The art of design and fashion has a new platform this weekend.
The BR Fashion Market will host the Cool Nights Hot Fashions Market for the first time at the Mid-City Arts District of Baton Rouge on Friday.
The Cool Nights Market will be held in conjunction with the White Light Night’s 18th year.
The BR Fashion Market is hosting both events. The company’s mission is to create an environment for local vendors and shops to put their foot in the door to create a larger company.
“The goal of the BR Fashion Market is to offer diverse and creative lifestyle events where fashion retailers can turn their passion into profit,” according to BR Fashion Market’s website.
One of its largest sponsors is The Garage Men’s Custom Shop, a men’s clothing store that prides itself on creating an environment for men who have a personal style but don’t love the mall.
The shop is opening up its property to hold the event. The Garage Men’s Custom Shop came up with the idea after holding a smaller version of the event last year at White Light Night in Baton Rouge.
“We kind of went in with the theory of we wanted actual fashion designers, jewelry designers and the art of fashion because it’s all about the art,” said The Garage Men’s Custom Shop’s co-owner Robert Wolf.
While this is a fashion market, the vendors attending will be selling a variety of items. From women and men’s clothing to jewelry and paintings, the market reaches multiple horizons.
It also will bring merchandise to Baton Rouge not native to Louisiana. Because The Garage Men’s Custom Shop is one of the sponsors, it will also participate in the event as a vendor.
“From our shop, we want to bring in things from California and New York. Just stuff you wouldn’t normally see in the area,” Wolf said.
As it is the first year for Cool Nights Hot Fashions, Wolf said they are hoping for the best but believe the business is for more than just the number of customers.
He said he’s not looking for a ton of customers if it means he gets to help bring new fashions and ideas to the neighborhood.
In previous years, White Light Night hosted more than 50 different vendors, creating a place for local vendors to have an outlet near the holidays.
This year, while coinciding with Cool Nights Hot Fashions, White Light Night is adding a new fashion and art branch while keeping its same aesthetic.
Although the market is new, the goal is to spread the word about fashion and expand the industry.
“That’s kind of the whole goal of the fashion market — is to just build an awareness of what’s out there,” Wolf said.

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Karen Welsh

The Garage Custom shop is a men's clothing store that will be hosting Cool Nights Hot Fashions event Friday November 20, 2015 off of North Foster drive.