This month, Oakland’s singular creativity gets a celebration all its own.

At the first annual Oakland Style week, they’ll shine the spotlight on the fashion, art, food, music, and culture that make The Town so strikingly unique.

Inspired by the energy of New York Fashion Week, Oakland Style is a complete artistic expression of the city’s vibrant community of makers filled with fun events over the course of five days. The celebration kicks off on October 18th with A Taste of Style, where seven top chefs meet vintage White Elephant Sale fashion at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), followed by Sounds of Style with Soul Mechanix, a concert mixing groove-based soul, progressive funk, and an unpredictable array of other influences at Yoshi’s.

“Oakland is one of the most inclusive and diverse cities in the world [with] a beautiful, proud, authentic style,” says Peter Gamez, president and CEO of Visit Oakland. Oakland Style “is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience Oakland talent and the warmth, positivity, true love, and pride that our community has for The Town.”

At the center of the festival is the dynamic lineup of activities being held at the Oakland Style Lab's Fashion Marketplace and Reimagine Fashion. The latter will host runway shows Friday and Saturday that show off the many facets of Oakland's style.

“Oakland style is bold, confident, and unapologetic...enriched by a history of constantly questioning the status quo and advocating for what we believe in,” says designer Devan Gregori. Her designs will appear at one of the week’s most anticipated events, a performance by aerial dance team Bandaloop on Sunday, October 22nd.

“Dancers will perform suspended from a building facade at Frank Ogawa Plaza outfitted in my designs,” explains Gregori. “It’s thrilling to be able to partner with such dynamic creatives. It will be unlike anything I’ve ever done before!”

Excitement about Oakland Style isn’t limited to the designers and makers whose work will be on display, says Gamez. The entire town is “buzzing” with it.

Additional events include: Thursday night’s Bespoke Cocktails + Stylish Conversations, a chat with local designers, artists, musicians, and chefs moderated by ABC7 news anchor Jobina Forston; Saturday’s Oakland Art Murmur, when 16 arts venues will open their doors to guided walking, biking, and bus tours (as well as visitors who prefer to check things out on their own); a vintage shopping tour that will weave through some of the best shops in town; and the unveiling of a new art exhibit featuring the photographs of 100 community members at Uptown Station.

“I think this event has the opportunity to become something incredibly special that we look forward to every year,” says Gregori. “By showcasing the eclectic, passionate and historic nature of Oakland’s style, I believe it will inspire residents and visitors alike to continue to seek out creativity, ingenuity and to develop a meaningful sense of personal style that reflects who we are, where we come from, and where we want to go.”

// Oakland Style, October 18-22; find more information and tickets to events at visitoakland.com.