Color of Fashion is a non-profit organization created by models and entrepreneurs, Alicia Myers and Samantha Joseph in 2021. In their years working in the fashion industry, they experienced the discrimination that is all too common in the fashion world. Here in Denver, they wanted to change that experience and came together to create a space that celebrates diversity and inclusivity and takes the Denver fashion scene to the next level. Now in its third year, Color of Fashion has grown in its connection to creatives here in the city, bringing together some of the best local and national talent in hair, makeup, and design to produce spectacular runway shows that are representative and dynamic. 

The two-night fashion extravaganza begins on  Friday, September 22 in the theme of Carnaval. The evening is a benefit that supports the Matthew Morris Scholarship, which funds enrollment for BIPOC students at the Elevate Salon Institute in Westminster, CO. Bon Voyage is the vibe on Saturday, September 23, where designers like Altura and Good Man Brand will be featured. I emailed Alicia and Samantha to catch up on all the goodness of the success of Color of Fashion.

Hi Alicia and Samantha! How are you both doing?

Hi Tai!! We are doing well but swamped with all the intense planning that goes into our shows. It's definitely a journey and we're excited to see everything come to life!

Color of Fashion is now in its third year! Could you share the intention for creating the fashion event? 

Cheers to our third season! We created this event to bring the community together and highlight the importance of diversity. You may not realize it, but the fashion industry is plagued with discrimination. We have personally had our fair share of if and we created Color of Fashion to combat the norms. We screen all our backstage team members to ensure they are able to work on all skin tones and with all hair textures. Beyond that, we truly create an environment of honesty and trust so we can grow together and prove what diversity has to offer. 

How have you seen Color of Fashion impact the creative community of Denver?

 Color of Fashion has set the standard for fashion productions. We have demonstrated the proper way to treat models, makeup artists, hair stylists, etc. We foster growth and development by encouraging everyone to push their limits. We've seen the impact on the creative community because people are starting to carry the Color of Fashion standard with everything they participate in. We have also built a solid team that other producers have been able to rely on because they know our team will be professional, experienced, and ready to work.

For the third fashion event, you have partnered with Matthew Morris Salon and the first night benefits the Matthew Morris Scholarship fund. Could you share more about this partnership and how the scholarship helps those in the community? 

We are honored to be partnering with Matthew Morris Salon and Skincare because they have a genuine desire to introduce diversity into their salons and we support that. Matthew is a hair guru and can do almost anything so having him lead our hair team night one is such a treat. I don't think you all are ready for what we're bringing to the runway! Additionally, we are donating a proceed of ticket sales to the Matthew Morris Scholarship Fund which was created to help fund enrollment for minorities to Elevate Salon Institute. This is an integral effort to help progress the incorporation of multi-ethnic hair types in beauty schools. We are proud to be donating to such a significant cause. 

Both nights sound amazing! Who are some of the designers participating this year? 

This year we are excited to be featuring some of the best designers locally, nationally, and internationally. We're proud to be closing night two with a segment from Zayden Drape De Luxe who was recently a Project Runway finalist! We spoke with Zayden and learned his story is similar to ours in that we have struggled to earn what we deserve in this industry. We are also fortunate to be featuring Frisk Me Good on night one, Caranval, who you may have seen on HBO Max's The Hype. We are bringing all the vibes this season! Did we mention Lita by Ciara is also showcasing? Don't miss it!

The inclusiveness of some of Denver’s style stars has been great to see. How has it been building this network and keeping it thriving?

 It has been a rewarding experience discovering new or underutilized talent and creating opportunities for them. We take pride in knowing we work with the best of the best and they are attracting the eyes of many. Our network is growing vastly and we appreciate some of the veteran members of the community who have stepped up and supported us.

After that celebratory glass of champagne, what are you looking forward to for the remainder of the year?

Honestly, the work doesn't stop. At the close of this season we will begin planning our next season which means meetings, meetings, and more meetings. The preparation for our shows takes a full year if not more. That being said, we like to host an annual holiday party for all our participants as a thank you so we are definitely looking forward to that.

Tickets are still available for purchase. For more information, visit www.coloroffashion.com.