[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’ve been asked a million questions about my trip to New York during Fashion Week and for good reason. Did you read my tweets that week? We had a blast! I’ve been anxiously awaiting the time to write this post. There’s oh so much to share, so I’ll cover the topic with the 5W’s and the H. Here we go…

Who is Brizo? Who was invited to the event?

Brizo is a trendsetting fashion-forward faucet brand with a unique collaboration with acclaimed fashion designer, Jason Wu. Brizo creates fabulous products for the kitchen, bath, shower systems for those with discerning tastes. They invited a group of architects, interior designers, and writers, affectionately known as the Blogger 19, for a 3-day event during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

What do faucets and fashion have in common?

I had the same question before I was introduced to what I called “Brizo University.” While in New York, I attended seminars produced by key members of the Brizo staff learning about their design process from concept to completion. A new product starts off much like a new fashion line. There’s lots of trend forecasting involved, research regarding the needs of the consumer, and of course gathering inspiration.

Simply put, Brizo makes fashion for the home. Fashion isn’t just clothing, its your lifestyle. A Brizo faucet reflects your personal style and meets your performance needs.

Here’s one of my favorite Brizo kitchen faucets, the Talo Collection with Smart Touch technology. I’m smitten by its soft contours while the practical side of me loves the ability to turn on this faucet by simply touching the spout or handle.

Talo also features the Brizo brand’s MagneDock magnetic docking technology. Utilizing a powerful magnet to securely lock the wand into the faucet spout, MagneDock makes the wand extremely easy to engage and disengage. I’m ready to toss my current faucet out of the window.

Lucky for us we were also gifted with a kitchen faucet so my Brizo wish will come to pass!

When did you know this was going to be an event to remember?

From the time we received the invitation to attend Brizo Fashion Week to the last moment when we said our final goodbyes we were treated like VIP guests.  The full event was paid for by Brizo including airfare, hotel, meals, and transportation. The effort put forth by the Brizo team to make this an unforgettable event was much appreciated given the fact that we all left our businesses for three days to receive the full Brizo experience.

The attendees were a phenomenal group of talents, many I’ve interacted with via twitter and have met previously at other functions. The camaraderie among the group was unreal and I knew we will all continue to foster the new-found relationships.

Where did you stay while in New York? Where did you go?

Our accommodations were appropriately made at the Eventi Hotel which I previously wrote about here.

We also ventured off to Sur la Table for a cooking class…yes, a cooking class!! Under the direction of the resident chef, we mastered the art of pasta making and got a chance to use Brizo’s Smart Touch technology in a real life setting. Genius!

The third day of  Brizo Fashion Week  kicked off with a Champagne Brunch, followed by a ‘field trip’ to the Jason Wu Fashion Show (click here to watch the show), then to a private cocktail reception with the man of the hour.

images courtesy of Jayme Thornton

Why does Brizo do this?

Brizo cares. They care about their employees, their consumers, the environment, and their collaborators. Brizo looks to make authentic connections with their audience by educating them about their design processes, marketing efforts, and devotion to the preservation our natural resources. Transparency is key. Why fashion week? I’ll answer this question with another question, “What better time to celebrate a fashion-forward brand than during New York Fashion Week?”  This time is also an opportunity to show their support to Jason Wu who they have sponsored since he first appeared on the fashion scene in 2006.

How did you get involved?

Each attendee was nominated by someone from the previous group. I had three endorsements from fellow industry professionals and who I adore and respect. Their recommendation was a priceless gift of education, fun, and fellowship.

Endless thanks to Brizo team for their tireless efforts in making our time in New York an unforgettable occasion. Your team exceeded all my expectations for this trip and I came away inspired by your process and your immense pride in the Brizo brand.

THANK YOU!!