By Stephanie Bray

Tucson-based sustainable fashion designer Laura Tanzer has been selected to participate in Phoenix Fashion Week’s 2016 Emerging Designer Bootcamp. In its 8th year, the bootcamp will feature 15 emerging designers.

“I am impressed with Laura’s attention to detail, high quality design and strong work ethic, ensuring success for this brand,” Executive Director of Phoenix Fashion Week Brian Hill said in a press release.

The Competition

Each year, the Phoenix Fashion Week team travels the country in search of emerging designers. Once chosen, the curated designers will participate in a 4-month bootcamp, which is aimed to help them sharpen their business and technical skills.

The Project Runway-esque competition will also feature fashion challenges that the designers are required to complete. Winners of each category (Couture, Contemporary, Lifestyle and Accessory) will receive a prize package to assist them in launching their brand.

The Local Designer

Tanzer, who competed in the 2015 bootcamp, is headquartered in downtown Tucson. Sustainably chic, the Laura Tanzer brand embodies the three pillars of sustainability: society, economy and environment. Her designs focus on quality materials, construction and fit. Each collection is Made in the USA, which represents a designer’s commitment to quality garments as well as an economic path that sustains those designs.

“My clothes are architectural, modern, and always crafted for excellent fit, made to move with the wearer, to accent her natural beauty as a woman,” Tanzer said in a press release.

The 2016 Phoenix Fashion Week Runway Show will be held at Talking Stick Resort, October 12-15.

Green Living magazine is proud to collaborate with Laura on the monthly Sustainability Series, held at her design workshop called the Laura Tanzer Atelier. We wish her success in the 2016 Emerging Designer Boot Camp!