For Spring/Summer ’26, fashion presentations have changed, though there are still some designers putting on shows throughout the city. Designers & Agencies (D&A) changed their format from presenting designer runway shows to an international designer and manufacturer showcase at 601 W. 26th St. (Think: an event in the Jacob Javitt’s Center). D&A’s event floor was well planned and filled with merchandise displayed in booths created and sold by designers and merchandisers. For men, women, and children, there was a wide variety of merchandise like sportswear, raincoats, hats, accessories, boots, jewelry, handbags, beautiful scarves, boots, shoes, jewelry, and bedding. Light refreshments were served in the seating area. Colors were bright, fabrics soft, and prints were a fusion of floral, abstract, and figurative designs.
In a booth way in the back, Sundara & Pajama Jams displayed a magnificent collection of sportswear, skirts, jackets, dresses, children’s wear, and bedding, including comforters, shams, and pillowcases. Ericka Tucker, an African American designer/manufacturer from Newark, NJ, was on hand, selling her goods at the D&A event. It was a joy to see her booth so busy. In between customers, Tucker shared that if you buy a pair of her pajamas, she will give a pajama set away to an underprivileged child or adult. Designer Ericka Tucker’s collection focuses on soft, natural fabrics, and prints. Her bedding line is fluffy and ruffled. Great for home decorating, Erika Tucker’s line looks and feels comfortable.
To order Sundara & Pajama Jams, email Erika@sundaratextiles.com, call 240-344-8929, or visit sundaratextiles.com. You can also follow her on Instagram at @sundaratextiles.
Footwear fashion from Spain stood out. In trends, look for two-tone cowboy boots, pony flats, saddle-shaped shoulder bags, and platform espadrilles. At D&A, there were many family and generational businesses on the floor. The scarves were outstanding. You can wear them as shawls, skirts, beach cover-ups, and head-ties. For style, think Audrey Hepburn.
Uptown, last month, Harlem Fashion Week (HFW) presented “Season 15: Harlem Nights” at the newly renovated Harlem School of the Arts. Their fashion lineup included a bold, immersive runway collection that is inspired by the revolutionary creativity of the Harlem Renaissance. The looks were glorious, celebrating Harlem’s culture. Reshaping the future of fashion, global unsung designers and disrupters were featured. Harlem Fashion Week also introduced its headlining designer, Nina Parker, a television host and producer.
Known for breaking industry boundaries, Parker made history as the first Black woman to launch a plus-size clothing line that sold exclusively at Macy’s. Her brand celebrates bold, feminine size, inclusivity, and powerful self-expression. From the red carpet to the design studio, Nina Parker has become a cultural force, using her voice and platform to champion body positivity and representation for women of color. Her NYFW debut was a powerful statement of style, confidence, glamour, and unapologetic authenticity. Earlier in the week, Ms. Parker appeared at a reception at Chase Bank on 125th St.
Harlem Fashion Week, founded in 2016 by mother-daughter duo Tundra Burkett and Yvonne Jewell of Yvonne Jewell New York LLC, was created to spotlight emerging designers in the heart of Harlem.