Undoubtedly, New York Fashion Week (NYFW) stands as the pinnacle of the fashion world. Whether you are a designer, buyer, or an eager ticket holder, all attendees recognise that the cohort of designers gracing the seven-day schedule are undeniably the best in the business.
This week artisan-produced fashion lifestyle brand and social enterprise, Studio One Eighty Nine just so happened to be one of those businesses. Known as one of the most popular African-owned fashion brand's, Studio One Eighty Nine was co-founded by Rosario Dawson and actor Abrima Erwiah.
Made in Africa, producing African and African-inspired content and clothing, Studio One Eighty Nine is known for its distinctly unique craftsmanship techniques including hand-batik, kente weaving and more. Aside from working with artisanal communities that specialise in such techniques, Studio One Eighty Nine also supports various community-led projects in both Africa and the USA.
After having previously become the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Grant recipient and winner of the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for sustainability, expectations surrounding the brands 2024 runway have always been high.
Having been presenting at New York Fashion Week since the brand's inception, this year's Spring/Summer 2024 Runway was a testament to the its competitive edge in that Dawson and Erwiah never fail to deliver a culturally inspired, modern selection of garments.
Aside from operating a highly successful e-commerce site and manufacturing facility in Accra, the successful fashion brand prioritises empowerment and diversity both on and off the runway.
Focusing on empowerment, job opportunities, educational skills and training with organisations such as the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, NYU Stern School of Business (in addition to collaborating with brands including J.Crew, Aqua, Lexus, Warby Parker, Footlocker), has seen the African brand make strides as one of the most innovative labels on the NYFW schedule.
Having shown at NYFW since their inception, Studio One Eighty Nine Spring/Summer 2024 runway show spoke to what the brand is inherently known and celebrated for – that being, to inspire, educate and empower through fashion and the opportunities that stem from it.
Titled 'Evolution', Studio One Eighty Nine's Spring/Summer 2024 presentation, was evidence of a decade in purpose, power and persistence. Paying homage to this saw the brand's Evolution collection, integrate rich motifs of the past whilst spotlighting new directions for the future.
Whilst garment hues were anchored by natural earthy tones and further accentuated by vivid reds, yellows and greens, prints and patterns featured throughout the collection had a deeper meaning. 'The Crossroad Print', is a repeating diamond that signifies 'safe' spaces in the fight against domestic violence, whilst the brand's popular 'Zebra Print' was a nod to the brand's prior collection.
By incorporating past and present artisans who have been instrumental in the building and shaping of the brand, Studio One Eighty Nine's runway strived to celebrate both past and present style elements. The use of ancient indigo dyeing techniques and traditional tribal beads are two examples of this.
The Evolution collection also celebrated the brand's decade-long milestone since it's initial inception into the fashion industry in 2013.
"We said fashion can be a social change…I can see the impact of what we have done", said Co-Founder Abrima Erwiah.
The Evolution collection will be available for purchase at studiooneeightynine.com, in Studio One Eighty Nine retail stores and in select retail stores starting in February 2024.
For more fashion, beauty and lifestyle news subscribe to the Style Up newsletter.
