklin treated their toddler to a Sesame Street Live performance at the Fox Theater. It was at that event that their brand was born. Franklin recalls being struck with an idea during a skit on crosswalk safety.

“They were singing this song where they kept saying the word ‘walk’ repeatedly” he says. “I jumped out of my seat and started shouting ‘That’s it! Walk! That’s the name!'”

With a new name and renewed focus, WALK Fashion Show solidified itself as an ever growing staple in the fashion industry. Since 2007, the show has become the largest in the Midwestern region and has been put on in five different states including New York and Tennessee.

Part of its charm includes its relentless effort to display diversity in fashion. Models of varying sizes and ethnic backgrounds are offered the opportunity to hit the runway. There is even an adjunct show, WALK University, showcasing children’s fashion. The heir to the WALK legacy, Bailee, has been struting her stuff on the WALK U stage since she was two years old.

For Bailey and Franklin, the ultimate goal of each show is to provide an exciting, professional, family oriented platform for all kinds of dreams to come to fruition. It is their hope that each model goes on to be signed by an agency or ignite a meaningful career, each designer eventually finds their garments in boutiques and department stores, and so forth. They understand that within Detroit lie many diamonds in the rough and with WALK they hope to uncover as many as they can, attracting the national attention those diamonds deserve.

In five years the WALK family hopes to be present in at least 20 states, working toward international visibility, and continually breaking down the stereotypes that come along with calling Detroit home. This city is more than what the news reports and it is evolving beyond what history reflects. In the care of Crystal Bailey, Daishawn Franklin and all who have tagged along for the ride, Detroit is well on its way to a more positive persona and to becoming a community known for style and urbanity. Picture Detroit with its chin up, shoulders back, pelvis forward and a “smize” in its eyes. One foot in front of the other, step by step, this fashion show aims to teach the world and entirely new way to walk.