Last night at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater, Harlem Fashion Row—the organization founded by Brandice Daniel, devoted to uplifting and supporting Black and Latinx talent in fashion—kicked off New York Fashion Week with its 16th annual style awards and runway show. The event was star-studded: On stage, awards were collected by rapper A$AP Rocky, singer Kelly Rowland, stylists Wayman + Micah, photographer Johnny Nunez, editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and designer Stella Jean. Nicole Benefield Portfolio, A. Potts, and Megan Renee all showed new collections on the catwalk, too.
The event—which counted The Walt Disney Company, LVMH, and AT&T, among others, as sponsors—tied into the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and aimed to celebrate the Black creatives who are shaping the current fashion landscape with their unique work. “We’re honoring distinguished innovators and trailblazers who have shaped the fashion landscape, but that don’t often get recognized enough,” said Daniel. “Many of the artists and designers we celebrate have overcome considerable obstacles, particularly those of systematic and racial barriers that persist in the fashion industry.”
The first accolade of the night went to Destiny’s Child’s Rowland, who received the Fashion Icon award. The star spoke of developing her style early-on in the famous girl group. “We were four very country girls from Texas, so [designers] were reluctant to dress us,” said Rowland. “Tina [Knowles] took matters into her own hands and dressed us, and I learned then what it was like to start a trend… We start the trends; We make what’s cool cool. Fashion should be grateful for us.”
Next up was fashion editor Karefa-Johnson, who received the Editor of the Year award. “I wasn’t always sure I’d ever stand on a stage like this,” said Johnson, who has styled many covers and…
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