Inside RAISEFashion’s Spring 2025 Designer Preview Ahead of NYFW

From the dizzying amount of shows to the swanky parties, there is no shortage of excitement during New York Fashion Week. But one of the most noteworthy moments this season took place ahead of the official kick-off date. On Tuesday morning, RAISEfashion, a network of fashion industry vets who offer pro bono mentorship to BIPOC designers, hosted an immersive exhibition to showcase the latest creations by 25 brands.

“What I love the most about working with RAISEfashion is the sense of community with fellow designers,” Catherine Sarr, founder of fine jewelry brand Almasika, tells ELLE during the preview held at the House of Sound. “It’s amazing especially because we’re all based in different cities, but we all get to regroup here today in person and connect with so many industry experts.”

The roster of rising stars—who had the opportunity to share their latest designs in front of editors, buyers, and industry leaders—include Aisling Camps, Fe Noel, Charles Harbison, Tolu Coker, K.NGSLEY, ADVISRY, Anima Iris, Almasika, Nalebe, Cise, Danzy, ESENSHEL, Téjahn Burnett, Vontélle, Larallan, Lobb, Torlowei, Gwen Beloti, Kendall Miles, Bobby Joseph, Tara Matthews, Tiannia Barnes, Nomads, Burkindy, and Volume 28 by Abercrombie.

“The highlight of my day has been being here on this floor with people who I respect, who I call friends, and whose products I love in the realest way,” Charles Harbison of Harbison Studio tells ELLE. Even with all of the support, of course, there are still broken parts of the fashion industry that need mending.

Unfortunately, it’s become quite common for retailers to sporadically disburse wholesale payments to brands. “We take on so much labor and liability because we design and develop really robust collections that we believe in,” Harbison says before adding, “We’ve employed lots of people just to bring these samples to market. After market, we are still expected to invest more and more into production, additional sampling, and customizations. So it would be great to have a bit more shared liability and respect for the intense effort, thoughtfulness, and integrity it takes to bring a collection into fruition.”

“We, of course, endure because we love it, and we’re only getting better as a result of the challenges,” Harbison affirms.

“We’re having a lot of real conversations within the RAISEfashion community,” Aisling Camps, who is the founder of an eponymous fashion brand, tells ELLE. “It’s been great for a lot of our mentors to hear what’s frustrating for us as designers and to say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never thought about it from that point of view,’ because they’re on the other side of the business. So it’s us designers having these honest conversations and the industry leaders having the power to impart change that has really made a significant difference.”

In addition to the meaningful discussions and all of the fashions presented by the designers, sponsors Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, Make Up For Ever, and Moët Hennessy USA made it possible to turn the preview into a multi-sensory experience, highlighting the work of visual artists, culinary talents, musical acts, and film visionaries—all in one setting.

For a closer look at all of the fresh talent at the exciting preview, click through the gallery ahead.

Shop RAISEfashion Designers Here

Kendall Miles Pout Boot

Now 50% Off

~~$765~~ $383 at kendallmilesdesigns.com

Tara Matthews Cavallo Ivory Swimsuit

€350 at tara-matthews.com

Lobb Jersey Square Neck Blouse

$546 at Lobb

Téjahn Burnett SIMIJAH - BLACK

$279 at tejahnburnett.com

LarAllan Josephin e Bag

$479 at Larallan

Burkindy Medium Silver Klint Cuff

$650 at burkindy.com

Advisry Knit Hood Zip Up

Now 25% Off

~~$240~~ $180 at advisry.shop

Bobby Joseph "Vlisco" Sweater Knit Short

$375 at bobbyjoseph.com

Vontélle Aztec Archetype Gray

$369 at vontelle.com

Alexis Bennett Parker

Commerce Lead

Alexis Bennett Parker is the Commerce Content Lead at ELLE.com. In this newly created role, she oversees all shopping-related stories online, from fashion-forward trend pieces to the most coveted beauty buys on the market right now. Alexis has worked in the publishing space for 11 years, and seven of those years have been dedicated to helping shoppers make informed purchases—no buyer’s remorse here! Before joining the team at ELLE.com, she worked in the editorial departments of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and InStyle, to name a few magazines. Not only has Alexis worked closely with several brands and tested hundreds of products over the course of her career, but she’s also won awards for her work as a shopping journalist. Namely, she was an honoree at the Pynk Magazine Gala in 2023, received the Condé Nast Commerce Content Award for Best Article by a New Hire in 2021, and was included on the Top 40 Under 40 Heir’s List in 2018.