From the glitzy events to the never-ending runway presentations, New York Fashion Week is always vibrant. But one of the most powerful events of this season happened even before the formal beginning. To highlight the newest designs from 25 up-and-coming companies, RAISEfashion, a network of fashion industry veterans providing pro bono mentoring to BIPOC designers, staged an immersive exhibition Tuesday morning.
Held at the House of Sound, the event brought together a varied collection of designers all anxious to show their work to a room full of industry executives, buyers, and editors. “What I love the most about working with RAISEfashion is the sense of community with fellow designers,” Catherine Sarr, the creator of fine jewelry brand Almasika, said to ELLE. “It’s amazing especially because we’re all based in different cities, but we all get to regroup here today in person and connect with so many industry experts.”
The exhibition featured an impressive lineup of rising stars, including Aisling Camps, Fe Noel, Charles Harbison, Tolu Coker, K.NGSLEY, ADVISRY, Anima Iris, Almasika, and many more. It was a chance for these designers to showcase their collections, engage with potential buyers, and connect with influential figures in the fashion world. As Charles Harbison of Harbison Studio noted, “The highlight of my day has been being here on this floor with people who I respect, who I call friends, and whose products I love in the realest way.”
Yet, amidst the celebration, the event also brought attention to some of the ongoing challenges faced by independent designers. The issue of sporadic wholesale payments from retailers emerged as a key topic of discussion. “We take on so much labor and liability because we design and develop really robust collections that we believe in,” Harbison explained. “After market, we are still expected to invest more and more into production, additional sampling, and customizations. So it would be great to have a bit more shared liability and respect for the intense effort, thoughtfulness, and integrity it takes to bring a collection into fruition.”
One of the unique aspects of the RAISEfashion exhibition was the space it created for open and honest dialogue between designers and industry leaders. Aisling Camps, founder of her own eponymous brand, emphasized the importance of these interactions: “We’re having a lot of real conversations within the RAISEfashion community,” she told ELLE. “It’s been great for a lot of our mentors to hear what’s frustrating for us as designers and to say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never thought about it from that point of view,’ because they’re on the other side of the business. So it’s us designers having these honest conversations and the industry leaders having the power to impart change that has really made a significant difference.”
The preview exhibition was not just about fashion—it was an immersive celebration of creativity. Thanks to the support of sponsors like Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, Make Up For Ever, and Moët Hennessy USA, the event became a multi-sensory experience. It featured the work of visual artists, culinary talents, musical acts, and film visionaries, all contributing to a dynamic and enriching atmosphere that complemented the stunning designs on display.
