WITH ME IN THE KITCHEN TODAY IS THOMAS MCCLURE, FOUNDER OF THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL.

THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

SO TELL US ALL ABOUT THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL?

>> SURE, SO THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL OVERSEES FASHION WEEK COLUMBUS AS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, ALONG WITH OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, LIKE THE FASHION AWARDS, ALSO THE FASHION INDUSTRY CONFERENCE, PARTNERED PROGRAMS AS WELL, BUT IT ALL REALLY STARTED WITH FASHION WEEK COLUMBUS BACK IN 2010.

WHY IT STARTED THAT WAY IS BECAUSE WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A FASHION ECOSYSTEM HERE.

AND DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD ONE RUNWAY SHOW.

AND WE ALL LOVE HALLOWEEN.

WE LOVE THE COSTUMES, RIGHT?

BUT I HAD SOME MODELS BECAUSE I WAS A TALENT AGENT.

I WAS A DIRECTOR OF A TALENT AGENCY, AND WE HAD SOME MODELS THAT WANTED TO WALK THE RUNWAY.

WE'RE 15th LARGEST IN THE CITY, WHY DON'T WE HAVE A FASHION WEEK?

IT STARTED WITH A FOUR-DAY FASHION WEEK.

BUT SINCE 2010, ALL THE WAY TO 2018, WE WERE INADVERTENTLY BUILDING AND DEVELOPING THE FASHION ECOSYSTEM IT IN CENTRAL OHIO.

THAT MEANS THE MAKEUP ARTIST, THE HAIR STYLISTS, THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, THE VIDEOGRAPHERS, THE DESIGNERS, THE MODELS, THE CREW.

ALL THESE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER EVERY YEAR FOR ONE FULL WEEK DURING FASHION WEEK TO CREATE MAGIC ON THE RUNWAY, TO HELP LAUNCH THESE DESIGNERS.

SO BY DOING THAT, WE JUST CREATED A FASHION FAMILY, THIS COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL OHIO.

SO IN 2018, IT WAS TIME TO CREATE THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL.

>> OF COURSE.

>> WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT.

>> NO, IT HAD TO BUILD UP?

>> EXACTLY.

SINCE THEN, WE HAVE BROADENED OUR VISION.

WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR MISSION, WHICH IS PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO FASHION DESIGN STUDENTS, AND TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR LOCAL AND EMERGING FASHION DESIGNERS.

AND NOW HERE WE ARE, 16 YEARS IN.

>> STOP IT.

WILD.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE.

I MEAN, COLUMBUS IS A VERY FASHIONABLE CITY.

A LOT OF CREATIVE PEOPLE AND, OF COURSE, FASHION AND FOOD.

>> YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH FASHION AND FOOD, AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I COULD LITERALLY -- YOU'RE MARRYING MY TWO FAVORITE THINGS.

>> THEY'RE THE BEST THING.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL INGREDIENTS IN FRONT OF US.

TELL US WHAT RECIPE WE'RE MAKING TODAY?

>> SO THIS RECIPE IS A RECIPE FROM MY GRANDMOTHER.

IN MY OWN LITTLE TWIST TO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO HAVE A TWIST TO IT.

>> OF COURSE.

>> IS ANCHOVY PASTE.

IT CREATES A UNAMI FLAVOR.

IT DOESN'T TASTE LIKE FISH.

>> PEOPLE GET WEIRDED OUT.

>> IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD, BUT IT'S PROBABLY IN MORE THINGS THAN YOU THINK.

>> RIGHT?

IT'S FOR THAT FLAVOR.

>> IT DOES, IT'S REALLY GOOD.

>> I'M SO EXCITED TO GET STARTED.

TELL US WHAT INGREDIENTS WE NEED.

>> HALF THE SWEET ONION, CHOPPED.

FOUR TABLESPOONS OF OLIVE OIL.

FOUR GARLIC CLOVES, EIGHT FRESH BASIL LEAVES, TWO STALKS OF CELERY, 32 OUNCES OF WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMS, TWO 28-OUNCE CANS OF CRUSHED TOMATOES, ONE TABLESPOON OF TOMATO PASTE, ONE POUND OF GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF, ONE TEASPOON OF CRUSHED RED PEPPERS.

HALF A TEASPOON OF OREGANO.

ONE TEASPOON OF SALT, TWO TEASPOONS OF FISH SAUCE OR ANCHOVY PASTE.

EIGHT OUNCES OR MORE OF PINO NOIR, AND THEN DRY OR FRESH SPAGHETTI NOODLES.

>> OKAY, THOMAS, THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING HERE.

WHERE DO WE START?

>> THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING HERE.

WHERE I START, I DO THE GARLIC, CELERY, AND THE ONIONS.

I SAUTE THEM TOGETHER.

SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ADD THE CELERY HERE.

YOU HEAR A LITTLE SIZZLE.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> I'M GOING TO ADD THE ONION.

>> YOU'RE KIND OF EYEBALLING?

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S THE THING, YOU CAN BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE AMOUNTS.

>> ALL THE GARLIC.

ALL THE GARLIC.

>> COOKING IS AN ART.

>> MIX THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> LOVE IT.

>> THEN I'M GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF SALT.

YOU WANT TO SALT AS YOU GO.

>> OKAY, LAYER THAT SEASONING IN.

>> LAYER IT.

AND THIS IS SEA SALT.

IT'S HEALTHIER THAN TABLE SALT.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

>> AT LEAST I TELL MYSELF THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> LET THAT SIMMER.

WE'LL LET THAT SAUTE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, AND WE'LL ADD THE HAMBURGER MEAT.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS TRANSLUCENT, YOUR GARLIC, YOU CAN SMELL THE GARLIC.

IT'S READY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> WHATEVER YOU WANT.

JUST DON'T BURN YOURSELF.

YOU GOT IT.

AND --LITERALLY JUST CHOP IT UP.

IF YOU HAVE LIKE A MASHER, ONE OF THOSE WIRE MASHERS, THAT HELPS A LOT.

>> LOOKING GOOD.

>> SO RIGHT WHEN IT'S BROWN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GO AHEAD AND TURN UP THE HEAT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO LET ME DO THIS.

YEP.

TURN THE HEAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO PUT SOME INGREDIENTS IN.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

ANOTHER INGREDIENT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN RIGHT NOW IS THE TOMATO PASTE.

>> I'LL USE THIS IF YOU WANT TO SCRAPE IT IN?

>> YES, THANK YOU.

>> TOMATO PASTE.

YEAH.

>> TOMATO PASTE.

>> WOULDN'T COOKING BE SO EASY IF EVERY TIME ALL THIS STUFF WAS LAID OUT FOR YOU?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS MOVE THE MEAT TO THE SIDE, JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> OKAY.

>> I'M GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE OIL.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS GOING TO KIND OF COOK THE BROWN SUGAR DOWN.

>> DOES THE BROWN SUGAR KIND OF CARAMELIZE A LITTLE BIT?

>> IT DOES.

WHAT IT DOES, IT CUTS THE ACID FROM ALL THESE TOMATOES.

SO THERE WE GO.

BROWN SUGAR.

I'LL USE MY HANDS.

I DID CLEAN THEM.

IT'S ANOTHER HABIT OF CLEANING MY HANDS.

>> WHAT IS IT, CLEAN HANDS, THE COOK'S BEST TOOL?

>> YES!

SO THAT CARAMELIZES.

>> IT DOES, REAL QUICK.

>> THEN JUST MOVE THAT, START MOVING IT.

>> WITH WHAT A CLEVER TRICK.

>> WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ADD IN OUR VERY SMELLY FISH ANCHOVIES OR ANCHOVY PASTE.

>> OR FISH SAUCE.

>> I'M ONLY DOING HALF.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE WE HAVE A LITTLE LESS BEEF.

>> SURE.

MAKES SENSE.

>> JUST MIX THAT IN BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR BEEF TO PICK UP THE FLAVOR.

>> YES, YOU ARE REALLY LAYERING THOSE FLAVORS.

>> WE ARE LAYERING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE READY WHAT WE MIGHT CALL THE DEGLAZING.

>> THE WINE?

>> THE WINE.

>> ARE WE POURING IT ALL IN?

>> ALL OF IT.

ALL OF IT.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT SPOON.

>> SMELLS SO RICH AND DELICIOUS.

NOW IT'S HAPPENING.

>> SMELL THAT?

THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SMELLS IN THE WORLD, BY THE WAY.

PINOT NOIR COOKING.

>> GOES WITH EVERYTHING.

[ LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT, THIS DELICIOUS SAUCE IS SIMMERING.

I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT FASHION WEEK.

YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW IT BEGAN.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE?

>> SO, IT'S LITERALLY A WEEK OF MAGIC.

I CAN SAY THAT, BUT THAT'S SUCH A BROAD, YOU KNOW, TERM.

WHAT DOES THAT MAGIC MEAN?

IF YOU EVER ATTENDED FASHION WEEK COLUMBUS, WE HAVE EIGHT FULL EVENTS IN ONE SEVEN-DAY PERIOD.

MOST OF THE SHOWS ARE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY THE SHOW, LIKE RECYCLED RUNWAY, WHICH IS RECYCLED WEARS, RECYCLED FASHIONS, WHICH WE LOVE.

IT'S A COMMUNITY FAVORITE.

WE ALSO HAVE ELAINA B FASHION, WHERE WE GET TO MEET OUR CELEBRITY DESIGNER WE BRING IN AND HAVE A Q&A WITH HER OR HIM.

AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR MACY'S FALL FASHION SHOW AND OUR NORDSTROM FALL BEAUTY SHOWCASE.

THOSE TWO ARE AMAZING.

THOSE ARE FREE EVENTS.

BUT THEN WE HAVE SW CURVE, WHICH IS OUR CURVY FASHION SHOW, WHERE WE DISPLAY OR FEATURE PLUS-SIZE DESIGNERS OR MODELS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, THEY HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.

>> THEY HAVE MONEY TO SPEND.

AND IT ALL CULMINATES IN THE END OF THE WEEK AT THE FINALE RUNWAY SHOW.

FINALE RUNWAY SHOW IS WHERE WE FEATURE FIVE LOCAL REGIONAL DESIGNERS.

CELEBRITY DESIGNER COMES IN AS WELL TO SHOWCASE THEIR COLLECTION.

ADD THAT TOMATO SAUCE.

>> OF COURSE.

I LOVE YOU'RE STAYING ON TRACK AND TALKING.

>> I'M GOING TO TURN IT DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> KEEP GOING.

>> BOTH CANS GO IN RIGHT HERE.

>> YOU'RE SO GOOD AT MULTITASKING.

>> WELL, I MEAN, I CAN TALK AND COOK AT THE SAME TIME.

>> I LOVE IT.

THAT'S A LOT.

A SEVEN-DAY PERIOD?

TALK ABOUT MAGIC.

>> WHAT FASHION WEEK REALLY IS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

OH, IT'S JUST THEATER.

IT'S A BRAND LAUNCHING PLATFORM.

SO THE DESIGNERS, THE MODELS THAT MAKE UP THE ART, THE PHOTOGRAPHERS, THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> RIGHT.

WHOLE INDUSTRY.

>> THEY'RE EITHER LLCs OR 1099s, AND THEY'RE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE MAGIC ON THE RUNWAY.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY'RE LAUNCHING THEIR BRANDS FROM THE RUNWAY BECAUSE BEYOND THE RUNWAY, YOU HAVE PHOTOGRAPHER THAT MOVES ON.

YOU HAVE VIDEOS THAT MOVE ON, AND YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT MOVES ON.

SO THE DESIGNERS HAVE ALL THESE MARKETING TOOLS, AND THEY HAVE BUILT A BOND WITH THE AUDIENCES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO CARRY ON THEIR SMALL BUSINESS TO STAY IN CENTRAL OHIO, DOING WHAT THEY LOVE.

>> CREATING, DESIGNING RIGHT HERE IN COLUMBUS.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

[ MUSIC ] >> OKAY, THOMAS, WHILE OUR DELICIOUS SAUCE IS SIMMERING, TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS INVOLVED WITH THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL?

>> A PROGRAM WE HAVE ON THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL IS THE FASHION AWARDS FALL, WHICH WILL HOST THE COLUMBUS FASHION AWARDS.

SO WE DO PRESENT THE COLUMBUS FASHION AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE MADE AN IMPACT THROUGH FASHION OR IN FASHION.

AND THAT IS ON ITS, I BELIEVE, FIFTH YEAR OR FOURTH YEAR, SO WE INTRODUCE THAT RIGHT BACK IN 2021.

WE ALSO HAVE THE FASHION INDUSTRY CONFERENCE, WHICH INCLUDES THE STATE OF FASHION IN OHIO, WHICH IS ONE DAY, WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION AND HOW THEY IMPACT FASHION.

THAT INCLUDES CLEVELAND AND SINCE SINCE FAT HAD TEE CINCINNATI.

THEN WE HAVE A FEW PARTNER PROGRAMS.

A PARTNER WORK FORCE PROGRAM WITH OHIO MEDIA SCHOOL, WHERE THEIR STUDENTS WILL COME IN AND CREATE, RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE CREATING A DOCUMENTARY ON ONE OF THE DESIGNERS, AND THEY GET CREDIT FOR THAT, FOR THEIR PROGRAMS.

WE'RE PROVIDING THE CONTACT, RIGHT?

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER WORK FORCE PROGRAM WITH THE NURTURE INSTITUTE.

THEY HANDLE ALL THE HAIR AND MAKEUP FOR ALL THE FASHION SHOWS, AND THEY ALSO GET CREDIT FOR THEIR SCHOOLING, AND THEY GET REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY COULDN'T REALLY GET IN SCHOOL, BUT WE PROVIDE THAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

WE HAVE OTHER INITIATIVES COMING UP TOO.

WE ARE ALWAYS DEVELOPING.

WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HEY, USE THE SMALL BUSINESS IF YOU'RE A DESIGNER, A MODEL, WHATEVER, A PHOTOGRAPHER.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND IN OHIO, RIGHT?

>> I LOVE HOW THEY ARE SO CONNECTED IN SO BE HAD DIFFERENT WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED AND TO BOOST THE FASHION COMMUNITY.

AND I LOVE IT'S ALL OF OHIO TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S BEYOND COLUMBUS?

>> YES.

WE ARE CONNECTED TOO, BY THE WAY.

WE LOVE OHIO, RIGHT?

I THINK IN COLUMBUS, SOME OF US PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK BECAUSE WE DO SUCH A GREAT JOB, BUT WE HAVE TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OUTSIDE OF OHIO.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, RIGHT?

WHEN WE DO THAT, WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.

WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE COUNCIL OF FASHION DESIGNERS OF AMERICA IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS THE FASHION COUNCIL OF THE WORLD BASICALLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> WILL AND WE PARTNERED WITH OTHER FASHION ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

[ MUSIC ] > >> THOMAS, IT HAS BEEN A DELIGHT HAVING YOU HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, AND THANKS FOR LETTING ME COOK WITH YOU.

>> THAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART.

THIS IS AMAZING.

I CAN'T WAIT TO DIG IN.

I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLUMBUS FASHION COUNCIL.

>> OF COURSE.

CHEERS!