NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 7: Winner Sergio attends the 2023 Essence Best in Black Fashion Awards Dinner & Party held at 74Wythe on September 7, 2023 in New York City. Hudson speaks on stage. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
As we celebrate NYFW, ESSENCE spotlights Black creatives behind the scenes with our Best in Black Fashion Awards. Through the groundbreaking contributions of these fashion enthusiasts, we are witnessing change in our communities. The evening began with a reception of the fashion space’s luminaries with an intimate dinner setting.
“The word ‘fashion’ is often misunderstood to mean something we express aesthetically. But in reality, it’s the armor that sustains us in the fight to move ideas and moments forward,” says Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures.
This year’s Best in Black Fashion Awards celebrated the creativity embodied in “The Garment” and celebrated Black designers and leaders in fashion. The experience served as the ultimate gathering place during NYFW, highlighting Black creators and talent.
“This underappreciated truth makes ‘The Garment’ the most precise and powerful weapon in the toolkit of a gladiator who actively proclaims eternal victory through the pursuit of purpose and our quest. We are proud to shine a light on the gladiators who have carefully selected clothing that accelerates ‘conquering the everyday,”’ said Wanga.
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New York, NY – September 7: Caroline Wanga and Brandis Daniels speak on stage at the 2023 Essence Best in Black Fashion Awards Dinner & Party. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
In a climate where Black designers fight for representation and space, these visionaries continue to carve their own lanes within the industry.
The Best in Black Fashion Awards featured pioneers Antoine Gregory, Bernard James, Taylor Russell, Lecho Omindi, Telfar Clemens, Brandis Daniel, Carlos Nazario, Precious Lee and ESSENCE’s Cover star Sergio Hudson was honored as Designer of the Year.
“You work so hard and you plan so well to be in this moment as a designer,” Hudson told ESSENCE. “If someone says they haven’t planned for this moment, they’re lying. We all plan for it because we know this will make or break your career. But actually reaching that moment is like being kissed on the cheek by the universe. You strive, you work hard, you believe in your destiny and God will make it happen. I trusted and it happened!
New York, NY – September 7: Edvin Thompson and Docquan Hines attend the 2023 Essence Best in Black Fashion Awards Dinner & Party. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
The night set the tone for New York Fashion Week, showing Black designers that their creations and visions are changing the culture.
As fashion lovers continue to celebrate the big week, experiences like the Best in Black Fashion Awards give Black-owned brands and creatives the tools they need to succeed in the spaces they create. I will.
Historically, the fashion industry has not been a place where Black designers and talent have been able to perform at the highest levels. Still, spaces like the Best in Black Fashion Awards and Essence Fashion House are changing the narrative and inspiring the next generation of fashion visionaries.
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About Kenyatta: A graduate of Clark Atlanta University and the Medill School, Victoria Kenyatta is a writer for Girls United, covering everything from news, pop culture, lifestyle, and investigative reporting. When I’m not reporting, I can be found digging deep into curated playlists or watching my favorite comfort shows.
