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Campbell and LRFW’s Journey to the Finale

By: Jasmine Jennings

When fashion week comes to mind, some might think of big states with lots of trendy clothes & lights. Brandon D. Campbell had other thoughts for Arkansas, when he decided to start the first ever fashion week in the state.

Despite challenges and naysayers, LRFW along with Campbell have prevailed tremendously in his hometown - Little Rock. Little Rock Fashion Week has opened doors up for many people, thanks to Campbell.

In 2008, Campbell, a writer and producer at World Wrestling Entertainment at the time, was well into his career and the bright idea of having a fashion week in Little Rock popped into his head.

Growing up in the 90s Campbell expressed how gang violence plagued the streets of Little Rock. There weren’t many outlets available for youths then, he said. Violence was so bad in Little Rock that in 1994 HBO created a documentary film called “Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock”. Reoccurring violence made it easier to get into something you shouldn’t, when there weren’t many outlets to express yourself.

Campbell recalled the struggle he had as a youth to find outlets for creative expression. With those memories in mind, Campbell sought to establish a platform that would benefit young people; keep them out of trouble during the summer; and build their confidence. LRFW did.

LRFW started merely as an inspired thought; Campbell decided to turn that thought, which was weighing heavily on his heart into reality in 2009. Campbell was inspired to start LRFW because of the people in the city that had inspired him throughout his life. Left his TV entertainment career, packed up and moved back home.

Getting LRFW jumpstarted was no easy task, there were people who just didn’t like the idea of Little Rock having a fashion week, and a lot of people couldn’t grasp the idea of a small city like Little Rock having something so illustrious. Another issue was a lack of outside financial backing, so Campbell used his own money from his savings (tens of thousands of dollars) to get LRFW off the ground.

While launching LRFW for him, Campbell found his passion and his woman, a beautiful soul named Constance Williams. He could lean on her when obstacles became overbearing. Constance has been with him through thick and thin; who now goes by Mrs. Campbell. They’ve been married going on 4 years and have two daughters Lennox (2 years old) and Mackenzie (10 months).

Campbell remembers having people tell him the idea would never work in Little Rock. He didn’t allow negativity or doubters stop him from reaching the main goal: making LRFW a success. Campbell says one of the hardest obstacles LRFW overcame was the lukewarm response it got from the community. During the trails associated with building a successful fashion business, Campbell learned a lot about himself and how to succeed.

Campbell recalls a negative review written by a local publication after the first LRFW that he says took LRFW a couple of years to shake, because it lowered the brand’s value in the public’s eye.

“There were some I believe who were just looking for something that was wrong with LRFW, rather then what was right. Little Rock is small, so perception here is everything. One negative review travels quickly and can usurp all the good your venture has done. It can make it an even bigger challenge for securing different sponsors and loyal customers,” Campbell said.

After the rain, comes the sun. Through time and perseverance, LRFW was able to prove itself to the city and prove doubters wrong. Show attendance grew and LRFW events carved out its own fashion niche of being sophisticated, sexy and changeable. It kept evolving and giving the community something to look forward each year.

LRFW has featured over 150 fashion labels over the years. Many designer alumni have shown in national Fashion Weeks, including New York’s and Los Angeles’s, had their clothing worn by celebrities and sold their fashions in stores across the country in stores, including Kari Bryd whose Novel Approach Jewelry line was picked up by Belk and sold in its stores.

LRFW has opened doors for models by locating paid opportunities and high fashion runway shows that originally weren’t as inclusive to new models and models of color. Campbell says that he is very proud of the work he’s done with African American models. In 2011, Arkansas Bride Magazine featured the first local African American as its cover model – LaBrea Rashaad, a former LRFW model Campbell discovered and developed.

With Campbell’s guidance and knowledge, LRFW has had several interns go on to work in fashion and entertainment media for companies such as E!, Google, and TMZ, to name a few. Bethany Hines, a former LRFW model and intern, currently resides in NYC and is a producer for CNN. LRFW was Hine’s first internship.

With its success came recognition for Campbell and LRFW. Campbell was named by Arkansas Life Magazine as a Style Setter in Arkansas. He received the Power Play Magazine’s “Playmaker Award.” In 2013, Little Rock Mayor’s Office proclaimed the third week of July officially “Little Rock Fashion Week.”

Campbell explained that everything takes time and God works through people to give that boost of encouragement. This is what motivated Campbell to keep going. Campbell has flourished over the years since starting LRFW. Campbell has gone on to start Oneofakind Baton Rouge Fashion Week, which is heading into its 5th year, and his own apparel brand iME.

In 2010, he founded Oneofakind Talent Inc, a boutique modeling and talent firm. As an agent, Campbell’s models have been booked for jobs by Wal-Mart, Dillard’s, Axe, Proctor & Gamble to name a few.

Sadly, this year’s LRFW will be the final one for the city of Little Rock. Campbell has given back to the good people of Arkansas. He has not only given back to the community by volunteering various places such as with the Little Rock School District and Big Brothers & Big Sisters, CARTI & Easter Seals, Campbell has opened plenty of doors for those who wouldn’t have the opportunity if it weren’t for him starting LRFW.

However, Campbell describes discontinuing LRFW not as a closing of a chapter, but turning the page in current journey. Starting this fall, Campbell will be starting a new fashion week in Plano, TX – Plano Fashion Week. The model call for Plano Fashion week will be held September 24 and the main show will be on October 29 at event1013. With hard work and determination, Campbell has truly outdone himself.

“I believed in what I was doing, because I knew Little Rock Fashion Week was going to be something good for the community,” said Campbell.

“God didn’t give me this vision for it and myself to fail. When you’re truly doing something good that benefits so many people, it shouldn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s meant to be shared, and that’s what I’m doing by branching out into other markets. I will admit, though, It’s a good feeling when you can turn your haters into your biggest believer,” Campbell ended with a grin.

LRFW: The Finale is Saturday July 22nd at the Statehouse Convention Center. Doors open at 7 pm. Show starts at 8 pm. Campbell will be the emcee.

Sponsorship partners for LRFW 9 include Oneofakind Talent Inc., Belk, iME clothing brand, J Kelly Referrals & Information Services and Club Level.

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