NEW YORK, N.Y. — Saturday, June 24, Rainbow Fashion Week (RFW) successfully kicked-off NYC Pride Week with the conclusion of its fourth annual carbon neutral fashion week.
An eight-day series of curated events which brings awareness to social issues through fashion, film, art and technology, RFW is more than a series of fashion events, but a platform that fosters activism, social responsibility and sustainability while giving visibility to LGBTQ creatives, businesses and other marginalized communities.
Founder, E. Jaguar Beckford recounts, “We were welcomed by a wonderful host church, Epiphany on the Upper East Side who opened their doors and hearts to our community in solidarity for Pride Week. We could have not asked for more and we are so looking to bringing you greater things next year, so get ready for the ride.”
This year, RFW welcomed Petr Nitka, from Czech Republic, the first gender-neutral model to walk fashion shows in the countries India, UAE and South Africa. On a global level, Petr is challenging stereotypes and social stigmas about trans identity while also promoting body positivity within the trans community. She continued this message on the catwalk of Rainbow Fashion Week 2017.
Living up to its message of inclusion, RFW extended its runway to three deaf models, an amputee from Stud Model Project and a wheelchair bound Army veteran who had heard about RFW™ through social media and wanted to participate. In addition to acceptance, Rainbow Fashion Week’s platforms included:
- Environmental Responsibility – proceeds from “Top New Media Moguls” aided in the planting of trees across America
- Child Abuse Awareness – proceeds from “Rainbow Tots” went to the Rainbow Ribbon Project, an organization that holds a mission to end child abuse through the voices of child advocates
- Domestic Violence Awareness and Youth Empowerment – portions of the proceeds from “Haus of Jagandco,” whose theme illustrated the impact of domestic violence, were donated to the James Baldwin School to educate and inspire youth
- Teen & LGBTQ Homelessness and Sustainability – proceeds raised from “Queer Kids Kick Azz” and “Urban K’Nights” were allocated for housing and skill building for at risk youth
- Bullying – creatively addressed through the artistry of make during “PHOTOVIEW: Strike A Pose”
- Human Trafficking – “BodyGods” was dedicated to spreading awareness to the prevalence of human trafficking through RFW’s Metamorphic Corner
- Mental Health – creatively addressed through a hair show rendition of The Wizard of Oz in “Hair du Soleil”
Community organizations who contributed to the dialogue, providing information and resources for the critical topics at hand included: True Colors Residential Fund, The Trevor Project, James Baldwin School, ETSY GOL Outreach, WaterAid America, The Molecule Project and The Water Keeper’s Alliance.
Rainbow Fashion Week will return next year, June 15 – 22.
