Runway Show MKE Fashion Show

Runway Show MKE Fashion Show 

AFROPUNK Minneapolis… Antix in Chicago… a regular ‘Black boy fly’ fit post from St. Louis, MO native Smino- 2022 has been an extraordinary year for Fashion and Design. Now, of course the usual Met Gala, NYFW, and award shows are gonna serve it to us every time but I'm talkin’ about Mid-West fashion! Our Stylists and Designers have been eating it up all year, you’d have to be there to really know. It’s all thanks to showcases like Runway Show MKE, for providing the rooms, the opportunities, and the exposure for so many underground Designers- Black Designers in particular. 

On September 18th, Founders Marlaina Taylor and Honey Daniels booked Gather at Deer District’s rooftop for a wonderful evening of fashion. The smooth sounds of Cigarette Break could be heard as /CW Fam approached the top of the stairs, immediately seeing the runway and the rows of seats gradually being claimed in the midst of some mixing and mingling. The audience was filled with people who understood the assignment for attending a fashion show; Fits were fire! Perfect for some What People Wear MKE content. 

We joined in and engaged with the night’s attendees and spotted some familiar faces. We saw the owners of Rerocc, C&B Creative, Mr. Fashion Sense Jeff MCallister, and right in the front row was Lynne Dixon-Speller, Academic Dean of Runway Show’s Charity Partner Edessa School of Fashion whose student designers represented Milwaukee in NYFW BLK the week prior. Just before the start of the show, we saw the hostess for the night Steph Crosley, who was wearing Keraye London of Kevon Raye, one of the designers in the showcase. The seats were filled and with standing room at capacity, the space was filled with people ready to see fashion come to life. Not only did the models, seasoned and fresh faced, walk it out and give the audience life but the real stars of the show came out with some of the best pieces seen in our city, by our city! 

We had presentations from those who weren’t new to the scene like Deborah Render of GG Collections whose signature dress trains, puff sleeves, furs, coats and patterns gave us the dramatics that we live for! It was 50s inspired glamor meets bold colors.Kelvin Haydon made sure that the ladies knew where to shop should they get an invite to the Grammys with his full length garments; A blend of class and sass. But who else puts more sass on the runway than Chelsea Stotts though?? This MKE native has done nothing but kill em’ softly since her move to Atlanta last year. With her most recent accomplishment of reaching celebrity designer status after making a custom Moda Muneca2-piece for BIG Latto earlier this year, it was about time for a new collection drop. ‘PRISMATIC’ had colors and a look for anything after lunch time, a cocktail renaissance. Her surprise gown transformation from a cute, all white layered skirt to a hooded pattern dress at the close of her segment was enough to remind the crowd that she hasn't lost her edge. Even more anticipated, the newer faces left their impression on the audience for sure! T+FCo Swim by Marlaina herself IS the statement piece for black girls in luxury. Much of her swimsuits were earth toned and nude colored but were also seen in white and even combined with a bridal beach robe as an intro to their new bridal collection- ‘Cause who wouldn’t wanna be married in a bikini?? Maria Olson ofMishka has been making her rounds, having just presented at Fashion Fest MKE at Bayshore. Her pieces walked down the runway speaking more directly to the overall identity of MidWest culture- giving “industrial” with her usage of large belts, shapes, browns and blacks, plastic and leather… Who does that? We do. And we are only getting better. Milwaukee fashion is here to take its place and stay! /Naomi-Re’a for CW

It's time to pay Homage! CopyWrite Magazine Issue 20: Homage | Official Drop 10-18-22

HOMAGE | ISSUE 20 | COPYWRITE MAGAZINE | 10-18-22 |

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Fashion Fest MKE meets The Yard at Bayshore | A CopyWrite Sponsored Event

What a show! We hope you had the chance to stop by Fashion Fest MKE at The Yard located in the center of Bayshore Mall. They had it all—including the heat! Countless vendors, a full DJ booth, food trucks, live performances, interactive art and so much more. CopyWrite even partnered up with Fashion Fest MKE, hosting a “Best Dressed” contest to see who was really going to bring that personal fire. Hopefully the odds were in your favor!

The event featured three different fashion shows with diverse fashion styles. It also gave people of color and of all diasporas a space to flourish authentically with fashion as a common thread. Without making it a marketing tactic, they showed a type of inclusivity we all should be thriving for when planning public events.

The way the  otherwise very normal green space was transformed into a festival grounds was nothing less than amazing. We even had the chance to catch up with one of the many talented designers, Maria Olsson, whose fashion collection ‘Mishka’ made its unique and one-of-a-kind appearance down the runway. 

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A post shared by Mishka by Maria Olsson (@m1shkka_)

What can you tell us about your collection?

My collection is an elevated streetwear collection that uses PVC vinyl and a lot of leather work to portray the complex emotions that we all feel when we’re feeling empty inside. So I wanted to use a lot of different silhouettes and play with nude illusions to kind of capture that concept. 

For your next collection, what do you think you’ll change or keep in comparison to this selection we’ve just experienced?

I definitely want to keep using interesting textiles. That’s probably my favorite thing about design is taking anything I can find and turning it into something amazing. But I think I want to lean a little more into metal working instead of leather working and keep learning and experimenting as I go. 

What inspired you to start using those different kinds of textures?

I’ve always been inspired to just push myself and try new things because I think that’s the best way you can get better—always being in competition with yourself. In school, I was always drawn to these textiles so I'm very grateful to have teachers that were willing to work with me and further my learning. The vinyl,  specifically, I found when I was doing my internship in New York last summer and I fell in love with it, oh my god. It’s the craziest fabric I've ever used, it’s so different, it stretches like crazy—which isn’t the best thing but I've learned a lot by using it. 

How does it feel to be a part of this type of showcase? I know the purpose of this event was to really bring people together in spaces we don’t normally take up or as creatives, see ourselves in. 

I think it’s amazing. I think it’s so great meeting so many new designers in Milwaukee that I’ve never met before, interacting with so many different models in the industry, just all of it. I’m so excited to keep doing shows like this and bringing more attention to Milwaukee. 

So whether you’re a fashionista, a shopaholic, or a music head, the next Fashion Fest MKE event is where you need to be. So make sure you’re strutting your way to their next event and we will see you there!

/Imani for CW

Get Flea Market X Antix Fashion Show

We in Chicago wit’ it!!

As we continue to act on our mission to always “Support The Local,” CopyWrite Mag saw no better way of keeping to that code while also creating a rapport outside of Milwaukee than to pull up on our neighbors in Chi-Town. Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending Get Flea Market by Founder Sami LaPage, a collective thrifting experience which was born in the thick of the Pandemic in her own backyard, at Artifact Events in Historic Ravenwood. There was a full house of vendors and guests; thrifters, resellers, digital artists- Both the South and North parts of the building held the capacity of about 40 vendors each, meaning that there were over 80 businesses to shop with that day! These artists included Cole of Rejuvenated Jeans, EVC Creations whose line provides a million and 1 ways to rock denim, Nish Creates Things, Raven Rains of Raven Rains Jewelry- a Milwaukee native, The Alchxmist Book Club, Piel De Tierra, and Premure. Most of these vendors were either young teens still in high school or on their way to college; LaPage herself was just 18 when Get Flea began. The future truly belongs to the Youth, as it always has! 

One of the most memorable observations that I had made was that no one shied away from their own personal style and flamboyance. How you show up fly to buy fly shit to get more fly?? It was honestly a relief to see such boldness being taken on in the MidWest, especially somewhere as similar to home as Chicago. 

Towards the end of the evening, I took my front row seat and waited for the main event- The Antix Fashion Show! Seats were filled row to row with chic, high fashion urban, afropunk, suit-and-tie, grunge, street- So many styles coming correct with the looks. I just knew that this show was about to be fire! And it was. Under the beautiful hosting of their Creative Director Casscelina, Antix set fire under the audience with the presentation of designs from Essexx and Alysza Write, ending the night beautifully with applause from all over the venue.  /Naomi-Re’a for CW

#SupportTheLocal - Fashion Fest MKE x CopyWrite Magazine

A word from our partners:

The mission of Fashion Fest MKE is to provide an outlet for Wisconsin designers and artists, to give them a platform to showcase their artistic vision and creativity.

We strive to expose the community to the talent that lies within Milwaukee and surrounding cities, and elevate and strengthen the fashion presence that the city has.

From fashion and art students to established Midwest designers, we will promote the creations and work of a diverse group of individuals.

- Francisca Rodriguez

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As we continue to support the local we will now be vocal in our partnerships to further connections in our community and to bring light to the real bonds that have elevated the Urban creative scene in MKE. We #SupportTheLocal!

/CW

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CopyWrite Presents: SS22 - A Streetwear Showcase | PROMO VIDEO + TICKETS

SS22

CopyWrite Magazine present:

Street Smartz: A Streetwear Showcase

On May 22nd from 6pm-9pm, The Vatofied Experience will be collaborating with the Designers of Brick Layers Club and Planet Marcellus to offer a dynamic show that presents Black Men in fashion, a more than trendy display on Urban wear, and the ever morphing nuances of modern fashion culture.

Check out this promo video to get a glimpse of how we will be rocking SS22.

Get your tickets here:

General Admission

VIP Experience

Feel the SHIFT! CopyWrite Magazine Issue 19: Shape Shifting | Official Drop 4-15-22

SHAPE SHIFTING | ISSUE 19 | COPYWRITE MAGAZINE | 4-15-22 |

SHAPE SHIFTING | ISSUE 19 | COPYWRITE MAGAZINE | 4-15-22 |

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