Fashion finds an audience in the Bronx

Fashion finds an audience in the Bronx
Photo courtesy of Bronx Fashion Week

Fashion week is coming to the Bronx.

The first annual Bronx fashion week will be held at the Andrew Freedman Home on September 5, 6, and 7.

Inspiration

Bronx Fashion Week was dreamed up by Bronx native Flora Montes last year when a friend invited her to Latin Fashion week and she fell in love with the event.

“I thought, I would love to have something like this in the Bronx,” said Montes.

Montes, who founded a nonprofit that collects school supplies called The Gift to Empower, set out to make her dream a reality and formed a board to build the event from scratch.

Montes said it was important to her that the timing of Bronx Fashion Week coincide with the other fashion week events throughout the city, because she has a vision of it growing into a notable event.

“I want Bronx Fashion Week to be on that level,” said Montes.

She hopes that the event can help bring positive attention to the borough. In addition to the weekend’s events at the historic Andrew Freedman Home, Bronx Fashion Week will produce a publication this fall featuring fashion photography at significant locations throughout Bronx, including Bronx Zoo, Bronx Museum, and The Hub.

“It’s highlighting the beauty in the Bronx, which is one of our goals,” said Montes.

Events

Montes said the events of Bronx Fashion Week are geared both towards the general public as well as those in the fashion industry.

Each of the three days Bronx Fashion week will host a Business Expo that is free and open to the public, said Montes.

The businesses will include fashion designers, beauty businesses and local retailers, among others.

Each night there will be a VIP networking party at 5 p.m. before the nightly fashion show at 7 p.m.

Friday night’s show will feature high fashion, Saturday’s show will feature casual wear and Sunday night’s show will feature couture fashion.

A special event on Saturday will be free and open to public. Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. two Bronx-based designers will have their street wear modeled by kids at the skate park outside the Andrew Freedman Home, at 1125 Grand Concourse.

The shows in total feature 17 designers from all over the city and country, said Montes.

“We want the fashion programing to unite across ages and demographics,” she said.

Tickets to a single fashion show are $25 each, tickets to VIP party and fashion show are $35. While tickets will be sold at the door it is recommended to buy them ahead of time.

To purchase tickets, go to event‌brite.com and search for Bronx Fashion Week.

Reach Reporter Jaime Williams at (718) 742–3383. E-mail her at jwill‌iams@‌cnglo‌cal.com.