Black in Fashion Heritage Event With YMCA, So. FL Fashion Academy & More
South Florida Fashion Academy, YMCA of South Florida, and Empire Fashion Firm Join Forces to Host The Black in Fashion Heritage & Vogue Movie Screening, Black in Fashion Panel, and Fashion Show Spotlighting Iconic and Emerging Black Fashion Designers During Black History Month.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., The YMCA of South Florida in collaboration with Empire Fashion Firm and South Florida Fashion Academy will host a Black in Fashion Heritage Event, Movie Screening, and Black in Fashion Panel featuring a student fashion show at the Victory Black Box Theatre (1409 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311) on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 7 p.m to 9:30 pm to celebrate Black History Month and the revolutionary iconic Black fashion designers, models, and professionals who have shaped American fashion trends throughout American history.
SF/FA middle and high school fashion design students will present unique fashion collections for guests, highlighting some of their latest designs inspired by famous Black fashion designers, icons, and trendsetters from American history. “From Virgil Abloh to Andre Leon Talley, former Editor-at-Large for Vogue Magazine, our fashion design students want to pay homage to and spotlight some of the great Black American fashion contributors of our time during this special event,” said Taj McGill, founder and director at South Florida Fashion Academy.
Following the fashion show, guests will enjoy a screening of The Gospel According to Andre, a film made by Kate Novack and produced by Magnolia Films, detailing the life and career of fashion journalist André Leon Talley. Everything from Andre’s childhood in the segregated South to his journey becoming an iconic, barrier-breaking journalist for Women’s Wear Daily, W Magazine, and ultimately becoming the Editor-at-Large for Vogue Magazine (U.S) will be revealed in this breathtaking film. “Showing young Black and Brown fashion design students icons that have paved the way for them is essential to their education. I’m excited to highlight Black and Brown Americans that have influenced the fashion world and created the culture and global fashion industry we currently have,” McGill said.
Additionally, a Black in Fashion Panel will be hosted with Empire Fashion Firm’s CEO, Kamaria McCall along with founder of South Florida Fashion Academy, Taj McGill and several emerging student fashion designers to discuss influential Black fashion designers, history, and how they are seeing the fashion industry evolve.
Finally, SF/FA and Empire Fashion Firm will host a Black Designer Pop-Up Shop featuring local Black South Florida designers and fashion collections that attendees can shop and support. “This pop-up shop will give attendees the opportunity to discover exclusive pieces from talented local designers and student creators from the South Florida Fashion Academy,” McGill stated.
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE: Here
ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA FASHION ACADEMY
South Florida Fashion Academy is a private, dual-enrollment middle and high school offering specialty programs for creative students seeking a career in the arts, fashion, beauty, and business Industries. SF/FA provides students with an innovative and superior education supported with world-renowned resources, practical skills and lectures necessary to thrive in the global fashion and beauty marketplaces. With a proactive approach to instilling confidence in students to become world-class business, fashion and/or beauty professionals, SF/FA provides rigorous and adaptable academic programs, experiential learning, and ingenious partnerships that embrace inclusiveness, sustainability and a sense of community. SF/FA’s experienced instructors teach students how to become proficient in the arts, fashion, and beauty industries with a strong focus on excelling in all necessary required academic areas mandated by the state of Florida. To learn more about SF/FA, please visit Here and follow the academy on Instagram @SouthFloridaFashionAcademy and on Facebook.
ABOUT EMPIRE FASHION FIRM
Empire Fashion Firm is a Miami-based company that specializes in creative direction and full fashion event productions for fashion shows and designer presentations. To learn more about the company, please visit www.empirefashionfirm.com and follow the company on Instagram @EmpireFashionFirm.
ABOUT THE YMCA OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Located in the Historic Sistrunk Community in Fort Lauderdale, the new L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center is a full-service health, wellness and events facility offering wellness, fitness and academic programs, support and events dedicated to fostering community involvement one healthy family at a time. To learn more, please visit Here.
