ESCONDIDO -- Fashion Week is getting a makeover.

Now in its second year, the Escondido event will include local celebrities, a new location and 10 times as many designers.

This year's event will be April 6-11 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, and will include fun preliminary events such as a challenge to walk in stilettos and a pet fashion show.

The follow-up to last year's inaugural event was threatened with dwindling sponsorships until Mercedes-Benz of Escondido President Angelo Damante increased his contribution, said Debra Rosen, CEO of the business association that created and organizes the event.

"Everybody's hurting, even Mercedes-Benz has its challenges, but he believed in it enough to underwrite it," Rosen said. "That in itself is a story."

Last year's Fashion Week featured only one designer, but this year it will have 10, Rosen said.

"We didn't really contact any of them last year because we weren't sure what to expected," she said. "We focused on downtown businesses more than anything."

World-renowned jean designer David Kahn and Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition swimwear designer La Isla Couture are among the designers to be featured this year.

L.A. Fashion Week and celebrity designer Lauren Elaine will debut her Siren Collection, and surf legend Jeff "Doc" Lausch will debut his Surf Prescription Beachwear line.

The week begins April 2 with would-be designers submitting their work for judging and competing for a $100 first prize. The work will be shown in the free Viva La Couture Fashion Design Contest, 7 p.m. at Yardage Town, 144 E. Grand Ave.

The "Stiletto Walk" fundraiser will feature men and women attempting to walk down Grand Avenue at 6 p.m. April 3. The entry fees of $20 to $25 for the event will raise money for patients being treated for ovarian cancer.

From noon to 4 p.m. April 4, fashionable pets will be judged in their own "Head to Tail" fashion show at the Washington Mutual Lawn on Grand and Orange avenues. The contest is a fundraiser for the Escondido Humane Society.

The Fashion Week launch party begins 6 p.m. April 6, followed by a runway show featuring downtown boutiques and the winners of the pet fashion show.

The fashion show featuring recycled materials will be held 7:30 p.m. April 7 at the Arts Center. Hosted by Allie Bling Bling from Art Rocks Radio, the edgy show will feature designed by multimedia artists and is open for other participants to submit their work for consideration.

An evening of tours of downtown day spas for women will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 8.

Runway shows return the following night, April 9, with presentations from Janice Jaraicie of Nelli USA, Stacie May, Sela Wear and Michael Stiska.

On April 10, swimwear designed by La Isla Couture, Surf Prescriptions and Olga Cecilia Sanchez of Fuegorosa will be showcased in an evening hosted by Alicia and Anisha Gwynn.

The red carpet grand final on April 11 will feature designs of David Kahn of Kahn Jeans and Lauren Edleson of Lauren-Elaine Designs. Barbara Lee Edwards of Channel 8 and Damante will be the hosts

For tickets and entry requirements, visit the Web site FashionWeekDowntown.com.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.

CORRECTION: Fashion Week has same sponsor

A story about Fashion Week in the March 19 edition of the North County Times incorrectly said the Escondido event will have a new sponsor next month.

Mercedes-Benz of Escondido President Angelo Damante was a sponsor of the event last year, but this year has increased his support.

We apologize.