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‘Ultimate girl’s girl’ New York Fashion Week show features models in lingerie, suits, & hijabs – all on the same runway
In total, eight designers were showcased during the New York Fashion Week event
YOU wouldn't normally expect to see models in hijabs and models in lingerie under the same roof — let alone walking the same runway.
But they all strutted their stuff in one inclusive New York Fashion Week show aiming to celebrate all women.
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The MEFeater Galentine's New York Fashion Week show brought together a diverse group of women to showcase their unique style, whether it be hijabi fashion or revealing lingerie.
Pop culture publication brought attendees from near and far to witness their third annual Galentine's F/W 2024 NYFW show on February 10, powered by haircare company Mielle Organics.
The Galentine’s night was "dedicated to celebrating female friendships and uplifting women," according to the .
Celebrity attendees included Mecole Hayes from Big Brother, P-Valley, and actress Gail Bean, as well as musical performances by rapper KenTheMan and singer Jada Kingdom.
It kicked off with an introduction from TV personality and Baddies reality show star Janeisha John, who called it a night of "women empowerment off and on the runway."
MEFeater's CEO and Forbes 30 under 30 nominee Gabrielle Amani Williams explained why it was important to showcase underrepresented talent.
After working in the fashion industry for ten years, she thought it was "wack" and felt "disheartened" to see the mistreatment of up-and-coming talent, especially those of color.
"When I had a magazine and a platform, I wanted to create a high-fashion show that was welcoming to not only our community but all shades," she told The U.S. Sun.
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She realized early on that fashion week events were typically "male-dominated."
There also weren't many women with premiere shows and not as many female fashion creatives competing at the same level as Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang.
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"I wanted to have a women-oriented show that really showcased women designers who were killing it, but may not be able to afford their own show," Amani said.
She admitted that producing a fashion show was "expensive" and was "feeling it" in her pockets, but knew it was all worth it to support others from "diverse backgrounds and walks of life."
Shop Women Pre-Show Designers
- Hoyang Poon
- Malachai Spivey
- Lulu James
- Alise Haliq
- Larry Chamblish
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The Galentines Event not only highlighted three talented women on the runway but also in a pre-show "Shop Women" presentation that spotlighted five other designers as cocktails flowed.
Chinese-American size-inclusive designer Hannah Poon of designs risque, see-through lingerie, and bikini styles because she "doesn't like to wear clothes."
The minimal fabric accentuates any woman's figure with sizes from an XS to XXL, which she felt important to present at the Galentine's showcase.
Models wore them in the pre-show event beforehand as a way for women to "lean into their femininity" and "feel beautiful in their skin."
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With the audience's appetite whetted for a fashion-filled night, the models took the stage.
RMA
The first runway show spotlighted "incredible" Muslim hijabi designer Reema with her brand RMA Apparel, which was modest but sexy.
Navigating the industry as a Muslim hijabi was a challenge for her, so she decided to start her clothing brand to fill a gap in the market in 2021.
"Reema is a Hijabi designer making garments for modest women who are Muslim and maybe can't wear everything high fashion in our space because it's not made with them in mind," Amani said.
“We don’t see many during NYFW, and we want to give her a huge platform."
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Models — some wearing hijabs themselves, others not — donned formfitting gowns and high-waisted bottoms that subtly accentuated their figures but adhered to conservative standards of dress with arms covered.
The outfits were mostly black with shades of gray, silver, and olive green tossed in.
“My goal is to provide a space for women to express their fashion sense without revealing their skin," said Reema in an interview with MEFeater.
The most revealing outfit was a long-sleeved black top and long maxi skirt that revealed a sliver of the model's stomach area.
NO PUNCHING BAG
That was followed by mother-daughter trio and their “I AM WOMAN” collection, which boldly declared to the public: "I can do all things."
"With my mother being my co-founder and owner, I love their story," Gabrielle said.
She admitted that she was biased when it came to placing their designs on the runway, not only because of their similar familial circumstance but because of what they stood for.
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Since its inception in 2015, the brand has showcased collections promoting voting, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, gun violence, racism, and domestic violence.
They ranged from avant-garde artistic displays to bold use of the colors red, black, and purple with geometric shapes and patterns.
Janeisha John and rapper Chinese Kitty also hit the runway in low-cut and see-through black outfits that exposed their bottoms.
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RU BY RUPAL
Lastly, Indian designer Rupal Banerdree was a show of gender expression showcasing her latest collection for her brand Ru by Rupal.
Rupal Banerjee started her brand in 2019, combining the craft and textiles of South Asian culture with modern style.
She is a Galentine’s veteran and returned to the MEFeater runway for the third time after being included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list last year.
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"Ru is doing something special for brown women in the Indian space. We don't see many Indian high-end designers. She's killing it," Gabrielle said.
The inspiration for her recent collection came from the convenience and monotony of many South Asians choosing desk jobs for a living, like her parents.
Models were donned in smart, business casual attire and carried books and office supplies like binders and lunch pails in their hands, with their hair in braided pigtails.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
MEFeater CEO Gabrielle said there was one thing she wanted attendees to say when they walked out.
"Oh s**t. They did that," she joked.
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