This season wasn’t just another one for the books, it hit different.
From the very beginning, I knew it would. Partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation gave me something deeper than a runway moment. It gave me the chance to live out one of my biggest dreams: giving back. Not only to the community we are building through Palette8, but also to the communities we meet along the way. That set the tone. It made the entire season feel like it was built on purpose.
But purpose doesn’t mean it was easy. Honestly, it felt like the universe had it out for me. Not me personally (at least that’s what I kept telling myself) but my purpose. Rejection after rejection. Doors that didn’t just close, they slammed. Conversations that went nowhere. After circling back the 100th time, negotiating, re-negotiating, asking again, I reached a point of surrender. I stopped forcing it. I stopped trying to make it happen on my timeline and just trusted that it would be what it would be.
“What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger, stand a little taller…” - thanks for the reminder Kelly!
And damn. It was incredible.
We had multiple designers come through with collections that deserved their spotlight. We did Central Park photoshoots. We brought a full-blown runway to the Brooklyn Bridge. We saw Maria Wings in Times Square (not just walking, but making a statement) and I got to stand behind the lens to capture it all.
“Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do…” - shout out to JayZ!
Then came one of my favorite moments: curating the most intimate multi-designer show in one of the most beautifully designed venues I’ve ever seen. It was raw. It was soulful. And when ballerina Amanda Dawn took the stage, she turned the room into pure emotion with a choreography that was nothing short of breathtaking.
“Every little thing is gonna be alright…”- vibing with Bob Marley!
And just when I thought the night couldn’t get better, the VIP afterparty turned into one for the history books. Tiise, who had just dropped her album on August 14, blessed us with a performance that reminded us all why live music feeds the soul. Bars for days. Energy for miles. Then DJ Dre from Provida Records took over, spinning tracks that had the room moving like there was no tomorrow. It wasn’t just an afterparty, it was the celebration of a season.
“Tonight we are young, so let’s set the world on fire…”
So yeah, this one hit different. It was bigger than rejection, bigger than the setbacks, bigger than me. It was about community, art, resilience, and purpose all woven into one unforgettable season.
“Started from the bottom now we’re here…”- Drake wasn’t wrong.
This New York Fashion Week experience was more than just runway shows and afterparties, it was about building a movement. From partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation to photographing couture wings in Times Square, hosting designers on the Brooklyn Bridge, styling shoots in Central Park, and curating an intimate multi-designer fashion showcase, every moment reminded me why I love producing runway events.
Fashion shows. Designer collections. Couture wings. Photography. Models. Runway productions. Music. Afterparties. Community. Empowerment. This season gave it all.
And as Palette8 Productions continues producing runway shows in New York City, Miami Swim Week, Atlanta, and beyond, we’ll keep making sure every designer, model, photographer, and artist has a stage to shine on. Because fashion isn’t just clothes, it’s storytelling, it’s art, and it’s purpose.
So until next time, never forget, I believe in you!
