fashion group aimed at providing a safe haven

A new fashion group aimed at providing a safe haven for those who view fashion as art launches this week.

The Fashion Lab begins it's campaign to highlight cutting edge fashion in a swathe of the nation typically equated with middle-of-the-road fashion Wednesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at Craft Alliance's gallery in the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand Boulevard.

The group promises a stylish collective of fashion insiders, including models and others with a passion for art and fashion will be in attendance. So can you come in Dockers? Sure, why not. You don't have to wear artistic clothing to appreciate it when you see it.

New York designer Timo Weiland and his design partner Alan Eckstein will be the inaugral guests of the program. Timo's brand is young but well-received, the designers were recently nominated for an Ecco Domani Award.

Timo Weiland will be offering a peek at their Spring 2011 collection cryptically called A Wharf on the Baltic that debuted during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. The collection was inspired by Swedish actress Bibi Andersson.

Whet your appetite by looking at "The Watch" video of contemporary dancers in his clothing shown during Weiland's New York presentation and the video of his collection produced by Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week located at left.