Owner, creator, founder & branding enthusiast Rosanna Ortiz Sinel built a brand, created a strategy, and identified a need in our Providence market. Just two years ago, she created Style Week Providence. Originally a fashion writer and advertising guru with a clear passion for the arts, she changed the way style is appreciated in Providence. StyleWeek Providence was created to honor designers and give them the recognition they deserve. "We are actually known to say 'no' more than we say 'yes'," Rosanna tells Sara Faella, founder of FashionRI.  They believe that while designers are busy with creating collections and fronting costs, marketing and branding can fall to the back burner and that's where Style Week, LLC the PR outlet comes in.  

"These designers deserve recognition and the attendees that go along with it.  We are 

selective in who we represent, but that's because we give our designers the PR they need."  Rosanna continues to tell the FashionRI team that you can look forward to these two separate entities in the future: StyleWeek Providence for Runway/Fashion Shows and Events, and StyleWeek, LLC the branding and PR team that will represent the designers.

There are four ways to get involved with StyleWeek Providence 1) you can be a participating designer, which involves an extensive application process.  A lot of these designers are professionals and many coming from previous seasons of Project Runway.  With this being said, the aspiring designer could feel quite intimidated.  As a result they have created SEED, a student design competition to level the playing field a bit. The FashionRI Team is eager to see the turn out in January for these young designers.  2) As an industry professional you may receive invite only seats or 3) there are 120 seats open to the public, Rosanna feels that general public and not just professional buyers should be able to be an attendee "because essentially" she chimes in "we are all buyers." 4) Then of course there are sponsorship opportunities, this season StyleWeek Providence has accumulated over 20 sponsors including Swarovski, Providence Monthly and The Rhode Show.

As we wrapped up our interview Sara asked a final question "So who is responsible for inspiring you or guiding you into this path?" Rosanna without hesitation said her Dad, Martin Ortiz. She said "he always told me to go for my goals and was so supportive in anything I did or wanted to do." 

FashionRI unquestionably enjoyed interviewing Rosanna, a beautiful inspiring woman and successful entrepreneur. We also look forward to covering StyleWeek Providence this season at The Providence Biltmore Hotel January 22nd-28th 2012. Please be on the lookout for video & media coverage by the FashionRI Team.

Twitter @rosannasinel

Twitter @styleweekprov

Twitter @fashion_ri