Meet the creatives behind the runway, each paired with a local LGBTQ+ older adult to design looks that reflect authenticity, resilience, and joy.
Not Sorry Goods
Not Sorry Goods is a Midwest-based brand all about looking good, feeling good, and doing good — unapologetically. By upcycling pre-loved garments with bold designs, using eco-friendly materials, and sourcing ethically made goods, Not Sorry Goods aims to be a leading sustainable and inclusive retailer of the future. Their mantra, “Do Good, Not Sorry,” underscores their mission: do good things and leave the world a better place.
The Art Exhibit
Giovanni Gulley, formally known by art peers and the local community as “Gio,” is the artist and brand creator of The Art Exhibit LLC, a space where fashion, streetwear, and unisex style meet bold, one-of-a-kind artistry. Gio is a self-taught mixed media artist whose work blends pop art, neo-expressionism, streetwear, and satirical art, most notably featured on apparel and accessories.
B.Jacklean
B.Jacklean is known for creating exclusive, handmade, one-of-a-kind leather and denim handbags and accessories. Many of her designs incorporate upcycled textiles and a variety of materials, reflecting a commitment to sustainable fashion. She has loved handbags and accessories since the age of three and has been passionate about fashion ever since, participating in numerous local and statewide fashion shows and events since 2012.
Bleu Bowtique
Like many men in Corporate America, Ne’Gyle spent 15 years noticing the lack of attractive and fashionable neckwear for men. In May 2013, he launched Bleu Bowtique, the perfect place to find affordable, high-quality, hand-picked bow ties and other fine accessories. While the shirt and tie will always have the “classic look,” bow ties are popular once again, spanning generations of men dressing like true Gentlemen. Whether custom-made or from your local clothier, every suit requires the right accessories to make the perfect match for a signature look. Compliment your style today with the latest in bow ties, neckties, cufflinks, pocket squares, lapel pins, and socks at Bleu Bowtique.
Care Less Fashion
Rooted in creativity, empowerment, and sustainability, Care Less Fashion is more than just clothing — it’s a statement, a collaboration, and a revolution against the ordinary. By involving customers directly in the design process, Care Less Fashion creates sustainable, one-of-a-kind garments that tell personal stories and challenge mainstream fashion norms.
Cottage Lvl Chaos
Cottage Lvl Chaos is an upcycled wearable art brand that gives pre-loved pieces new life, prioritizing self-expression. Using embroidery, hyper-stitching, adornments, and classic reworking techniques, they create one-of-a-kind pieces designed to bring a smile or spark conversation, with the goal of brightening the spaces around us during tough times.
Flamingo Vintage
Flamingo Vintage is a 2,500-square-foot renovated Art Deco department store nestled in the heart of Southwest Detroit. Open since 2018, it began as a little green school bus, bringing vintage fashion directly to the community before landing a brick-and-mortar location. Today, the shop offers an extensive collection of vintage clothing and accessories from the 1940s to today, with pieces that have appeared in movies, on red carpet events, and on concert stages around the world.
Grayson Vine Rescued Fashion
By choosing vintage and second-hand pieces, Grayson Vine Rescued Fashion offers a sustainable alternative to the pollution-heavy fast fashion industry. Passionate about supporting both customers and the communities they serve, they create spaces that celebrate individuality and foster meaningful connections. Believing fashion is a form of personal expression, Grayson Vine helps people express themselves freely, without the constraints of gender or societal norms.
Harmonic Threads
Harmonic Threads is designed, cut, and sewn by Olive Marie in her Ferndale studio and storefront. Olive began sewing as a teenager in 2007 and launched Harmonic Threads in 2011. The brand uses flexible, natural, and organic fabrics such as cotton and bamboo, offering sizes XS–5X to celebrate inclusivity and comfort.
The Velvet Tower
The Velvet Tower is an eclectic, must-visit vintage store in Detroit, known for its unique collection of clothing that caters to all sizes.
Seamstress Beela
Nabeela, also known as Seamstress Beela, is a costume and fashion designer inspired by dreams and deeply influenced by nature. Her work incorporates these themes to convey conceptual messages drawn from significant moments in her life, resulting in creations that are mystical, ethereal, and otherworldly.
House of Both Rows
House of Both Rows is a fashion house rooted in emotional honesty, sustainability, and self-expression across every stage of life. Designed by Nerd, the brand honors lived experience while challenging norms around age, gender, and identity. At House of Both Rows, style is about feeling at home in who you are.