This year’s Harlem Fashion Week will be highlighted by local streetwear. Brands including Signed By McFly, INDEO, Trucking Fly, and more will be on full display at numerous events uptown starting this week.
On Saturday, Aug. 1, the Popsicle Streetwear Fashion Show is set to turn Jackie Robinson Park (148th Street and Bradhurst Avenue in Harlem) into a runway for 10 Black U.S. fashion designers, with their work adorned by more than 35 HBCU student models. The day-long celebration of Black style and culture will include artisans and community vendors. The event also includes a Wall of Art highlighting visual artists and an Air Force 1 footwear customization experience.
The event is scheduled to start at 3 p.m., while the fashion shows are slated to commence at 6 p.m. According to organizers, the showcase is designed to introduce and highlight both established and up-and-coming Black designers alike while creating opportunities for them to connect directly with consumers.
More than a traditional fashion show, Popsicle is positioning itself as a community-centered marketplace and cultural gathering. Along with viewing the runway presentations, attendees will be able to shop from Black-owned boutiques and artisan vendors; purchase pieces featured in the shows; and explore handcrafted goods in designated shopping areas, including Boutique BLVD and Artisan’s Alley.
Patrons can expect topnotch food at the Popsicle show, with expected culinary treats including pan-fried delicacies by Charles; mocktail beverages from Uncle Waithley’s and Dontress Delights; and additional food, merchandise vendors, and music courtesy of DJ Zappa and other live performers.
Organizers anticipate approximately 1,000 attendees at the free public event.
The fashion celebration at Harlem Week continues on August 15 as part of the Summer in the City celebration, set to take place on West 135th Street from St. Nicholas Avenue to Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. Split into multi-tier segments, fashion brands INDEO, Trucking Fly, and Mugzy McFly will display their respective collections for the Fashion Flava portion of the day. Meanwhile, House of Khady Rose will be among the fashion brands shown during the Clean and Classy segment. There will also be a Back-to-School segment for the display.
Summer in the City is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and run until 6 p.m. In addition to the fashion showcases, 135th Street will be covered with food vendors; sculptors; health testing stations; and artisans selling jewelry, clothing, and hats.
The fashion showcase reflects a growing movement to expand opportunities for Black designers, many of whom have long influenced American fashion while facing barriers to recognition, investment, and access in the industry’s mainstream institutions. Although Black designers continue to shape trends in streetwear, luxury fashion, and contemporary design, advocates say equitable access to buyers, retailers, media exposure, and major fashion platforms remains uneven.
For Harlem residents, the events represent much-needed opportunities to support Black-owned businesses while celebrating the legacy of Black arts, culture, and entrepreneurship in Manhattan at large and Harlem in particular. These displays are primed to bring fashion, commerce, education, and community engagement to Harlem.
Harlem Week was established more than five decades ago. Its mission is to elevate Harlem as a “global center of culture, commerce, and community” and “generate sustained economic impact, creative excellence, and intergenerational opportunity.” From August 1–16, Harlem Week will be home to panel discussions, concerts, film screenings, and community building.
Tickets for the Popsicle Streetwear Fashion Show are available through Eventbrite. For more information, email dkr@bridgingstructuralholes.org or call 312-218-4784.
