( ENSPIRE Fashion ) A Celebration of Innovation, Identity, and the Rising Power of Black Creativity Redefining Atlanta’s Place in Global Fashion
ENSPIRE Contributor: Asia Shamir Ferguson
Photo Credit: Shannel Resto (SJR Photography) / Michele Sheetz Photography
“I think that it’s very important for us to make sure that we see the importance of who we are, where we are,” says designer Jason Scott, the Friday afternoon opener for Atlanta Fashion Week (ATLFW).
Long recognized as a Black creative hub, Atlanta is now asserting itself as a true fashion capital—joining global icons like Paris, Milan, and New York. From October 2–5, 2025, Atlanta Fashion Week proved the city’s creative influence with four days of culture, commerce, and couture. The event transformed Atlantic Station into a dynamic intersection of community, conversation, and creativity with 13 runway shows, The Shops vendor village, and an immersive Adidas ORIGINALS pop-up.
This year’s ATLFW was more than a fashion showcase—it was a sensory experience merging food, fragrance, music, and design. From the BMW Rooftop Lounge and Candleporium Fragrance House to the Adidas ORIGINALS installation, creativity touched every sense. “It’s so dangerous for us to be so separated,” said Scott during his Bloomingdale’s ATLFW appearance. “We’re all nations. We are one.” His Fall/Winter 2026 collection reflected that sentiment through high-quality vegan leather, including a reinterpretation of the American flag in white and Pan-African colors. His call to fellow creatives was clear: “We have the talent, but we don’t have the capital.”
Atlanta Fashion Week opened with Verdict Still Out, a nonbinary conceptual streetwear brand blending political satire and dark Americana. The Fall/Winter 2026 collection tackled issues like Black history erasure, job insecurity, and reproductive rights—transforming fashion into a platform for activism. Multifunctional leather and denim pieces, designed to shift from pants to vests, mirrored the adaptability consumers crave in challenging economic times.
Raquel The Label followed, celebrating confidence and individuality with bold, sculptural silhouettes and eye-catching textures that inspired women to take up space and embrace their power. Returning to the runway, Alani Taylor’s “Elegant Sauvage” collection by Timeekah “Murph” Murphy blended elegance and chaos through theatrical storytelling. The show moved from paranoia to poise, reminding audiences that the runway can be both performance and protest. Standout pieces like an asymmetrical denim trench and cross-embellished blazer dress exemplified Murphy’s fusion of avant-garde and streetwear.
Aakofii closed the night with a Fall/Winter collection that looked like wearable art—hand-sewn, textured, and unpredictable. “I just do what I feel and I try not to be matchy, matchy,” said the designer. “I want you to know it was handmade when you see it.” Each look fused leather, denim, sequins, cowhide, and paint in harmony that shouldn’t work but did.
Eli Kish, the womenswear line by Tameka Foster Raymond, made its ATLFW debut with a multi-season collection inspired by travel and ease. Her “everyday luxury” approach emphasized timeless sophistication through loungewear, streetwear, and flowing silhouettes designed for women on the move. “You can wear it from work, to school, to the beach, to the cabanas,” she said, showcasing versatile pieces in soft, grounding tones.
As part of Fulton County’s FACE initiative—Fashion, Arts, Culture, and Education—ATLFW highlighted fashion as a tool for empowerment and economic growth. “We want to keep making a platform so these artists can really get to work,” said David Manuel, Director of Fulton County Arts and Culture.
Corporate partnerships with Candleporium, Clinique, Adidas, and BMW expanded the experience. BMW’s two-year commitment brought lifestyle activations and a focus on community. “BMW is more than an automotive icon—it’s a cultural brand,” said Angela Watts, ATLFW’s founder. “This partnership allows us to elevate the ATLFW experience while reinforcing BMW’s role at the forefront of design, innovation, and luxury lifestyle.”
Day two introduced a menswear takeover featuring GOAT by James King, Jai Lyle, Eddy Yung, Made by Middle, and BDR Black. Designer Quintin James Crumpler of GOAT showcased timeless preppy silhouettes reimagined with fur-lined pockets, corduroy loops, and gold buttons. “It’s really about being able to wear pieces in and out of different environments,” Crumpler explained. Jai Lyle followed with voluminous trousers, silk sweaters, and structured blazers that reflected refined simplicity and quiet luxury.
Eddy Yung’s BYRD, a standout newcomer, merged eras through textured patchwork and tailored cuts, while Made by Middle redefined comfort with stacked cargos, leather sets, and bold tracksuits inspired by Atlanta’s streetwear culture. BDR Black closed the sequence with sleek, active luxury—silky fabrics and vibrant tones bringing energy to the runway.
Octavius Terry, a Grady-born designer and ATLFW veteran, presented his emotional collection “Rise of the Phoenix.” Created under his brand Octavius Marsion, this Fall/Winter 2026 line represented rebirth and resilience after personal loss. With wool and silk pieces in cream and beige, each design felt regal yet raw. “Watch out for the underdogs,” Terry said.
Sarayaa, led by a Spelman alum from Senegal, followed with a collection that paid homage to centuries-old African artistry. Her use of cowry shells, hand-cut tassels, and globally sourced fabrics like lace and silk created fluid, textural harmony. Each garment celebrated the revival of ancestral craftsmanship while blending modern luxury and traditional technique.
Closing the week, Adidas Originals spotlighted the future of fashion with the HBCU Originals Fellowship: From Campus to Runway. Students from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman, and Morehouse presented innovative, sustainable streetwear, reimagining silhouettes with jewel embellishments and upcycled materials. “It’s not solely about the major cities like LA and New York,” said Danielle Wright, ESSENCE Girls United Content Editor. “It’s the small designers, the college designers that are growing and glowing, and I’m excited to see what Atlanta Fashion Week will evolve to.”
Musician and style icon Trinidad James echoed that sentiment at the Adidas pop-up. “Atlanta Fashion Week gives those people a chance to be seen. At the end of the day, everyone wants to be seen, no matter what you want to be seen for.”
Fashion is more than style—it’s connection, conversation, and community. With its bold creativity, cultural depth, and commitment to Black artistry, Atlanta Fashion Week 2025 redefined what a fashion capital can look like. The city continues to push boundaries, elevating emerging talent and building a foundation of authentic, Southern-rooted innovation. Atlanta’s future in fashion isn’t just bright—it’s already here.
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