Meddi Bah hopes to bring people together during Black Fashion Week MN

2019 October 2

“It all started with a booze run,” jokes event producer Meddi Bah, recounting how his Black Fashion Week MN event Opalescent came to be.

While shopping for libations, Bah ran into an old friend, who told him that a mutual friend was looking for someone to model her designs at Black Hearts Ball. Modeling in Black Hearts Ball led to modeling in Black Man Magic, where he connected with designers Tim and Thom Navarro of TIM + THOM. The two brothers assist Black Fashion MN founder Natalie Morrow with programming. So when it came time to plan this season’s BFWMN, Tim invited Bah to be part of the lineup.

Quinn Villagomez to host a show featuring looks inspired by icons like Cher, Lizzie McGuire, and even planet Earth

2019 July 2

Inspiration has always been a huge part of fashion creation and aesthetics. You can see that at work at this week’s DesignICON, a "fashion show inspired by those who inspire us."

The event’s host, Quinn Villagomez, is familiar with this concept. In addition to cohosting KFAI’s Fresh Fruit, the longest running weekly queer radio show in the country, she also organizes the station’s fundraiser/fashion show, the Purple Ones, featuring looks that pay homage to the music and style of Prince.

Black Fashion Week MN showcases local POC designers, from the new crop to the seasoned pros

2019 April 18

This week, a revitalized Black Fashion Week Minnesota returns for a second year, kicking off with a party at the Moxy Minneapolis Uptown on Thursday followed by shopping, styling, and runway events through April 27.

One highlight is TIM+THOM's Black Hearts Ball, now in its sixth year, which has been added to the BFWMN lineup. The runway event celebrates underrepresented local talent and strives to bring fashion as art to everyone.

Northern Vogue fashion show returns to support Dress for Success

2018 November 29

Northern Vogue, Dress for Success’ annual fashion show and fundraiser, returns to the Foshay tonight.

The organization provides affordable professional clothing for women, and also offers interview training, professional development, and life skills courses to help encourage career advancement and financial independence.

At the party, eight Minnesota-based designers will show their latest collections. That includes Ashley Jensen, who will be debuting her streetwear line, Gilded Roots. “It’s been inspiring to work together for the same goal,” says Jensen about her involvement with Northern Vogue.“Empowering women is everything.”

What West Indies Soul Food's owner learned from Dress for Success

2018 May 10

Dress for Success may be best known for their work collecting office-wear donations, which they offer as inexpensive suiting and business clothing options for women who would otherwise be unable to afford it. However, the local chapter also aids its clients through the job search process, providing financial literacy and technology training, as well as ongoing support as women acclimate to new careers.

That includes programming on emotional intelligence, computer and tablet proficiency, budgeting, and crucial skills needed to be self-sufficient and retain employment.

Designers Tim and Thom Navarro hope to make Twin Cities fashion a community, not a scene

2017 April 25

Now in its fourth year, the 2017 Black Hearts Ball returns to the American Swedish Institute this Friday as part of Fashion Week MN. The black-and-white ball is produced by fashion designers (and brothers) Tim and Thom Navarro, and focuses on the art of fashion and what it takes to get that art in front of people.

Another goal for the night is inclusiveness. “Whether you’re behind the scenes or attending as a guest, we want it to resonate that you belong,” says Thom.

When there's collaboration and inclusivity, the fashion industry and its supporters “becomes a community instead of a scene,” says Tim.

Budget romance: Cheap-ass Valentine's ideas that are actually pretty sweet

2017 February 7

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Making a reservation through OpenTable or the Eater Heatmap is fine, but it doesn’t make your V-Day plan particularly innovative. Meanwhile, a horse-drawn carriage ride could be either met with a swoon or an eyeroll.

Regardless, neither option comes cheap.

So if you’re looking to do something thoughtful and quirky for your sweetheart, but you’re on a tight budget, here are some romantic ideas sure to impress.

4 designers to check out at Minneapolis Craft Market's Fashion Week MN collaboration

2016 September 22

The Minneapolis Craft Market is a weekly makers market held Sundays at different breweries around the Twin Cities.

This week's installment features a special collaboration with Fashion Week MN, which wraps up that day. The special edition/finale party, hosted by Insight Brewing, features designers involved in FWMN. Below are highlights of the local businesses and talents participating.

Julia Moss turns tarnished silver into colorful statement pieces

2016 September 15

Many families pass fine silver down from generation to generation as a way of honoring and preserving their family history. However, sometimes folks inherit pieces that are damaged, don't get much use, or they don't have an emotional attachment to.

Enter the PowderColorized process, which takes silver pots, serving dishes, candlesticks, and more and turns them into colorful statement pieces. “It’s the perfect re-gift in a way,” says Julia Moss, whose shop, Julia Moss Designs, employs the process.

Hazel & Rose fights fast fashion with ethical and sustainable clothes

2016 March 17

Gone are the days of eco-fashion conjuring up images of scratchy, colorless sacks cinched as dresses. This Friday, a new boutique stocking only socially and eco-conscious brands opens in northeast Minneapolis.

“The clothes are fresh and very modern, while still being sustainable and ethically produced,” says Hazel & Rose owner Emma Olson.

Boutiques like Hazel & Rose challenge the fast fashion norm set by today's mass retailers, where companies seek to bring looks from the runway to stores at a rapid pace. The Rana Plaza collapse, where over 1,000 died while working in a garment facility, and the subsequent Fashion Revolution Day movement has brought further attention to the business practice.

Hardt Jewelry, a brand with a heart, celebrates one year today

2015 December 17

After spending a decade in the corporate jewelry industry, Anne Lenhardt Koebele wanted to get back to what she loves: creating and expressing herself through her designs. So she launched Hardt Jewelry, a fashion-meets-philanthropy brand based in Minneapolis that donates a portion of its proceeds from special collections to non-profit partners.