DC Fashion Week wrapped up its return to the main stage after celebrating its 37th season in a four-night experience highlighting models, designers, entrepreneurs and attendees. Executive Director Ean Williams brought together a diverse roster of creatives from both international and local backgrounds, showcasing DC’s multifaceted centrality through menswear collections, emerging designers and haute couture.
Originally from Chicago, Williams’ inspiration for the development of the semi-annual DCFW trade shows was born from his experience in the industry in the years following his move to DC “I started out as a model and actor, then ventured into design and started producing. And as a designer, I wanted to increase exposure for our brand,” recalled Williams. “[At the time]DC didn’t have a single recognized trade show that really showcased fashion, so I launched fashion week.”
Her experience navigating the DC fashion scene for over 20 years grew to be evidenced in the 36 seasons leading up to the most recent DCFW.
The Spring/Summer season designer showcases kicked off with a menswear collections show held at the Patterson Mansion in Dupont Circle, featuring brands including Andrew Nowell Menswear, Earle Bannister, The Debonaire Club Clothiers and Obioma Fashion.
The showcase on Friday, September 23, was a drastic departure from standard notions of masculinity in fashion, both in formal and casual wear. Playfulness and experimentation informed the range of shapes, patterns, and stories. From Earle Bannister’s woolen animal-ear masks to Andrew Nowell’s silver-blue jacquard short ensemble, the menswear show was a display of creativity and diversity in both design and style.
“It is the first fashion show of our 37th season. We are one of the few major fashion weeks that still has an exclusive menswear collection show which is very important to me,” William said of the value he placed on the event.
Ranging in age from 9 to 80, the designers in Saturday’s Emerging Designers Showcase, many of whom were DC natives paying homage to their hometown, used their work to tell their stories, shed light on issues social skills and recognize history and culture. One design duo, notably Coco Wright and Adisa Bomani of Coco Bomani, dedicated their collection to the story.
“Coco means ‘chocolate,’ Bomani means ‘warrior.’ Coco was founded on the assumption that all fashion was based on slaves. No cotton, no textiles, so we pay tribute to all the people who brought Ean here, your parents, your ancestors, your mom’s mom. So when you wear Coco Bomani, you represent something bigger than yourself: you represent the people who brought you here.” Bomani said after debuting the company’s contemporary and intricate designs.
Delight Dzansi, CEO & Creative Director of alkeBULAN and a University of Maryland alumnus, expressed a similar vision for her brand’s target demographic when she showcased her eclectic ‘My Closet’ collection.
“alkeBULAN was established in 2018, hoping to provide cultural clothing for Africans and people of African descent in the diaspora, while creating jobs.”
Designer Aje’Ne Thomas of the Accept All Love All brand dedicated her brightly colored collection to those struggling with anxiety and depression. The creator behind Fedele Nero, Briscoe Nero, dedicated his collection to his DC roots by accenting the designs with culturally reminiscent details, like the cherry blossom leaves that trace the seams of some of his garments. The Emerging Designers showcase provided creatives with a platform to represent the causes and culture that matter to them.
The closing night of the events, revealing the International Haute Couture collections, provided the audience with an air of extravagance. Some brands like Obioma Fashion recategorized themselves for their comebacks, while brands like Williams’ Corjor International, Eryn Boggs and Troy Anthony made their only appearance over the weekend on the final night.
The night’s unique garments featured architectural structures and new takes on patterns, textures, and color combinations. While some designs leaned towards the classic, others were unique enough to draw audible sighs from the crowd.
Opening the finale with live go-go music, featuring small local businesses during intermissions, and showing immense support for Howard students, faculty, and alumni, DCFW SS 22 was a celebration of the cultural facets for which DC has laid the bases.
With DCFW’s upcoming fall/winter installation scheduled for February 2023, attendees can expect a host of established and emerging designers, models, vendors and sponsors.
Copy edited by Nhandi Long-Shipman
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