Harlem’s Fashion Row Show and Style Awards Kick Off NYFW Effectively – Essence

Although it is not on the official calendar of New York Fashion Week, Harlem Fashion Row’s Show and Style Awards is a mainstay. In its 17th year, the celebration is arguably the most authentic showcase in New York City each September. Last night, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and 122nd Street in Harlem, founder Brandice Daniel was joined by family and fashion moguls like Misa Hylton. Stylish Danother creative people and many others who surround his tribe.

Radical representations of reality were a common thread that connected each of the evening’s guests of honor. Tracee Ellis Ross She took to the stage to pay tribute to her best friend Samira Nasr. Harper’s BazaarIt was admirable to hear her speak of her relationship with the talented Nasr, who won the Editor of the Year award. Many admire the work of the esteemed editor and former fashion director, so it’s worth noting that Ross sees her as a sister.

Ross touched on how the two grew together, even mentioning that he wouldn’t be who he is without Nasr. “Lady Nasr broadened his horizons about what should be on the cover and in the pages of a glossy magazine and what stories were worth telling.” Then, under her management, Harper’s Bazaar “where high fashion and culture intersect with high journalistic standards.”

Nasr contextualized her moment of winning the award amid the idea that the role of magazines and fashion journals remains the same. She reflected on the magazine’s role under her auspices. “To delight and surprise our readers. To present the best of fashion and the culture that shapes it,” she said. “Most importantly, to be a record of our times — when I started my role four years ago, the question I kept coming back to, and the question that helped define my purpose in this role, was: who will be part of this record?” she said.

As the evening continued, Lena Waithe expressed her love and admiration for costume designer and stylist Shiona Turini, who was honored with the “Stylist of the Year” award. “Your confidence is not in vain, it’s earned over and over again,” she shared. Waithe said director Melina Matsoukas introduced the duo, who worked together on the much-talked-about film. The Queen and the Slim Costume design by Turini.

Turnini’s acceptance moment was equally memorable. She shared that while on stage, she knew she was standing on the backs of icons who came before her, such as June Ambrose, Misa Hylton and others — a few names that she said lit a fire inside her when she was young, watching TV in Bermuda.

“While it’s an honor, it’s an even greater honor to be celebrated by your own people,” she said. Turini added: “I know what it feels like to do this work in an industry that often pushes us to the sidelines or fails to name the role Black creators play in sustaining and revitalizing the fashion industry.”

Corey Smith, head of diversity, equity and inclusion in North America at LVMH, introduced singer, creative director and artist Teyana Taylor, who was honored with the “Virgil Abloh” award.

Upon receiving this honor, he expressed his deep love for Harlem and how it played a significant role in his upbringing, allowing his creativity to flourish. He also noted that his mother remains a constant source of inspiration for him.

Elsewhere in the evening, “Icon of the Year” supermodel Naomi Campbell detailed how Harlem embraced and inspired her by showing her “a whole new world of style.” Andre Leon Talley and the late Reverend Calvin Butts, two important figures for New York City, were also mentioned.

A signature element of HFR’s annual festivities is the designer presentation. This year, Jimmy LaTouche, Nicole Benefield and Aaron Potts took to the stage to introduce their latest collections.

Potts, a New York City-based designer, detailed in a recent conversation that HFR is a creative ecosystem she’s proudly a part of. She hinted that her collection would blend creativity with practicality and be underpinned by the theme of “Urban Oceania,” and that’s exactly what happened. Splashes of blue and eye-catching metallics made up her statement outfits. “The other thing I injected is this sparkling feeling that happens underwater[with the fish].”

In her latest collection, Brooklyn-born designer Benefield of Nicole Benfied Portfolio, who combined fall and spring pieces, leaned heavily on shades like lime green. She shared that she built her collection around intentional editorial moments. In a video interview, the designer explained that she chose to incorporate more color than has typically been seen from her in the past; she also celebrated fabrics and created garments that felt playful. Utilitarian-inspired button-down shirts and wide palazzo pants in bold hues graced the runway.

LaTouche, who lives in New Jersey, described her collection as a masterpiece of the moment. “(My collection) comes from my Haitian roots. Spending summers in Haiti taught me to dress minimally, but to add glamour.” A long floral coat and a gray plaid suit were juxtaposed in two separate looks.

Each collection was vastly different, but also quite impressive. The different tones and silhouettes presented spoke to the myriad sources from which the designers drew inspiration. I thought about Potts’s call for HFR to provide an ecosystem, and I remembered another important concept he mentioned. “This season, for my brand, but also for the brand in general, it’s really important to combine my sense of creativity with the practicality of real life,” Potts said over Zoom. Her creations, among others presented, meet those requirements while also being provocative and vibrant.

One particular sentiment stood out to me throughout the evening. Campbell aptly honored Brandice Daniel and her impact by saying, “Thank you to Brandice Daniel and your entire team for your dedication to elevating diverse voices in fashion.” He added that under Daniels’ leadership, HFR not only showcases talent, but also nurtures, supports, and propels it forward. That sentiment resonated loudly and provided the clearest insight into the essence of the evening and the importance of HFR.