Pittsburgh has kicked off its football cleats, hockey skates and steel-toed boots and stepped into its stilettos. In a city that is famous for steel and sports teams, the first-ever Pittsburgh Fashion Week has the potential to add “style” to that list.Starting this Monday Sept. 27, the area’s fashion designers, retailers, models, performers, style lovers, and the people behind it all came together to start this historical event.  Runway and trunk shows are scheduled to feature 50 local and foreign designers and boutiques through Sunday Oct. 3, taking place at several venues throughout the city, such as the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Omni William Penn Hotel, and the Ramada Pittsburgh Hotel and Conference Center in Greentree.”You are all part of history,” announced Miyoshi Anderson, the executive director and founder of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, to a crowd of about 200 people gathered in South Side Works Square for the opening show. Anderson, who studied dance at Point Park University, found later in life that fashion was her true calling and that bringing Pittsburgh’s style scene into the spotlight was her main goal. She proceeded to thank the hundreds of volunteers who put their “sweat, tears, labor, and tireless work” into making “Runway: Clearing for Takeoff, Destination Fashion OZ!” come to life.Among these volunteers was Jen Pongracz of Point Park’s Class of 1972, who sold tickets at the door. Pongracz was proud of, not only herself, but the many others who worked on Fashion Week as well. She has known Anderson since she was a toddler and said that at least two years of planning have been put into making this event happen. “It was her dream,” Pongracz said, “and it’s so wonderful that we can be a part of bringing it to light.”Another Point Park alumna, Marie Colom, who graduated in 2008 with a degree in sport, arts and entertainment management, has dedicated “hours and hours” of her time to Fashion Week. She was drawn to the event by an advertisement in the newspaper asking for volunteers. Colom started out helping with publicity, and eventually worked her way up to an assistant position to Jennifer Noah, the head of the opening show committee.Colom said that the work has been “non-stop” since July and the final week of preparations for the opening show has been “absolutely crazy.”  She stressed the fact that almost all of the people working on this are volunteers and are interested in seeing it succeed that they are willing to give all the time they have. “I remember thinking when I was at Point Park, ‘I want to change the fashion scene in Pittsburgh,'” Colom said. “It really has a lot to offer and there’s a big demand for it. Retailers are always looking for somewhere to showcase their work.”That was not an understatement. The opening show featured live vocal and dance performances and, of course, some “fierce” fashion. Models strutted down the brick-road runway presenting designs by five local boutiques including Jupe, Sugar, and Roberta Weissburg Leathers. As well as the high-fashion, couture costume work of Pittsburgh designer MJ Whalen.Elysia Purnell, a junior sport, arts, and entertainment management major and John Sfarnas, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major, volunteered to take photos at the event right next to representatives from local television stations and print publications. Sfarnas has been involved with Fashion Week throughout the entire process and designed the promotional cards that were handed out to inform people of the week’s events.On Tuesday, award-winning designer Zang Toi showcased his spring 2011 collection at the Heinz History Center, and Wednesday’s “PINK!” fashion show displayed designs from stores at the Mall at Robinson as an early beginning to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The proceeds benefitted the Susan G. Komen Foundation.On Friday and Saturday, shows are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. both days at the Ramada Pittsburgh Hotel in Greentree. There is a discounted student admission price of $5 per hour-long show. Also, there will be a “Fashion Avenue” vendors fair at the venue, which is free to the public.  More information can be found at www.pittsburghfashionweek.com.