Here’s How Milwaukee Fashion Week Served Looks and Unified The Community

Photo Accredited To Designer, LaTasha Anderson

Did you know that when you walk out into the world, you’re expressing yourself in hundreds of ways every day? For some of you, it’s the songs blasting through your headphones as you’re walking down the street. While for others, it’s your daily rant on Twitter about the latest news in pop culture. Millions of people connect through sharing similarities in aesthetics and interests, whereas other connections are formed by the intrigue and differences of opinion between one another. In the world of fashion, runways, photo-ops, fabrics, and models are the gateway to self-expression of whose creating and what message they’d like to convey to the public. Big cities such as Los Angeles, New York, and Miami often get the credit for the innovation and liveliness of the fashion industry, but this weekend, one of the underdogs came in swinging and made a statement that will last for centuries. Our city, MILWAUKEE, was indeed the underdog who showed up and showed out with a purpose.

 Photo Accredited to Tay Sondelski

After hearing the words “Milwaukee Fashion Week”, a visual diary spun around in my mind with countless images and assumptions of what the weekend would entail. Eccentric looks, serene venues, and networking with a party twist is what I imagined. However, nothing could have prepared me for the creativity, euphoric atmosphere, and knowledge I experienced during this year’s Milwaukee Fashion Week. As a city native, it struck me that Milwaukee even held the power to create these bold and beautiful scenic environments. It often felt like I wasn’t even in the city I once knew, one of the major fashion capitals, such as Paris. Seeing the reactions of others in the audience, I instantly knew this thought was not only lingering in my mind. I quickly learned that it meant more to the community than just a night out on the town and feeling as if they were all in a Project Runway episode. Milwaukee Fashion Week 2025 strengthened the community in a severe way, which is why I began asking everyone just how significant and eye-opening the past weekend had been for them.

It amazes me how everynody counts us out. Milwaukee needs to be put on the map when it comes to all things fashion; from streetweat, high-fashion, and archive. We have amazing talent and merchandise right here in the city

-Model Coach & Professional Model, Julie Ann Maday

Milwaukee Fashion Week is important to me because it makes me as a woman feel seen and important. Seeing new designs and how models wear them gives me inspiration for how I rock my clothes and feel sexy!

-Guest, Angela Walker

Videos Accredited to /CW Desriana Gilbert

On Saturday, September 27th, 2025, my first adventure began at The Rivulet, located at 309 N Water Street, Milwaukee, WI. The evening was titled, The BluePrint, with the it girl of the hour being streetwear. As I witnessed the talented designers prepping their models and the adrenaline rushing chaos that we all know to love from a bird’s eye point of view, an epiphany came to me. Spaces such as these, highly anticipated fashion shows, are creating avenues for community members. One avenue is support for careers people never even knew they could have in Milwaukee. I talked with a number of photographers, models, and designers who never even believed this could be a financially stable career, let alone a consistent job flow. Milwaukee Fashion Week ignites the city with representation. The knowledge of not having to move to another city or give up on a dream because it feels out of arm’s reach was boldly shared with not only those who intensified the show but also with audience members as well. I learned that it is one of the leading forces that drives and motivates entrepreneurship in the city. All it takes is for people to see someone from the same city doing exactly what they’ve dreamed about for the city to be transformed into an emerging fashion mecca. The lively and electric night consisted of eight designers who each contributed homage to their own heritage, style, and message.

The Classic Shop

Photos accredited to /CW Desriana Gilbert

The Classic Shoppe, Lela Elizabeth, Aesthetic By Carlos, Designs By Deme, Arturo Velasco, The Wild West, $LEEPYHEAD, and Kingsawan Collective were the heavy-hitting line-up, and they did not come to disappoint; instead, the show already had guests and designers eagerly brainstorming ideas for next year!

The Blueprint: Streetwear Fashion Show not only highlighted how one’s ideas, aspirations, and goals can quickly turn into reality, but it also sparked legendary communal value, most of all! A multitude of guests revealed their vulnerable side and shared how MKE Fashion Week served as an optimistic reflection of the city. Every day, many of them tune into the local news and witness the complexity and dangers of Milwaukee, while others are in a state of survival. Being in tranquil venues while being exposed to stylish storytelling brings a certain kind of peace and comfort in a city where division and uncertainty are the trending topics on a daily basis. This night meant more than trench coats, high heels, and colorful moodboards; it served as a playful metaphor that the guests are the blueprint to the success of our city. Bold leadership and working together will always unify community members.

Photos Accredited to /CW Desriana Gilbert

The vibrant purpose of Milwaukee Fashion Week did not abruptly end on Saturday night; rather, it became more apparent the very next day and was free for everyone to come and enjoy. On Sunday, September 28th, 2025, a live exhibit entitled Forms and Figues was held at Milwaukee City Hall, located at 200 East West Street, Milwaukee, WI. This elegant and high-fashion themed exhibit caught my eye immediately by how inclusive, diverse, and open-minded it was. There was a mix of student designers, professional fashion designers, and fashion institutions that represented the thousands of ideas that run through their minds and become a breathtaking visual story. The unique element of having the designers and model stand on the same platform, while four to five chairs surrounded them, added a personal touch to the previous events held during the weekend. This provided a very rare interpersonal connection between audience members and designers, where people had the opportunity to ask any question they had for models or the designer, such as a piece of advice, designers to share their creative process, or what message they wanted people to take away from not only the look presented in front of them but their entire collection as well. This sparked much confidence, passion and motivation for the next generation of those who dream of being in the fashion industry.

Photos Accredited to /CW Desriana Gilbert

Photo Accredited to /CW Desriana Gilbert

Many believe fashion is superficial or doesn’t go beyond the surface level of movies such as, The Devil Wears Prada and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but that’s far from the truth. Milwaukee Fashion Week is a living testament that knowledge, power, collaboration, support and creative freedom unifies a community. Think of fashion designers as the storytellers, models as the story, and audience members as ones who hold the power of how far the message reaches within the community for change and innovation to come.

Follow MKE fashion week on all platforms @mkefashionweek for an exclusive recap of this year’s itinerary if you missed it. Comment down below what you are excited to see next year!

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW