Charleston Fashion Week^®, presented by The Art Institute of Charleston, has released the schedule of events, nightly featured designers, retail participants, and roster of celebrity judges confirmed for the March 22-26th event. Celebrating its fifth year, the premier fashion event of the South is set to host some of the most innovative up-and-coming talent on the East Coast, as well as the most influential names in the industry.

New York Fashion Week creator and Former VP of IMG Fashion Fern Mallis will join the CFW Fashion Panel on Saturday, March 26th to select the next Emerging Designer Competition: East winner. Current President of Fern Mallis LLC, Mallis is widely credited for establishing 7^th on Sixth, which organized, centralized, and modernized the American runways, allowing American designers to compete head-on with Milan and Paris, and forever changing the global fashion business.  Ms. Mallis has led new Fashion Weeks in Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, and Moscow.

Other front-row fashion headliners on Saturday's finale panel include Elle magazine's Fashion News Director & returning judge Anne Slowey, fashion writer and New York Times best-selling author Derek Blasberg, Gilt Groupe co-founder Alexis Maybank, and Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant.  

Nightly fashion panel judges include Social Primer's K. Cooper Ray (former VP of Bottega Veneta) and Andrea Serrano (costume buyer for Army Wives). CFW alums and designers Mychael Knight and Marysia Dobrzanska Reeves will also help select the four finalists that will move on to showcase their collections for the chance to win the Grand Prize valued at $30,000.

Charleston Fashion Week^® 2011 ticket holders will have the opportunity to see nightly runway shows from retail participants, featured designers, and up-and-coming emerging designers. Featured designers for 2011 include David Yoo (2010 Elle/rISD Design Award Winner), April Johnston (Project Runway Season 8 Designer), Troubadour, Hunter Dixon, Barbara Beach, Jamie Lin Snider, and 2010 Emerging Designer Competition Winner Larika Page.

Charleston Fashion Week^® organizers have also confirmed that along with the growing list of fashion A-listers in attendance, modeling scouts and buyers will be present. To review the nightly schedule of runway shows; learn more about the featured designers, retail participants, and special guests; or to purchase your VIP weekly pass and tickets; visit www.charlestonfashionweek.com.

About Charleston Fashion Week® Showcasing fashion designers, retailers and models, Charleston Fashion Week® founded in 2007 has fast become one of the premier fashion weeks in North America. Held March 22-26th under the tents in Marion Square in Charleston, SC this five-night celebration will feature more than 40 runway shows, the Spring Bridal Show, Emerging Designer Competition: East, and Rock the Runway Model Competition. Named a Top 20 Event for March by the Southeast Tourism Society, and accredited with launching the careers of numerous up-and-coming designers, this true multimedia event presents high-end runway shows, interactive entertainment, chic after parties and press events. For more information on the fifth annual Charleston Fashion Week®, to review the show schedule, or to complete the media application visit www.charlestonfashionweek.com.