Fashion designers inspire the next generation at Fashion Week El Paseo.

Paris, Milan, Palm Desert. During Fashion Week El Paseo, third-year couture students who graduated from the Institute of Design and Merchandising at the Fashion Institute present their first collections – the culmination of the hard work and skill required to produce the latest trends. The event would not be possible without the support of Jordan Schnitzer, art collector and art philanthropist.

Schnitzer, along with 75 local high school students, will sponsor their tickets to the evening event on March 22. The presence of so many young creators was important to Schnitzer, who wanted to ensure that local talent could continue the trend of pursuing art education and experiencing the magic that comes with the support of the Coachella Valley community.

“It’s exciting to see young fashion designers who are big names in fashion in the years to come,” Schnitzer said. “Especially for young high school students [who get] Being around people you wouldn’t normally meet – meeting the models, the designers, and having the opportunity to experience life you might not otherwise have.

Over the years, with Schnitzer’s generous support, thousands of Coachella Valley students have attended the show and toured the backstage to get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of fashion. For many who decide to attend art or fashion school, the experience is life-changing. According to Schnitzer, motivating these students is not only self-serving, but also serves a greater purpose.

“Many of us were fortunate to grow up in families exposed to art, culture and society, but many of us were not,” he continues. But we’ve all had someone in our lives who we’ve met and inspired – whether it’s business or career advice, civic philanthropy or the way we dress.

Many of these students are the way forward; Without them, we would lose the creative community that the Valley is known for.

“If the youth are not mobilized and do not lose their hope for the future, it means that our democracy has failed. “The arts are the ultimate creation—the ultimate expression of the best of who we are,” Schnitzer says. “Every young person can experience visual art or dance, and no one can tell them that what they see and interpret is wrong. It’s important that everyone, especially young people, have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and hopes.” .