As many of us have been living through a screen for the past several months, absorbing Zoom classes, work calls, and even concerts, it’s become increasingly harder to find something meaningful on our screens. Good news for fashion aficionados and appreciators of culture alike, Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 13th annual Style Awards and fashion presentation were able to do just that.

Pre-recorded and produced digitally, HFR’s Style Awards for New York Fashion Week celebrated Black fashion personnel who have been long overlooked and ignored in the industry, with a virtual fashion presentation introducing three Black designers on the rise, providing further hope for the future of fashion.

Hosted by HFR’s founder Brandice Daniel and commentator Audrey Smaltz, the event encouraged fans at home to engage through social media, fostering a strong sense of community through the screen.

The theme of the evening? “Black is the New Black.”

The Awards ceremony honored Editors-in-Chief Edward Enninful of British Vogue and Lindsay Peoples Wagner of Teen Vogue, Publicist Nate Hinton, complete with fashion’s favorite funny lady Tracee Ellis Ross presenting Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss with the Designer of the Year Award. Special appearances from the legendary Dapper Dan, fashion architect Misa Hylton, and even more industry trailblazers reinforced the sense of community as they shared their experiences with HFR and the importance of outlets like HFR.

For the presentation portion of the event, designers Kimberly Goldson, Richfresh, and Kristian Lorén shared their collections as well as the sentiments behind them, inspiring viewers and leaving us looking forward to what’s next for each creative.

Sisters Kimberly Goldson and Shelly Powell brought beauty and versatility through Kimberly Goldson, Patrick Henry delivered expert tailoring and luxurious textures in Richfresh’s collection, and Kristian Lorén Lopez offered a dynamic collection of well-crafted pieces for Kristian Lorén. Each designer and brand brought their voices forward and exemplified “Black is the New Black” in their own unique way, with each collection piece available for purchase on their respective sites.

The night brought together an amazing combination of the familiar feeling of community with the fresh voices of the future. Harlem’s Fashion Row’s Style Awards reminds us that there is power in the things we create, encouraging others to share their own messages and be heard.