Houston's Annual Fashion Week Featured The First Wheelchair Friendly Runway Event [VIDEO] : MStarsNews

During the annual Houston Fashion Week showcased at the JW Marriott Hotel, attendees celebrated a week of fashion and philanthropy. Notable dignitaries in attendance were Ms. Trinelle McHughes-Thomas from the City of Houston Mayor's office, Miss Houston, Miss Teen Houston, Mrs. Texas Int'l, Miss Jr. Lone Star State and Miss Teen Texas. The event spanned six days; and was produced by a group of local models, fashion photographers and style enthusiasts who are in support of Houston's local fashion designers. There was a silent auction of dresses created by the participating designers to help raise financial support for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association's chapter in Houston. The catwalk was wheelchair accessible; making this the first wheelchair friendly runway format for the Houston Fashion Week event.

During the awards segment, one designer, Kimma Wreh of TeKay Designs was awarded as the Best Couture Designer and Best Bridal Designer title for the "Queen of the Brides" gown collection and the "Crown Collection" of formal gowns. Kimma also won the Best Fashion Designer of the year award.

TeKay's Queen of the Brides collection is a high-end bridal line with each gown representative of a historic woman of power and social significance from different countries around the world. The line is heavily influenced by ancient Egyptian and European styles and adorned with lavish accessories. The bridal collection carries white and cream colored gowns with gold trimmings. This season the line introduces a silver ensemble into the bridal collection.

TeKay continues to expand with a new line of high-end formal gowns titled the "Crown Collection" which also showcased this season and includes looks for pageant and red carpet occasions. The Crown Collection offers elegance with color, and was inspired by client's request for red carpet dresses.

"We've been working with several pageant events these past few years. Many of the contestants have utilized TeKay Designs because our dress collection is inspired by culture. Culture resonates with these ladies, and they wish to include their cultural expression into the pageant presentation to differentiate themselves from competitors. I've learned a lot about the demands for pageant winners to be glamorous since I've begun working within pageant events," explains Wreh. "The need to be glamorous extends beyond the award winning moment. These ladies have philanthropic causes, which they represent, and they help by enrolling financial sponsors to support their causes. With each public appearance or presentation they must bring that same level of elegance and charm to the fore-front. Being elegant is an occupational requirement of the title-holder. Pageant queens are particular about wearing unique dress designs. God forbid another woman arrives at an affair wearing the same gown as the pageant winner! TeKay Designs is available to support in creating custom gowns for these women of discerning taste."

The Houston Fashion Week event included a charitable fundraising segment that offered women with spinal cord disabilities to share the catwalk during a moment of glamour.

"We see that this has potential, and it's all about making all women look and feel beautiful," explained Victor Quinteros, the event's brand development director.

"Hopefully, fashion designers will realize a woman can look just as good sitting in a dress as she can standing up," explains Deborah Grayson Carpenter, who is one of the wheelchair models, and former contestant of the Ms. Wheelchair Texas Pageant.

Check out a video below from the event!