On Tuesday, September 6th, Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) launched NYFW to celebrate the 15th anniversary of inspiring black designers in the industry. This year’s gala, held outside the General Grant National Memorial, was particularly noteworthy, as the renowned fashion agency partnered with Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) to showcase her three unique designers. . Jonathan Hayden, Nicole Bennefield, Clarence Ruth. “We act as a bridge between color designers and retailers through events, collaborations, pipeline programs and brand strategies,” HFR Brandice Daniel, founder and CEO, told attendees.

Despite the pouring rain outside, guests put the phrase “rain or shine” into action, thriving with a variety of vibrant ensembles, melting into the rhythm of a live band, and glasses of Chandon Garden Spritz circling through the crowd. did. As the evening wore on, the attendees finally made their way to the runway for the HFR awards ceremony to begin.

Fashion and entertainment industry leaders including performer Janet Jackson, Washington Post senior critic Robin Givan, designer Sergio Hudson, stylist Ade Samuel and actress, author and producer Issa. I was. Ray was the first HFR recipient of the Virgil Abloh Award. “Throughout her career, Issa has embodied many of the attributes that I admire most about her Virgil: her creativity, her integrity, her tenacity, and her ability to use her platform to help others. A deep commitment to use.

For details, see Town & Country

Shannon Abloh and Issa Rae

When the applause ended, the music started and the runway models appeared from behind the curtain. The first design to hit the catwalk was that of Jonathan Hayden, who unveiled a collection of carefully designed textiles inspired by his trip to Mexico. “I usually visit family in New Mexico in October to attend the annual International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta,” says Hayden. You can take it easy in The Land of Enchantment,” Hayden describes his own collection.

During the show, the talented designer successfully brought his vision to life, unveiling a cohesive collection that embodies bold prints, pastel hues, and gorgeous fabrics that are easy to move. From the deepest depths of the ocean to the highest peaks of the sky, clouds and atmosphere. “

Hayden also said that the HFR x LVMH partnership is a historic milestone not just for HFR, but for the fashion industry as a whole, as it gives her a second chance to showcase her work at New York Fashion Week. says. Designers have the opportunity to capture the attention of our industry and we look forward to seeing what precedent this sets for talent acquisition and future collaborations in the fashion industry. ”

Hayden’s presentation was followed by Nicole Benefield’s presentation. Nicole Benefield has been building collections for leading womenswear brands for 20 years. Bennefield has exhibited her work countless times, but this time the show was different, with her work coming from her own authentic brand, the Nicole Bennefield Portfolio. “I call my collection a constant conversation. Inspiration comes from thinking about the ability to transition from one season to the next,” says Bendefield.

Embodying understated sophistication, Benefield’s designs are also firmly rooted in sustainability, an initiative that is close to her personal ethos. “Sustainability doesn’t come cheap, and when you think about fashion, it’s almost in contrast to what sustainability is at its core,” says Benefield. “For me, I have to think about making it with biodegradable fabrics that are well made, stand the test of time, and most importantly, care about the needs of the consumer.”

Creating sustainable pieces that are as attractive as they are functional is no easy task, but Benefield has managed to exceed expectations. On the runway, Benefield’s designs fused at the intersection of effortless and wearable, inventing organic forms and also demonstrating her ability to play with parts.

The final designer to round out the evening was Cott d’Armes founder Clarence Ruth, author, creative director, model and artist. “The way he approaches art is similar to how he approaches designing clothes. This allows him to share stories through two different mediums.”

So what is the story behind Ruth’s HFR x LVMH presentation? “With this collection, I wanted people to think outside the box. We took different things and blended them,” Ruth says.

Ruth’s introduction to the power of fashion was within the walls of the church, where he learned about tailor’s elegance and the definition of a Sunday vest. In his presentations, church motifs deftly blend with bold hues and athletic wear to create a fresh perspective. “They exist in two different worlds, but both his biker community and his church community reflect the same mindset of supporting each other.”

Aside from discovering ingenuity in uncharted territory, Ruth draws a lot of inspiration from her 7-year-old son, who inspires him to continue building a positive path for future generations. I’m here. “We feel it is our duty as creators to build a space for future artists. We look forward to showing the industry what we can do with this show. We mean black and brown talent in the fashion industry, not just Clarence, Nicole, and Jonathan.