The mission of RVAFW (Spring/Fall) is to highlight the vision, celebrate the fulfillment, and continuously expand the potential of Richmond, Virginia’s gifted, diverse fashion and arts community. RVA Fashion Week represents Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding area's top models, leading designers, choice producers, choreographers, and stylists. This ultimate combination delivers unforgettable events around Richmond and showcases many of the industry's top organizations and charities. Every year, RVA Fashion Week has been committed to collaborating with local businesses and designers to display Richmond's style, creativity, street culture, and arts by virtue of fashion. This venture has helped existing businesses build their clientele and increase their revenue. Our goal has been to raise awareness of the fashion and arts culture hidden in Richmond by supporting independent boutiques and designers through the support from local businesses, sponsors, vendors, participants, and guests. RVA Fashion Week was initiated in 2008 from a small group of VCU students whom had met working together on local fashion events in Richmond. Varying in major from fashion and design to marketing and business - together, they embarked on a large-scale project to showcase Richmond's unique fashion and culture. Jason Primose (the originator) along with Erin Brennan, Kearsten Feggans, Moe Medina, Jen Whitehead, Joseph McCullough, Jimmy Budd, and Courtney Culbreath founded what would soon be known as the largest fashion production in the history of Richmond - impacting local businesses, boosting the city's economy, benefiting endless non-profits, getting models and designers discovered by top agencies and publications, gaining national attention, and most importantly - influencing the city's re-branding campaign - tokening Richmond "RVA"- and placing the Cap City on the map!