For those of you who didn’t make it to New York Fashion Week, don’t fret — you can attend the first ever Tucson Fashion Week without all of the hustle and bustle of Bryant Park. On Sept. 24 and 25, nine designers will showcase their collections in downtown Tucson in an effort to promote local artists and the fashion scene here in Tucson. Tucson Fashion Week also hopes to promote the local economy by encouraging people to shop at local boutiques. In fact, all of the designs that will be shown will be available for purchase. And if oohing and ahhing over crafty couture isn’t enticing enough, there’s more, the event is entirely nonprofit and will be donating all of the proceeds to Skrappy’s, a local community center that works continuously to provide Tucson youth with a positive environment for self-expression and performing arts. Skrappy’s also provides several social services, making it the only youth center of its kind in Tucson.

“”These kinds of programs are needed in our community and unfortunately in these economic times, they are being cut,”” said Elizabeth Albert, producer of Tucson Fashion Week and local designer.

Tucson Fashion Week will include three events. Tonight at 6, VIP ticket holders will be heading down to the Tucson Museum of Art where they will have a chance to kick off Tucson Fashion Week with all of the designers. The soiree will include food catered by Whole Foods Market and attendees will have the chance to get a sneak peak of the Saturday runway. The opening reception will also be attended by models and other behind-the-scenes personnel and is sure to be a glamorous affair. Then, on Friday at 6 p.m., both VIP and general admission guests are invited to the Skrappy’s Youth Showcase downtown where youth-made fashion and art will be on display. The main event will be on Saturday at the same downtown location and will include six hours of nonstop runway action. And if you aren’t exhausted by midnight, head over to Club Congress for the after party.

Although the event isn’t technically a full week, it’s obvious there has been a lot of effort put into hosting this event. Tucson Fashion Week has received a tremendous amount of support from local and national businesses, such as Metromix, Metropark, Surly Wench Pub and Banana Republic, to name a few. “”Everyone has been working really hard to make this happen and it goes to show people want to change the way Tucson views fashion. We are really raising the standards and helping this industry gain some serious momentum,”” says Albert.

So where does Tucson Fashion Week hope to be in the years to come? First and foremost, Tucson Fashion Week hopes to inspire the development of new designers and artists. As designer Siliva Bours says, “”(Tucson Fashion Week) will have a very big positive impact in Southern Arizona’s fashion industry. Tucson (and)Southern Arizona is constantly overshadowed by the Phoenix area in terms of fashion, but this is a big step toward Tucson attaining status as a fashion town.”” If you are a budding fashionista or just looking to have a good time in exchange for supporting a good cause, definitely plan on attending Tucson Fashion Week.

VIP tickets include entrance to the opening reception, Skrappy’s Youth Showcase and all of the runway shows. At the main event, VIP ticket holders will have their chair at the runway, access to a catered VIP tent and will also receive a chic goodie bag. General admission tickets include admission to Skrappy’s Youth Showcase and the main event. Tickets are available for purchase online attucsonfashionweek.net, at both Bohemia locations (417 N. Fourth Ave. and 2920 E. Broadway Blvd.) and Razor’s Edge (427 N Fourth Ave.) for $25-$40. Only general admission tickets will be available at the door. For more information, visit their website or e-mail tucsonfashionweek@gmail.com.