A Wren Says

It’s hard to make your start in the fashion industry. Colm Dillane knows that all to well. The founder of KidSuper went through his own ups, downs, and arounds navigating the ins and outs of the industry and getting his brand to the place where it is today. But despite the lessons he’s learned along the way, he wants other founders to have more support to build their own route to success. Enter the People’s Runway.

The initiative is a culminating event where five Brooklyn-based designers were able to showcase their work to the public. But that isn’t all they got. In addition to a showing (which could already be a prohibitive expense), designers received mentorship and grant funding from the Brooklyn Borough and partnering sponsors Converse and CashApp. The event featured the work of the following designers.

Kuai Li (@quine_li_) presented a set of 5 looks showcasing work on sculptural designs, including a cubic headpiece covered in feather like materials.

Laurel Fang (@by_laurelblu) played on movement, using beadwork and textiles to call to mind waves of water.

Mose Aina, (@igbosisun) brought to the stage a celebration, with bright colors, floral pieces, and coming to stage herself as the sunflower with a feat of wiring and draping to form and suspend the petals around herself.

Roderick Reyes, (@reyes_roderick) produced a collection that was a commentary on capitalism, using fake money and security sensors to create the garments that came down the runway.

Lamin “Rey” Jaiteh (@reyjaiteh) presented my favorite pieces of the night. It was by far the most wearable collection, featuring tailoring and some enviable coat shapes.

The event culminated with a performance by Wyclef Jean, who was joined by Lauryn Hill at the end of the set.

I was able to attend the event as a perk of the Gap Brand’s Encore program. The membership program allows you to unlock experiences with your points, increasing the value of your loyalty. I found the event through their Encore Market platform. On the site there were multiple New York Fashion Week events, along with exclusive products. It’s just one of the ways that it’s more than your typical retail loyalty program.

To learn more about the People’s Runway, click here.

To learn more about the Encore program, visit their website.