Iconic fashion designer Billy Reid celebrates his 20th anniversary with a three-day celebration of food, fashion, art and music.
The Shindig Festival, held Oct. 11-13 in Florence, Alabama, resumed after a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Mr. Reed began hosting shindigs in 2009 as a way to bring fashion enthusiasts from all over the United States and abroad to his Shoals backyard.
Reed’s honors are many. He is a four-time CFDA award winner, 2010 GQ/CFDA America’s Best New Menswear Designer, and owner of 14 independent stores.
Reed is also very good at throwing parties.
Attendees from New York City, Los Angeles, and Austin met local guests for the perfect fall weekend with delicious food, inspiring musical performances, and, of course, modern American style.
The menu for Friday night’s welcome dinner was designed by chefs Sean Brock and Adam Evans. Bullock, a Muscle Shoals native, and Evans, a Virginia native, are both known for their innovative Southern cuisine.
Huntsville native Matthew Hauck, leader of the band Phosphorescent, performed a dreamy melody Friday night. Hawke was followed by rock duo The Kills, Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince.
Saturday morning brunch is served upstairs at The Stricklin Hotel. Grits, biscuits, jam, coffee and sweet tea with pork gravy kept festival goers in high spirits all morning.
Image courtesy of Emily Doriot
New York Fashion Week founder and Project Runway guest judge Fern Mullis sat down with Reid to explore the ups and downs of his decades-long career.
Reed grew up in the small town of Amite City, Louisiana, where his mother ran a clothing store in Reed’s grandmother’s old home. His uncle Tommy was the head chef at Delta Queen and a sharp dresser.
“He was incredibly stylish,” Reed said of her uncle. “He always had a little handkerchief around his neck. He was immaculately dressed. He traveled through South and Central America on various cruise ships and was a great chef.”
After unsuccessful starts at two colleges in Louisiana, Reed transferred to the Dallas Institute of Art. There he found his progress. He studied design and merchandising while working full time at Saks Fifth Avenue. By the age of 21, Reed was managing the men’s designer sportswear department at Dallas Saks.
Reed moved from Dallas to the 90210 zip code to pursue acting. He shared a one-bedroom apartment and survived on leftover chin chin that his waiter roommate brought home. He didn’t get a job in acting, but got a job in sales at Reebok.
Reed’s contacts at Reebok proved invaluable as he launched his original brand, William Reed.
Reed’s design was intended to be a classic from the beginning.
“I’ve always believed that clothes should be with you and not wear you,” Reed said. “You should be able to put a piece in your closet and pull out the same piece 10 years later.”
The designer spoke fondly of his wife of 30 years, Jeanne, and their three children.
In 2004, Reed opened stores in Florence, Houston and Dallas. The original store in Florence was an old house. Mr. Reed’s wife and sister-in-law ran the front of the store, and Mr. Reed worked in a studio on the second floor.
Billy Reid’s store on Court Street, now the heart of downtown Florence, opened five years ago.
Most recently, Reed acquired Not Standard.
“Knot Standard is a custom clothing manufacturer that’s working on AI-based technology. We’re now incorporating it into our brand,” Reid said.
Mr. Mullis and Mr. Reed responded to questions. Mr. Reed was asked what advice he would give to aspiring designers.
“It’s not just a given,” Reed said. “I have to learn something.”
Reed said good energy, a strong work ethic and a positive attitude can take aspiring designers further than any specific degree or natural talent.
A private recording studio tour of Muscle Shoals Sound and Fame Studios also took place alongside Reed and Maris’ conversation.
Before the release of the Muscle Shoals documentary in 2013, introducing people to the region’s deep musical history was the main motivation behind the early shindig festivals.
Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Alison Krauss, and Jason Isbell are just a few of the great people who have come to the Shoals to make music over the decades.
“My brother-in-law is an expert-level Muscle Shoals athlete,” Reed said. “We had him set up in the studio and he spun records. Every time he made a record, he told the story behind it, and it was so powerful.”
Image courtesy of Robert Rausch
A tailgate party was held Saturday afternoon at McFarland Park on the banks of the Tennessee River. The Alabama-South Carolina game was played on a large screen projector set up under a pine tree. Chefs Josh Quick and Bill Briand have put together a menu for a lazy afternoon by the water.
Doors opened at 7 p.m. for the 20th anniversary runway show, held at the Shoals Theater on Seminary Avenue in downtown Florence.
The show featured more than 30 looks that expressed Reed’s timeless aesthetic.
Abraham Alexander performed during the show, and his emotional song “Lover’s Game” set the mood for the show.
Reed’s daughter Ava modeled in a wool turtleneck sweater dress under a calf-length plaid overcoat. The look was completed with fawn-coloured boots and a walnut brown leather bag sourced from the Billy Reid archives.
Musician Shelley Colvin modeled a bold cherry red suit. Colvin wore an upside-down cowboy hat and a scarf drawn from the label’s archives. Artist Justin Lyons created a unique black, red, and white t-shirt to complement this look.
The standout ensembles at the show were knee-length tailored jacquard coats paired with “one of one” T-shirts and bespoke jeans.
Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings followed Alexander on stage. For two hours, the duo mesmerized the audience with their exquisitely haunting songs. This folk duo is best known for their work “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack. Welch and Rawlings’ instrumental and vocal styles are pure Americana, the musical equivalent of Reed’s style.
Reed’s son Walton headlined The Alley Party, and Billy also joined in the performance on guitar. The party continued until late at night.
The final gathering, brunch at Odette’s, was held on Sunday morning. Festival guests stopped by the Court Street store for a final farewell and a chance to pick up a piece they can’t stop thinking about.
Shindig is about style, food, music, conversation and dancing, and meeting friends old and new. And it always tastes great.
