This season Harlem’s Fashion Row once again celebrated designers, innovators, and stars of color at their Runway show and awards ceremony. Throngs of fashion industry spiders flocked to Chelsea Piers to attend the celebration which was supported by Motions, Latina Magazine, Ebony Magazine and more. As Harlem’s Fashion Row founder Brandice Daniels reminded attendees designers of color make up less than 1% of the brands found in major department stores making institutions committed to highlighting these unsung talents crucial.
Legendary record producer, philanthropist, and designer Swizz Beatz was presented with this year’s icon 360 award. His speech was straightforward and compelling. He confessed that when he was told about the award he instructed his assistant to clear everything on his busy New York Fashion Week schedule so that he could attend the ceremony. “Sometimes when people call we say I’m busy but when Tom Ford calls I’m not busy. So I had to make sure that I answered your call the same way that I answer Tom Ford’s call”.
During his speech he also highlighted acclaimed stylists like Ty Hunter and Wouri Vice who were also in attendance thanking them for their contributions to the fashion community.
Read more about this wonderful event below.
Elaine Welteroth, the first woman of color to be named Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue as well as the youngest person to achieve that title at the storied Conde’ Nast was named Editor of the Year. She was introduced by Hariette Cole, the woman with the foresight to give Welteroth her very first internship with Ebony magazine. She gave a touching speech that began with her thanking Cole and all the women who paved the way for her to make such a historic achievement.
Kyle Hagler, president of Next Model Management and recipient of the Trailblazer Award, was introduced by the iconic Beth Ann Hardison who relayed her efforts to convince little known talents to sign with Hagler once she saw the New Jersey native’s unrelenting passion.
Eric Archibald, who has created showstopping looks for celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, received the Stylist of the Year Award.
It was inspiring to hear these pillars of success reveal personal stories that generally stick within the walls of Catch or Dos Caminos.
Social media networks like Instagram and Snapchat have helped make tastemakers and industry insiders seem closer to us than us than ever but we don’t always hear the stories behind the glamorous trips and the prestigious titles. Organizations like Harlem’s Fashion Row help make this happen. They also help introduce us to new talents like Terese Sydonna and Lois London who each presented elegant and attractive collections that have us looking forward to next Spring and Kahindo who reminded us all of the magic of black girls, not that we needed it with beauties like Naturi Naughton in attendance.
The Saturday following the show Harlem’s Fashion Show hosted a pop-up shop featuring over twenty multicultural designers and encouraging attendees to “shop consciously”. Check out the details here.
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Photo Credit: Harlem’s Fashion Row