22 • May 26, 2022 - June 1, 2022
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
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Macy’s presents FIT’s Future of Fashion show By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor
Designs by FIT 2022 Graduate Students for Future of Fashion Presentation (Photos by Bennett Raglin, Getty for FIT FoF)
10 start-up business tips By RENEE MINUS WHITE Fashion & Beauty Editor
For the first time since COVID, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosted its end-of-year runway Fashion of Future (FoF) this month, outside on the school’s grounds. Presented by Macy’s, the fantastic show was live, in-person, and professionally produced. The evening’s weather was lovely. Featuring nearly 100 looks, it was a wonderful and new experience to watch the show outside the FIT buildings. Some students gazed out of the classroom windows, while others crowded the sidewalk at the bottom of W. 27th Street, near 8th Avenue in NYC. Students were in awe, snapping photos and cheering as models came down the runway. Talk about futuristic fashions, the mixture of fabrics, colors and styles were incredible and original. The children’s collection stole the show! The sensational looks were created by a select, extremely talented group of 2022 graduates of FIT’s Fashion Design BFA program. The clothes spanned five concentrations: knitwear, sportswear, inti-
well attended and free to the public. whereas many shops cannot provide that Harlem’s panel discussion was very infor- service. Looking back, there has been a lot mative. What’s the fashion business like today? of waste. The fashion industry has changed. From May 10 to 20, 2022, The United Way of Sustainable fashions are news! The time for Consumers have prompted the change. NYC’s Together We Thrive Network hosted its 10th annual NYCxDesign Festival in Harlem. The three-day event featured 40 Black fashion designers. The well-attended United Way’s Harlem event, held at NYS Office Building’s Gallery on W. 125th St., consisted of a fashion show and panel discussion. The distinguished panel included Princess Jenkins, owner of Brownstone, Kells Barnett of Harlem Haberdashery, and Yvonne Jewnell, Harlem Fashion Week. Brandez Wineglass was the panel’s moderator. In February 2021, UWNYC launched Together We Thrive. It’s a broad coalition of government, nonprofit and corporate partners that supports Black-owned business in New York City. UWNYC is a response to the dispropor(L-R) Panel moderator Brandez Wineglass, with panelists Princess Jenkins, Kells tionate impact of COVID-19 on Black businessBarnett, and Yvonne Jewnell es and helps ethnic business owners build their financial health, align, activate and increase the fast fashions is in the past. People want to Clothes must be well-made, economical capacity of existing systems that meet the save the environment, recycle, and utilize and sustainable. If you come into Harlem needs of Black entrepreneurs in New York what they have. “Fashion is an expression Haberdashery and don’t see what you want, City. The NYCxDesign Festival was also cele- of how you feel today,” said Barnett. “Ev- Barnett will refer you to a Black-owned shop brated in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and eryone deserves to look fly.” Haberdashery that does. “We need more Black retailers in Jamaica, Queens. The event ran from May features clothes for men and women, hats Harlem,” he suggested. 10-20, 2022. It highlighted Black designers, and accessories. They work on custom de“At the Brownstone, we dress women in makers and manufacturers. All events were signs and can make you an outfit in a day, their lives,” commented Princess Jenkins.
mate apparel, special occasion, and children’s wear. The designs were inspired by personal stories, while addressing wide-ranging themes such as heritage appreciation, sustainability, gender neutrality, accessibility, and mental health awareness. Macy’s supported the Future of Fashion both by presenting the show and through two exciting new programs. It’s all part of Macy’s enterprise-wide social purpose and brand platform: Mission Every One, which aims to create a brighter future with bold representation for all and to inspire customers to express their unique personal styles. “Our students spend their time here refining and developing their individual design talents and sensibilities under the guidance of FIT’s dedicated faculty. Tonight, they demonstrate all they have learned,” said Dr. Joyce Brown, president of FIT. The industry mentors who work alongside students in their final semester of study give the Future of Fashion Critic Awards each year. Each critic is a leader in one of See FASHION on page 29
They dress women in clothes that build them up. During COVID-19, many women gained weight. “The Brownstone offers a fashion-forward selection of designs for the fuller figure,” remarked Jenkins. People don’t realize the number of Black-owned businesses in Harlem. The panel also talked about popular hair salons, restaurants, law offices, accountants, real estate storefronts, doctor’s offices and many businesses now in Harlem. Harlem Panelist offered the following tips for start-up business owners: A) Start with a good business plan and adequate financials/funding. B) Go to work with expectancy. Be open to new ideas. C) Doing business is about integrity. D) Know your worth! Get paid up front for services. E) The internet brings the world closer. Be consistent with social media. F) Keep young people on your team. G) Embrace diversity. Seek help. H) Surround yourself with like-minded people that work with you. I) Network. Build your brand, reputation. Own your business name. J) You can’t be hungry or sleepy on the job. Consider what it takes, hard work and education needed to run your business. And do it!
