BLACK FASHION WEEK USA
HOSTED IN CHICAGO 2015
Photos:
Courtesy of Billy Montgomery
On Friday Morning, February 6th 2015, Chicago embraced Black Fashion Week USA, as history was made with the 1st annual apparel trade show and fashion show featuring designers of African descent
i.e. African American / African. The trade show event featured a unique conglomerate of successful fashion professionals and their apparel displays such as celebrity Footwear and accessories designer Etu Evans, whom has been blessed to dress the soles of big names such as Hillary Clinton,
Halle Berry and more. Other panelist included international designer and model Yamaia who owns the Luxury Showroom in Marbella Spain, Chicago's own Shara Kamal, fashion, real estate and business attorney and former Buyer and brand consultant Marin Heiskell. These Stylilsh Panelist were lead into discussion by known other than Micaela Brown of the Chicago Sun times Minority Report. The Founder Melody Boykin an African American fashion historian and native of Chicago, h opes to continue connecting key influential professionals such as the group of speakers who imparted their fashion "know how" to emerging designers.
The main focus of the panel was centered on offering sound fashion advice to aspiring fashion designers and local business owners wishing to elevate and strengthen their business in a highly competitive industry. Topics discussed included trademarking branding, insights of what major corporations look for in fashion brands.
The sold out Black Fashion Week USA evening Fashion show which featured 14 US and international Black Designers left an chic impact in the eyes of flashing lights, cameras and city supporters who hauled their oversize coats to the Charles Hayes Family Investment Center on the city's south side.
Designers brought their fashion threads from Houston, Texas such as Lisa Reed with her Elegant Evil Collection featuring all red elegant pieces and a showstopping black gown. Other designers came from Ohio, Indianapolis, and across the waters from Marbella Spain such as Yamaia and we can't leave out Chicago designers Borris Powell, Claire Munyae, Pam Pomile'e, Samuel Graham, Brick Malone, Deborah Crable, and Judychael Cossou, Emerging Designers were eager to showcase their new collections in the show such was the case of two student designers, Otha and Alenda Little both students at the Illinois Institute of Art. No better way said "Boykin" than to start off Black History Month with a little bit of Style" with a fun fashion show & series of events celebrating the cultural aesthetics in fashion design of Black Designers in America. The founder hopes to continue the legacy of showcasing the talent of Black designers within the broader communities around the country encouraging Black Consumers to shop with fabulous African Fashion Businesses.
abc7 coverage
press links
http://abc7chicago.com/fashion/black-fashion-week-usa-shines-spotlight-on-chicago-designers/511663/
http://madamenoire.com/506779/melody-boykin-gives-us-sneak-peek-chicagos-black-fashion-week/
i.e. African American / African. The trade show event featured a unique conglomerate of successful fashion professionals and their apparel displays such as celebrity Footwear and accessories designer Etu Evans, whom has been blessed to dress the soles of big names such as Hillary Clinton,
Halle Berry and more. Other panelist included international designer and model Yamaia who owns the Luxury Showroom in Marbella Spain, Chicago's own Shara Kamal, fashion, real estate and business attorney and former Buyer and brand consultant Marin Heiskell. These Stylilsh Panelist were lead into discussion by known other than Micaela Brown of the Chicago Sun times Minority Report. The Founder Melody Boykin an African American fashion historian and native of Chicago, h opes to continue connecting key influential professionals such as the group of speakers who imparted their fashion "know how" to emerging designers.
The main focus of the panel was centered on offering sound fashion advice to aspiring fashion designers and local business owners wishing to elevate and strengthen their business in a highly competitive industry. Topics discussed included trademarking branding, insights of what major corporations look for in fashion brands.
The sold out Black Fashion Week USA evening Fashion show which featured 14 US and international Black Designers left an chic impact in the eyes of flashing lights, cameras and city supporters who hauled their oversize coats to the Charles Hayes Family Investment Center on the city's south side.
Designers brought their fashion threads from Houston, Texas such as Lisa Reed with her Elegant Evil Collection featuring all red elegant pieces and a showstopping black gown. Other designers came from Ohio, Indianapolis, and across the waters from Marbella Spain such as Yamaia and we can't leave out Chicago designers Borris Powell, Claire Munyae, Pam Pomile'e, Samuel Graham, Brick Malone, Deborah Crable, and Judychael Cossou, Emerging Designers were eager to showcase their new collections in the show such was the case of two student designers, Otha and Alenda Little both students at the Illinois Institute of Art. No better way said "Boykin" than to start off Black History Month with a little bit of Style" with a fun fashion show & series of events celebrating the cultural aesthetics in fashion design of Black Designers in America. The founder hopes to continue the legacy of showcasing the talent of Black designers within the broader communities around the country encouraging Black Consumers to shop with fabulous African Fashion Businesses.
abc7 coverage
press links
http://abc7chicago.com/fashion/black-fashion-week-usa-shines-spotlight-on-chicago-designers/511663/
http://madamenoire.com/506779/melody-boykin-gives-us-sneak-peek-chicagos-black-fashion-week/