Made by Mena Fashion Show, NYFW, (S/S 2024).
I scouted the location for, and co-produced, Mena's “From the Street” fashion show for NYFW.
Westbeth's courtyard was chosen because Westbeth is one of the earliest examples of architectural adaptive reuse in the United States, and because its unique architectural and aesthetic qualities complete Mena's concepts of Repurposing and "From the Streets" as an example of Gesamtkunstwerk. (A complete work of art.)
The runway was incorporated into the courtyard's existing built environment, and the show harnessed the courtyard's architectural features as opportunities for innovation, dramatic expression, and exciting new perspectives. Arguably an "architectural fashion intervention".
The runway exited the building’s 2nd-story interior and descended along an (adapted) switch-backing concrete ramp towards the courtyard, offering the audience a semi-obstructed and multidimensional preview of the model, before they continued their descent away from the crowd into a visually-obstructed corner. Once completing their descent, the model re-emerged into the courtyard in full view, presenting their looks to the expectant audience.
The show was a big success, with approximately 200 attendees.
September 10th, 2023, NY, NY – Chris Mena, a visionary in the realm of sustainable fashion, captivated the world with his breakout collection, "From the Street." As part of New York Fashion Week, Drawing inspiration from the vibrant spirit of New York City's bustling streets, Mena meticulously curated discarded textiles, plastics, and accessories that once adorned the urban landscape. These forgotten remnants were then meticulously re-imagined into exquisite garments, celebrating their origin while making a bold statement in style and sustainability. The collection serves as a visual manifesto, proving unequivocally that fashion can be both ethically responsible and aesthetically captivating. [Adapted from Press Release.]
