When Brandice Daniel moved to New York from Memphis, she made a vow: Whatever work she did in New York, she would bring it back to Memphis every five years.
The product that manifested from Daniel’s Memphis-made, grit and grind was Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR), which was launched in 2007. Ever since then, Daniel has kept her commitment. For HFR’s 5th year in 2012, they held a fashion show on Main Street, and in 2017 their runway was housed in Clayborn Temple.
On December 10th the Nike Distribution Center on Lamar Avenue was transformed to celebrate HFR’s 15th anniversary, designers of color, and Daniel’s commitment to diversity in the fashion industry.
In September of 2022, Daniel told the Flyer that HFR acts as a bridge between designers of colors and fashion brands. This mission was exemplified in 2018 when HFR first partnered with Nike through the “HFR X Lebron” collaboration, which was “for women by women.”
Nike and HFR have since worked together for designer retreats, where they bring 75 to 100 designers of color to Nike headquarters to receive mentorship, partnership, sponsorship, and the opportunity to build community with each other, said Daniel.
“When we started this partnership in 2018, we could not not be a part of this,” said Robert Shorty, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion supporting Nike’s global supply chain and sustainability. “ Our vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion is to create the equitable playing field of the future, and there’s no way to have an equitable playing field without having it in fashion and design as well.”
According to Daniel, Saturday’s show was the culmination of four years of “incredible partnership.”
The show featured collections from Kimberly Goldson, Nichole Lynel, Cotte D’Armes by Clarence Ruth, and Memphis-designer Prep Curry. All four are designers of color.
While the show featured collections from designers based in New York and Los Angeles, Memphis culture seemed to prevail in a number of ways. The runway featured an opening performance of Memphis Jookin to Duke Deuce’s “Buck The System,” and models strutted to GloRilla’s latest hits. Curry’s collection served as the ultimate finale, with Curry himself coming out of “jookin retirement.”
Memphis’ talent was also showcased backstage with stylists being hand-picked to be a part of Takeisha Berry Brooks’, owner of A Natural Affair Beauty Lounge, beauty team. Brooks picked students from schools all around the city.
Pink Noire, a Black-owned beauty supply store in Memphis, also sponsored the products used by the beauty team.
At the closing of the show, Daniel was honored with a resolution from Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery.
“She embodies the sentiment of lifting as you climb,” said Lowery. “That’s just pure Memphis at heart.”
Lowery also commended Daniel for HFR’s work with HBCU fashion departments through their annual HBCU fashion summit.
As Daniel gave her closing remarks, she heavily emphasized how special Memphis is.
“Sometimes when you’re here, and you’re living here, you don’t realize how special you are,” said Daniel. “It would be like a fish in water saying to another fish that water is special. They don’t know it. So when you take someone out of Memphis and put them in another environment, they always thrive because of what this city puts in them.”