NYC- area fashion lovers checked out some of CRF supporter, Sami Chen of Happyfish Designs most recent work at the event opener in the 2019 New York Fashion Week yesterday. All while benefiting, The Cristian Rivera Foundation. This exclusive show featured Miss America, Nia Franklin, walking the runway alongside life-size robots. All proceeds raised was donated to The Cristian Rivera Foundation as they further their research in hopes to finding a cure for DIPG. Through the event, designer Sami Chen, used futuristic technology while incorporating it with her latest fashion collection in yesterday’s show, “Sound of Fashion”. While creativity roamed the air, the talented artist, Pesu, painted live as the show went on. Miss America, Nia Franklin blew us away with her astonishing vocal performance. Inspired by music and the arts, Chen took her musical talents to another career that allowed her to express creativity all while designing clothes for women’s fashion. Chen’s models rocked the runway in her beautifully designed wedding dresses to classy ensembles. We were drawn to the idea of Miss America and robots on stage at such an iconic event. The fashion show raised awareness and contributed to taking the foundation one step closer to reaching a world where the cure for DIPG can exist. Bold and beautiful!
4 Latina Fashion Designers Who Are Changing the Industry with Culture
It’s no secret that the fashion industry has always grappled with the issue of representation, and Latino representation is no exception. The glossy catwalks of the 80s and 90s were nearly completely dominated by the (white), nepotistic European fashion houses of the day with little room for Latino designers to showcase their talents, let alone share their culture with the world; for the few that did exist–Carolina Herrera and Isabel Toledo come to mind–their Latino identities were noticeably secondary to their work. But now it’s 2023, and though the industry is not without faults, Latino/a fashion enthusiasts can now see their cultures and experiences reflected in fashion at all levels. While plenty of Latino men have made their way in the fashion world, I’d like to specifically focus on the women–who have been historically vastly overlooked–who are changing the game and pushing the boundaries of design by bringing Latin America to high fashion.
