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Categories: Articles, Audrey Bernard,
Recently, SoHarlem held the SoHarlem Inaugural Fashion Show & Fundraiser in the historic Manhattanville Factory District at 439 West 127th Street, Harlem, New York, honoring fashion industry icon Bethann Hardison.
This was an inspirational evening filled with memorable music, art, and delicious cuisine, and closed with the ultimate culturally inspired creative collection. Additionally, SoHarlem presented its signature weekend-long Pop-Up featuring SoHarlem’s Design Collective. “SoHarlem’s entrepreneurs have been creating extraordinary work, and the three-day Pop-Up of their fashion lines is a wonderful reflection of Harlem’s legendary contribution to fashion,” expressed visionary Founder and CEO of SoHarlem, Janet Rodriguez.
Hardison is an icon and trailblazer known for her groundbreaking contributions to the fashion industry, especially for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion. Hardison was one of the first models to gain prominence in the 1970s. She broke barriers on the runway, appearing in shows for top designers and on significant fashion magazine covers at a time when White models largely dominated the industry. In addition to her modeling career, Hardison became a vocal advocate for diversity in fashion. In 1984, she founded her own modeling agency, Bethann Management, which aimed to promote models of color and create opportunities for them in the industry.
The I Am So Harlem fashion show featured unique designs from Creative Collective. Models walked the runway accompanied by live music from South African cellist Thapelo Masita, using the impressive Manhattanville spaces as a backdrop. Immediately following the show, guests were invited to view Don’t Hate the Players, Change the Game, a captivating interview with the legendary Dapper Dan, which won the Living Legend Award at the Kwanza Film Festival. They also appreciated the art installation by Milagros Batista; Robert Owen’s Harlem Derby Style Hat Collection; and enjoyed food by Chef Miya C Pack.
SoHarlem has been an essential force in the transformation of the once underutilized Manhattanville Factory District into a successful business community employing local residents and serves as an incubator where designers take the time to develop their design skills, business, and marketing acumen to help build their business.
Host Sponsor Scott Metzner, President of Janus Property, stated, “This event marks a major milestone for the Creative Entrepreneurs SoHarlem has been incubating. The Fashion Show is a rare opportunity for SoHarlem’s entrepreneurs to share their creativity and celebrate the vibrancy of the West Harlem Innovation Triangle.”
Since its founding in 2011, SoHarlem has assisted in launching more than 25 micro-businesses, from custom-made couture garments, urban streetwear, fashion accessories, and other businesses. Its Creative Economy Training Institute,started in 2017, has trained more than 50 unemployed and underemployed residents. Funds raised at the event support SoHarlem atelier, where their designs are created and produced.
Designers work in the SoHarlem atelier, so all of their designs are created and produced in Harlem, ensuring that the quality of the craftsmanship is first in class. As participants in the SoHarlem incubator program, these designers are Creative Entrepreneurs who have taken the time to develop their design skills and have had the benefit of developing their business and marketing acumen to utilize these platforms to build their business.
Designers walked the runway and included founders of the following companies: Zaire Benjamin, Lost Souls; Gisele Eboma, Surfing Queen; Deirdre Washington, BLHR; Roselyn Grullon, Rosa’s; Tre Buchannan, MILAN; Mario Miguelito, VoidAYSLUM; Andres Biel, I Fly Universe; Walter Dixon, ATASHI; Noah Joseph, Art in Heaven; Belkola Vasquez, Belkola; Henry Smith, TheManHenry House of Tailoring; Olivia Smashum, Blue Olive; and Javier Valencia, Javier Valencia Designs.
To learn more about SoHarlem, visit www.SoHarlem.org.
Photos by
Daniel Vasquez
