Written by the St. Johns Citizen
Take away the Lululemon and Under Armour and a good portion of Nocatee would suddenly be half-nude.
But the ever-innovative folks over at The Link will soon introduce new levels of fashionability to the shorts and flops enclave Sept. 13 and 14 as part of their first ever Jax Fuse Festival.
Highlighting culinary, film and fashion talent from across the Jacksonville metro area, the event will feature a catwalk show with models wearing styles from both established and ascendant designers.
Select presenters include Nena Cavalieri, Fleur de Lis Boutique, Lady Strut Gowns and Ramsey Salter — a 13-year-old design prodigy who will be making her runway debut.
Bollywood Dance Mania, a local troupe that teaches the moves made famous by Indian film, will strut in dazzling Indian wedding dresses.
The Link co-founder Gurpreet Misra told The Citizen that the multi-faceted festival represents her core philosophy — that “cross-pollenating” local entrepreneurs will accelerate the First Coast’s emergence as a cultural power.
“We believe that innovation can never happen if people work in silos,” Misra said. “If they are only focused on their profession, their demographics and their clients, then there is no breathing area to understand what is happening in the community or in the region they are in.”
The festival’s film component includes screenings of locally produced shorts, director question-and-answer sessions and skills workshops.
Jax Fuse will also showcase notable local chefs and restaurants, including Timoti’s, Orange Blossom Catering and Nothing Bundt Cakes.
Misra noted that the event will draw talent from well beyond Nocatee and its environs.
“The location of The Link is such that we get more of our clients, customers, visitors and attendees from St. Johns County,” she said. “This is the first time we are trying to attract as much talent from metro Jacksonville.”
Link communications whiz and Jacksonville resident Keeli Scarlett first broached the idea of expanding The Link’s already diverse menu — and Jax Fuse was hatched.
“A lot of the creative things that happen in Jacksonville happen in the city,” she told The Citizen. “So we want to be a bridge to connect those two groups.”
As its name suggests, connections are central to The Link’s mission — especially when it comes to nascent entrepreneurs toting little more than a vision and some belief.
“We wanted to create a space where entrepreneurship is not considered a lonely journey,” said Misra, who worked for many years in urban planning. “Entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners can come here and still feel part of a bigger network.”
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