Editor's Notes

Note from the Editor | Feb. 17, 2011

Nick Meyer |

FEATHERY FUN. On Saturday, February 5, Menomonie’s Raw Deal eatery played host to the 2nd Annual Pardon Fashion Show: “A Feral Affair.” The event encouraged local designers and artists to amaze the public with their personal creations. A fantastic collection of photos is at VolumeOne.org.
 
On Saturday, February 5, Menomonie’s
Raw Deal eatery played host to the
2nd Annual Pardon Fashion Show:
“A Feral Affair.”

I continue to be amazed at the Menomonie fashion scene. I know that might sound ridiculous. To put the words “fashion” and “scene” together in reference to any of the communities in our coverage area is probably amusing to anyone in (or even out of) the know. But seriously, I’d be willing to bet that per capita, Menomonie has the strongest fashion presence in the Midwest. If not … the world. (Important note: I have little to base that on.) The photo at right is just one candid shot from the social soiree following Menomonie’s latest installment of style. Largely fueled, I suppose, by UW-Stout’s fashion program (and a great art program in general) the sleepy little college town manages to churn out more than a handful of must-see fashion events every year – both at the University and around town. Though I’ve attended a few, my most intimate experience with the Menomonie Fashion Phenomenon was when I had the opportunity to judge the annual Fashion Without Fabric event a couple years back – a full-blown style spectacle attended by several hundred fashion fans who often buy their tickets weeks in advance. Now I know it’s not like Menomonie is the new fashion capital of the world, but this all goes to show that anything can happen anywhere. Population doesn’t decide all anymore. And the coasts don’t have the stranglehold on culture they once thought they did. As we’ve seen over and over again here in Eau Claire, immense talent and real ambition can arise from anywhere, and stay there. Add just enough interest from the community to nourish it for just long enough and real, meaningful movements can take place.