The lobby of the Central Library in Brooklyn transformed into a catwalk on Sept. 27 as professional models showcased the creative designs of aspiring fashion designers at the 6th annual BKLYN Fashion Academy show.
The BKLYN Fashion Academy is a free, 16-week intensive fashion education program provided by the Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), the only one of its kind in the nation. Project Runway All-Star Benjamin Mach serves as the program’s lead instructor, blending BPL’s resources with the expertise of fashion industry professionals. Aspiring Brooklyn designers are introduced to new techniques, taught about sustainability in fashion, and guided in creating a ready-to-wear sustainable collection.
The event was a collaboration between Women.NYC and BPL. This year’s theme, “Women of Future Industries: From Runway to Role Model,” spotlighted women leaders spearheading a sustainable future.
Shaw Bernard, founder and CEO of STRUT Models, led the program and told the packed audience that the designers represented “the best of Brooklyn,” who would “shake up” the fashion industry with innovative ideas and designs.
“We want to showcase the modern CEOs of tomorrow,” Bernard told the cheering crowd.
Designs on display ranged from ready-to-wear and evening attire to avant-garde creations, all made from eco-friendly materials, underscoring that sustainable fashion is the future.
The first half of the show featured designs by Grace Kariuki, Venna Beharie, Pia Love, Jesus Soto Villavicenio, Regina Spann and Swanetta Hunts.
During intermission, before models displayed collections by Ingrid Baptiste, Danielle Castor Muyeeb, and Xera Agana Woodbine, Council Member Farah Lewis addressed the audience.
Lewis said she hoped guests would be inspired by the designs, and by the stories of the “incredible” women.
“We are highlighting remarkable women who are leading the charge for a sustainable future, from the fabric on the runway to the influential role models,” Lewis said. “Our shared vision is to build a greener and more resilient economy.”
In the second half of the show, designers Lameeka Pough, Rose Martinez, Victoria Ereskina, Leah Balkaran, Ronen Gamil, and Gia Lucielle Zhao presented their collections.
Leah Balkaran, 25, is a self-taught fashion designer. She told Brooklyn Paper that the program helped her streamline her business and integrate the skills she had previously acquired.
The collaboration between Women.NYC and BPL allowed women to shine, said Balkaran, who aims to make everyday women feel as “glamorous as we know they can feel.”
“Fashion is about expression and personality. So I believe that [the show] is a beautiful opportunity to give back to the public in a way where we get to uplift the public,” Balkaran said.
Gia Lucille Zhao, who earned a fashion degree 10 years ago, said the program was ideal for those looking to break into the industry.
“For someone like me who would like to improve my skills, increase my exposure, and grow my network, it’s really perfect,” Zhao said.
Brooklynite Savannah Bryant attended the show because her cousin, Pia Love, was one of the designers. Bryant praised this year’s theme as “amazing.”
“Women have been held back in so many ways for such a long time, like through history, that doing things to support them is essential to our society [and] to culture. I think this is great,” Bryant told Brooklyn Paper.
Make-up artist Minerva Lopez, a recent cosmetology school graduate, said make-up is her passion because it allows her to express herself. She was thrilled to see women being given a voice in the fashion industry.
“Let [women] be free. Women are beautiful. It’s what they are; it’s what they do,” Lopez told Brooklyn Paper. “It’s in our nature. I feel like they should present themselves however they want to be presented. Let them show it off; let them shine however they want to shine.”
Funding for the BKLYN Fashion Academy’s runway show is provided in part by Women.NYC. Program partners include FABSCRAP, Materials for the Arts, BK Style Foundation, and Fashion Week Brooklyn (FWBK). Wing Woman Reserve and Dal Dottore Gin also contributed generously to the BKLYN Fashion Academy show.
