DCist has discovered that, against all logic, Mayor Anthony Williams proclaimed Sept. 10-19 dcFashionWeek. Sponsored by Corjor International, dcFashionWeek is a partnership of independent fashion designers, producers and models showcasing ready-to-wear, urbanwear and couture from an eclectic group of local and international designers. (This image shows the work of dcFashionWeek design participant Troy Artis.)

The week kicked off Monday with a ready-to-wear showcase and appears to offer more to the D.C. community than the latest collections from lesser-known designers. Voter registration, a clothing drive for the homeless, and a collection for area food banks add a community flavor to the week’s efforts to inspire the young D.C. fashion industry and increase economic development in the area’s fashion design, clothing merchandising and modeling sectors. Friday offers an urbanwear showcase, and Sunday caps the week with a couture lineup and Grand Finale Show.

Now DCist would normally be all for D.C. to take a fashion step forward. After all, we are the city that still clings stubbornly to the 2000 Burberry check fad (yes woman with the “Burberry” check shoes on 15th Street, we saw you). But why try to grab a guest-staring role on the national fashion scene at the same time as the fashion world’s most self-consciously pre-occupied period, NYC Fashion Week (Sept. 8–15). Isn’t it bad enough that D.C. was recently dubbed “New York’s retarded step-brother?”

But DCist will quit the lecture and applaud D.C.’s baby-steps onto the fashion stage. And to keep up with this new eye to fashion, a bit of advice—if it isn’t actually Burberry purchased Burberry check, of get rid it! That fad has run its course.