DANVILLE, Va. — Kelly Cunningham is a Danville resident and creator of Danville Fashion Week (DFW), and she can add another thing to her resume – opening up Fashion Haus with a ribbon cutting in Danville’s River District on Friday.
Before opening, Cunningham started DFW six years ago, been in retail management for 14 years and went to Norfolk State University recognized there are creative people that didn’t have an outlet. She described what the Fashion Haus is.
“It is a photography studio, but if you are a photographer and don’t have your own studio, you can shoot here,” Cunningham said. “You just need your own camera.”
Cunningham explained why she chose to open in the River District.
“It’s growing. Whenever you go to a city, if it’s happening, it’s in the downtown area. I felt like we needed a creative space representing the River District,” she said.
Cunningham outlined what the public reaction has been like.
“It’s been amazing. The community support has been very great. They recognize the studio being part of fashion week; it made sense to do this. We’ve had great representation, and we had people rent it out before opening.
Cunningham said in five years, she sees the business expanding with a bigger space with more sets and offering more services. She also has plans of offering an in-house boutique.
Kelly’s twin sister, Kacey, is her business consultant that helps with business plans, payroll, accounting etc. Kacey joked she gets dragged into everything Kelly does but praises their good relationship and whatever plans are for the future.
“I’ll be with her every step of the way. As long as she continues being passionate about it, it will be what she wants it to be. This is only the beginning, and it will continue to grow.”