Books By Style

Image Source: McKenzie Uhrig

Photos by: mckenzieuhrig

This year was one for the books for Akron Fashion Week after they were officially recognized by the city of Akron for 20 years of service. Fashion Curator Rafel B. Dixon established the event in 2016. It has since grown into a statewide fashion event bringing together professionals from Ohio and New York City. Akron Fashion Week 2026 was produced in collaboration with Cash Is King Productions and Blue Media NYC. The weekend of April 24 to April 26 featured a stacked lineup of events, starting with a movie night for designers and models before the big show on April 25, followed by a Fashion Icon Awards brunch the next morning. The theme was “The Future of Fashion is Now,” highlighted by emerging designers and the younger generation of models.

Following the theme, the show kicked off with Akron Fashion Week Kids featuring the brand Tie-Dyed Out and their line Antisocialite. Their Spring/Summer collection included colorful rainbow and pink/blue tie-dyes in various patterns and tropical print sets. The kid models who walked the show were gifted the outfits they wore on the runway. The adult portion started with Trillionair, a personal favorite and one of the first brands I interviewed during my first Akron Fashion Week in 2021.

For Trillionair founders, Mrs. Dean and T. Vickz, this was their 10th year being featured in Akron Fashion Week, making them one of the only veterans at the event. Their latest collection included monochromatic jumpsuits featuring the Trillionair logo, logo t-shirts in kids and adult sizes, and a men’s gold and green track suit. But it was the green and black jumpsuit that stole the show for me. Fans of Kim Possible will understand when I say it looked like the real-life version of Shego’s costume, making it stand out against the rest of the monochromatic lineup.

Dixon, along with the city of Akron, awarded honorees during the night, recognizing them as Fashion Icons for their contributions to not only fashion but also the community. One of the first honorees featured in the show was Monique Clark, who founded Kurvology. When discussing the creation of her brand, Clark stated, “Just cause I have curves doesn’t mean I want to wear a bedsheet or something that doesn’t have style.” She had one of my favorite collections of the night, featuring stunning sequin dresses, floor-length gowns, a black lace and tulle dress, custom bodices, asymmetrical sheer black top with floor-length train, leather skirts and mini dress, blazer mini dress, and a “Mr. Kurvologist” white ‘lab’ coat. Yet, her stunning designs weren’t the only reason she was being honored. Her work in the community is what was highlighted. Clark founded the Second Chance Prom Dress movement in remembrance of her late mother providing prom dresses to thousands of girls. Her movement has spread nationally, making her one of the most deserving honorees of the evening.

The next honoree was menswear expert Ra’Shaan Arnold of Good Manners NYC, a Kent State University graduate now based out of NYC. His collection featured a lineup of unique suits, including an ochre suit with black lapels, a plum suit with white buttons, dark grey tweed trousers and jacket, camouflaged trousers and jacket, and black velvet trousers and jacket. Fellow KSU graduate Mya Davis followed up Good Manners with her brand Mad Avenue’s first collection showcase. Davis also kicked off the second portion of the show, which focused on street luxury designs.

Her collection started off with a crop-top lilac tracksuit with zebra print stripes, a cropped orange graphic sweatshirt and matching shorts, a long-sleeve neutral color block top, grey logo sweatshirts, cargo capri sweatpants, painted cargo overalls, a pink and orange flaming graphic long sleeve bodysuit, and my personal favorite – red zebra blazer. Davis makes designs for girls and women to feel fabulously chic and comfortable. University of Akron graduate Dayvion Wesley’s brand, The Real Never Fold, followed Mad Avenue with its own line of logo (TRNF) sweatsuits in all sizes, some with bedazzled lined hoodies and pockets. Wesley looks to inspire others with his designs, stating, “The Real Never Fold stands for never giving up… When your back is against the wall, you’ve got to remember to never fold.”

Another NYC-based designer, Von Miller, founder of Von Flex Apparel, released his collection of logo (VF) sweatsuits and t-shirts in all sizes. The highlight of his collection was the women’s black long coat, black logo jumpsuit, and bodysuit with black denim shorts, and a black puffer. After Miller, fellow NYC designer Sean Lewis of BSTYE showcased his streetwear collection next. Showing his black and grey color block sweatshirt, a nude cutoff sweatshirt, and a red off-the-shoulder sweatshirt with matching shorts. His collection also featured bright yellow leggings, nude leggings with logo appliques, double layered graphic t-shirt, a turquoise patchwork jumpsuit, and an asymmetrical cream with black lining long sleeve shirt and pants. Aside from his BSTYE logo, Lewis also designed pieces featuring the word “Magnifique,” including a black sweatshirt dress, turquoise tank dress, and black sports bra top. Lewis is another community leader using his brand as an inspiration for an athletic apparel company, BSTYE stands for “Be Stronger Than Your Excuses”.

The final designer in the lineup won the award for the Emerging Designers Competition at the end of the night. Frank L. Miller III of Righteous Cloth took home the 2026 Designer of the Year award, winning the chance to go to NYC to showcase his collection. The collection featured a ’90s-esque multi-color color block sweatshirt, camo sweatshirt, black hoodie and shorts, a cropped black sweatshirt with a grey graphic pleated skirt, and graphic t-shirts. His jackets were what stole the show, with a black letterman jacket, and satin bombers in various colors, including one that looked to be Browns [Cleveland NFL team] inspired in the colors brown and orange. His brand R-Cloth, which stands for “Choose Love Over The Hate,” won the award for its edgy retro-inspired designs and community outreach.

R-Cloth may have taken home the main award, but several other designers and models were honored during the evening. A few notable mentions were Dr. Tameka Ellington, who was honored as the first Black fashion professor at KSU, and fellow KSU alum designer Jazmine Fischer. Some of you may remember I recently worked on Fischer’s sold-out fashion show as her Media and PR Coordinator. After having the pleasure of seeing her impact up close and personal, it was a special moment watching her receive her Fashion Icon award. When receiving her award, Fischer had this to say, “My senior collection didn’t make it at Kent State, but it makes it now in New York. It doesn’t matter; people will put boundaries in front of you, you make your own boundaries.”

Sticking with the theme of embracing the next generation in fashion, up-and-coming kid model Ma’Layah was awarded as another Fashion Icon. Models play a pivotal role in the fashion industry, making it important for designers to recognize their contributions during their shows, as Dixon has done. Male model Julian Alford is another name taking the industry by storm after appearing in not only Fischer’s fashion show, but also walking in Akron Fashion Week. Some of the other models featured were Dana Talley, kid model Jahzara, Marnita Robinson, Joel Moreno, Kenyattie Washington, and kid model Amir.

All the way from NYC, models Verona Willis and Eunice were selected by Dixon specifically for this event. Now living in NYC himself, Dixon brought many NYC designers with him, like BSTYE, Von Flex, Good Manners, and Wrem Rocks Enterprises. Between the combination of Akron and NYC natives who participated, this event became a merging of the two cities in style and culture.

For their 20th anniversary, it seems Akron Fashion Week tried to do it all, with a weekend full of events, vendors from around the city, and a night full of honorees being inducted as Fashion Icons. It was certainly a Fashion Week to remember. Photos were taken either by myself or T Mathews Photoz. Food and drinks were catered by The Big Red Food Wagon, whose sole proprietor is Akron local Erica Owens. Illustrious comedian, Lady Scream, was even in attendance to start the night off with some rambunctious laughter. Dixon astonishingly was able to put this show together in only two months with the help of his event producers.

Following the success of his Fashion Week shows, Dixon has started attending Fordham University, where he currently studies fashion law and has interned for the United Nations. He plans to join Cash Is King as they travel across the country to all the HBCUs, where they will host the “Walk It Like You Own It” challenge. Though it seems like next year, Dixon may be taking on his biggest challenge yet, figuring out how to top this year’s Akron Fashion Week with his next one.