Harlem Fashion Week Marks 10 Years of Style and Community
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
By: Jewel Benton Photos by: Bill Allen, Perception Media
Elevation, community and flair were at the heart of this year’s Harlem Fashion Week as attendees gathered at Aloft Harlem to celebrate the event’s 10th year. Flashy runway presentations, a thoughtful panel and vibrant vendor showcases brought together models, designers, media and guests on Sunday, March 16, from 2 p.m. into the evening.
Co-founder and creative director Yvonne Jewnell, a jewelry designer who launched the movement with her mother, Tandra Birkett, said the mission is to spotlight the fashion industry while providing networking opportunities and making cultural events accessible to the Harlem community.
The Vendors
Brooklyn-based jeweler Deirdre McNish-Brown, founder of D’s Delights, said she was inspired to launch her business in 2020 during the pandemic.
“As a health care professional, I felt we weren’t really being seen as humans,” she told Pulse.
Her mantra for her work is “Be Seen and Feel Seen.”
She said she attended Harlem Fashion Week to showcase her pieces to an audience she believes would understand and appreciate them.
Dana Blake, founder of Vertzatylegem, said she wanted to explore vending opportunities beyond Connecticut. She recalled the moment she first became interested in fashion: One year for Christmas, she asked her mother for a sewing machine but didn’t use it until a year later.
“I came across an African fashion store, and then I opened it,” she said. “I didn’t know what I was doing, but I made something.” She has been creating clothes and bags ever since.
By day, Blake is a pre-K teacher, balancing education with her passion for fashion.
Kenyan designer Roselyne Shiyenze, founder of Shiyenze Fashion, said she developed an interest in fashion while working as a model.
“The time when Lupita Nyong'o won the Oscar, there was such a rise of Black models with a certain kind of look, and I happened to have that look,” she said.
As modeling began to conflict with her schooling, she found herself more drawn to design.
“I decided to pursue design because I can manage my time and share my story better,” she said.
Shiyenze has now been designing for 13 years. Her advice to aspiring designers is simple:
“Keep going. When they tell you that you can’t do it, it often means they see your potential.”
The Designers
Queens-born designer Sheena Cruz of SS House of Couture draws inspiration from her grandmother, who helped spark her passion for fashion — a legacy she now continues by running her business alongside her daughters, Shaiya and Soraiya.
Soraiya shared her best fashion advice: “It’s not just about what you make — it’s the passion you have while making it.”
Award-winning designer Sharon Cole of Sharon Cole Designs, who hails from Trinidad and Tobago, said her work is inspired by and serves as a tribute to Mother Earth.
Model Epiphany Doughty appeared in Cole’s runway presentation. She has worked with Harlem Fashion Week for three years and said she was pleased attendees were exposed not only to the designs, but to the workshop component as well.
The Panel
Led by Jewnell, the event also featured a compelling panel for emerging creatives. Panelists included former America’s Next Top Model contestant, actress, entrepreneur and public health advocate Bre Scullark; viral content creator and cultural storyteller Whitney House; and marketing and brand strategist and designer Nekeyta Tyson-Newkirk. Together, they discussed intentionality, preparation, education, pivoting and collaboration.
House spoke about the importance of collaboration: “Some of the things I do on my page are highlight talent. And it doesn’t matter how big of a following you have, because I understand being overlooked as a creator.” She said she regularly spotlights and collaborates with dancers, models and other creatives.
Scullark opened up about how she approaches challenges and why she no longer fears them.
“Truth be told, I’ve hit rock bottom so many times, it started to look like up for me,” she said. “So I welcomed darkness, I welcomed struggle, I welcomed challenges. What I’ve learned in my journey is you lean in. Naturally, I’m an introvert, and it was people around me who pushed me out of the house and reminded me that I’m only a small part of this big world. I am no different or better than anyone else. When you lean in and are transparent, you’ll be surprised by who will say, ‘I got you’ or ‘I see you.’”
When it comes to intentionality with social media and personal branding, Tyson-Newkirk emphasized perspective.
“You have to keep in your mindset that this is just a place we’ve created to highlight our reels — our wins,” she said. “Use it to your advantage for your business and to tell your story. Attend pop-up events and network with people. People are constantly receiving information, so be creative with how and where you tell your story.”
As Harlem Fashion Week celebrates its 10th year, the event continues to serve as a platform for rising designers, entrepreneurs and creatives shaping the future of fashion in Harlem and beyond. For more information, visit harlemfw.com.
