MILWAUKEE - It was supposed to be a first for Milwaukee: A fashion week similar to something you'd see in New York, Milan or Paris. So then why would the event be cancelled a day before its launch? Boutique owner Barbara Berg was recruited by local entrepreneur Hillary Frye to help put Fashion Week together. Several local designers also signed up for the event, paying $600 apiece for a booth. Many also ordered tens of thousands of dollars in extra merchandise. Then, at the 11th hour, it all unraveled. "A couple of venues were not secured by the promoter," Berg said. In fact it turns out the main location, the Harley Museum, was never booked. The promised Ford Agency models were never hired. And several sponsors listed on Fashion Week's Web site were not sponsors at all. Berg and other vendors are trying to get their money back. But no one has been able to reach Frye. "I've been in contact with a couple of the designers and they have been emailing her and phoning her, but they haven't gotten any reply back," said Berg. TODAY'S TMJ4's phone calls to Frye also went unanswered. Berg says she and other vendors will be meeting, possibly next week, to decide what action to take from here.