Spokane Fashion: The Movers and Shakers Creating A Local Fashion Scene


Spokane isn’t currently known for its fashion scene, but thanks to folks who are brave and creative and dedicated enough to make a change, it will be soon.

© Erin Peterson – Trending Northwest

I love to say that there are those who lament something that is lacking and there are those who create something brand new to fill a void. I personally want to be around and support and place the spotlight on people who choose the latter. The three runway shows I highlight here are doing just that. They are creating a fashion scene where there once was none, and I am honored to share about them and to know their founders. 

I hope that the work, visions, and passions of the folks behind these three up-and-coming runway shows inspire you to look locally for fashion, to stick around when you’re looking for cultural experiences, and to be proud of our city.

In the interviews below, you’ll find that Dom and Bomb, The Visionary Vault, and Spokane Fashion Week are not only creating a fashion scene in Spokane but expanding our understanding of fashion as a whole. Runway once demanded one unattainable body type, what was IN and OUT was clearly defined and dictated by a powerful few, and the name of the game was mass consumption disregarding the cost to society. In stark contrast, these brave founders are creating a scene that emphasizes inclusivity and diversity, prioritizes responsibility and sustainability, celebrates individual bodies instead of forcing them to conform, and empowers creativity. 

This is one of those times in which it is impossible to communicate passion better than my subjects did in their own words. I hope they inspire you as much as they inspired me. 

Dom+Bomb

* answers provided by Kim Blessing, Co-founder of Dom + Bomb


This Fall, the Dom+Bomb team took over an airplane hanger for an unconventional runway show showcasing local designers and a diverse group of local models. If you missed it, don’t worry! They have big plans for the future. 

What inspired you to put on this runway show? 
When we first conceptualized our fashion brand in 2020, we knew right away that we wanted to create a fashion show with a block party vibe, and make it an annual event. We felt like fashion had the potential to bring people together. We knew we wanted to celebrate all body types and gender expressions. There is such a beautiful variety in the human experience, and it's not right that such a limited view is presented on runways and in media. 

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Everyone deserves to feel good in their clothes, and a runway show is a powerful way to send that message. 

Kim Blessing

What is the goal/purpose of this runway show? 
The goal of the event was to highlight local designers and vendors who are celebrating culture, queer joy, and bodies of all shapes and sizes. We wanted an opportunity to thank our community for supporting us for the past four years and celebrate our models and their beauty in all its forms. 

Other than the Dom and Bomb team, who collaborated to make this event possible?
So many people helped to make this event possible. We received a grant from Spokane Arts, without which, the event wouldn't have been possible. Vexing Media volunteered their time to stream and caption the event. Spectrum Center helped us get the word out. Alana Shepherd at Intangible Light did all the fabulous lighting and provided production management. We had several people who jumped in at the last minute to help during the live event, including Jessica Rose and Crystle Burgett. Our fabulous emcee, Eric Posey, is very selective on what events and organizations he supports, and he has been absolutely wonderful to work with. All of the vendors and entertainers did not hesitate when we asked them to be a part of the event, and we feel like we began some really beautiful friendships with the people we worked with.

What sets yours apart from other runway shows? 
The diversity in our designers and models sets us apart. Mainstream fashion was making progress a few years ago by showing more body types, but even then, if a model was plus sized, it was a specific type of plus size – curvy chest and hips, with a narrow waste. Fashion writers and bloggers have been pointing out that what little progress we made has been lost, with mainstream runway shows regressing toward thinner body types. And, while there is a long history of trans people in modeling, there needs to be more. We also made it a point to highlight plus size and indigenous designers. We wanted to show talented creators who aren't getting the attention they deserve.

What plans do you have for future events? 
We are definitely going to do another show next year and make it bigger and better, with more designers, vendors, and models. We want Spokane to be a fashion destination for the region. There is no reason we can't be. The models are ready to do it twice a year, but we may need a bit more time to pull that off!


What do you hope attendees take away from their experience at your event? 
Prior to the event, we hoped that people would experience joy at being together and connecting over a shared love of fashion. We hoped that the models would feel empowered and know that they are beautiful and deserve Fashion with a capital F. Since the show, we've been hearing that we accomplished that and more. We've been hearing that people who were in the audience want to model because they've always wanted to but didn't think they could. People saw themselves on the runway, and that is truly wonderful. The joy and expression that the models showed while they were walking was so much fun to see. We've also seen how much people who were involved in the event are supporting each other. We see them following each other and engaging on social media – people who probably wouldn't have connected if it wasn't for the event.

Spokane Fashion Week

* answers provided by Mackenzie Priest and Sophia , Co-Founders of Spokane Fashion Week

© Erin Peterson – Trending Northwest

Spokane Fashion Week is coming to our city THIS SPRING! Its founders are long-time friends, healers, creatives, and models who have big plans for this show. 

What inspired you to put on Spokane Fashion Week?
After being a part of CDA fashion week, we wanted to bring that collective energy a little closer to home. 

What is the goal/purpose of Spokane Fashion Week?
Spokane Fashion Week’s mission is, ‘Evolving the Spokane community to showcase a culture which is welcoming, based on diversity and built around art, fashion, and the great adventure of curating your creative identity’. And our vision is, ‘To become a vibrant and inclusive community where creativity thrives, empowering individuals to explore and express their unique identities through art, fashion, and fostering a culture of diversity, innovation, and collaboration in Spokane’.

Other than the two of you, who will collaborate to make Spokane Fashion Week possible?
Because diversity and inclusion are so important to us, we look forward to collaborating with the collective creative community within Spokane. We are already in contact with local shops, designers, photographers and artists. 

What will set yours apart from other runway shows?
Body diversity has been all together ignored or treated as a trend throughout runway history. We intend to switch the culture of treating bodies like a fad to treat them as beautiful, individual and something worth celebrating. 

What plans do you have for the future of Spokane Fashion Week? 
We will be creating shows that cater to many different audiences by highlighting shops and designers that cater to that audience’s style. This spring we are looking forward to highlighting resale and vintage shops! 

What do you hope attendees take away from their experience at Spokane Fashion Week?
With our professional background in healing movement and mental health we understand how art can be so positively impactful for artists and viewers alike. We will be expanding the space which makes that healing possible through a rich experience.

The Visionary Vault

* answers provided by Hailey LaRosa, Founder of Visionary Vault


Hailey LaRosa founded The Visionary Vault to foster creativity and collaboration. She has hosted numerous meet-ups and styled shoots, and she just recently hosted her first runway show at the Montvale Event Center. 

What inspired you to put on this runway show?
I was inspired to put on this runway show when I noticed the lack of fashion events in Spokane. We have a Spokane Fashion Week each year, but besides that, the fashion industry has events few and far between. The Spokane creative industry is growing, but from what I’ve seen, fashion and design are usually put on the back burner. To bring the fashion world to Spokane, I wanted to create a space where fashion lovers and creatives alike could come and hang out while supporting local artists, which is how the Visionary Vault Exhibition came to fruition.

What is the goal/purpose of this runway show?
Spokane is known for its “big city, small town feel,” so sometimes the creative scene can feel a bit oversaturated and competitive. The goal of this runway show/exhibition was to create a collaborative rather than competitive environment for people to hang out and support local creatives’ artistry, whether that was represented through clothing, art, photography, or music! Everyone part of the show is from the Spokane/PNW area. The designers both live on the west side- one of them a recent graduate from Eastern Washington University- while all the artists, photographers, models, and DJ are based here in Spokane/CDA! 

Other than the Visionary Vault team, who collaborated to make this event possible?
Other than the Visionary Vault team, I owe a huge thanks to all the creatives who collaborated on this event with me. This includes the designers, Sharnae St. Clair and Alphonso Williams Jr., the models, the artists and photographers whose art was on display, Amanda Keeley (event videographer), Micah Shure (event photographer), along with my loving parents who greeted the attendees at the check-in desk. This ended up being a great team of people and everyone was very welcoming and fun to be around, which alleviated a lot of my stress leading up to the event!

What sets yours apart from other runway shows?
To set the Visionary Vault Exhibition apart from other shows, I wanted it to not just be a show but an experience. This meant attendees had the chance to dress to impress, there was a DJ curating a fun mood among the guests, and there was beautiful art to peruse before the show. Seeing people mingle and get to know each other was the best part of seeing my idea be brought to life!
More specific to the actual runway show, we paved a path by only showing looks that were second-hand and upcycled. Climate change continues to worsen, and in a world where fast-fashion is normalized and people are desensitized to its processes and detrimental effects, I was proud to show off designers who are trying to combat climate change by reworking old pieces into new ones! 

What plans do you have for future events?
Going into the new year, I plan to broaden my horizons. Prior to the runway show, I specialized in events for photographers and models, but I would love to expand to all creative endeavors. This means more fashion events, art exhibitions, and hopefully branching out into the music and dance scene as well! I want to provide a space for every type of creative, so please join me on this journey as I would love to see Spokane/CDA’s Visionaries continue to grow!


What do you hope attendees take away from their experience at your event?
I want everyone to leave knowing there's room for everyone. Just because someone else is working on your dream doesn't mean you've missed your chance. For example, both designers work with upcycled materials, but their results are completely different. The same goes for the artists—there were painters, but their styles ranged from abstract to giant tomatoes and pasta! There’s a space for everyone to shine. Don’t be afraid to start and make your mark! And this isn’t just about the creative world—take up space in every part of your life. It’s empowering to find your niche and follow your passion. Don’t let someone else’s journey stop you from pursuing your own.

I truly believe that these cultural movers and shakers explained their visions best in their own words, so I hope they inspired you as much as they inspired me. I cannot wait to look back on this moment and to say:  “I knew them when . . .” I trust that their words got you excited to look locally for fashion, to stick around when you’re looking for a cultural experience, and to be proud of our city. 

Most importantly, I hope you’ll get involved and support their efforts.

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