The Joy Of African Fashion ‘Made With Love’ Is Introduced To The NYFW Runway By Rosario Dawson And Abrimah Erwiah

You have a front-row ticket to see the designs at Studio 189 thanks to Rosario Dawson and Abrimah Erwiah.
Dawson and Erwiah co-founded and run the sustainable fashion company, which uses African craftspeople. The pioneers organized a festive runway during New York Fashion Week to present what Studio 189 has in store for the Spring/Summer 2024 collection.
But as the co-founders revealed to reporters after the performance, the show incorporated music, dancing, poetry, and the charms of African culture in addition to sending garments down a runway.

The Ahsoka actress described the show’s opening with poet V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) as being “really powerful” when talking to a gathering of reporters, which included PEOPLE.
She responds, “No, I want a billion, and I want to dance with you. When we are always in pain, I want us to demonstrate what we are missing. when we fail to address suffering and choose to ignore it. But we may use that anguish to our advantage. When V requested that everyone in the room “up” and dance during Studio 189’s performance, Dawson replied, “And look at the joy that we have in us.

The Haunted Mansion performers stated that they watched footage from the Congo before deciding what they wanted to convey on stage.
We also want to be able to bring Africa here, said Erwiah, adding that this is a very essential factor.

Dawson said that each Studio 189 product is always “made with love.”
According to the co-founder, their business always finds a way to honor the culture.
“There is a lot of dancing as soon as you enter our factory. No matter what the people are going through,” Erwiah added. The same was true throughout the presentation as models danced down the runway at Gallery at Spring Studios in New York.

“We want the spirit of joy, of dancing, of love to come across,” Erwiah said, describing the “big energy and big movements and all of that in the hands.”
It’s amazing what we can do with our hands, Dawson added, in agreement with her Studio 189 business partner. Therefore, we merely wanted to honor that, together with that creativity’s potential. We literally hold the power in our hands.

There were a lot of recognizable faces at the NYFW event.
At the performance, Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel were spotted donning identical purple Studio 189 outfits. The recently engaged couple held hands throughout the performance and grinned.

“We said that fashion can be a social change,” Erwiah added. “I can see how what we did has had an effect.”
Africa-made Studio 189 has taken home the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability award.

Additionally, the company has teamed with businesses including EDUN (LVMH), Yoox Net-a-Porter, and the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative to encourage education and skill development while also fostering job growth.

They operate online as well as in Accra, Ghana, and New York.

Content courtesy of People & NFH