VENDORS WANTED | KEEPING IT IN THE FAM [FALL] /CW VENDORS MARKET [2025]

VENDOR WANTED:

Opportunity for smaller/newer vendors to have a low-stakes but high-quality vending experience.

/CW Creative Shop now offers affordable paid vending/ popup rental opportunities for individuals, small businesses, and curated GROUP VENDING opportunities looking to connect directly with the community in an inspiring, low-overhead environment, by allowing you to try POP UP vending with THE CREATIVE [POP UP] SHOP RENTAL PROGRAM.

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

GET 10% OFF MKE FASHION WEEK 2025 TICKETS WITH OUR /CW FAM PROMO CODE

Paving Your Way In The Film Industry With Tyree Pope | By /CW Guest Writer Jolee Mallmann

I met Tyree Pope years ago while we were both students in the Radio-TV-Film program at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin. While we were taking classes and learning how to enter the film industry, Tyree was already working hard on developing his own creative projects. When I moved to Milwaukee looking for media work, I realized just how much of the film and television industry in the city was saturated with UWM film graduates. It was hard to find work on sets and break into the scene here with a background outside of the city. When I looked around for fellow graduates trying to make their way in the industry, Tyree consistently stood above the rest. 

The difference between someone like Tyree and creatives who gave up on trying to make Milwaukee work for them, is the purpose and the drive to just do it no matter what. Tyree Pope developed his own podcast series Kickin’ It With Tyree back in college, and carried that project and many others through to higher levels as his own career in filmmaking began to flourish. He didn’t wait for the world around him to be ready for his work, he made it happen and in doing so the industry caught up to Tyree where he was at. His drive, creativity and vision brought him to working on press for Sundance Film Festival, developing his own Comic Book series Fair Fight, covering festivals like Rolling Loud and securing interviews with filmmakers like Jesse Eisenberg. 

When I look at filmmakers and creatives like Tyree, I think about how it takes a genuine love for the game to secure longevity in the world of film and media. You can wait for the world to choose you and be disappointed until it’s finally *your time* or you can choose yourself, make it happen and let the world realize what they were missing before they saw your spark. Tyree was going to shine regardless, Milwaukee was just clever enough to let the light in.

Where are you from originally and where are you living and working now? Do you feel like any parts of your upbringing have stuck with you to this day as a filmmaker?

I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and that’s still where I live and work today. Growing up here shaped the way I see the world, the way I walk, the way I talk. It's a city that carries a lot of history, culture, and challenges. Also with going through art school here as a child. Those experiences definitely stuck with me and informed the kinds of stories I want to tell as a filmmaker, especially stories rooted in community, authenticity and just truly being unapologetically yourself at all times.

You went for film at UW Oshkosh and now you’re working out of Milwaukee. In your experience what is the culture of filmmaking like in both of these cities? Any similarities or major differences? 

UW Oshkosh was where I learned the fundamentals and experimented without fear. I didn’t get the support on my projects from the film community in UWO as much as I wanted so I made it my journey to do it on my own. To make these ideas happen whether it had the support or not. It was a great space to experiment and grow though and find what avenues I wanted to go down. Milwaukee is more about collaboration and building with other creatives who are just as hungry. The biggest difference is that Milwaukee has a tighter community feel and people really rally together here whereas Oshkosh felt more like a learning environment. I expected most people in the film program to never pick up a camera again honestly.

You do work in animation. What inspired you to start Fair Fight Comics? What has the journey of bringing that project to life been like?

Fair Fight Comics came out of just pushing myself to tell the story that was in my head as I sat in bed in Taylor hall at UWO. Originally as an animated pilot script and developed into a comic book later on. I’ve always loved comics and animation because they let you create whole worlds without limitation. The journey has been challenging but rewarding building a universe, developing stories, and slowly seeing it all come to life has been like planting seeds and watching them grow. Fair Fight Comics will continue to grow and flourish into new avenues even if that avenue isn’t comics.

How did you get your start in filmmaking and what was your inspiration to start in the first place?

I got my start in film by being a writer and writing stories. I wrote my first short story in 7th grade at Lincoln Center of the Arts and always wanted to do something with writing and creating something people could identify with. I’ve always felt somewhat of an observer of the stories around me and the things I’ve learned that have happened throughout history whether that be through mythology or religion. I think about how I can tell the lost stories of our ancestors in a modern way. As far as behind the camera I started with photography and understanding the frame and moved into how I could tell a story within a frame. Then I started thinking about how I could help artists like me and I created Kickin’ It with Tyree and that opened the doors for me creatively and is still opening doors for me to this day with over 100 interviews. My inspiration was always the creating ideas that film could move people, create conversation, and spark change. I may not be the flame, but I can be the spark.

What is your favorite genre of films to watch in general and what are your favorite kinds of films to make?

I watch a little bit of everything. I love old films from Double Indemnity to Cooley High. I watch horror movies, comedies, thrillers, coming of age stories. I love making genre movies and creating things based on a specific genre and feeling I am trying to provoke whether that be fear, hate, love, happiness or sadness. The science of provoking emotion is something I’m always working on and there’s someone out there that wants to connect to that and see themselves in something on screen.

You’ve worked on multiple local short films, features and series. What are some of the projects you enjoyed working on the most and why? 

Every project has taught me something, but working on my short film AL taught me that not everything is always going to be perfect and the way you set out for this film to be in the beginning is not always how it’s going to end and the way I was able to flip the script, rewrite, and cast the week before shooting showed me how quick on my feet I can be in tough situations like that.

What’s your favorite role to play on set and why?

Directing is where I feel most at home. I like being able to see the big picture while also working closely with actors and crew to bring out the best in everyone. It’s where I get to merge vision and collaboration. In most of my projects I have had to become producer, editor, director etc. So I feel comfortable in the chaos of most roles.

Who are a few filmmakers you find major inspiration in? 

Spike Lee for his ability to create a moment and have you live in it. Do The Right Thing is a moment in time that when you watch the film you're engulfed in the time, place and the now. Rick Famuyiwa for his ability to tell coming of age stories from The Wood to Dope about young black men from the hood that didn’t involve tragedy and heartbreak but overcoming their environment and excelling, falling in love, pursuing education in spite of that. Micheal Schultz made Krush Groove the film that I watched time and time again as a kid, Cooley High one of the first films I remember watching and loving as I watched over and over again, Car Wash, The Last Dragon! His influence in African American filmmaking is and will always be felt in our stories and creations.

Do you have any fun memories from working on film sets? Could you describe any challenges or learning experiences from your time on different sets?

Some of the best memories are just the late nights when everyone’s tired but still laughing and pushing through. Challenges always come up, things not going as planned, weather messing with shoots, but those moments teach you adaptability. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that filmmaking is problem-solving in real time. Cause if it can go wrong it will.

Do you have any advice you’d give to the younger version of yourself who was first starting out in filmmaking?

Don’t let anyone, even yourself, put you in a box, just because you are doing weddings right now or making music videos or podcasts. Doesn’t mean you have to stay there. You are allowed to expand and create with the freedom you once had as a child. Don’t let anyone take that joy and love for film and creating away from you.

If you see it, you have it. Just go out and take the steps to grab it. Some things take time, but with time comes experience, connections, and lifelong collaborators that you’ll go through the fire with. Go to film festivals, don’t be a hermit. Find a way to make the things you want to make even if you have no one to make them with.

What are you looking forward to next in your career in film? Do you have any projects in the works or things you’re excited to try next?

I’m excited about continuing to build Lake $hore Dreamers and take projects to a larger scale. I’m working on a couple of scripts for TV shows and Feature Films that I want to take on in the next 1-2 years. In the meantime, I am working on producing short films that I wrote in the spring, an animated short. Then the end of my comic trilogy Fair Fight Vol. 3 which is in production as we speak. I am also taking on animation myself and attempting to learn it and produce works on my own.

Where can we find your work?

You can find my work through Lake $hore Dreamers. Website coming soon, but in the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram @tyreepope3 for updates, behind-the-scenes, and upcoming projects.

---

Into independent film? Want to learn more?

The | PAID | Write-Up: Supporting Independent Arts Journalism Together

After 10+ years of writing about music, art, and creativity with passion and zero pay, we’re making an important shift. As of September 2025, we will no longer be offering free reviews or write-ups for media submissions. Instead, we have introduced The | PAID | Write-Up, a journalism-based creative asset review program that provides write-ups for a modest fee of $25 [+ tax] for artist features and creative coverage.

This change allows CopyWrite to continue providing honest, thoughtful, and constructive coverage — while finally giving value back to the writers and editors who have kept this platform alive all these years. More importantly, it opens the door for artists who may have previously fallen under the radar to access guaranteed high-quality editorial attention.

How It Works:

• EMAIL COPYWRITE.MKE@GMAIL.COM | ATTN: THE PAID WRITE-UP

• SUBMIT [1] CREATIVE WORK [EX. 1 SONG, 1 VIDEO | NO ALBUMS]

• PAY $25 [+TAX] INVOICE

• RECEIVE POSTING LINK CONFIRMATION ON COPYWRITEMAG.COM

• WRITE-UPS MAY TAKE 2 TO 4 WEEKS TO POST

Every review will continue to be transparent, thoughtful, emphasizing locally based talent and “all things Urban”, just as our readers and artists have come to expect.

To all the artists who’ve shared their work with us over the years: thank you. You’ve helped us sharpen our pen, expand our perspective, and stay rooted in the creative community. We're proud of what we’ve built together, and hopeful about where it's heading next.

We appreciate your support as we move into this new chapter — one where independent arts journalism is valued, sustained, and open to more voices [& talent] than ever before.

Love & All Things Urban

/CW FAM

B.Justice - I DO

Every once and a while, a song drops that does not lean on heavy production tricks or flashy features, but instead thrives on how naturally it flows. B.Justice’s “I Do” is one of those tracks. From the first few seconds, the beat settles into a mellow rhythm, giving you the kind of warmth you would expect if Bob Marley ever stepped in the booth to spit bars. The blend of bass and subtle beatboxing gives the song a flow that feels both playful and grounded.

What really pulls the track together is B.Justice himself. His voice cuts through with precision, each word enunciated like he knows it deserves to be heard. No mumble rapping here! His delivery is steady and intentional, but not stiff, which gives the lyrics a sharpness that plays against the easygoing beat in a way that keeps your ears locked in.

In the hook, he brings in his own vocals by singing the words “I Do” with a simple and memorable cadence. The chorus is catchy without ever feeling forced and I caught myself singing it even as I was writing this. 

“I Do” strikes that rare balance between being easy to vibe with and still showcasing B.Justice’s lyrical sharpness, proving that sometimes the most powerful statement is in keeping it simple.

Ya’ll make sure y’all vibe out and give it a listen!

/Sky Abner for CW 

---

Turning Up In The Sun With Some Artistic Fun- ArtBlaze 2025

Photo credit: Samer Ghani

For as long as I could remember, summer has always been categorized as the season of adventure, unity, care-free nights, and daring exploration. However, for inner-cities such as Milwaukee, that never stopped the summer’s #1 question being, “Where can I go and what are things for me to do to live my summer up to the fullest?”. Several young adults described often feeling “aged out” and neglected from constantly seeing programs, events, and opportunities being curated for only kids knee high; specifically designed on the foundation of Arts & Entertainment. Co-Founders Deb Kern and Doug McDonald of one of Milwaukee’s fastest-emerging nonprofits, Joy Engine, paid immense detail to the conversation circulating and used it as fuel for a unique and abstract idea that had been in their vault for years. ArtBlaze, a series of free, family-oriented events designed to be a celebration of community, creativity, and connection, made a splash at its debut last year, with no hesitation or plans of stopping this summer.

The buzz around the city describes ArtBlaze as inventive beach parties, but that is a minimal way to approach the entirety of the artistic series. This year’s stage was our very own [also fully revamped] McKinley Beach- located at 1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53202. The three-day series, consisting of Thursdays, July 24th, August 7th, and August 21st, 2025, proudly and equally represented multiple forms of artistic expression, from music, fashion, and hand art. ArtBlaze is a free annual summer event that is open to the public of all ages. Whether you’re a certified foodie searching for your latest discovery, a beast on the dance floor, or a connoisseur of the arts, make this your annual summer move. The sounds of ArtBlaze were inspiring, lively, and created a communal vibe. The lineup consisted of a plethora of MKE favorites as if they were all attending the ultimate class reunion:

DJ Luke Warm

DJ Gemini Gilly

NilexNile

*aya

MKEMe Crew

Tlalok

SHADI

The Quilz

Allison Mahal

Pulpa De Guayaba

Photo credit: Samer Ghani

They each played a pivotal role in sparking passion and translucent lightbulbs inside all guests who were having the time of their lives on the sandy grounds of McKinley. Joy Engine made it their mission to offer a creative and cultural buffet to all attendees with the amount of different activities that were available at this year’s ArtBlaze. The activities included: Tie-Dyes w Spun.Out.Dyes, making a mandala with Sophie Tarantino, Bubbles with Poppy, and hands-on art experiences with Arts@Large and AWE (Artists Working In Education). 

“McKinley Beach will be transformed into a haven of artistic wonder and musical delight, shining a light on our amazing parks and local artists. Families can participate in interactive art, engage with local artisans and vendors, make s’mores at the bonfires, or simply relax with friends and family.
”

— Co-Founders Deb Kern and Doug McDonald

If you missed this interactive and immersive artistic experience, no need to worry. Joy Engine has created ArtBlaze as an annual event that is constantly evolving. Stay tuned for their recap of this year’s biggest moments on their Youtube [Joy Engine] and stay connected with them on all socials @joyengine.

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW

Hero Da Kyng - No Headaches

Y’all, I think we found a cure that can relieve all headaches! Hero Da Kyng released his new song “No Headaches,” and it’s exactly what the doctor prescribed. This song has a vibey smooth feel with catchy lyrics and a flow that’s reminiscent of B.O.B and André 3000. It has a nice early 2010s/ late 2000s feel that we all wish we could go back to. 

What we enjoy most about “No Headaches” is the balance that it has. The song holds depth in its lyrics with a clear message about stunting on your haters and making them your motivators, while also being catchy and giving a commercial feel that you could hear on the radio all day!

The production from Exam 325 Music House and Mob Fanalia compliments the lyrical delivery perfectly with 808 beats that give space to showcase his range. It shows that he can be hard when needed, but also knows when to pull back and let the melody breathe.

We can see that this is new music from an artist that clearly understands his craft. He is bringing some of that Southern Florida grit to Milwaukee and we messing with what he bringing! 

This a hit to clear y’all head like Tylonel! Ya’ll make sure y’all vibe out and give it a listen!

/Sky Abner for CW 

---

BLAX - Young Little Ghetto Boy [SINGLE]

[We have been receiving a lot of music from BLAX. . .Good music at that!]

“Every superhero needs his theme music” is a phrase that comes to mind when I think about Blax’s (@the_god_degree) single “Young Little Ghetto Boy”. 

It’s like a musical victory lap once you’ve beat the odds and defied expectations. With lyrics depicting the story and struggle of “a youth with visions beyond prisons”, a vibrant and commanding voice raps over high hats about triumphing over freezing winters and government cheese to live a life “like a Negro Spiritual, a true Black miracle”. Salute to the Young Little Ghetto Boys and Girls all over the world and right here at home in the 414.

As the submission states: The track serves as both autobiography and broader commentary on urban life, with BLAX weaving together memories of his youth with descriptive storytelling that captures the essence of growing up in the streets. Despite tackling serious subject matter, “Young Little Ghetto Boy” maintains an uplifting, bouncy production that transforms potentially heavy themes into an anthem of resilience and survival.

The song is available on all major streaming platforms. Take a listen and let us know what you think! Check out Blax on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

BK for /CW

---

Young Whip - I AM [EP]

Young Whip knows exactly who he is and is making sure you know too in his new hip-hop EP called “I AM” released on July 17th.

This project is so clean. No, for real y’all, it’s radio friendly with no profanities. The perfect music to play in the car to make you feel like your HIM. He is giving us vibey bars and popping his stuff in a way that’s holds weight behind it. The production is nice with beats that make you want to turn it up and hear the bass.

Grinding since 2010, you can definitely hear the hustle in his delivery. When he says “I AM” he’s not just talking, he’s declaring it. Each track represents companies in his business network that paint a picture of empire-building over hit-chasing.That’s big brain energy right there!

That being said, the tracks feel like they end before you can really get into them. We’re being served hip-hop appetizers when we want a full course meal! We want time to marinate in what he’s saying and that’s not happening when the four song EP is about six minutes long.The delivery is pretty solid, but there is room to experiment more with cadence, pacing and vocal dynamics to keep listeners on their toes.

Still “I AM” is a strong step forward and proof that Young Whip is carving out his own lane. If this is just the warm-up, the next release will definitely have us anticipating and hopefully you too.

Family-friendly hip-hop that still hits? Ya’ll make sure y’all vibe out and give it a listen!

/Sky Abner for CW 

---