D.C. Fashion Week hosts its 43rd season

D.C. Fashion Week returned to the nation’s capital this past weekend, marking its 43rd season.

The biannual event was held Sept. 26–28 at the National Housing Center. It is recognized as one of the leading fashion weeks in the world, following New York, London, Milan and Paris.

This season’s theme, “Vintage Couture,” challenged designers to incorporate self-expression into collections that included swimsuits, streetwear and traditional African clothing and gowns.

Designers, models, vendors and attendees from all over who share a love for fashion came together to watch the show. 

“Our mission statement is to establish Washington, D.C. as a center of international fashion,” said Ean Williams, executive director, producer, fashion designer and founder of D.C. Fashion Week. 

“Each season, we try to raise the bar. We’re being very selective with the designers that we choose to exhibit, all having different inspirations to bring together a beautiful showcase,” he said. 

Each show opened with all 150 models flooding the U-shaped runway. The emcee introduced each brand before models made their walk, circling left to complete the full path while audience members watched on from both sides. After the last look, the models who walked for that brand made a final flood, followed by an introduction of the designer. 

Designers were then invited to speak briefly about their collections, sharing their inspirations with the audience.

Day one: Sept. 27, D.C. Metropolitan Emerging Designers Showcase

The first day of the event featured the D.C. Metropolitan Emerging Designers Showcase. Designers included The Ballentine Collective, Fatima Farzana, InceptualSara, iNava5, LAS Fashion, Monae Amour Designs and Sajo Label.

The show featured designers from different backgrounds and cultures, who showcased their designs. Sajo, which was created by Vanessa Onwughalu, was inspired by her experiences in her grandfather’s compound in Nigeria. Onwughalu captures the essence of her culture through her vibrant hand-drawn designs.

For many, it was their first time attending D.C. Fashion Week.

“I started my brand back in 2021 because I wanted to make clothes so I could express myself,” said Mars Shabazz, founder of CAXOLOGY, a vendor at the event who attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.

“During my journey, I came out as nonbinary and felt isolated. I wanted to create a brand for people who are Black and gender non-conforming. I try to make my designs reflective of their struggles and their experiences.”

Creative project manager Jurney Wiggins, founder of The Creative Landing, said she came to support her friend Antoinette Watkins, founder of the Diabaddie organization, a nonprofit for young women with type 1 diabetes. 

“I was really excited to see her walk today,” Wiggins said.

Miss Black United States 2025 Ke’Shyra Hill-Brown, a Bowie State University student and pilates coach, returned to D.C. Fashion Week for the second time to watch show after first being crowned Miss Maryland International 2020. She said her platform is inspired by her own experience as an unhoused teen.

“My main goal is to make teens feel more comfortable in the position that they’re in, because just because they don’t have a permanent address doesn’t mean that they should have less opportunities than other kids do,” she said.

 “I love seeing the new and emerging fashion artists just come out here and do their big ones,” Hill-Brown added. “It also lets me slide in the DMs and say, ‘Hey, I saw your designs on the runway. Can I try a couple of those out? Where can I order?’ I feel like I get exclusive dips on fashion and then I get to wear it to other places.”

Tishera Regell and Amber Dawn, two creative artists from Baltimore, attended to watch and support a fellow model who was in the show. They spoke about seeing the diversity at the show and how it was different from other shows that they have been to. 

“Now that I’ve come out to D.C. I love seeing that it’s so diverse. It has a little taste of everything, it’s kind of the DMV brought together.” Regell said. 

 “D.C. is the nation’s capital and I think this is the perfect opportunity for international fashion to have a place,” Dawn said.

Designers, such as Bangladeshi designer Fatima Farzana, showcased their collections inspired by their cultures. These designers helped segway into the next night, the International Couture Collections Showcase.

Day two: Sept. 28, International Couture Collections Showcase

Day two featured the International Couture Collections Showcase, bringing together designers from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Ghana and the United States. Brands included Agape Kidz Couture, Anjoreen Lagos, Corjor International, Fert, I AM WRIGHT, Matveeva Fine Garment, Rahela, Yekit Kemis and Yvonne Exclusive Designs.

The final designer of the night was D.C. Fashion Week’s founder, Ean Williams, who created an all-orange collection. His inspiration came from eating a tangerine, the first flavor he tasted after regaining his sense of taste after chemotherapy. 

Mikki Taylor, a Howard University fashion professor, attended day two of the show with her partner, Michio Key, representing their Miami-inspired clothing brand called Miche Michi. She encourages her students to embrace every aspect of fashion.

“Explore everything that has to do with fashion. Never discount anything you want to use as a tool to get you far in the fashion industry,” Taylor said.