Harlem's Fashion Row Picks Six Finalists in Design Competition

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Harlem's Fashion Row, now in its fifth year of holding a contest to send local African-American designers to Fashion Week, has just announced its six finalists. Founder and CEO Brandice Henderson explained the mission to the NY Daily News: "A lot of young designers aren't able to fund a presentation which would introduce them to buyers and editors," says Henderson, "so Harlem's Fashion Row has become about giving them a platform they might not have otherwise."

The six finalists are Bobby West and Day Williams of menswear clothing line Bobby Day, evening-wear specialist Imani Whyte of ImaniLia, Joseph Bethune of Bethune Bros., Onyenauchea Nwabuzor of "avant garde" womenswear line Ana Kata, junior-turned-womenswear designer Kellia Rogers, and Jakia Handy of Ingram Talley. While the six finalists were chosen out of a pool of fifteen semi-finalists, the remaining three winners will be determined by the vote's of New Yorkers by May 30 at Harlem's Fashion Row website.
· Harlem's Fashion Row selects six African-American designer finalists to compete for fashion week [NY Post]
· Harlem's Fashion Row [Official Site]