News
PRESS RELEASE
St. Louis Fashion Week Returns in Summer 2026 Under New Ownership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2025
Contact: Teisha Barber
Email: teisha@stlouisfashionweek.com
Phone: 816-304-6649
ST. LOUIS, MO — After nearly a decade-long hiatus, St. Louis Fashion Week (STLFW) will officially return in Summer 2026, ushering in a new era of creativity, collaboration, and community investment. The beloved Midwest fashion event has been acquired by Teisha Barber, Owner and CEO of Kansas City Fashion Week (KCFW), who brings more than a decade of experience producing high-caliber fashion events throughout the region.
"This relaunch is about blending the strong foundation we’ve built with Kansas City Fashion Week and the distinctive style and vision of St. Louis," said Barber. "We’re bringing proven processes and industry connections, but our focus is on shaping STLFW in collaboration with the incredible talent, organizations, and creatives that already make this city’s fashion scene vibrant."
A Collaborative Vision
STLFW’s comeback will be built around an intentional, community-first approach. Barber is actively forming a planning team composed of a select number of Kansas City Fashion Week personnel, with a focus on recruiting St. Louis fashion industry professionals for the remainder of her planning team. She is committed to incorporating local designers, models, volunteers, production talent, and sponsors into every level of the event to help showcase St. Louis’ finest in fashion. The revitalized STLFW will serve as a platform for local talent and beyond while offering the professionalism and visibility of a nationally recognized production.
"We’ll be working with a small group of trusted KCFW team members who have been integral to our success and will help support the launch and logistics,” Barber explained. “But we’re not here to bring in a full outside team to tell St. Louis what fashion should look like. We want to build STLFW with the people already doing the work here - designers, creatives, organizations - to make STLFW a celebration of the city’s unique voice and energy."
In addition to local industry professionals, STLFW is looking forward to collaborating with prestigious fashion organizations in the St. Louis region, including Saint Louis Fashion Fund, and is excited to continue discussions with them on how to work together to strengthen and grow the local fashion industry.
Becky Domyan, Executive Director of Saint Louis Fashion Fund, shared her enthusiasm:
"We are thrilled about Teisha’s acquisition of St. Louis Fashion Week and the vision she has for its future. STLFW has a long and proud history, and with Teisha’s proven track record and commitment to collaboration, we see incredible potential to further elevate the ever-growing fashion industry here in St. Louis. We look forward to continuing our conversations and exploring ways to work together to bring this iconic event back to life."
Respecting the Legacy, Building the Future
As the sole legal owner of the St. Louis Fashion Week name and entity, Barber understands the weight of stewarding its legacy. While other fashion-related events may be developing in the region, STLFW stands as the official continuation of the original brand. That said, Barber emphasizes her openness to dialogue and collaboration with others also invested in growing the local fashion scene.
“I’m aware there are groups and individuals already making great strides in fashion here in St. Louis, and I have tremendous respect for those efforts,” Barber said. “I hope to have open conversations about how STLFW can align with and support the work that’s already in motion. Collaboration will be key to building something sustainable and uniquely St. Louis.”
Proven Experience & Industry Recognition
Under Barber’s leadership, Kansas City Fashion Week has grown into one of the Midwest’s most recognized fashion platforms, holding two full weeks of runway shows and events annually for the past 14 years. KCFW has showcased designers from across the country and abroad, built a thriving network of industry professionals, and provided a launchpad for emerging talent.
KCFW is also a former member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Connects program, which, while the Connects program was active, linked regional fashion weeks and organizations to the broader American fashion industry and provided access to national resources, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities. This experience ensures that STLFW will benefit from the same level of professional standards, national exposure, and industry connections that KCFW cultivated through that affiliation.
What’s Next
St. Louis Fashion Week is slated for Summer 2026, with specific dates and programming to be announced in the coming months. Barber and her team are currently in the early planning stages and are prioritizing meetings with St. Louis community leaders, organizations, and fashion professionals to ensure that STLFW is built with local insight at the forefront.
About St. Louis Fashion Week
St. Louis Fashion Week (STLFW) is a revitalized platform celebrating fashion, innovation, and collaboration in the heart of the Midwest. Relaunching in Summer 2026 under the new ownership of Teisha Barber, Owner and CEO of Kansas City Fashion Week (KCFW), STLFW will focus on elevating local talent and reconnecting St. Louis to the national fashion conversation through runway shows, industry events, and community engagement.
About Kansas City Fashion Week
Kansas City Fashion Week (KCFW) is one of the Midwest’s premier fashion events, celebrating over 14 years of runway shows, designer showcases, and industry networking experiences. Founded on a commitment to elevate emerging and established designers, KCFW has grown into a nationally recognized platform that connects fashion creatives with buyers, media, and consumers.
Under the leadership of Owner & CEO Teisha Barber, KCFW produces biannual runway shows and year-round fashion programming that spotlight talent from across the country while cultivating a thriving creative community in the heartland. KCFW is recognized for its professionalism, innovation, and dedication to creating real opportunities for fashion industry growth in the Midwest.
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