MAC Puts Fashion in Focus

MAC & Milk, an incubator for emerging fashion designers, is now in its third year. But while the concept may be in its infancy, the initiative has some truly grownup ideas about how to bring beauty and fashion together.

For example, MAC & Milk will host more than 40 shows and presentations during Fashion Week. The lineup includes Altuzarra, Vena Cava, TH Redux, Erin Fetherston, Jeremy Scott, Pamela Love, Peter Som, Preen, Proenza Schouler, Costello Tagliapietra, Frank Tell, Alexander Wang, Billy Reid, Gary Graham, Graeme Armour, Juan Carlos Obando, LNA, Matthew Ames, Patrik Ervell, Julian Louie, Kim Ovitz, Jen Kao, Jeremy Laing, Peter Jensen, Rad by Rad Hourani, Richard Chai Menswear, Staerk, Suno and Temperley London.

The shows will take place from Sept. 9 to 16 at Milk Studios at 450 West 15th Street.

In addition, MAC has formed partnerships with AOL and Audi of America. A “Starting Your Own Business” panel discussion to students from the city’s design schools, which will also be live-streamed on AOL.

For the first time, MAC & Milk is working with the Meatpacking District Initiative to support events and after parties around the neighborhood and coordinating the show schedules to maximize the opportunities for all businesses in the area. Mazdack Rassi, founder and creative director of Milk Studios, explained that MAC & Milk always had a more comprehensive vision. “It wasn’t just about what went on in the building, but also all the young designers that are downtown and in their showrooms,” Rassi said.

Audi is providing a fleet of 2011 A8 cars to help VIP guests with transportation to and from Milk Studios during fashion week.