Fashion Month Edition: Studio 189's Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah on using fashion as an agent for social change
Sep 10, 2023
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Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, founders of Studio 189, discuss the social impact of their sustainable fashion brand. They talk about their collaboration with the Lower East Side Girls Club, using fashion for social change, the importance of collaborations, and the legacy they want to leave in the fashion industry.
Studio 189 focuses on creating fashion that goes beyond clothes by building a community and promoting education and opportunities for creative talents.
Studio 189 embraces slow fashion, prioritizing quality, longevity, and ethical practices, while encouraging a conversation about the impact of fashion on the planet and its people.
Deep dives
The Purpose of Studio 189: Empowering Communities Through Fashion
Studio 189, co-founded by Avriela Irvia and Rosario Dawson, is focused on creating fashion that goes beyond just the clothes. They aim to build a community, promote education, and provide opportunities for creative talents. The brand's collaboration with the Lower East Side Girls Club, for example, showcases their commitment to supporting organizations aligned with their values. Studio 189 is dedicated to telling a wider story of Africa, highlighting its beauty, craftsmanship, and talent, while also addressing the social issues faced by its artisans.
Slow Fashion and Ethical Practices: Bridging Sustainability and Style
In contrast to fast fashion, Studio 189 embraces the concept of slow fashion by prioritizing quality, longevity, and ethical practices. They focus on conscious production, utilizing upcycling and avoiding waste. The brand recognizes the importance of consumer values, offering products that align with sustainability and ethical standards. By shifting the perspective on how fashion is made and consumed, Studio 189 encourages a conversation about the impact of fashion on the planet and its people.
The Power of Joy and Legacy in Fashion
Studio 189's ultimate goal is to bring joy through their fashion shows and collections. They see fashion as a means to create a legacy that inspires future generations and promotes positive change. By showcasing their work and the reactions it elicits, Studio 189 aims to educate and engage audiences, emphasizing the importance of their mission and garnering support for their vision of a sustainable and inclusive fashion industry.
It’s a new era for fashion month, where designer collections are just one piece of the pie. As brands across price points and specialties aim to compete in the increasingly competitive retail landscape, more are taking advantage of the opportunity and approaching it strategically. They’re cutting through the noise with innovative marketing tactics, introducing new commerce plays and leveraging advanced digital capabilities to best showcase their products. In this podcast series, running throughout Fashion Month Spring 2024, Glossy and influential leaders are breaking down the evolution of the experiential event.
In this episode, we sit down with Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah, founders of Studio 189, the 10-year-old fashion brand and social enterprise that hosted a runway show on Sunday. CFDA award-winning Studio 189 sustainably produces its clothing in Africa, plus it supports education, skills training and community-led projects. Dawson and Erwiah discuss how they’ve built and grown a company with purpose, and how a consistent presence at New York Fashion Week has served the brand well. This episode was recorded amid bustling NYFW, in Showfields’ NoHo location.