By Keith L. Forest
In celebration of Black Business Month, and in honor of the 28th anniversary of its Brooklyn flagship store, global fashion designer Moshood once again brought its legendary New Roots to Culture Fashion Showcase to the town of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Hosted by New York City Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Laurie Cumbo and filmmaker Joseph Grant, the fashion blast extravaganza took place at Restoration Plaza, 1360 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY, and featured live musical performances and the African firm of Moshood. inspired fashion creations. Other notable civic leaders in attendance included US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, New York State Senator Kevin Parker, Bed-Stuy Gateway IDB Executive Director Dale Charles, and New York City Public Defender Jumaane Williams. , who came out to support her mother, who annually models for the show.
The lively event kicked off with a live performance by the Kunle Might Sunrise Band with lead singer Moses “Kunle Mighty” Ayankunle, a celebrated multi-instrumentalist born into a family of talking percussionists. Dressed in traditional West African garb, the band’s percussive rhythms showered the audience with hypnotic, syncopated licks straight from the motherland. The 10-piece high-energy band, which is infused with the sounds of JuJu percussion, highlife and Afropop, was formed at Sunrise Spiritual Church. It is led by Kunle Ade, son of legendary Nigerian JuJu singer and multi-disciplinary musician, King Sunny Ade.
In addition to live music, the holiday celebration included authentic and cutting-edge designs from a variety of emerging black designers. Daryl Gordon, a Brooklyn-based hat and accessory designer, was the first designer to take the stage to present the latest creations from his Brooklyn-inspired Daryl G Designs collection. Arise and Shine, a global design company based in Brooklyn, continued with its African-inspired Nigerian bling. Up next was unique wearable art from artist, designer, and cancer survivor Lisa Fashion. Mo Glover, who debuted her African-inspired intergenerational designs during Moshood’s 27th anniversary exhibit, is back with her latest collection in tribute to the kings and queens of Brooklyn. Designer Mariam Wolete, also known as Empress Wendy, dazzled the catwalk with bold, Afrocentric designs from her Rasta Royal Elegance collection.
The festive outdoor festival, which took place on the eve of Black Business Month, aims to draw traffic to the Bedford Stuyvesant business district. Like most small businesses, COVID-19 took its toll on the Nigerian-born designer’s business. However, thanks to its growing e-commerce platform and assistance from the Bed-Stuy Gateway BID, Moshood has been able to keep its doors open. In thanks to the town that helped support it, Moshood hopes the fashion show will encourage viewers from near and far to support other local businesses within the corridor.
The name MOSHOOD/African spirit has become synonymous with a style that embodies the “spirit” of African pride. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Moshood came to make his mark in New York in the early 1980s. After years of tireless effort and hard work, he opened his boutique in Brooklyn, New York. His timeless pieces bring together the traditional beauty of African tailoring and Western flavor. His flowing, elegant designs have been adopted from Harlem to Soweto, Lagos to Bahia, London to Tokyo, and New York to Kingston.
Moshood teaches us through its fashions to love and respect ourselves and the traditions, our traditions, that we come from. Remember: When you wear Moshood, you dress yourself!
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Source: amsterdamnews.com