In July 2019, ESSENCE pulled together a who’s who of Black fashion insiders for a three-day celebration at the historic Gallier Hall in New Orleans.
The guest list has such fashion influencers as Gucci Vice President of Brand & Culture Engagement Antoine Phillips, Dapper Dan, June Ambrose, and Symone D. Sanders. Needless to say, there was no shortage of style on display and that preview event dubbed Fashion House was a highlight of the ESSENCE Festival weekend.
Oh, did we mention that a local marching band was on deck to add in some of that iconic New Orleans jazz flavor?
While it most definitely was not an event to be missed, that party down south was only the beginning of things to come.
ESSENCE brings the party to Fashion Week
The ESSENCE Fashion House is more than just a recognition of Black talent in fashion from around the globe. It’s a celebratory place for the fashion industry to come together with Black thought leaders to build on ideas that can shape the world for the better.
Because the New Orleans version of Fashion House was such a success, ESSENCE decided to take the party to New York City. And if you’re going to showcase the beauty of Black fashion in the Big Apple, then there’s no better time than September Fashion Week.
It was evident from the very start of the week too, that NYC’s Black creatives were ready to slay and there was no shortage of neck-turning styles on full display.
To make sure that this year’s Fashion Week would be one New Yorkers wouldn’t soon forget, ESSENCE lined up numerous panel discussions such as “Redefining Beauty Standards In The Fashion Industry” and “June Ambrose On The Art Of Unapologetic Style.”
Arguably one of the most exciting aspects of ESSENCE’s presence at NYC Fashion Week 2019 was the Best in Black Fashion Awards. While it was an invitation-only gala, viewers were invited to vote on categories online and take in the highlights of the star-packed event.
While fans might have come for the celeb-heavy shows like Fenty x Puma and YEEZY, the numerous panel discussions and collaborative events between Black fashion veterans and rising talents are what make Fashion House such a powerful concept.
Stay tuned for more Fashion House and ESSENCE highlights throughout the year.
All images via ESSENCE.