From Lafayette Chic to Fashion Week

PHOTO BY MIKE D PHOTOGRAPHY

By Vicky Roe

New York. Los Angeles. Even Atlanta. All cities that may come to mind when you think of Fashion capitals- but one Louisiana native is creating a lane for Lafayette to join the ranks.

Hailing from Breaux Bridge, Morgan Pete believes in one simple rule “If we don’t have it, create it.” Following this simple principle, Pete has created several opportunities in Lafayette that otherwise, wouldn’t exist- Acadiana Fashion Week and the Fashion Institute of Louisiana. But how did a quiet and shy young girl, who tried to avoid public speaking at all costs, become the woman running one of the premiere events in Lafayette? Well that’s a question that even Pete is still coming up with the answer to. “All of this is so surprising. I just wanted to play volleyball and become a scientist. That was always my goal. I never thought I’d actually own a business,” said Pete

One of Pete’s successful businesses is Acadiana Fashion Week, (AFW) a three day experience where people come to Lafayette and enjoy fashion shows from a number of designers. The concept of Acadiana Fashion Week was born around 2014, but it wasn’t until two years later that Pete took that leap of faith and went for it. “I traveled a lot and went to a few different fashion weeks; some huge (New York Fashion Week) and a few smaller ones. I noticed how much talent our area had but with so little opportunities. I wanted to create a platform where everyone could come together and showcase their work, help out backstage or just be a guest in the audience. I wanted AFW to be big but also wanted it to be looked at as a family atmosphere, where people felt comfortable, could network and actually build a career.”

Even with the best intentions, the road to success is almost never a glamorous one, but Pete was determined to turn her trials to triumphs. “I was told ‘no’ a lot, especially since I became interested in modeling. A lot of agencies wanted models who were one size and that’s just not realistic; consumers want to see people they can relate to. Unfortunately, my hips were always too wide, my butt was too big, I wasn’t tall enough and at some points, I did get discouraged and felt like I wasn’t good enough. One agency told me they already had someone who looked like me. This industry forces you to have tough skin. But I was able to use everything I went through and create a platform here in Louisiana that doesn’t cater to the ‘one size fits all’ industry standard. We’re all different, the consumers are different and when I do my shows, I want little kids and adults to see someone who looks like them,” Pete explained.

With her idea and the help of her team, she was able to do exactly what she set out to do. Her co-founders and leadership team consists of Michael Smith and Johnetta George. Pete stresses the importance of having a solid foundation for a successful business. “Things definitely get hard, and trying to do everything alone gets exhausting. Plus, it’s always good to have people around who will keep you going! At times, I can’t make it to our photo shoots for Fashion Week but I trust that the team will still be able to execute our vision. We all have similar goals and want what’s best for Louisiana. Our families are here and we’re going to raise kids here one day too. Louisiana is our home,” she explained.

Although Pete’s biggest fear about the first Acadiana Fashion Week was not getting support, it turns out she had nothing to worry about. “The seats were filled and we actually ended up having to turn guests away because it was too full. We underestimated ourselves and received a lot more support than anyone expected.”

From the first Acadiana Fashion Week in 2016, to the annual ones that followed, Pete has plenty to be thankful for. “I’m most proud of our growth, which means we’re doing something right. When models and designers return with their designer and model friends, it shows that it’s working. We went from 40 models at our first casting, to over 300 the next; that’s growth! People are showing up and talking about it.”

After getting so much support from one venture, it was only natural for Pete to gamble on herself a second time. Thus, the Fashion Institute of Louisiana was born. “The Fashion Institute of Louisiana (FIL) is a college for business, fashion and design. We are committed to excellence. We believe in challenging the status quo and changing the world through art and fashion. We are dedicated to growth and enhancing the gifts each of our students possesses.”

While both the Fashion Institute of Louisiana and Acadiana Fashion Week have bright futures, the current pandemic has rearranged some things for all of us, Pete being no exception. “Canceling this year’s AFW was heartbreaking. I went back and forth so many times with the decision but I knew that it was best for the safety and health of our community and everyone involved in Fashion Week. I tried to look at things in a more positive light. It gives us more time to make AFW 4 even better. People can look forward to a bigger venue, more vendors, more models, new faces, and more designers from across the United States. They can also look forward to more male (fashion) lines, our Art Show and Business Seminar that’ll consist of great artists and panelists.” The new dates for AFW are January 7th-10th, 2021 at the Ballroom of Broussard.

With no end in sight for this ever-growing entrepreneur, Pete plans on keeping the importance of community at the forefront. “So many people have told me to move, do it somewhere else, that it could be bigger somewhere else. My answer has always been the same, ‘no!’ I want to keep people here, bring people here and build my area up. I think it’s important to not forget about the kids in the area and give them those opportunities we never had.”

MIKE D PHOTOGRAPHY

For more information on Acadiana Fashion Week, see links below

Website: www.acadianafashionweek.com

Instagram: @acadianafashionweek

Twitter/Snapchat: @acadianaFW

MICHELLE WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

For more information on the Fashion Institute of Louisiana: Instagram: @fashioninstitutela

Twitter: @FILouisiana