INTERFORM, the nonprofit organization behind NWA Fashion Week, announced its closure on March 14 via social media, closing the curtain on years of promoting artistic expression and connecting the fashion community in Northwest Arkansas.
Through the merger of the Arkansas Arts and Fashion Forum and Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week, the founders created INTERFORM in February 2021. The organization moved into a physical space on Emma Street in Springdale, Arkansas, an area that has since been impacted by infrastructure changes that the city of Springdale began in 2023. Since then, INTERFORM has grown and expanded to include a variety of programming.
CEO Robin Wallis Atkinson, who had served in her role since 2016, stepped down on Feb. 28, with INTERFORM’s leadership board making a statement on their social media on her behalf.
“INTERFORM has always been about more than one individual,” the board’s statement read. “It is a collective effort powered by the passion, talent and dedication of our entire team and community. We are deeply grateful for your continued support, and we want to assure you that our relationships with our donors, sponsors and stakeholders remain a top priority.”
Atkinson also served as the founder of RHIZOME, a former INTERFORM for-profit subsidiary focusing on design and manufacturing in the apparel industry that is now closed. They offered services such as product development and design, small batch manufacturing, alterations and repairs.
The announcement of INTERFORM’s closure came just one week after the organization canceled NWA Fashion Week 2025 and all related programming. Prior to the cancellation, the organization had already secured the Ledger in Bentonville as a venue, finalized event dates for the last weekend in May, and held open calls for models, designers, photographers, hair and makeup artists and volunteer-based positions.
They also announced the decision to cancel ASSEMBLY, advertised as the country’s largest art and fashion curatorial training program. ASSEMBLY was initially slated to happen in June 2025 and was meant to bring together hundreds of artists and industry professionals to educate about the ins and outs of art and fashion exhibition-making. Prior iterations of the event, which was founded in summer 2021, also included retail pop-ups and celebrations of Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ pride.
According to designers and models involved with the 2024 Fashion Week events, INTERFORM seemed to be thriving. The organization’s events were funded by large corporate donors and household names in the fashion and beauty world, such as L’Oréal, Pantene, Essie, Garnier, Walmart, Coca-Cola and more. RHIZOME was created, according to Atkinson, to “diversify our revenue streams and reinforce our commitment to the creative community.” However, when INTERFORM closed in March, it cited “significant financial challenges.”
However, the decision has a far wider impact than the organization itself. Back on March 23, clothing rental store The Library Vintage hosted a forum aimed at local fashion designers, models, photographers, creative directors and anyone hoping to see positive change in the fashion community in the coming months, even after the future of larger events, such as NWA Fashion Week, was brought into question.
However, even as NWA Fashion Week comes to a close, a local fashion icon is working to revive the fashion week concept under a different name. Rulli Torres was previously the director of education and community programs for INTERFORM and a production and manufacturing executive for RHIZOME and has been an independent fashion designer for over 10 years.
Bentonville Fashion Week is currently set to occur at the Thaden School in Bentonville from June 6-8. The event will serve as a fundraiser for Springdale-based nonprofit One Community, which hosts bilingual literacy and leadership programs.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Torres said that he wants Bentonville Fashion Week to be a movement rather than just an event.
“BFW connects designers, brands, and fashion enthusiasts in a shared mission to elevate Northwest Arkansas as a hub of creativity and culture,” Torres said. “We’re not just showcasing trends; we’re building a legacy that reflects the unique spirit of our region. Join us as we redefine what a fashion event can be — inclusive, inspiring and deeply rooted in the community we call home.”
