New York Fashion Week opened on September 9, 2025, at Cipriani Wall Street with Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 18th Annual Fashion Show and Style Awards. The theme, “This Is The Table,” set a focused tone. HFR gathered industry leaders to celebrate Black male designers and the breadth of Black creativity. It felt like a statement and a plan.
Why HFR’s NYFW Kickoff Matters in 2025
The 18th Annual Fashion Show and Style Awards put HFR’s purpose on full display. “This Is The Table” was a clear message from founder Brandice Daniel that Black creatives are not asking for access, they set the stage and define it. With HFR’s ICON360 initiative backing designers with capital, access, and mentorship, the night pressed beyond visibility. It pushed for power, growth, and ownership. See HFR’s event hub for the official rundown at harlemsfashionrow.com.
Theme and setting at Cipriani Wall Street
Cipriani’s grand room glowed in elegant blue, purple, and white light, with crisp white tables and a community-first buzz. The ambiance matched the theme, a shared table where talent, buyers, press, and partners meet as equals. Beauty and intent sat side by side.
Brandice Daniel’s message and ICON360 support
Daniel’s message was simple, we build the table and decide who sits. ICON360 helps turn that stance into long-term wins. It links designers to funding, partnerships, and strategy, a shift from short-lived press to sustainable growth.
Event Highlights: Performance, Awards, and Runway Moments
HFR opened with art, honored culture shapers, and spotlighted vision on the runway. It moved fast, felt rich, and stayed joyous.
Opening performance by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The night began with Ailey dancers setting a pulse of movement, discipline, and joy. It framed the evening as an act of culture making, not a checklist.
Style Awards winners you should know
Jason Bolden earned Stylist of the Year, a nod to precision and star-making taste. Usher received the Virgil Abloh Award, linking music, fashion, and cultural authority. These honors matter because they reward taste that shapes markets, not just moments, as reported by WWD’s coverage of HFR’s 18th annual show.
Runway spotlight on Haitian talent
Designers Waina Chancy of Atelier Ndigo, Daveed Baptiste, and LaTouché carried Haitian stories with modern silhouettes, rich textures, and ceremonial cues. The result expanded the night’s narrative with color, craft, and pride. For a visual recap of the theme and staging, browse Vibe’s gallery on HFR’s show and awards, “This Is The Table.”
Meet the Black Male Designers Shaping Menswear Now
HFR’s stage gathered menswear voices who mix precision with cultural fluency. The takeaway, taste and ownership are shifting.
Designers to watch from the HFR stage
- Shawn Pean (June79): Sharp tailoring with modern ease.
- Nigeria Ealey, Esaïe Jean Simon, Victor James (TIER): Modern street luxury with lifted fabric stories.
- Johnathan Hayden: Minimal lines, tech-aware details, clean polish.
- Charles Harbison (Harbison Studios): Bold color, soft structure, smart proportion.
From visibility to real change
HFR and ICON360 help convert press into purchase orders and deals. That means funding, retail partnerships, and pathways to ownership. Careers last when the money, mentorship, and distribution align.
What this means for menswear trends
Expect sharper suiting, elevated streetwear, lush color stories, and cultural storytelling tied to identity and place. Menswear is getting bolder and more refined, with business models to match the design.
Conclusion
Harlem’s Fashion Row opened NYFW by honoring Black male designers and pushing for real support. Follow these creators, back HFR and ICON360, and watch how their vision shapes the season. Want more? Keep an eye on the winners and runway names, then show up where it counts, purchases, partnerships, and platforms.
