Rooftop Couture gives Grand Rapids a new style

There is no need to go all the way to New York City or Paris to find the latest trends in fashion because Grand Rapids is climbing up the ranks when it comes to style.

On August 11, the rooftop of an Ellis Parking Garage will feature the hottest local grown designers, models and stylists. To The Top Entertainment, a company focused on uplifting the creative class, has created a series of events defined as Rooftop Culture. “Our main focus is to elevate the creative class around us, so rooftop culture is just one of the ways we are going to do that,” said co-founder of To the Top Entertainment, Renee Jonkman.

Through a collaboration of different minds, ideas, advisors and suggestions, Rooftop Culture was born. “Originally it was just going to be a fashion show, but it turned into something so much bigger,” said Jonkman. With a little over a week before Rooftop Couture debuts, the event has over 500 people already confirmed on Facebook.

“The diversity of this event is something that makes it extremely unique and is very important to me,” said Jonkman. All the models will be walking down the runway created and designed by the local company Stageworks. The featured designers are EINS Wear, The Mitten State, b. Vain Couture II, Bread Breakers, Conscious Clothing, All City Kicks and Sydney’s Boutique.

Will Bransdorfer, co-founder of The Mitten State, said they are excited to be part of Rooftop Couture. "I think it is a great event for the city; anything that brings people together and celebrates the talent and hard work that is local is a net positive for Grand Rapids," said Bransdorfer. With most of their business interaction online, Bransdorfer said Rooftop Couture will give them the exposure they need to the local market in Grand Rapids.“It will put us in front of a lot of people who might have not heard of us otherwise,” he said. The Mitten State will feature its latest designs at the show and six models will be showing off their Michigan inspired clothing line.

The goal of Rooftop Couture is to provide something special for designers and stylists who have been working hard to get their name out there and this event will take them to the next level. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to their local nonprofit partner Fashion Has Heart, an organization focused on the rehabilitation of U.S. military through teaching creative arts.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website.