Just days before New York Fashion Week officially kicks off, Harlem Fashion Street hosted its 15th Anniversary Fashion Show and Fashion Awards on Tuesday night at the General Grant National Memorial in Harlem, New York.
“President Grant worked harder to protect African-American rights than any other president of the 19th century, so tonight we come to Grant’s grave,” said Brandice Daniel, CEO of Harlem Fashion Street kicked off the event. “In 2020, we all have to face the truth. We’re not doing enough. Business is tough right now, and we’re dealing with an impending recession, climate change and a tough business environment – so now we have to decide if Black lives are still there. Important. I’m sure they will.”
Daniel has been a leading advocate for designers of color since launching the agency in 2007. Through this annual fashion show, Black-owned brands and emerging designers are showcased with the aim of finding real business opportunities in the fashion industry.
This year, designers Clarence Ruth, Johnathan Hayden and Nicole Benefield presented their Spring ’23 collections on the runway. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is the title sponsor of the event, and Louis Vuitton Americas awarded the Harlem’s Fashion Row ICON 360 Award to three designers. Each was also assigned an executive mentor from Louis Vuitton Americas to guide and support their growth.
During the event, Harlem Fashion Row presented the inaugural Virgil Abloh Award from LVMH to its 2022 winners, including actor, writer and producer Issa Rae. Corey Smith, VP Diversity and Inclusion, North America at LVMH introduced Shannon Abloh, who introduced the Insecure star.
“When I think about [Virgil Abloh], I think about ingenuity, I think about breaking down barriers, a kind of confidence that defines a path, and I admire him most as a high fashion doorman because he intentionally opens up all the possibilities for others. Door, just through his popularity,” Ray said on stage. “It’s a very effective encouragement. It means you guys see me. It means more of us are going to try to be successful and beyond… As for me, I like to be the first, but as long as I’m working, I swear I won’t be the last.”
在 Instagram 查看这篇帖子
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Footwear News (@footwearnews)
Other winners of the evening included Sergio Hudson for Designer of the Year, Robin Givhan for Editor of the Year and Ade Samuel for Stylist of the Year.
Following the fashion show and the Fashion Awards, guests headed to a gala at the Lincoln Center Jazz, where Janet Jackson accepted the Icon of the Year award.
