More on the Horizon for Midwest Black Creatives in Fashion

Image by @shakespeare.design

If you haven't already noticed, more Fashion Industry opportunities are coming to the Midwest not only for Black influencers and entertainers but also for designers. New to Cincinnati is the production company, Valor and Virtue productions. Based out of Los Angeles, as of Fall 2022, has become partners with and serves as the Midwest chapter of the Black Design Collective BDC (also based in LA) which is a non-profit organization geared to the advancement of not only Black designers but photographers, graphic designers and creatives who consider themselves apart of the fashion and beauty industry.

Image by @shakespeare.design

Over Juneteenth weekend in the heart of Cincinnati, right on Fountain square, Valor and Virtue Productions (created by Myra Wallace-Walker and Davide Stennett) came together with Saige Consulting (Sanserrae Frazier) and BDC to host the second year of Fashion At the Fountain fashion show. This year's theme was Fashion Forward inspired by the talented Ruth E. Carter's work from the Wakanda Forever film and from the featured Black designers' preceptive. With great sponsors like First Financial Bank, Macy's, The Sister Accord, Social B & Co., 3CDC and more, FAF transformed Fountain Square into a high caliber fashion show runway!

Hosted by Catrena Bowman owner of Inspired Boutique in Covington, Kentucky and awesome channel 12 news anchor Kyle Inskeep, the show was top notch! With 200 VIP ticketed guests and 1000+ public attendees, the event created the ultimate fashion week experience. Guests traveled near and far to enjoy Fashion At the Fountain.

Images by @shakespeare.design

Working with 14 designers from Cincinnati, 30+ amazing local models, various local businesses and a phenomenal makeup and hair team, you could feel the unity and community camaraderie that was amplified that day. The red carpet interviews were given by cocoa sis Nahamani Yisrael. Cocoa Sisters Candra Reeves, Cofi Higgins and Daniyiel Walker were also spotted creating content from the event. The show gave Midwest designers, creatives and business vending opportunities right on the square which was awesome to see.

The dope Black designers that showcased their lines are listed below and you can find them on IG:

Me by Lee - @me_by_lee

BlaCk OWned - @imblackowned

Cynata Turner (no socials at this time)

812 Luxury Socks - @812_luxury

Beyond Fresh Designs - @beyondfreshdesigns (created by our founder Rebecca S. Armstrong)

Oshovre' - @oshovredesigns

Overdressed - @overdressedbyjo

Chloe Elesheva - @chloe.elesheva

Lee Jerome - @leejeromebyws

Am-A-Line - @amalinecollections

ATOIS - @atois_

Miasia King - @my_aqua_asia

Ramal with Copperwlry - @copperwlry

Kayla Love as well as Myra Wallace -Walker @valorandvirtueproductions

The VIP experience was hosted in the Fifth Third Bank Atrium with live performance by violinist, Trinity Thrasher, sway bags and more. Featured artwork were artists associated with the Robert O'Neal Multicultural Center.

Here is a list of some of the amazing models which can also be found on IG (not all photographed in images above):

Model Images: unknown author

Manasseh Robinson - @kingmanassehr

Ydamar Diaz

Darryl “DJ” Frazier - @go_my_dj

Erica Mudd - @mudd3.14

Tanna Scholz - @tanna__marie

Lauryn Hendrix - @adoree.lauryn

Rico Engleman - @Larico1015

Nina Davis - @ninaxdavis

Mariah Larkin - @Mariah_Lovemore

Nasiha agbenu - @_sela_a_

Matt Maestro - @MattMaestro

KehDijah Fairfax - @kehdijahfairfax

Alexis Frazier - @house_of_frazier

Mohammad Jamal Deen - @jd.moha

Sharrell Lasley - @sharrellduh

Shelanda Frazier - @iluvlanda

Chantee' Wimberly - @chantee_model

and more

Overall, we truly enjoyed this fashionable Wakanda like experience right in our Queen City. Cannot wait to see what the theme will be for next year! - CCB