Millennials are doing some kick-ass things in the fashion industry. AMCONYC is a production and coordination agency whose main goal is to showcase the phenomenal things that millennials are doing in the industry. This New York Fashion Week AMCONYC put together a group of shows featuring emerging designers, and I had the pleasure of attending the Black Phumelele and Wear Your Label shows.
Founded by Kayley Reed and Kyle MacNevin – both who live with mental illness themselves, Wear Your Label is not just a clothing line, its mission is to start a conversation about mental illness and the stigma surrounding it. Their goal is to encourage individuals to take ownership over their mental health. They have partnered with mental health initiatives, including PROJECT 375, co-founded by New York Jets Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall. The collection featured shirts with cool sayings focusing on awareness. There were a few famous faces strutting down the runway supporting Wear Your Label. Some of those familiar faces included former plus sized-contestant on America’s Next Top Model, Sarah Hartshorne and Degrassi actress Sarah Fisher. There in nothing more exciting than sporting style for a great cause.
I also had the pleasure of being introduced to Black Phumelele, which is a label designed by Phumie who hails from Swaziland. Her heritage and culture is beautifully reflected in the line. To me, the collection is definitely reminiscent of the 70s — feminine and sexy. She incorporates lace detailing, halter necklines and flared hemlines. The color theme was neutral but the cuts and perfect silhouettes made up for the lack of color. I’m super excited to see more from Black Phumelele.
Twisted Talk: Did you attend any shows during New York Fashion Week? What do you think of these two lines? Discuss below!
