Night One & Two
New York oh sweet New York brings in the opening of what is sure to be an extravagant night. Drama lines the media pit as everyone fights to cover a perfect night. Laughs echo with screams, the bass booms deeply and many people anxiously wait for the show. The videographers are keeping conversations light.
I stand on a chair at the center of the pit on the first night, knowing my camera won’t offer the best shot but my words will offer the best story.
The best nights on the runway are ones where you can’t tell a model from a guest.
The venue, Prince George’s Ballroom offers a petite circle runway. My camera will get the job done as I slum it in the NYFW media trenches.
The first designer to grace the stage is Marisol Hernandez (Dominican Republic). Elegance is a word to describe the wardrobe and night. The pieces showcased first offered a variety of colors and cut couture. Questions of sustainable fashion are drawn to light by the different fabrics.
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In between takes is the tension of move your feet, lose your seat. But all is kept calm by means of being in good spirits. Regulars in the pit keep track of lighting. The night sparks as all prepare for the night of shows. One down two to go as the runway is lit by the next line of collections.
Geraldina’s Couture (USA/Albania) takes the runway next as the runway is lined with creams, turquoise, maize and blues. I get a feel of Glam Goth meets Fashion Princess as a rainbow of couture including reds and pinks, lacing and cuts form an international chic on stage. Geraldina is brought to tears after her beautiful collection graced the runway.
From the media pit it feels more like a battle to get the best shot. But there is deeper meaning in tonight’s designer fabrics.
The evening pulls at a light-hearted string where the fashion speaks louder than the designers. The main attraction calls on attention for the Equal Rights of Children. A sponsor of tonight’s show. ERC is an active partner under the 17 sustainable goals of the United Nations on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). ERC has a special focus on concerns regarding the legal rights of mothers and children born out of wedlock.
The final show by designer and producer Andres Aquino is what the crowd is waiting for. His collection New York Fashion Symphony is accompanied by a display of Enrico Dungca’s The Forgotten Americans. The project is a series of portraits involving a criticized group of people in the Philippines called the Amerasians. Majority of these children were born out of wedlock and face discrimination and mockery.
To speak on the Equal Rights of Children the hall leading to the Ballroom is lined with photos of some of these children who lose certain rights related to their status and inheritance. The fashion industry has a way of drawing to light many unspoken political issues. While the designer’s clothes are highlighted for the skill and eye of fashion, reading deeper into the threads of fabric we find a need to speak up on behalf of silent voices.
The models can’t contain their excitement as they waltz in their couture outfits, an emotional night for sure. Showing how fashion can draw on deep feelings of beauty and mindfulness. Fashion has a way of drawing the eye to the lightness details. The subtlety of a skimmer to complete the outfit as Harlem is in the building displaying Harlem’s Heaven Hats.
The night finishes off with a bang as models of all walks and creeds stand together to unify a global message. The wow factor of Andres pieces did leave me pondering the cross cultural power fashion has that is used socially and politically to draw upon mindfulness.
Capture of Andres Aquino Collection
Night Two
The second night of Couture fashion week calls on the same anticipation as the first. We feel a bit special tonight as we’re called away from the media pit and into the front row. Not the best angle for a designer shot but the best angle to experience the night. The walls of Prince George’s Ballroom once again light up the circle runway.
The first show is by Waletty Designs of Germany. This is accompanied by turquoise, browns, silvers, golds and reds. A good way to bring in the winter months of fashion week leading into spring. The anticipation of local and international designers doesn’t disappoint. The cut of the gowns draw on a spirit that cries for fresh eyes and new ideas in the fashion industry.
Stepping out of the pandemic many are choosing to accessorize with gem laced sunglasses and bracelets that line the runway contributed by Inspiritus creations. The magic is here for the night.
The Grammy’s are on tonight but family has gathered here to support family and that calls on the deeper meaning for the night. The excitement of showing off painstaking work is what calls on the importance of fashion to spread messages internationally through collaboration.
Tonight political statements can be made without being political. The outfits of the crowd also speak on how much the night means in their bout to be expressive through fashion. In fact the statements don’t just stop at the runway way. All shapes, sizes and boutiques claim the spotlight tonight.
Designers always hold a certain air around them that just one glance makes you think, “yeah, somewhere in there is a genius.” These designers seamlessly blend into the crowd but at the same time don’t.
Isabel Lopez (USA/Colombia) is the Glam princess for the night as her gowns bring the sound. All senses are lit up with this collection. The designer looks like her models. So far it is my personal favorite out of the collections so far. The outfits brought out confidence in the models.
Next is Yani Bakhtiar (Malaysia) with her blacks, golds and hanging shawls. This is definitely high-end fashionista meets village mom. Bright little mermaid puffs with colors of strawberry shortcake. I keep getting anime inspired Akatsuki vibes from some of the pieces.
Majid Desire (USA/Bangladesh) takes the runway next, the first of the night that presents men’s couture outlined in the fashion of the culture. Once again I get a feeling of camaraderie as the village gathers around for what appears to be a wedding with bridal gowns taking the runway. In this ballroom you are transported to different cultures of fashion. Traditional dances and music fill the night to draw the crowd into a different experience at the heart of New York City.
From winter to summer is the feeling I get as the night continues. The final show brings in legitimate catwalk looks. Almost as though they came from a villainess’s wardrobe. Rose golds and silvers. This collection definitely makes it feel like NYFW with emphasis on New York as we finish with another bridal gown.
Dogs also grace the last winter fur coat collection with a nice combination of looks from Elcy Cortorreal and Vintage Luxury to finish the show. Special thanks are given to the hairstyling team, models, designers, Voodoo Makeup from New Orleans, front of stage, back of stage and production leaders. The teams definitely came together to make this a night well spent in the world of fashion.
By Author & Contributor: MariTi Lovell