November 20, 2018
From the punk rock styles of the 1980s to the hip-hop styles of the 1990s or to the ballroom scene that has recently made a resurgence, street-involved young people have helped shape fashion trends for decades. And when it comes to fashion, young people often do not conform to the stereotype of what homeless people look like. Among many of the clients we work with at our Streetwork Project, it is common that many are trying to not “look homeless.”
According to Brenda Duran, a Case Manager at our Lower East Side Streetwork Drop-in Center, many clients are fighting a stigma associated with looking like they are homeless. These resourceful young people work hard at looking like most other young people their age, and being able to blend in with others is sometimes a vital survival skill. So with attention to the important role fashion plays to many Streetwork clients, an idea grew in collaboration with PVH, the apparel company, to create a fashion show where young people could showcase their creativity and talents.
Originally inspired by the TV show Project Runway, The Project Streetwork Fashion show began in 2013. Volunteers from PVH worked with about 15 young people for about a month guiding them as they became their own fashion designers. PVH not only generously provided staff resources who volunteered their time but also donated fabric and supplies.
For our participants, the process begins by creating a mood board that visually represents the story of their creative concept. Next, they bring their vision alive by sewing their designs and then showcasing their creations in a full fashion runway show where each participant walks wearing their own creation. For many, this may be the first time they have sewn anything, walked in a fashion show, or had an outlet for their creativity. The Streetwork Fashion Show has been an annual tradition for six years, and the 2018 Fashion Show took place on November 1st. Fifteen young people showed off their exquisite creations for a full house. The theme for this year’s show was “Beauty of Transformation.”
The theme “Beauty of Transformation” resonates with Brenda, who has worked at Streetwork for 15 years and has been a part of every fashion show since the program began. “We have had clients with mental challenges, or who are shy, or who had their emotional guard up who have wanted to give this a try.” Through the experience of working on the Fashion Show, there have been some young people who have opened up to our staff. As Brenda says “sometimes as a staff member you can see a different side of our clients as they realize they can create – and this can be a beautiful transformation.”