Atlanta-based designer Antonio Brown made his NYFW debut this week, presenting his urban chic menswear line, LVL XIII. The event kicked off with a cocktail party at Pier 59 Studios in Chelsea. In attendance was brand ambassador, singer Jason Derulo.
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But that wasn't the only event: As a live symphony played, fashion enthusiasts took their seats in and around the square-shaped runway. Brown then took the stage and introduced designer Kenneth Cole, presenting him with a $10,000 check for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research where he serves as chairman of the board.
"When you have these collaborations, these partnerships, they are very powerful and they are very effective," Cole said. "I think what we do helps define and give them a sense of purpose, and at the same time, it helps us accomplish a very important mission. It will move us one step closer to a cure for AIDS."
After the ceremony, Russian opera diva Evgenia Laguna serenaded the audience with the otherworldly aria from The Fifth Element.
LVLXVIII fall-winter 2017 runway looks (Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com)
The runway portion of the show kicked off with models covered head-to-toe in black bodysuits and motorcycle helmets, only set apart by their shoes: each were customized high-top sneakers with bold prints and gold details.
The streetwear-oriented collection featured a contemporary approach to classic men's styles. A black and white translucent hooded raincoat picked up the spotlight like a halo. It was followed by a black leather jumpsuit that gave the rugged moto theme a more upscale quality. Quilted vests in black and gray looked like they were made in Kevlar, which was seen as a political statement from the designer.
Antonio Brown's vision might become a galvanizing force and awaken something real in the world of fashion.
