Nashville: Style in the Making

Nashville’s place in the fashion world is evolving, so now is the perfect time to hear directly from those who are shaping its future!

Join the Arts & Business Council to kick off our Salon Series with Nashville: Style in the Making, an engaging evening of fashion industry networking and conversation where local leaders in fashion reflect on how craft, design, and innovation set Nashville apart. Guests will gain insight into building successful fashion brands in Music City and how emerging (and established) voices are elevating Nashville’s style.

Fuel the dialogue with light bites and drinks while connecting with fellow creatives!

Evening Program
5:45 p.m. — Guest Arrival and Welcome
6:00–7:00 p.m. — Networking and Interactive Experiences
7:00–7:45 p.m. — Featured Panel Conversation
7:45–8:00 p.m. — Audience Questions and Panel Response
8:00 p.m. — Closing Remarks and Farewell

Lead Conversationalist

Emmanuel J. LeGrair, M.Ed., Creative Director, R.H. Boyd

Emmanuel J. LeGrair is a creative strategist, community builder, and the Creative Director at R.H. Boyd, where he leads brand storytelling and design initiatives rooted in cultural heritage. As co-founder of The Commonwealth, he curates conversations around style, culture, and brotherhood, collaborating with brands like Longines, Blackstock & Weber, Billy Reid, Soho House Nashville, and Buck Mason. His career spans education, nonprofit leadership, consulting, and entrepreneurship, with board service at the Arts & Business Council, Frist Art Museum, PENCIL Foundation, Kindling Arts Festival, and Nashville Public Radio. Emmanuel holds a B.S. in International Business from the University of Akron and an M.Ed. in Leadership and Organizational Performance from Vanderbilt, bringing a human-centered approach to creative leadership and strategy.

Panelists

Savannah Yarborough, SAVAS : American Luxury Menswear 

Alabama native Savannah Yarborough received her BA in Menswear and Tailoring at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London. Her design career began as the Senior Men’s Designer of award-winning Billy Reid. Known for her eye for cut, fit and material expertise, her designs are shaped by a combination of European tailoring and American grit.  Savas was created in 2015 to create a unique offering of expertly crafted luxury leather and suede garments that are now sold in the finest retailers in the United States, such as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and other fine men’s stores. The brand placement is adjacent to Brunello Cucinelli, Tom Ford and Zegna.

Ethan Kiyoshi Summers, Oil/Lumber

Ethan Kiyoshi Summers is the founder and maker behind Oil/Lumber, a Nashville-based label blending Japanese design principles with rugged American workwear. Since launching in 2014, Summers has remained dedicated to crafting every garment by hand, personally testing his pieces for durability and function in daily life. His studio also serves as a woodshop, where his minimalist furniture designs reflect the same emphasis on craftsmanship and utility. Summers’ work embodies a philosophy of intentional living, where clothing and objects are designed to be lived in, built to last, and deeply connected to their maker.

About the Salon Series

The Arts & Business Council’s Salon Series is a new event platform designed to spark conversation, gather insight, and build community across Nashville’s creative sector. Each gathering spotlights a different area of the creative economy such as fashion, film, or design through interactive experiences and thoughtful dialogue with local leaders. It’s a space to connect, share ideas, and shape the future of the arts in our city.

The Salon Series is made possible by funding support from the Tremaine Foundation.