During the South by Southwest festival, Austin, Texas becomes the middle of the universe--where visitors and locals alike are immersed into a colorful world filed with live concerts and film previews, as style proves to be a common thread that binds the two together.

Speaking in terms of fashion: if for one week, downtown is the Land of Oz and the centralized Austin Convention Center is the Emerald City, then consider the Co-Founder and Executive Producer for Style X, Joah Spearman its wizard.

Influenced by the success of his former business, Sneak Attack, Spearman credits the same pop-up retail concept as an innovative basis for Style X (pronounced Style By).

And in developing Style X with business partner Jon Pattillo (who serves as the event’s creative director), it seems as though Spearman is steering away from the usual yellow brick road of success and paving his own path that in a short time has gained notoriety on a local, national, and international standpoint.

“I I recommend you get your dreams so locked in and specific that they read and feel more like plans and goals than just dreams,” said Spearman. “[Following] your heart is all about doing what's right for you and your passions rather than someone [else’s]”.

Evoking Spearman’s statement is Gay “Sugar” Isber, showcase participant and local jewelry designer.

“I don't follow trends, I get to help shape them”, says Isber. “I was so surprised at the connections that I made with the fashion community, as the energy and people [pull] such a talented mix.”

Isber’s whimsical designs were featured in a finale fashion show, encompassing merchandise from some of the event’s retailers, which in turn stood available for purchase at their respective pop-up locations.

Style X aims to solidify the bond between fashion and music that helps make the city so unique by having SXSW’s own musicians walk as models, sampling some of the laidback looks that the local environment is known for.

In another original approach, the event is free and open to the public--illustrating that style is no longer an unattainable luxury, but a right to self-expression and boundless limitation that every age or economic background is entitled to.

And with Spearman sighting the growth of present retailers from 37 brands to an estimated 55 respectively, it’s evident that the entrepreneurs’ path isn’t just paved on the fashion forefront, but solidified in such a way that is both innovative as it is ingenious.

Style X was held from March 16-17, and is the official fashion component of SXSW. For more information about the expo, and a list of retailers and panels, please visit the Style X website.