By Jaida Dent and Giovanni M. Ravalli
Even though New York Fashion Week (NYFW) has passed, it hasn’t stopped the creatives of Brooklyn College from showcasing their handcrafted looks with the community. On Tuesday, Oct. 8, BC held a NYFW x BC Fashion Show on campus that was sponsored by the CUNY Career Success Fellowship. The event was produced by BC’s own, including Professor Ngoc Cindy Pham and students Bianny Torres and Ezae Darby.
The event opened with a panel featuring the designers whose work would be modeled in the show which included students Gansel Jacques, Aspia Anwar, Cyle Paul, and Darby. Along with them was Akeem Dewan from Keem Studios, a fashion brand based in NYC. The panel discussed their journey to fashion, where their creativity stems from, and even what the future holds for them as designers.
“I want to redefine certain things in the culture and how perceptions play a part in our daily lives […] So I feel that with fashion, there’s really a part into how people perceive you and how you can move. So that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing,” said Jacques, a designer and member of the show’s production team.
A common theme amongst all the designers was individuality. The artwork that they created, and want to continue creating, were all rooted in a place of being true to oneself. For student and designer Paul, not only does he want his brand of tote bags, Design and Wine, to show individuality, but to also teach people how to recreate that for themselves.
“It gives me a great opportunity to give people the foundation […] It’s a matter of just being able to show people, Okay, this is how I do it. You could then take that as an example and then do it your own way with your own twist, with your own ideas,” said Paul.
For other designers, the power of their brand is merging sustainability and fashion. Eco Couture, the brand of the show’s producer, Darby, aims to do just that.
“We’re looking into more ways in order to keep it as sustainable as possible, whether that be looking into the packaging of the shirts […] all the way down to the printing,” said Darby.
Models appreciated the outfits and talent of the designers featured in the show and were grateful to be a part of the BC-wide production.
“It’s nice to see all the different designers just come together and showcase what they can do and what the beautiful students of BC can do,” Chrismar Echavarria told The Vanguard. “I was just so glad that I was able to wear something from a student, and I think he has a lot of talent.”
The students who modeled in the show were excited about the opportunity to do so. For some, it was their first time, and it ignited an interest in modeling again in the future.
“I’m interested in it […] I would definitely be interested in doing some runway modeling so I feel this is good practice,” said Terrance Belizaire, one of the models and a sociology major at BC.
Guest designer, Akeem Dewan, who started out as a stylist and is now head designer and owner of his own brand Keem Studios, came on campus to show his designs to BC students. From wax denim and mohair, to wool polyester blends with satin linings, Keem Studios prides itself on one-of-a-kind outfits and pieces ranging from pants with sunflowers to front and back double zippered hoodies. Having only started the brand about a year ago, his clothing has already taken off in popularity. The Keem Studios label was showcased in a Nordstrom pop-up shop and was sold out within three days.
“For me, to come to colleges and see people happy in Keem Studios is such a great surreal feeling. Styling has always been a passion of mine. I didn’t choose it, it chose me,” Dewan said. “We just started last year, so if you put your all and you’re consistent, literally your entire life could change in a year.”
The goal of the event was to give students a chance to showcase their talents and work while connecting with professionals in the industry. For Pham, it’s about creating opportunities for the students to grow and build their careers.
“The NYFWxBC Fall 2024 event was such an exciting experience. Our students truly owned the entire event and I couldn’t be prouder of their success,” Pham told The Vanguard. “They brought their classroom knowledge to life in such a professional way.”