Highlights From The 4th Annual 'Bomb Fashion Show'

On Sept. 7, the fashion elite converged at Lavan 641 Midtown in New York for The Bomb Fashion Show’s 4th annual showcase hosted by Fashion Bomb Daily CEO Claire Sulmers and actress Vivica A. Fox. MADAMENOIRE was right in the thick of the excitement, capturing every glamorous moment of the New York Fashion Week event.

The venue, elegantly adorned with pink roses and accents of silver from Long Island Party Rentals, set the stage for an unforgettable evening. Guests enjoyed delectable small bites and sipped on sparkling rosé as they mingled with celebrities and fashion aficionados. Among the notable attendees were Beyoncé’s renowned stylist, Ty Hunter, rapper Maino, Yandy Smith-Harris, and Quincy Combs, all contributing to the event’s star-studded allure.

This year’s runway celebrated the exceptional talents of ten emerging Black designers, many of whom have been toiling away at their creations behind the scenes for years in the industry. The diverse lineup included fresh faces like Nikki Blaine Couture, the eye-catching fur creations from FGM Bespoke (The Fur and Leather Centre), and the playful and versatile kidswear brand LAHA Clothing.

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 The elegant, meticulously crafted designs from Links by Gwen, ENVYSAJE ATELIER, Treena Marie-Trez Sport, and Beeombi also turned heads down the runway. A few familiar faces made a triumphant return to the stage this year, dazzling the audience with fresh additions to their collections. The Misa Hylton Fashion Academy and Fayah Athletics brought the house down once again, showcasing vibrant and eye-catching designs that had eyes peeled to the runway.

FGM Bespoke, LAHA Clothing and Madison Star Couture stole the show.

The night truly sparkled with the dazzling creations of FGM Bespoke designer Tiara Peach, a.k.a. the “Furry Godmother.” Renowned for her boundary-pushing fur designs, Peach lit up The Bomb Fashion Show runway with playful, colorful, and sporty elevated streetwear. Her collection featured luxurious fabrics imported from Greece, including chinchilla, fox, rabbit, and chicara fur, all crafted into stunning apparel and accessories.

Adding star power to Peach’s vision, a few notable names took to the runway. Yandy Smith-Harris’ 18-year-old son, Lil Mendeecees, rocked a fur cow-print cropped shirt with glittery accents and matching skinny jeans, embodying playful sophistication. Meanwhile, BMF star, Demetrius Flenory Jr., strutted in a fur-trimmed denim jacket and sleek black pants, exuding confidence and flair in the unique FGM Bespoke piece.

Lillian Taner of LAHA Clothing received a standing ovation for her children’s collection. Her designs, featuring plaid, camouflage, clean denim and bold prints, offered a refined touch on kidswear with a chic outerwear twist. All of the models, young girls and teens, posed and showcased their magic as they walked down the runway with confidence — and Taner strives to do just that with her clothing; empower and inspire.

In a brief chat with Fox after the show, the St. Louis-based designer shared her dream of making every little girl feel “fabulous” in her LAHA Clothing creations. 

Just when we thought the fun was over, the evening concluded with a hype surprise performance by Madison Star, the 22-year-old daughter of legendary fashion designer Misa Hylton. As she took the stage to perform her new single, “Work Daughta,” the rising rapper and fashionista also unveiled pieces from her debut collection Madison Star Couture. Each item, meticulously handcrafted by Star herself, stood out with bright floral colors, sexy silhouettes, and brown-fall-inspired hues.

 

The power of community. 

Inspiration and community were themes that were bright throughout the entire event. During the show, Sulmers was almost moved to tears by the incredible passion and dedication of the designers, as well as her trusted team of sponsors and organizers who made the fourth annual showcase a reality. Sulmers expressed that The Bomb Fashion Show wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable contributions of Craig Kirby, the event’s creative director, and her dedicated team members Jody Whyte, Rashanda Humphries, Janel Smith, and Michelle Cherry.

Special thanks went to celebrity publicist Dr. Rashae Barnes for her efforts in gathering media, and to lead sponsors Jesseca Dupart of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, MYAVANA, and the iconic Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan, whose support was instrumental in bringing the night to life.

“This is a community effort. I did nothing of this by myself,” Sulmers told the crowd. “I want to thank all of my family and friends every year. I just want to cry. Thank you to my team, Rashanda, Jody, these volunteers…There are so many people in this room who touched my life in a positive way. I’m grateful for the community that Fashion Bomb Daily is.”

The event also sparked a wave of inspiration among attendees, with some eager to launch their own fashion ventures. One standout was Nareasha Willis, a new mom and fashion designer poised to relaunch her womenswear brand, AVNU, originally introduced in 2017.

Known for its standout hoodies and shirts emblazoned with the cheeky phrase “Ghetto Until Proven Fashionable,” AVNU quickly gained acclaim, catching the eye of Essence and securing spots at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, among other prestigious events. However, motherhood led Willis to temporarily pause the brand. 

Willis, who initially believed she could seamlessly balance motherhood and a brand relaunch needed time to focus on herself and adjust to parenthood. “I realized that everybody’s body is different. So, I had to really go inside my shell and just nurture myself, because I was growing a whole human. But right now I’m on the brink of relaunching, so I’m so excited about that,” she told MADAMENOIRE.

Now, with renewed energy and a fresh perspective, Willis is excited to take AVNU to new heights. Seeing other designers in her community succeed despite life’s curveballs at the event made her feel hopeful for the future and she’s ready to learn more as she progresses on her journey in the fashion world. “God already gave me the tools. I already saw the success, but more so, I always want to be humble enough to be a student, no matter what levels I’ve reached,” Willis added.

If you missed out on The Bomb Fashion Show, don’t fret. All of the items shown during the event are available to view and purchase online at the Fashion Bomb Daily Shop website. 

 

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