Eleven black designers from North Texas impress 1,500 people at Legacy West fashion show » Dallas Innovates

The finale of Sunday’s first annual Juneteenth fashion show at Legacy West and Legacy Hall. [Photo: Thomas Garza Photography]

Juneteenth was celebrated in historic style on Sunday in Plano – with colorful garments from 11 local black designers drawing more than 1,500 attendees for the first annual Juneteenth Fashion Show at Legacy Hall Box Garden in Legacy West.

The event was presented and produced by Dallas-based Think Three Media, a creative communications and media agency specializing in “unique messaging and amplifying DFW Black-owned businesses and their founders.”

Gathered on the catwalk were an array of local fashionistas and fans, including fashion designer Julie McCullough, founder of The Pin Show; author and speaker Dr. Catrina Pullum; the Dallas Black Bloggers group; Kim Alexander; famed makeup artist Erica Smith; fashion designer Courtney Walker; model Anita Hawkins James Thomas, and many others.

Harrison Blair, president of the Dallas Black Chamber, also spoke at the event.

“There are many unique cultural elements to the black experience that will always make me smile, whether through music, arts, fashion, entertainment, or our culinary cuisine,” said Leah Frazier, CEO of Think Three. . Media (above), in a statement. “I wanted to share a lot of these things with the community in an effort to celebrate freedom, unity, and to honor the sacrifices of our elders, including [95-year-old] Opal Lee – and our ancestors.

Models paraded at the Juneteenth Fashion Show to the beat of hip-hop and R&B from DJ Dr. Mack (above).

The event was capped off with a live musical performance by Grammy Award winner, The World Famous Tony Williams.

Here’s a look at the fashions presented by the 11 designers, from a festive day in Plano, that many won’t soon forget:

AND DO :: Created by Alexis Daniel, AND-MADE is a brand offering a line of earrings, accessories and other apparel that it says is about “letting women of color celebrate themselves.” Daniels also leads workshops in Dallas.

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Amy Holly Kaftans :: A style-focused brand of women’s clothing formed by Amy Hamptonthe founder of a Dallas-based wine and clothing company Sociology of Winewhich has been around for over a decade.

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PWR WMN and Creation

Launched in 2018 by Kimberly Borges and Miriam McDonald, PWR WMN decided to create a line of professional clothing with pockets. The company has since grown to offer a range of clothing and accessories aimed at empowering women.

Opening its brick and mortar location inside Plano’s The Shops in Willow Bend after forming over five years ago, Creteation was launched by The Colony-based company Bernadette Buentello and her husband Kelvin. Creteation makes jewelry and home decor with an emphasis on using concrete as a material.

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Don Morphy :: Launched in 2014 by Daniel Mofor, Don Murphy is a Dallas-based menswear brand that has worked with notable names such as TD Jakes, Emmitt Smith, and Tyson Chandler. Mofor is also behind a local initiative to create costumes and other clothing for underserved residents across the region.

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Energy check :: Launched to the public in 2020, Energy Check is an activewear line created by a barber and social media influencer Le’Nard Meyersbased on a desire to spread positivity through its reach.

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Ese Azenabor :: From the name of its eponymous founder Esé Azenabor Grembowskithe Dallas-based fashion brand launched in 2012. Since then, the business has grown from selling dresses on eBay to the likes of Tyra Banks and has become “one of the hottest names in high bridal couture,” according to The Dallas Morning News.

Another Esé Azénabor design is on the bottom right, with a Don Morphy tuxedo on the left:

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Dasha’s house :: Created by Quiana McDanielwho also founded the brand Dasha CosmeticsHouse of Dasha is a clothing boutique in Desoto aimed at making affordable and contemporary women’s clothing.

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Indigo 1745 :: With a physical presence in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas for over 15 years, Indigo 1745 is a boutique for men and women. Its objective is to offer “a space inviting to find new fashions”.

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MEZAI :: A boutique accessories brand offering over-the-top and bling-out products by Dallas’ Stephenetta Harmon. Harmon is also the founder Sadiaa Black Beauty Guidean online directory of black-owned brands and resources.

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Street sales :: A Dallas Market Center-based fashion sales agency, One Street Sales offers a range of diverse Black-owned brands in categories such as activewear, contemporary and men’s wear, in addition to providing marketing services and brand development.

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Venny Etienne :: A Dallas-based designer of Bravo’s “Project Runway” fame, who has clients like Cardi B, Beyoncé and Niecy Nash. He is renaming his new collection, but Etienne is wearing items from his current collection in the photo above.

Kevin Cummings contributed to this report.

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