Row mode Harlem celebrates five years at the New York Fashion Week

  In recent years, the spring shows in New York, a handful of New York designer brands and celebrating birthdays. Row Mode Harlem was among them.

The concept behind the clothing line of Harlem began simply enough. Brandice Henderson, founder, attended a fashion show in Brooklyn and thought of his beloved neighborhood, Harlem, deserves a separate track. She presented Row mode Harlem in 2007 with a small parade with 15 volunteers who work behind the scenes.

 Five years later, his company is a collective genius of the most popular during Fashion Week in New York, to the designers worthy of a color platform. Originally a popular movement, Harlem line mode now allows young artists to present their talent with industry experts including key buyers, editors and bloggers.

Her show on 7 September at Lincoln Center was the fifth anniversary of the organization and has attracted names such as Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams and Nicole Murphy (ex-wife of Eddie Murphy), who went on the show wearing a design by Omar Salam. Fashion insiders as Corynne Corbett, director of Essence magazine beauty Julee Wilson, editor of Huffington Post Style and Fern Mallis, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America were snap.

More than 300 people attended the presentation, which consisted of five designers. Nzinga Knight, inspired by a recent trip to Dubai, showed pieces, including a dress adorned blush mirror hand embroidered details. Salam Omar spring 2013 collection for Sukeina was marked by voluminous forms a floating silk jacket worn over a tulip organza lace dress. For its line Ashtyn, sent Latisha Daring jackets kimono sleeves and tribal print skirts on the runway. Joseph Bethune debuted structured separates in camouflage and denim brand for Brothers Bethune. Kevan Hall presented a collection line, crepe peplum dresses, skirts and dresses covered in petals of pallets on multiple levels.

But the show is not just clothes. The main objective of the organization is to push forward color designers in the fashion industry. "I hope that by HFR we create a society that acts as a bridge for designers of color in fashion," said Mrs. Henderson. "At every fashion show, I hope it. Several buyer or investor to connect with designers"

Society maintains its designers, who were selected by a jury in June. This year, Ms. Mallis, Wilson, stylist and Shawn Outler Memsor Kamarake, vice president marked for forecasting fashion and Operations at Macy's, the hopes for a plot of five minutes. Applicants were invited to submit pieces from past collections, explain their business strategy in order to present their Spring 2013 sketches and explain why they want to be a part of the fashion line Harlem. Scores were counted, and the five were selected top rated designers.

Once selected, the designers have the opportunity to discuss with the leaders of the company. Ms. Mallis encountered during the selection process and designer Stephen Burrows criticized each piece designer collections. Them feedback on the fabric and design, Mrs. Henderson

Despite its success, the show was not without obstacles. Initially, Mrs. Henderson difficulties, people could convince HFR have a lasting impact on the diversity in the fashion industry. "So many veterans of the African-American fashion do not think we will be able to do much to increase the designers of color on the market," she said. "I remember that conversation ends with difficult:" We tried that before and it did not work. "

Now that the organization found their camp, the challenges have changed. The goal now is "to follow our growth," said Ms. Henderson. "People now expect more from us, and we see so many possibilities that may help push people toward the front of fashion color." Funded by the social partners, Row Harlem mode covers all costs related to production of the program and requires no fees for participating designers. "We hope to raise funds for designers in the future provide," said Ms. Henderson.

Mrs. Henderson lit when asked about the future of the fashion line Harlem. "We are planning to launch an HFR label in 2014 with a capsule collection of small number of products can be found on our website," she said. "Some of the designers we show a challenge in marketing and production. My background is in the production of clothes, so I want to use this experience to HFR to make the next phase. Hopefully we can show not only collections of designers, but also to produce and market them. When this happens, everything changes. The playing field is level and the door is wide open for the next generation of young designers. "