On April 1st, the Voxel Theater flooded with guests dripped out in true Baltimore fashion. The Welcome to 25th Spring Fashion Show was a celebration of the street’s Black owned clothing brands. It featured designers Republic, Strut, Ouftur Couture, Waaah, Huey Brand, L.R.L. Clothing, and special guest Stock Market.
“All of the brands on 25th share the same consumer. So when they visit the block they’re not stopping in one store, they’re going to all,” Huey Brand Wardrobe Consultant, Brittany Williams A.K.A. B. Will describes. “The most admirable thing about the owners themselves is, just like their customers, they all patronize one another.”
The vibe of this fashion show definitely gave family reunion. Attendees I spoke with were there to support their friends and family members, whether designer or model. You could feel the sense of community in the room. It was literally impossible to be from Baltimore and not know someone who helped bring this show to life. This one was for the city!
In planning the concept of Welcome to 25th Street, B. Will hoped it would push designers creatively. “This is ideally an opportunity for each brand to introduce something new to their consumers and not only show them what they can do but how to incorporate these new ideas into their personal style,” she says. Will has on-hand experience with New York Fashion Week (NYFW), and wanted this show to elevate how Baltimore views fashion as well as how other cities view Baltimore when it comes to fashion.
