First, are you able to title a trend present venue extra iconic than the Apollo Theater? We’ll wait. For the sixteenth Annual Trend Present and Model Awards, Harlem’s Trend Row chosen the long-lasting theater to honor among the largest names within the leisure trade. Although New York Trend Week has not formally began, the model—based by Brandice Daniel—at all times brings us an eventful expertise a couple of days early and EBONY was within the constructing.
The night time started with a cocktail hour mixer and a Dream in Black Rising Future Makers Showcase sponsored by AT&T. The Dream in Black Rising Future Makers program promotes younger Black expertise and supplies entry to the community and sources to understand higher potentialities. Jaivien Kendrick of Bowie College, Jakarie Whitaker of Clark Atlanta College, Jewel Moser, U’lia Hargrove of North Carolina A&T State College, and Tukii Tucker of North Carolina Central College have been the 5 college students whose work was showcased.
The Harlem’s Trend Row awards started with the Kelly Rowland receiving the Trend Icon Award. Rowland is commonly revered for her magnificence, however the “Merry Liddle” actress has at all times served us top-notch trend appears. From her early days in Future’s Baby, Mama Tina [Knowles] needed to create the group’s clothes as a result of manufacturers didn’t need to mortgage to them—however, that’s a dialog for a special day. The singing powerhouses set trend traits not simply in our group, however throughout the music trade.
Trend trade vet Gabriella Karefa-Johnson then acquired the Editor of the 12 months award. Karefa-Johnson will not be solely a stylist, however she is a tremendous storyteller. Her present of storytelling via clothes and pictures must be studied.
The award for Stylists of the 12 months went to Wayman and Micah. The duo is accountable for dressing among the largest names in Black Hollywood like Regina King, Niecy Nash, and Taraji P. Henson to call a couple of.
Designer Stella Jean was introduced with the Designer of the 12 months award. Her efforts to have Black designers added to the Milan Trend Week schedule shook the trade. She put her foot down and demanded we be included as a result of we’re in each metropolis, state, and nation—and need to be seen.
Photographer Johnny Nunez was given the Hip Hop Trailblazer award. Over the past 25 years, there has not been a rap legend that did not cross Nunez’s lens.
Lastly, that ‘fairly mutha******’ A$AP Rocky acquired the Virgil Abloh Award. Rocky is the next-generation Harlem legend. His type is next-level and easy; the person could make a t-shirt from the bodega lavatory modern. He wore clips in his hair that have been harking back to Rihanna’s doobie wrap that she wore to the 2013 American Music Awards. We love a reference.
After the awards ceremony, got here the style exhibits. Friends we served three runway exhibits from designers Nicole Benefield, Megan Renee, and Aaron Potts.
The night time concluded with a efficiency by legendary emcee Doug E. Recent. Friends stood and swayed forwards and backwards whereas he hit us with iconic hits to remind us that hip hop began in NYC.
