The Fashion Massacre's latest show gives unique experience to it's Detroit viewers
This past Friday, I was given the opportunity to watch up-incoming Detroit designers showcase their work. The show was put on by The Fashion Massacre, a Detroit group that has produced shows since 2009. They describe themselves as being a "dynamic presentation infused with iconic culture and streamline production."
After what I saw last week, I completely agree. The show was truly unlike anything I have been to before, and as a previous fashion student, I've been to my share of local fashion shows. The first presentation of SZN9 was held at First Congressional church located in downtown Detroit. I expected the show to be in a common room inside the church, but to my surprise it was set up just like a church service. The viewers piled into the pews so they could enjoy the presentation, while models stayed up at the pulpit and walked down the aisles. The lights inside were dim, but bright enough on stage to showcase the designers' work.
One of the members of the fashion massacre explained that the group is a true believer in both fashion and art, and that is what ultimately led them to choose this particular venue. The choice very much reminded me of the theme from this year's met gala ("heavenly bodies") with the ornamentation and gold accents throughout the venue. The set up allowed the show to feel more personal and intimate than a traditional runway. It was truly different and unique, elements I'm always looking for in the fashion industry. The music that played during the show added to the overall feel. It was a series of instrumentals that mixed church bells ringing, people chanting and choirs singing, with hip hop and rap beats. The music gave off a vibe that was both eerie and energetic.
As church bells rang, the first models stepped out on the stage. The looks by designer C. Creations were beachy, boho, and bright. The designer used a mix of pinks, blues with other bright colors to show their theme. There was clear inspiration taken from the beach - flowers, shells, palm trees, and the use of netting was incorporated in multiple looks. There were also a few garments with an animal print design. This was the largest collection shown, with more than 25 looks.
Next was KIMFY, a urban street wear and athleisure brand that was very on trend. The collection was full of classic streetwear staples like oversized t-shirts, sweatpants, and sports bras. The main element that was on these garments was the word "SAMPLE" paired with the KIMFY logo. The colorways were a mix of black, white, and yellow paired with red plaid and denim. The designs are clearly targeted towards the millennial culture. It was one of my personal favorite collections of the night, and I loved the the durags worn by the models. (This was another element that reminded of the met gala; Solange Knowles wore a black durag on the carpet that read "my God wears a durag." Amen to that).
Presented next was the Trice Clark collection, which was a series of metal and tribal accessories. The models were dressed in all black; a mix of both formal and evening wear. One of the first pieces were harness inspired accessories worn both around the chest, and waist as a belt. There were also sunflower headpieces and tribal necklaces.
Serch\Dstroy was another streetwear collection in the show. This one in particular was military inspired, graphics of soldiers with guns were printed on multiple garments. There were pants and jackets in green and blue camouflage. The brand's name was printed on the sleeves of many of the t-shirts and jackets. Overall, the collection felt very urban and youthful.
Another one of my personal favorite collections was by The Caaron Aisilee Collection. This collection was entirely made up of black garments, but the structural elements and use of textures truly set this collection apart from the others. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a sucker for good structural design and this was it. There were intricate details on each garment that could even be seen from afar. The designer mixed ruffles, mesh, and fringe in the garments. The collection was mainly formal and evening wear, with pieces that could be worn to a high profile event or just out to the club with your girlfriends. The silhouettes were mostly body con, hugging the women's natural curves. The collection as a whole had a lot of drama and flair that I really enjoyed.
Last but certainly not least was Liyongo - a rock and roll, grunge culture inspired collection. This collection mixed more prints and colors than any of the others, and it definitely paid homage to the rock and roll greats, ending in a performance from a local band. The garments were made of leather, fur, denim, and had elements like fringe and studs as well. The jackets had large graphics on the back of them. The main colors of the collection were red, yellow, greens and black. Their were masculine clothing elements for the women, and vice versa.
Overall, the fashion massacre showcased Detroit designers in a unique way. It showed someone like me, who had never heard of these designers before the show, what Detroit designers are made of and all of the talent local designers have to offer. I truly became a fan of these designers, and I plan on purchasing some products from them soon. It was a great experience, and I can't wait to see what the next season will bring.
To learn more about The Fashion Massacre, or to view photos from past seasons, visit their website Massacrefashion.com