Last Thursday, Aspen Fashion Week opened it’s debut season. The opening day was a celebration across the town: with partnered brands hosting offers at their stores and launch parties popping up in galleries and boutiques.
The runway shows began the following day and carried through the weekend. Local and international designers joined the 303 Magazine and Denver Fashion Week production team for high fashion celebrations of Aspen’s unique blend of elevated yet rugged Western style.
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Here’s a closer look at some of the week’s standout moments.
Local: Friday, August 8
Aspen Fashion Week’s runways began Friday with a tribute to homegrown fashion and local creatives. The Local show featured collections from Kemo Sabe, Bandana Aspen, Blanco and Katerina Lankova.
Together, the four designers demonstrated the versatility and traditions of Rocky Mountain aesthetic. Kemo Sabe opened with a tribute to Western history, featuring intricate fringed jackets, wide-brimmed hats and traditional Americana silhouettes, all with a modern twist. The runway got increasingly modern from there, with Bandana Aspen pairing contemporary prints with fur and animal prints (and, in two looks, furry friends on the runway). Blanco countered Bandana’s maximalist vibes with sleek, minimalist athletic looks for the modern man, and Lankova closed the show with a grungy twist: skin-baring chaps, colorful fur and chunky accessories.
Global: Saturday, August 9
The Global Runway Show brought together some of the biggest names in fashion, including REVOLVE x FRWD, Kiton, rag & bone and alice + olivia — all set against Aspen’s iconic mountain views. The night was a celebration of Aspen’s unique aesthetic, with established labels creating collections based on the mountain town’s global reach.
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The night also marked the return of Max Alexander, who first made headlines as an 8-year-old designer at Denver Fashion Week in Fall 2023. He now holds a Guinness World Record for that DFW debut as the youngest to ever do it, with his Aspen collection marking a return to his foundation.
Youth + Mommy & Me: Sunday, August 10
The Youth + Mommy & Me show brought a playful spirit to Aspen Fashion Week, with Bandana Aspen, Monkey’s of Aspen, Ro and Fern and SKYE|AIRE dressing the tiniest trendsetters (and their adult counterparts).
Looks ranged from cozy, mountain-ready layers to polished, equestrian-inspired styles, complete with riding boots, tailored jackets and nods to the town’s love of the outdoors. If the Youth + Mommy & Me show proved one thing, it’s that Aspen style starts early and carries through every generation.
Après: Sunday, August 10
Aspen Fashion Week closed with a runway dedicated to the world it’s best known for: winter sports. Home of the X-Games and elite high-altitude skiing, Aspen is home to some of the most crucial innovations in ski and snowboard gear. As such, the AFW Après show not only paid tribute to this heritage: it showcased some of the minds responsible for those innovations.
READ: Après Innovators Obermeyer Will Show Collection At Aspen Fashion Week
One such legend was Obermeyer, a outerwear brand credited for inventing down parka jackets, mirrored sunglasses and high-altitude sun-screen (to name just a few). Obermeyer was joined by outerwear heavyweights We Norwegians, Hamilton Sports and Strafe Outerwear, all of which brought their own spin on gear built for the slopes but ready for the streets. Each collection balanced function and aesthetic, showcasing expert design and luxury ski vibes perfect for the town that invented them.