Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A New York transplant from Tennessee and the visionary behind Harlem’s Fashion Row, Brandice Henderson’s dream is one that has truly become a reality.

In 2007 Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR), created to bring awareness and visibility to the existing community of talented minority designers, was just an idea. It was an idea to provide a platform for those designers who, otherwise, might not have the opportunity to showcase their collections during Fashion Week. Within that same year, with no resources, sponsorship and limited experience, Brandice turned her idea into a business. Originally established as a one time fashion show, HFR has grown into a team of 30 fashion volunteers which have, over the past four years, helped show the collections of over 12 designers of color. Managing each HFR production from start to finish, Henderson has established herself as a fashion event expert.

With a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Tennessee and over 12 years experience in the fashion arena, ranging from retail, to buying, to production, and costing, Brandice’s various positions have given her the opportunity to travel around the world. Most passionate about Black Fashion History, Brandice continues to be committed to promoting Black and Latino designers. Blacks and Latinos spend over $22 billion a year on apparel, but represent less than 1% of designer labels sold in stores. HFR uses the holistic experiences Brandice received throughout her experiences in the fashion world and provides designers with the knowledge needed to take their brands from conception to the sales floor. Ultimately, Brandice’s goal is to provide the world with a new perspective on fashion from a person of color’s point of view.

Brandice attributes Lois Alexander Lane, Founder of the Black Fashion Museum, as the inspiration for her love of Black fashion. In 2010, Brandice reached out to Alexander’s only daughter and traveled to Washington DC to meet with her. After a four-hour conversation during which Alexander’s daughter compared Brandice’s passion to the passion of her mothers, the connection was clear.

Through HFR, Brandice has garnered the relationships with some of the fashion industry’s top players. The 2011 advisory board consists of the fashion editor of Real Simple, the former fashion editor of Paper Magazine, publicist Terrie Williams, Najwa Moses, Michaela Angela Davis, as well as art gallery owner Bill Hodges.

Currently residing in Harlem and pursuing a second BS degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Brandice is working on a new creation, a Black Fashion Encyclopedia.

Henderson’s mantra? - “This is just the beginning”.

For more information on HFR, visit HarlemFashionRow.com
Follow HFR on Twitter @HFRmovement