Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
New York Fashion Week took over the Big Apple earlier this month, featuring the annual preview of fashionable goods expected to arrive on shelves next year. While the NYFW shows are long done, with many currently wrapping things up overseas for Paris Fashion Week, there were a handful of brands that really caught our eye on the runway based on the emphasis on culture that was presented in their respective collections.
We just had to take one more day to put some respect on the names of five brands that stood out from our front row view, including Kim Shui, Eastside Golf, Chuks Collins, WHO DECIDES WAR and a trifecta of rising Black designers via Harlem’s Fashion Row.
RELATED: Our Favorite Star-Studded 2024 NYFW Moments [Gallery]
During our week of jumping from show to show, one NYFW runway presentation to the next, these were the designers that went above and beyond by interweaving their own unique cultural imprint throughout the collection. From Shui taking inspiration from the ancient Japanese art form Kintsugi in both her styles and set design, to Collins infusing all the craftsmanship of tailoring that he learned from growing up in Nigeria to create one absolutely vivid and wide-ranging offering for all, these designers really thought outside the box without forgetting where they come from.
Keep scrolling as we take a by-the-hour recap at NYFW 2024 and a few brands that stood out in our eyes for all the right reasons:
7PM – HARLEM’S FASHION ROW 17TH ANNUAL FASHION SHOW AND STYLE AWARDS
Tuesday, September 3
General Grant National Memorial (Grant’s Tomb) — Morningside Heights/Harlem, New York
Newsworthy battle-of-the-divas between Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour aside, Harlem’s Fashion Row this year kicked things off on a pretty good note thanks to impressive debut collections from up-and-coming Black designers A. Potts, Nicole Benefield Portfolio and LaTouché.
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
1PM – WHO DECIDES WAR SPRING/SUMMER 2025 IMMERSIVE RUNWAY STREAM (PRESENTED BY COMPLEX)
Saturday, September 7
Lavan — Chelsea, New York
For those who couldn’t make it to the star-studded runway presentation, Complex hosted a pop-up that not only projected the show but also had some of the key pieces on display. One standout in particular was the debut of a collaboration with leather outwear brand Pelle Pelle, the brand’s first in its longstanding history.
Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
Source: Santiago Felipe / Getty
8PM – KIM SHUI SPRING/SUMMER 2025 RUNWAY SHOW
Saturday, September 7
50 Hudson Yards — Hudson Yards, New York
While Kim Shui took this moment to present a foray into menswear, there was far from a lack of baddies on deck to help show off the intricate designs and tailoring of her womenswear selections this season. The Nike collaboration is simply next level, and nabbing Olympic athlete Jordan Chiles to lead the runway made for genius casting.
Source: Victor VIRGILE / Getty
Source: Victor VIRGILE / Getty
Source: Victor VIRGILE / Getty
Source: Victor VIRGILE / Getty
Source: Victor VIRGILE / Getty
Source: Rob Kim / Getty
Source: Victor VIRGILE / Getty
Source: John Lamparski / Getty
7PM – CHUKS COLLINS SPRING/SUMMER 2025 RUNWAY SHOW
Tuesday, September 10
Chelsea Factory — Chelsea, New York
Models of all shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds graced the winding runway for what felt like a lifetime, and yet it still felt too soon when the finale came around. A well-deserved standing ovation, indeed.
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
7PM – EASTSIDE GOLF “EVERYONE’S GAME” FALL 2024 COLLECTION
Thursday, September 12
Shopify NY — SoHo, New York
In addition to also debuting their own Nike collab, Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl A. Cooper of Eastside Golf really gained props from us for not only putting a spotlight on the melanated side of golf but also showing how fly it can get. Much respect, fellas.
Source: Dave Kotinsky / Getty
Source: Dave Kotinsky / Getty
Source: Dave Kotinsky / Getty
Source: Dave Kotinsky / Getty