On Tuesday, September 6, Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) kicked off NYFW and celebrated fifteen years of black designers in the industry. This year’s celebration, held outside the National Grant General Memorial, was particularly notable, as the renowned fashion agency partnered with Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) to showcase three unique designers; Johnathan Hayden, Nicole Benefield and Clarence Ruth. “We act as a bridge between color designers and retailers through events, collaborations, pipeline programs and brand strategy,” HFR Founder and CEO Brandice Daniel told attendees.
Despite the downpour outside, guests put the phrase “rain or shine” into practice, rising to the occasion with an array of lively ensembles and mingling to the beat of the band’s live music, while glasses of Chandon Garden Spritz were circulated among the crowd. . As the evening progressed, attendees eventually made their way to the runway and the HFR awards ceremony began.
The award recipients, honored for exemplifying excellence in their fields, included industry leaders across fashion and entertainment: performer Janet Jackson, Washington Post senior critic Robin Givhan, designer Sergio Hudson, designer Ade Samuel and actress, writer and producer Issa. Rae, who accepted HFR’s first Virgil Abloh Award. “Throughout her career, Issa has exemplified many of the attributes I most admire in Virgil: creativity, integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to using one’s platform in service of others,” said the designer’s wife. the late Shannon Abloh.
After the applause ended, the music started and the runway models came out from behind the curtains. The first models to appear on the catwalk were those of Johnathan Hayden, who presented a collection of carefully designed textiles inspired by his travels in New Mexico. “I usually visit my family in New Mexico during October to attend the annual International Hot Air Balloon Festival,” says Hayden. “It’s magic captured in a confectionary with stitched patterns and colors that dot the horizon like discarded sprinkles. Carefree in the Land of Enchantment,” adds Hayden as he describes his collection.
During the show, the talented designer successfully brought his vision to life, presenting a cohesive collection that embodied an array of bold prints, pastel hues and gorgeous fabrics that moved with ease. the deepest depths of the ocean to the highest height of the sky, clouds and atmosphere.”
Hayden also notes that the HFR x LVMH partnership, which gave him the opportunity to present his work for the second time during New York Fashion Week, not only marks a milestone for HFR, but also for the fashion industry. fashion as a whole: “We as designers have an opportunity to have the full attention of our industry and I’m excited to see what precedent this will set for talent acquisition and future collaborations in the fashion industry.”
Following Hayden’s presentation was that of Nicole Benefield, who has an impressive 20 years of building collections for major womenswear brands under her belt. And although Benefield has showcased her work countless times before, this show was different, as her creations came from her authentic brand, the Nicole Benefield Portfolio. “I call my collection an ongoing conversation and the inspiration is based on thinking about its ability to transition from one season to another,” says Bendefield.
Benefield’s designs, which embody casual sophistication, are also firmly rooted in sustainability, an initiative in which she holds close to her personal ethos. “Sustainability efforts don’t come cheap, and when we think about fashion, it’s almost the opposite of what sustainability is at its core,” says Benefield. “For me, I have to think about creating with biodegradable fabrics that are well made, that stand the test of time, and most importantly, I’m mindful of the consumer’s needs.”
And while creating durable pieces that are both functional and attractive is no easy feat, Benefield successfully exceeded expectations. On the runway, Benefield’s designs converged on the intersection of lightweight and wearables, also demonstrating her ability to invent organic shapes and play with proportions.
The final designer to close the evening was Clarence Ruth, founder of Cotte D’Armes and wearer of many hats, including author, creative director, model and artist. “The way I approach my art is similar to my approach to designing clothes, these two different mediums allow me to share a story.”
So what’s the story behind Ruth’s HFR x LVMH launch? “With this collection, I wanted to encourage people to think outside the box, and I took two completely different things and put them together: biker culture and clergy culture,” says Ruth.
Ruth’s introduction to the power of fashion existed within the walls of the church, where he learned about sartorial elegance and the definition of Sunday’s best. Within his presentation, church motifs are tactfully paired with bold hues and athletic wear to create a fresh perspective. “Although they exist within two different worlds, both the biker community and the church community reflect the same mindset of having each other’s side.”
In addition to discovering ingenuity in uncharted territory, Ruth also owes much of his inspiration to his seven-year-old son, who inspires him to continue creating a positive path for future generations. “I feel like we have an obligation as creators to build a space for the artists of the future. With this show, I can’t wait to show the industry what we can do – and by ‘we’ I mean not just Clarence, Nicole or Jonathan, but Black and Brown talent in the fashion industry.”
