A nail design contest. A fashion show celebrating 50 years of hip-hop. A dress-to-impress Minnesota Met Gala.
For organizer Natalie Morrow, bringing in new artists and events is a must when Black Fashion Week MN (BFWMN) rolls around. And the upcoming spring lineup, with events running May 5-13, is no exception.
"What we are really trying to focus on is there are so many creatives right here in the Twin Cities," Morrow said. "Our focus is to create [and highlight] new designers, creative artists, new models and really grow that community."
In addition to new faces, Morrow is keen to introduce new events for the semiannual series. Nail art is hot right now, so she's introducing a contest in which technicians are tasked with designing nails to match outfits by local designers.
Morrow was inspired by gymnast Suni Lee, who brought fingertip style to the forefront when she sported designer nails during the 2020 Olympics. "All of a sudden, nails were trending," Morrow said. "Nails are a big part of fashion. It's part of our outfits, our style."
And while the BFWMN founder is all about introducing new events, she hopes at least one of these will become a longstanding tradition — the Minnesota Met Gala at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. For the first-time event, attendees are encouraged to don their finest while enjoying a fashion show spotlighting local clothing and accessory designers.
"When you think of the Met Gala you think of New York," Morrow said. "We should have one because we're [one of the top] in the country in arts and culture across the board."
Morrow emphasized that BFWMN is open to anyone — on the runway and off — who shares a love for creative art and design.
