It’s fair to say that St. Louis Black fashion this past weekend lived up to its motto of “anything goes.” On the evening of Sunday, November 6, 2022, approximately 400 fashion enthusiasts and observers showed up decked out in sophisticated, quirky, dapper, and fashionista-esque outfits.
“Today is about taking culture to a new level,” said Timothy Moore, organizer and creative director of SLBFW.
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“It helped me understand who I am,” said Pierre McCreary of 1026 Styles. “Who would care if I had no hair? Who would care if someone laughed at me? Who would care if I was different? I was specifically designed to be me.”
To provide a sensational style grand finale to St. Louis Black Fashion Week’s eighth annual show, Moore has curated an inspiring and exciting show at Third Degree Glass Factory showcasing the work of seven St. Louis fashion designers. Since 2014, Moore has been hosting an annual show featuring the city’s best designers at Gateway.
“This is what the city needed,” said Pierre McCleary, a fashion designer and former model of 1026 Styles. “We can stick to our guns and go wherever we want to go.”
Ranging from sophisticated to streetwear, the seven designers celebrated are Jahleel Griffin of The Label 17, Maare Rashaad of Unforgettable Fittings, Pierre McCleary of 1026 Styles, Afton Johnson of Young Addy and Kisha Kandeh of ‘The Woke Brand’.
The audience was made up of people who each shared a love for fashion, St. Louis, and all things Black.
“There was no Black Fashion Week, and even at St. Louis Fashion Week, designers and models of color were not really highlighted or showcased,” Moore said. “St. Louis Black Fashion Week is not just a show; it’s a showcase of Black excellence. We come in and look our best, dress our best, and represent ourselves proudly.”
For McCreary, her experience at St. Louis Black Fashion Week was pivotal to her progress both professionally and personally.
She said she remembers walking down the runway for Afton’s brand in 2016 with her hood up, and as part of that runway, she showed off her bald head, caused by alopecia, to the community for the first time.
“I walked out on stage, took my hoodie off and the audience greeted me. I felt so much positive energy from everyone. It was then that I revealed that I have alopecia,” McCleary said.
Before walking the runway for the first time, she said she always wore a wig. McCreary established herself as a popular figure admired for her skills, with audiences praising her style and diverse looks.
She entered the fashion world as a model in 2000, aged 35 and raising two teenage daughters. Despite her own insecurities caused by eczema, she noticed her daughters were becoming more self-conscious too, so she thought she’d encourage them to try modelling to help them overcome their insecurities together.
“It helped me understand who I am,” McCleary said. “Who would care if I had no hair? Who would care if someone laughed at me? Who would care if I was different? I was specifically designed to be me.”
McCleary first got into design in 2012 when a friend asked her to create pieces for a show for 20 women after the show’s designer quit. She fell in love with the job and gradually transitioned from primarily walking the runway to designing in 2019.
“I’m using my fashion platform to introduce alopecia to the community,” McCleary said.
Inspired by her vision of acceptance, she held her first fashion show in 2017 titled “Hats of Alopecia,” showcasing black beauty in all its glory.
“We wanted to ensure that black and brown designers and models had the opportunity to create amazing work and a space that was culturally meaningful, without being boxed in into a space that wasn’t designed for them,” Moore said.
Brandi Brown, who attended for Johnson, has been a regular at the annual show since 2018. “The unique fashion is just amazing.”
“God told me to look in the mirror and find something each day that makes you love yourself more than you did yesterday and stop hiding your blessings,” McCleary said. “Honestly bless someone for who they are, because then you can give someone the courage to overcome a hurdle.”
