On Tuesday night, the internet showed up in droves for Denzel Dion’s debut NYFW runway show for his LA-based brand, NOID. Titled “COLLISION,” the collection is NOID’s first full ready-to-wear line, inspired by Dion’s personal evolution as well as his own intimate interactions with clothing. 

The runway show took place in St. Mary’s Church on Grand Street, as a representation of the strong role that Christianity played in Dion’s Ghanaian upbringing; his Ghanaian lineage is also referenced in the heavy presence of red and black garments. In Ghanaian culture, red and black are the colors that are worn at a funeral; here Dion has used the colors as a metaphor for the grieving period he went through of his past self.

The clothing that was presented was not assigned to any specific gender; as a line of unisex garments is part of Dion’s reasoning for the conception of NOID. The garments were created as a solution for Dion’s own personal feelings of confinement while wearing form-fitting clothes. This manifested itself most clearly in the silhouette of the Sinister Blazer, with heavily padded shoulders and a cinched waist, giving both a masculine and feminine edge to an elevated everyday piece.

What was perhaps most exciting at the presentation was the spirit in the room. Dion has been cultivating a name for himself online since the days of Vine, and now with over two million Instagram followers, the 25 year-old designer clearly has the internet on his side. Supporters came out in droves to support Dion, with show guests cheering throughout the presentation as models came down the runway; followed by an eruption of applause as the designer took his bow. As an emerging designer, this support in the beginning is paramount to success, and it is sure to have Dion on the list of designers to watch.