Excel International Fashion Week New York saw New York City embrace culture.

The beginning of New York Fashion Week was marked by Excel International Fashion Week New York 2018, which commenced with a photo shoot of high-end cars, a press conference, and a social event for networking. The fashion week also included an international fashion show and awards ceremony, a seminar focused on the Hollywood movie industry, and a temporary shop in New York City.

Among the designers who presented their creations on the catwalk were Culture Trees from New York, House of Lamaica Couture from Florida, FashPhiletta Designs from Liberia, Noneillah Collection, TeKay Designs from Liberia, Moto’s Boutique from Texas, Queen Of The Brides, and ITES International/Sequoia from New York

The fashion show displayed a diverse range of designs, which included everything from evening gowns and semi-formal wear to everyday casual outfits, as well as couture and ready-to-wear garments, featuring a wide spectrum of colors. The designers used various fabrics, such as Ankara, kente, tie-dye, cotton, satin, organza, and silk, and incorporated striking silhouettes into their collections, resulting in an authentic international experience.

Models from various states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Texas, Maryland, and California, took part in the event. Lavish Addictions by Lakia Curtis was responsible for the makeup and hair styling, while Leah Foley created the signature hairstyles. The vendors included Bellus, UrbanFashionNetwork.net, Nina K Naturals, S&L Organics, and House of Lamaica Couture.

During the event, the Excel Leadership Award was presented to several distinguished individuals, including Remy Salas (Manhattan Director), who represented New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; Hon. Charles Onyejiaka (Councilman 3rd Ward, Township of Franklin, New Jersey); Chief Michael Okechukwu Amuzie (New Jersey); and Nyerere Chinenye Anyim (Abia State, Nigeria). Additionally, the Excel KDE Humanitarian Awards were granted to Dr. Mrs. Anthonia Uche Umeh, Mrs. Clar Marie Weah (represented by Rosemarie James), the First Lady of the Republic of Liberia, and Daniel Nsomekela. The Excel Entertainment – Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Hollywood actor David McKnight.

The events were moderated by Hollywood actor David McKnight and Kim Guillory Odunlami, a leadership strategist. David McKnight also distributed free copies of Tyra Banks’ Modelland book during the event

The Executive Producers of Excel International Fashion Week New York & Awards are Kimma Wreh, who is the President of KDE Disability Africa Foundation, and Boniface Ihiasota, the CEO of Excel Global Media Group. Wreh emphasized that the event serves as a platform for showcasing culture, ethnic fashion, and promoting tourism in New York, the fashion capital of the world. Additionally, the event provides a means of promoting models, who are featured on the online portfolio of Excel Global Models, which caters to both print and runway models and also provides model coaching and media management services.

At the press conference of Excel International Fashion Week, Mr. Boniface Ihiasota highlighted that one of the key objectives of the event was to create a positive exhibition of culture, fashion, and style. He further mentioned that the event provided an affordable platform for up-and-coming designers, which included runway shows, exhibition booths, and media publicity through television, social media, and magazine publications. As a part of their commitment to supporting people with disabilities in Africa and the US, the CEO of Excel Global Media Group, Ihiasota, added that five percent of the sales proceeds from each copy of Excel Magazine will be donated to the KDE Disability Africa Foundation.

During the event, the Mayoral Message from New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was conveyed by Mr. Remy Salas, the Manhattan Director. The message highlighted that the artistic landscape of New York City encompasses the customs of people from all around the world, and the city’s diverse and flourishing fashion industry is a great source of pride for all its five boroughs.

Excel International Fashion Week will be celebrating the African fashion industry and its diverse heritage by showcasing various designers and fashions from across the continent. The event will feature runway shows, exhibition booths, networking opportunities, and educational seminars. In addition to promoting cross-cultural exchange, the event will also help raise funds for the KDE Disability Africa Foundation while supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. “I am proud to applaud this event’s organizers and supporters for uniting New Yorker’s of all backgrounds in shared appreciation of talented designers who are shaping the future of fashion and for working to improve quality of life for people around the world.” stated the Mayor.