To businessman, art collector, and design enthusiast Jordan Schnitzer, fashion is more than clothing — it’s a form of art. “Fashion is art in fabric,” he says. “It does two things. First, aesthetically, it’s stunning to see creative designers shape, form, and push fabric and materials in ways they’ve never been used before. Second, fashion — especially since much of it is designed for women — celebrates femininity. People like to feel good about themselves; we all do. And when we take the time to dress — some enjoying it more than others — it becomes a way to express ourselves and elevate how we feel.”
This philosophy lies at the heart of Fashion Week El Paseo, where creativity and craftsmanship come to life on the runway. It’s also why Schnitzer partners with Fashion Week El Paseo as education sponsor. His sponsorship supports the return of top student designers from Istituto Marangoni Miami for their March 18 runway showand funds the tickets for local high school students to attend with exclusive early access, providing a backstage tour and presentation prior to the main event.
“I thought it would be wonderful to bring in 150 high school students, some of whom may like fashion, some of whom may know nothing about it,” Schnitzer says. “Let them learn firsthand about jobs in the industry, meet models and designers, and demonstrate that they are important enough to attend something that lots of fancy folks in the desert go to.”
Beyond the show, the experience introduces students to life in the fashion industry. “For the high school students to see that these designs are handsewn and handmade by younger people, like them — maybe it will inspire them to go to fashion school and become a designer or seamstress — it makes the idea more tangible for them.”
And that’s important, because today’s student attendee could be tomorrow’s next big design star.
