NYFMC Fashion Week: Buzzing with Excitement
Placed discreetly in the Flat Iron district of Manhattan sits a small loft where New York Fashion and Music Conference (NYFMC) put on an exciting show on Feb. 10 for New York Fashion Week. Hosted by Deshai Williams, NYFMC successfully highlighted thirteen of the hottest emerging designers from across the country. The room in which the show took place featured neon signs, a white rose wall, an open prosecco bar and seats with gold swag bags along the white runway for VIP guests.
The guests trickled in from the elevator and a buzz slowly filled the room clearly looking forward to seeing the show. Wearing their most fashion forward outfits, guests laughed, smiled, took advantage of the open bar and took pictures in front of all of the Instagram-worthy backdrops. Donned in Dior purses, Chanel brooches, and beautiful accessories, the fifty guests, twenty VIPs, and thirty press in the back of the room got ready to see the looks to come from these up and coming designers.
Upstairs on the floor above the runway, the models and designers at the show were getting their looks runway ready. Hair and makeup artists Amber Blanchard and Leanne Abuzahrieh helped get the models into their beauty looks for each designer. Designers such as Anna from Instinct Brand were bubbling with happiness for the opportunity to be in such an amazing show.
The show started at six o’clock beginning with a performance by pop artist Hitomi. The first two designers, Creative Drip and Mugzy McFly, started off the fashion looks with collections of streetwear with an edge to them. Mugzy McFly caught the eye of not only the guests at the show, but also, “professional athletes, musicians, and celebrities worldwide,” Forbes wrote shortly after the show. The third designer was the brand In My Genes, whose designer in an interview described her line as “evening wear for going out in.” We got to see a good blend of streetwear, couture and luxury, and artistic pieces at the show.
The streetwear portion of the show was dominated by brands like Retro Wave, Toledope, and Imperial Legacy. Retro Wave featured an orange-tinted jumpsuit that had the words “Black Girl Magic” sprawled across it. Toledope had several tie dye pieces with the brand’s identifying words: “Trust You’re Dope.”
The couture and luxury portion of the show featured designers like Ja Glam, Kraev Fashions, Lia Gabrielle, Bodied by JoJo and Yuki. Kraev Fashions featured stunning pieces such as a floral illusion dress that was covered in see through tulle, pearls, and white and purple floral appliques. Meanwhile, Bodied by JoJo had a collection of tight fitting dresses and outfits often featuring a hot pink color.
Arguably the most interesting and complex pieces of the night came from YesNilco and Instinct Brand. YesNilco featured a mix of elegance and streetwear of all custom pieces with artwork done by the designer himself. As the designer described it, his collection was, “vintage, rock and hip-hop all in one.” As for Instinct Brand, streetwear made out of trash was featured (and yes, we mean literal trash). Featuring pieces such as a stylish top made out of a “Thank You” takeout plastic bag, this designer definitely stood out to the crowd.
There was another performance toward the end of the show by pop artist Ayanda. The crowd seemed to enjoy the show greatly with hoots and hollers throughout. One of the guests even got up when invited and did an outstanding model-esque walk down the runway. Overall, the show was filled with excitement, a strong appreciation for fashion, and general good times between guests. NYFMC successfully highlighted some of the hottest designers from across the country and gave them a chance to shine and show their best collections.
