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Updated: April 13, 2022 at 4:35 pm
Electronic pop music played as attendees finished their drinks purchases and settled into their seats around the catwalk. The DJ pumped up the crowd when he announced that the show was starting and began introducing the first designer to showcase his designs.
Syracuse Fashion Week kicked off Thursday with an event at Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor called “Spring Fling,” followed by Friday’s event at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que called “Local Love.” And on Saturday, the closing show, “Lux,” took place at the Washington Place Apartments in downtown Syracuse.
Syracuse has hosted a fashion week since the spring of 2014, but this was its first since the start of the pandemic. Instead of the big gala events of previous years, Lisa Butler, executive director of Syracuse Fashion Week, opted for three smaller events due to the pandemic.
The themes of this year’s events were “Spring Fling,” where designers showcased their latest designs for warmer climates, “Local Love,” which focused strictly on highlighting local designers, and “Lux,” which focused in luxury design.
Spotlighting local designers and stores allows them to get their name out there and gives the public a chance to see what they have to offer, said Monica Villegas, owner of the Floridella boutique. This year was the fourth time that Villegas participated in Syracuse Fashion Week. She had the opportunity to show her inventory two weeks after opening her boutique.
“Lisa invited me…she knew about my recent opening and gave me the opportunity to be a part of it. And since then, I’ve been growing because of that as well,” Villegas said.
A model puts on makeup. kate harriton | staff photographer
A person in a jean jacket and leggings poses. kate harriton | staff photographer
Saturday’s closing show offered a variety of different types of designers, as eight different brands showed their luxury designs on the catwalk. Kathom Al Jiboury, a Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts alumnus, opened the show with her understated chic and sequined designs, an area of fashion design that has historically been under-represented in the fashion industry.
This year was designer Ezmira Neshawait’s first show, and her models showed off some matching “mommy and me” outfits. Lucky Mae’s Closet put a modern spin on 1950s vintage and rockabilly designs with pin-up curls and big, fluffy skirts. Projex 214, a downtown Syracuse boutique, showcased its high-end menswear.
A model walks down the runway with the DJ on stage behind her. Max Mimaroglu | Wizard Photo Editor
Photographers take pictures of a model walking down the catwalk. Max Mimaroglu | Wizard Photo Editor
A common theme among many of the designs shown at the “Lux” event was a focus on sustainable fashion, whether through recycled or reused clothing. Cazenovia College’s fashion department showcased two of its student lines.
One of her lines, “Look Again,” repurposes clothes bought from thrift stores, and her designs are sold at The Key in Cazenovia. A Cazenovia College alumna, Elissa Martin of Altered Eco closed the show with her vibrant recycled neon designs fit for party fun.
In addition to showcasing the breadth of creativity coming from the Syracuse area, fashion week events also raise funds and awareness for the Food Bank of Downtown New York. Butler made this decision after watching the documentary “A Place at the Table,” which explores the issue of hunger in America.
Attendees watch as a model walks the runway in a gown and domino mask. Max Mimaroglu | Wizard Photo Editor
A model walks the runway as fashion show attendees look on. Max Mimaroglu | Wizard Photo Editor
“I just saw that documentary when I was conceiving of Syracuse Fashion Week, and it brought to my attention food insecurity, hunger in America, and it kind of settled in my brain: food and fashion: those are two things. that people need to survive.” Butler said.
Butler was driven to be philanthropic and give back to the community with Syracuse Fashion Week, and the documentary motivated her to choose the Food Bank of Downtown New York to benefit from the events. So far, the events have raised enough money to provide 40,000 meals for people in Central and Upstate New York.
Textiles hang on a rack for models to wear during the runway show. kate harriton | staff photographer
A person in a black top and gold necklace smiles at Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor. kate harriton | staff photographer
“There’s someone half a mile from where we are right now who doesn’t know where their next meal is going to come from. They are food insecure; they are the working poor; they are the working people; they are elderly, older adults, families, children,” Butler said at the “Lux” event.
The food bank serves 11 counties and has more than 400 members, said Lynn Hy, its director of development. Without the support and donations from Syracuse Fashion Week, it would be difficult to keep food bank operations running, Hy said.
“It’s events like (Syracuse Fashion Week) that help raise awareness and funds that help keep our warehouse open, trucks on the road and get that food out into the community to people who need it,” Hy said.
A group of people stand in a room during a fashion show at Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor. kate harriton | staff photographer
Every year more and more people attend Syracuse Fashion Week, and it is well on its way to establishing itself as a landmark event.
“I love creativity. I think there’s an amazing creative culture in Syracuse that just needs a little more publicity,” Butler said.
— Writer Adriana Lobo contributed to this article.
CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, the placement of two photos was incorrect. They were taken at Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor. The Daily Orange regrets this mistake.
Posted on April 13, 2022 at 2:21 am
Source: dailyorange.com