Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 16th annual fashion show and awards paid homage to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary and honored Black talent in fashion.
While New York Fashion Week officially began Thursday, Sept. 7, it’s been in full swing in Harlem since Tuesday evening. On Sept. 5, at the legendary Apollo Theater,
As Rocky received his award, he admitted he hadn’t prepared a speech because he wanted to speak from the heart. He also paid a poignant tribute to his award’s namesake.
“Virgil discovered us — A$AP — as a bunch of kids. We didn’t know who we were. Virgil knew who we were. A year later, I became famous. Virgil went on to design my first album cover,” he said. “We’re responsible for a lot of trends. I’m not trying to toot my own horn. By ‘we,’ I mean me,” he quipped.
The evening, sponsored by AT&T and Walt Disney, also boasted a star-studded guest list of Black fashion industry insiders, including Sergio Hudson, June Ambrose, and Dapper Dan.
Daniel also noted how many of Tuesday night’s honorees have had to overcome numerous challenges, including systemic racial barriers that are rampant in the fashion industry.
“This evening serves as a testament to the dismantling of those barriers and the ascent towards an inclusive and empowering fashion industry,” she said.
Take a look in the gallery below.
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