Editor’s note: The wrong photo accompanied this column in the Oct. 31 print edition of The Macon Melody due to a technical glitch. The image was not related to the column’s subject. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion.
The first-ever Macon Fashion Week debuts Sunday, Nov. 2 bringing seven days of runway programs, workshops, panel discussions and other events showcasing the talent of local and Muscogee (Creek) Indigenous designers, student creators, area models, makeup artists and hairdressers.
Starting Sunday and running through Saturday, every Fashion Week event is free to attend, except Sunday’s “Macon Shades of Fashion Day Party” for VIP Signature Pass holders.
The $100 VIP pass helps support Fashion Week and offers perks such as a Macon Fashion Week T-shirt and tote bag, VIP seating/viewing, a chance to win a designer style session and boutique gift card, boutique deals, behind-the-scenes looks and designer access at main runway events. It also includes entry to the VIP area of the Fashion Week afterparty — plus a complimentary drink.
But the focus of Macon Fashion Week’s free community-wide access to programs is on the designers and on fashion in Macon — past, present and future — with an eye toward sustainability, ethical entrepreneurship and the area’s undeniable style.
Macon Fashion Week is being presented by Macon Magazine in partnership with Wesleyan College.
A sampling of scheduled events
Monday: Young Designers Night showcasing youth-designed fashion and styling with pop-ups by Macon-Bibb County students
Tuesday: Fashion: Past to Future with presentations and discussions by Wini McQueen, Emily Allmond, Loretta Clayton and Lisa Sloben, along with a virtual session on Fashion and Artificial Intelligence
Wednesday: A discussion on fast fashion and the ethics of design featuring local designers and a runway show featuring Wesleyan students’ upcycled designs
Thursday: An “Elevate Your Style” workshop with Andrea Cooke plus boutique pop-up, and an “Armor and Adornment,” discussion with Tracie Revis and Christina León on indigenous ceremonial wear, drag and cultural influence
Saturday: Community runway show closing and brunch fundraiser featuring styles from the week
Times, locations, additions, changes, VIP passes, information on store and boutique discounts and more can be found at maconfashionweek.com and facebook.com/MaconMagazine.
Friday is a standout MFW day
Nov. 7 is not only November’s First Friday, it’s a highlight day for Macon Fashion Week. Things begin at 5 p.m. at the Wesleyan Leadership Lab at 522 Cherry St. when indigenous designers Jamie Rolland-Hill — one of the week’s seven featured designers and an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation with Yuchi, Seminole and Cherokee heritage — and Julia Hayden Wakeford, a Muscogee and Yuchi creator, are featured in a discussion of creativity, fashion and their indigenous culture.
Rolland-Hill said she finds inspiration in her family and community and that, with every stitch, she tells stories to keep her culture alive, preserve heritage, love and hope for future generations.
Wakeford’s grandmother and great-grandmother were renowned seamstresses and artful creatives. From an early age, she was encouraged to sew, bead and create while questioning and pushing traditional definitions. This foundation shaped her interest in creating modern regalia and shaping how native people view their clothing and lives.
Following their discussion, things will move to Poplar alley, site of ongoing outdoor Bright City Photography Exhibits, for the unveiling of a new exhibit featuring the work of Muscogee designers and tribal wear.
Between 7-7:30 p.m., activities will move to the Poplar Street median for the week’s top designer event.
The premiere event: The Designer Runway Showcase
The outdoor fashion show will highlight the work of all seven featured Macon Fashion Week designers: five from Macon and two from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma. In addition to Rolland-Hill, there is Jamie Bennett, also from Oklahoma, Ashley Monique, Quitman Alexander, Isiah Miller, Monique Nicole Pitts-Taylor and Diane Jackson. Each designer will show a collection of up to 10 designs.
Admission is free to all such events.
“Macon Fashion Week is committed to supporting local artists, amplifying diverse voices, supporting responsible fashion practices and to building bridges between designers, students and the Macon community and beyond,” said Susannah Maddux, publisher of Macon Magazine. “We have great fashion designers right here in Macon that people need to know about. Macon is known for great music and art; it’s time for our designers to shine.
“A lot of people feel fashion and style aren’t for them; they’re just not interested. We want to show how fashion and style intersect in everyone’s life. It doesn’t have to be high fashion or some imaginary idea of what style is. We’re inviting people to come and see that fashion is an integral part of life and can be really interesting. Other people think Macon has no fashion history, but I challenge them to come to our panels and be surprised. I’ll just say that I just learned that Oscar Wilde came to Macon and the reason will surprise you. There are a lot of stories about Macon and fashion that will.”
Maddux said the week should hold a lot of important eye-openers.
“There is so much bubbling up in Macon from local designers,” Maddux said. “Macon Fashion Week is an opportunity to highlight what we have here and to bring to light a representation of what is possible. We’ve had designers tell us that if they’d known earlier, when they were younger, what it meant to be a designer and what opportunities were out there, they’d have been doing much more – they’d have been designing more and pursuing it earlier as a full-time career. Hopefully, young people will be able to learn a lot during the week about how to practically follow their dreams.”
Three designers’ thoughts
I’ve had a chance to talk to and discover what some of the featured designers are thinking about the show and their work. Here’s a glimpse:
Diane Jackson: “I’m excited because it gives participating designers the chance to show what a vital design community Macon has, and that you don’t have to run to Atlanta to get custom-fit clothes. I do a variety of work, but mainly formal wear, bridal gowns and prom dresses. Then there’s the custom vests or ties and whatnot to go with it for the men. No matter what you put on, someone made it. Why not make that someone a Macon seamstress or designer? Even if you get something off the rack, it’s going to look much, much better if it goes through someone’s hands to make it suit you.
“There are so many in our line of work that feel, ‘No one needs me.’ I’ve felt that way. I hope they see the show, get inspired and become part of it next year. Fashion Week is a great opportunity for local designers and those in related fields to network and learn about and from one another. It makes a difference when you can share your work and network.
Isaiah Miller: “I’m a self-taught designer who started out in Macon, then moved to Charlotte, [North Carolina] where I created for Miss North Carolina, who competed in Miss America. I moved back to Macon a couple of years ago and have done a lot of fashion shows but never a fashion week like this. It’s great. It’s good getting to see where you started and how far you’ve come and look toward where you want to be. I usually do larger collections than 10 so I’m having to be very thoughtful about what I want to put out on the runway. I’ll have a couple of men’s fashions and the rest women’s.
“I’m teaching fashion and sustainability at Wesleyan and students from there will get to show how they put things together this week on Wednesday. I believe in giving back and investing in young people and have a sewing academy at the Creative Alternative where my studio is. There are ongoing classes and after-school sessions where students just come to learn, maybe involving fashion or maybe just sewing skills. I’m also working on a two- or three-month fashion course where, at the end, students will be able to put on a show. I think there’s a future for designers in Macon and it’s great to get to show that during Fashion Week. It’s going to be dope.”
Jamie Bennett: “It’s special to bring my Muscogee art to the homelands in Georgia. I’ve spent years researching and learning about the textile and pottery designs from pre-removal (from Georgia to Oklahoma) and worked out ways to incorporate those images and themes into a modern aesthetic. I absolutely love the stories behind the images. My way of telling stories is through my wearable art. I hope I’m able to spark interest in our history but also, I want to let people know we’re still here and we’re thriving.
“I admire native designers who have paved the way. Clothing is very important to us culturally, not just for ceremony but for pride in who we are. Sewing is a way for me to connect to my ancestors and tell new stories. It can be challenging to design honoring our traditional dress and patterns but bring them into a modern setting, but it’s well worth doing. I believe in community — that’s important in our culture. I like that bringing my work and taking part in fashion week, exhibits and the Ocmulgee Indigenous Celebration helps build a bridge between Oklahoma and our homeland and the people of Macon.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com. Find him on Instagram at michael_w_pannell.
