They brought high fashion to the high court!
Local jurists celebrated the end of Black History Month in style by swapping their classic black robes for colorful, African-inspired garb at the 21st-annual Black History Month Fashion Show at the Kings County Supreme Court.
“This event is a continuation of the recognition of African Americans and the contributions we’ve made,” said Judge Sylvia Ash, who sported a floor-length turquoise dress with an eye-catching pattern on the catwalk. “It celebrates our heritage and the colorful colors that go all the way back to our ancestors.”
Ash walked in the Feb. 28 style showcase alongside colleagues including Judge Genine Edwards, who wore a green, red, and black number and an intricate beaded necklace, and Judge Connie Melendez, who modeled a dashing purple-and-green dress, as attendees including District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio cheered them on.
African designers donated the fashionable garments shown on the runway, according to Ash, who said all of the clothes represented the rich culture of the continent their makers hail from.
The event concluded the jurists’ month-long celebration of African-American history staged by members of the Kings County Courts Black History Month Committee, and drew a record crowd of celebrants who came out to recognize those efforts, Ash said.
“The fashion show is the culmination of everything we do for the month,” Ash said. “It gets larger and larger every year.”