The Chattanooga Fashion Expo Origin Story (2021-2025)
In 2020, Shanna Forrestall founded the Chattanooga Fashion Expo (CFE) with a clear and ambitious vision: to elevate Chattanooga as a destination for meaningful, high-level fashion experiences while creating real opportunities for regional creatives to grow, connect, and be seen.
What began as a bold new initiative quickly evolved into a dynamic annual platform that bridged local talent with industry professionals. Over the course of five years, CFE became known not just as an event, but as a catalyst for creative development and cultural expansion within the Southeast.
What CFE Delivered (2020–2025):
Professional-Level Showcases
Designers, models, stylists, and artists were given the opportunity to present their work in thoughtfully produced runway shows that reflected both creative vision and technical execution.Education + Mentorship
CFE prioritized learning, offering workshops, panels, and direct engagement with experienced professionals across fashion, production, and creative business.Networking + Industry Access
The event created meaningful connections between emerging creatives and established voices in the industry—opening doors that extended far beyond the runway.Creative Competition + Recognition
Through structured showcases and competitions, participants were challenged to refine their work, build confidence, and gain visibility for their talent.Community Building
Perhaps most importantly, CFE cultivated a sense of belonging—bringing together a diverse and passionate creative community that continues to grow and collaborate today.
Impact:
Over five years, Chattanooga Fashion Expo helped position Chattanooga as an emerging hub for fashion and creative expression. It empowered a new generation of artists to take themselves seriously, pursue opportunities beyond their immediate environment, and see their work within a broader, global context.
Many participants went on to expand their careers, collaborate across disciplines, and engage in larger platforms—carrying forward the foundation built through CFE.
Evolution: A Global Vision
As the impact of CFE grew, so did the vision behind it.
What began as a regional fashion event has now evolved into a broader, more intentional global collective— now called the Lotus Fashion Collective - that extends beyond a single city and into international collaboration, education, and creative exchange.
This rebrand reflects a deeper commitment:
to not only showcase talent, but to actively develop it…
to not only connect creatives, but to build sustainable pathways…
and to not only participate in culture, but to help shape it.
Looking Back — and Forward
We invite you to look back at the journey of Chattanooga Fashion Expo (2020–2025)—the people, the work, and the moments that defined it.
And more importantly, we invite you forward.
This is just the beginning of a larger movement.