In a distinct merger of fashion and art, the 2012 Philadelphia Collection held a soiree at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Perelman Building Tuesday evening, Sept. 11. The 100-plus guests nibbled on treats from Steven Starr and sipped on white sangria while hailing the event's growing success during a colorful kickoff party.

Beginning this week, the third annual Philadelphia Collection will take over Philadelphia, bringing hundreds of guests to nearly 100 events throughout the city. Established in 2010, the Philadelphia Collection 2012 is a series of fashion and style events that take place in mid-September. The fashion series is designed to promote the city and all aspects of its fashion economy, including its impressive “collection” of retailers, boutiques, stylists, designers, modeling agencies, design schools and fashion/design students. Events are independently produced by local producers and retailers and include fashion shows, trunk shows, lectures, movies and panel discussions by experts.

“Since the Collection’s inception, the city’s burgeoning fashion and design community has gained worldwide recognition as a top fashion and shopping destination,” said City Representative Melanie Johnson, co-chair of the Philadelphia Collection. “New programs have emerged dedicated to the continued growth of fashion and design in our city, including the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator at Macy’s Center City and exciting collaborations like designer co-op US*U.S. and Skai Blue Show, showcasing the city’s ripe talent and booming creative

economy.”

The Collection brings the creative community members together in a week where collaborative events leave consumers asking for more, and intimate small-scale events leave shoppers satisfied with fall 2012 must-haves.

In addition to the nearly 100 events, the Philadelphia Collection 2012 will host a series of expert panels to lead thought-provoking, fashion-themed discussions featuring fashion-savvy, established panelists. Discussion topics will include “The X Factor: Technology and Media in Fashion;” “Fashion Inc.: The Business of Fashion” and “A Styled Life: Fashion Careers 101.”

To further feed the appetites of style-hungry Philadelphians, “Random Acts of Fashion” will return for its second year. The series of social media-driven campaigns including “Ambush Makeovers” and “Remote Red Carpet” will encourage conversation about all things fashion on the Collection’s online platforms prior to the kickoff. “Ambush Makeovers” will ask the public to enter a contest to be made over from head-to-toe in fall 2012 fashion and beauty trends. “Remote Red Carpet” will entail random “pop-up” appearances of the Philadelphia Collection-branded backdrops throughout the city. Passersby will snap photos in front of the backdrop and “tag” themselves on the Collection’s Facebook page.

“The Philadelphia Collection 2012 is one of the diverse and most exciting eight days of fashion in our history,” said Johnson. “This is the biggest, and it’s going to be the best.”

The Philadelphia Collection 2012 runs from Sept. 13 to 20. Visit www.thephiladelphiacollection.org to see the complete schedule of events.

Contact staff writer Bobbi Booker at (215) 893-5749 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .