Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Target announced its next designer for their Go! International series. This series has been a compilation of high fashion talent from abroad. First in this series, was edgy fashionista, the British Luella Bartley and this spring was French sensation, Tara Jarmon, and still to come this summer is France's ever popular Paul&Joe.

The world has been waiting, or at least I have, for the next installment in the series. None other than the one of the newest, talented, designers: Behnaz Sarafpour! How exciting! I mean really. Behnaz Sarafpour sold to the mass markets. I really love the idea behind this initiative. Not only do these international designers get more exposure in the American market but it also gives those who are unable a chance to get a taste of fashion at its finest. Not every American household can afford that pricey Marc Jacobs handbag or Gucci platforms, it's nice to see a balance in an industry in which does so seldom exist.

America needs to see what fashion really is, it's more than just clothes and labels, it is art, it is innovative creativity. I think this tends to be lost anywhere outside of Manhattan, LA or Europe. I know that my parents and family have no idea what I do and think I get to play in clothes and make up and accessories all day long. They see it as, dare I say the word, frivolous! Fun, it may be, but frivolous, never. Target, while trying to expand their numbers in fashion retail (which was the largest money earner for them in 2005) is doing much more than just sales. They are opening the eyes to all consumers out there who had no clue who Luella Bartley was. I hope this new breed of fashion savvy consumers will learn to truly understand the elements of this industry. No, we don't all get jobs like LC or get to walk in a Teen Vogue fashion show just because one of the models was a no show and being a fashion assistant is not always as glamorous as Anne Hathaway leads us to believe. Let's get back to basics when fashion was new and fresh and Mary Quant was making a statement while Kenzo kept fashion full of art. Let's think about how to make the industry a little more inspiring, ala Target. Who knows, this could be the beginning of a much larger fashion movement for us all!