Harlem's Fashion Row Founder Brandice Daniel's Impact on the World of Fashion

Brandice Daniel is a speaker, author, and business coach — but most of all, she’s the founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row, an agency dedicated to connecting designers of color with brands that can showcase their talent.

Today, Harlem’s Fashion Row is making big waves in the BIPOC community, but it wasn’t always easy. The story of Brandice Daniel and Harlem’s Fashion Row shows us that through hard work and collaboration, people of color can rise to the top even against all odds.

Harlem’s Fashion Show Row was founded in 2007 in a small restaurant venue, with nothing but a big dream and a clear purpose; getting people of color in the fashion industry.

With Brandice Daniel’s drive and determination, Harlem’s Fashion Row quickly began gaining attention. She eventually produced a fashion show, which not only received critical acclaim but was also mentioned in the Women’s Wear Daily.

“I founded Harlem’s Fashion Row to provide a voice for multicultural designers,” Daniel states on her website. “My goal is for designers of color to have the same impact, opportunities, and connections as every other designer.

In just five years, HFR moved from its small venue into the Lincoln Center. From there, everything started going up and up for the company. Daniel started getting corporate support from Target, BET, Iman Cosmetics, and Sprite.

She also began receiving coverage in prestigious magazines and broadcasts like NY Daily News.

Today, Harlem’s Fashion Row is a force to be reckoned with. Their bread and butter are their events, which give people of color the opportunity to put their skills and talents out there. These events are one of the best places for networking and connecting designers to the brands.

Aside from the events, Harlem’s Fashion Row also helps with product collaborations, creates pipeline programs for BIPOC people, and provides consulting services for black creatives.

But above all, Harlem’s Fashion Row is a movement. It’s a movement that aims to increase diversity in fashion — an industry that white people have dominated for too long. By giving unparalleled opportunities to people of color, Harlem’s Fashion Row hopes to change the industry, one designer at a time.

On September 5, 2023, Harlem’s Fashion Row presented the 16th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards. The theme was “The Remix,” celebrating the evolution and resilience of black fashion, and drawing inspiration from music.

It was also a joint celebration for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The opening act featured Darryl McDaniels and Grandmaster Flash.

Then came the fashion show, which featured 30 up-and-coming black designers and well-established names in the industry. The styles displayed the variety that exists in black fashion - from bold, classic styles, to colorful and textured designs.

The event was, once again, a big success for the BIPOC community. With several designers taking awards, including the Emerging Designer of the Year Award, and several designers winning HFR scholarship funds, it was truly a day to celebrate Black fashion and pave the way for a better tomorrow for Black designers.