“A Very Brooklyn Fashion Show” returned to the catwalk for its second annual event at brooklynONE Productions in Industry City on Oct. 15.
Hosted by Brooklyn Made Store, the show was part of Fashion Week Brooklyn and celebrated the talent and creativity of local designers, both established and emerging. Featured designers included Monique Glover, owner of Zyem NYC; Yvonne Chu, founder of Kimera; Nigerian-born designer Adeleke Sijuwade, who presented his L Collection; Renuka Malhi, owner of Re’Malhi Couturier; Natalie Skulska, founder of DANA Design; Constant Bernard; Christopher Leveille; and Roselyne Shiyenze of Shiyenze Fashion.
Models showcased colorful and funky designs, ranging from ready-to-wear to formalwear, in front of a sold-out crowd.
The show was divided into three segments, each curated by a different fashion leader. Catherine Schuller, founder of Runway the Real Way, led the first segment. Gabby Napolitano, creative director of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, curated the second for Brooklyn Made. Ricky Davy, founder of the BK Style Foundation and creative director and producer of FWBK, curated the final segment.
Davy expressed his excitement about the designs presented.
“I think what’s so interesting about the designs is [that] it’s such a diverse group of designers,” Davy said. “So we have a diverse group of perspectives on fashion.”
He also highlighted the value of partnering with Brooklyn Made Store and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
“What [Brooklyn Made Store and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce] are doing is really a great thing for amazing Brooklyn brands because it gives [Brooklyn brands] an opportunity to make stuff, and [instead] of selling it at a flea market, [their products] literally could be in a store,” Davy said.
New York City Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Laurie Cumbo graced the runway in a gown by designer Adeleke Sijuwade. Cumbo told Brooklyn Paper that Fashion Week Brooklyn was “phenomenal.”
“Brooklyn is the center of the world, and it influences art, culture, and fashion globally. And we are really excited to celebrate these incredible creatives, these designers, makeup artists, [and] jewelry makers,” she said. “This is New York City, right here in Brooklyn.”
Cumbo, a longtime wearer of Adeleke Sijuwade’s designs, praised Brooklyn for being a trendsetting hub where aspiring designers and artists can grow, experiment, and test the market.
“[Brooklyn] is a place of freedom of expression, and it’s often where people get their start before they go off to the bigger, more global fashion shows that are a lot more bait than this fashion show,” she added.
Randy Peers, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, wore a shirt by designer Roselyne Shiyenze and shared his enthusiasm for the event.
“We’ve got amazing, amazing, beautiful, beautiful Brooklynites who are going to walk the catwalk tonight,” Peers said. “You’re going to see amazing designs from all Brooklyn designers. These are all creative people who really are doing amazing things in this space, and we just want to amplify that and just get them more exposure.”
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce oversees the Brooklyn Made store, which has two locations — Industry City and City Point — and showcases products from Brooklyn makers and entrepreneurs. The stores celebrate the borough’s diversity and support local small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses.
