What is Rainbow Fashion Week?

The four major fashion weeks in London, Milan, Paris and New York City comprise what is unofficially known as ‘Fashion Month’. With fashion buyers and press heading to the fashion capitals of the world to see, buy, and review and the latest collections, a new fashion week has emerged in New York City named Rainbow Fashion Week.

What is Rainbow Fashion Week? The eight-day series of events kicks off New York City Pride Week and brings awareness to social issues through fashion, film, art and technology. Founded by E. Jaguar Beckford, RFW fosters activism, social responsibility and sustainability while giving visibility to LGBTQ creatives, businesses, and other marginalized communities.

"We were welcomed by a wonderful host church, Epiphany on the Upper East Side who opened their doors and hearts to our community in solidarity for Pride Week,” said Beckford. “We could have not asked for more and we are so looking to bringing you greater things next year, so get ready for the ride."

The fourth annual Rainbow Fashion Week held platforms for bullying, human trafficking, mental health, environmental responsibility, child abuse awareness, domestic violence awareness and youth empowerment, and teen & LGBTQ homelessness and sustainability.

Community organizations True Colors Residential Fund, The Trevor Project, James Baldwin School, ETSY GOL Outreach, WaterAid America, The Molecule Project and The Water Keeper's Alliance provided information and resources for the critical topics, and some received proceeds from each platform.

In addition, Petr Nitka of the Czech Republic, who is the first gender-neutral model to walk fashion shows in India, UAE and South Africa, attended the fashion week, and three deaf models, an amputee from Stud Model Project and a wheelchair user Army veteran appeared on the RFW runway.

Rainbow Fashion Week will return in 2018 and will run from June 15 through 22.

What is Rainbow Fashion Week?

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