Brooklyn Fashion Weekend – BKFW – is here!

Without the contributions of the masters of fashion, fashion trends would not be what they are today. The theme, therefore, for this year’s Brooklyn Fashion Week[end] (BKFW) introducing the fall/winter collections of 2013, is  “Honor the Masters, Celebrate the New.”

The four-day long event will start on February 28 and continue through March 3 inside Industry City at the Bush Terminal, located in Sunset Park at 241 37^th Street.

Masters of Fashion to be highlighted include famous designers like Coco Chanel, the founder of the Chanel brand renowned for her little black dresses and timeless designs; Gianni Versace, creator of the international fashion house that produces accessories, clothing, watches, fragrances, make-up and more; Alexander McQueen, known for his in-depth knowledge of British tailoring, as well as Willi Smith, Emilio Pucci, Halston, Patrick Kelly and Yves Saint Laurent. Each in one way or another has left a mark in our fashion industry.

On opening night, February 28, BKFW will showcase “eco-friendly” collections from women’s wear designer Luis Valenzuela, and special pet designer Anthony Rubio of the Bandit Rubio Pet Couture, along with designs from William H. Maxwell High School from East New York.

Rubio says this show is “ground-breaking” for him, adding that he’s honored to be “the very first designer to present a fashion show based strictly on the dogs at any Brooklyn Fashion Show.”

Rubio was inspired by [his] Chihuahua, which he rescued years ago in Brooklyn. “He had been badly abused,” he explained, “While rehabilitating him, we found he liked wearing clothes. I have a formal education in women’s wear design which I utilized to scale down creations for Halloween costumes which garnered me a reputation in design,” he remarked, “The demands came quickly for me to create for clients and the rest plays out like a movie script.”

The pet designer believes pets are an extension of our families and has decided to “hone in on [his] skills and imagination to create art better known as couture.”

All shows start at 6:30 p.m. with a red carpet celebrity VIP reception, followed by a  7 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, and concluding with the runway fashion show at 7:30 p.m.  The finale show on March 3 will feature only Brooklyn-based designers.

For Rick Rubio, creative director of BKFW, “Industry City has been the perfect venue and partner for the past four seasons.” He says the venue’s continuing support has helped them provide the community “with a truly unique event that promotes arts and raises funds for important causes.”

Some of the charitable organizations that the Brooklyn Fashion Weekend supports are SOLES4SOULS, which collects new shoes for people in need, and the Paul Robeson Theater.

For more information, visit http://bkfashionweekend.com/ .