Illustration by Hilton Dresden
Chromat, the luxury swim and activewear brand helmed by Becca McCharen-Tran, gave a message of female empowerment and inclusivity at their NYFW show this weekend. The runway opened with a powerful performance from DJ UNIIQU3 and closed with a rap from Tt the Artist, who proclaimed “Fuck Donald Trump” from her spot on the catwalk.
“Fashion designers decide who is celebrated in the fashion world, and who is invisible. Representation matters,” McCharen-Tran told us. “It’s our responsibility to push for inclusivity and empowerment by highlighting diverse and inspiring models for our shows.”
When we asked for the designer’s favorite looks, she explained: “It would have to be a tie between the final red dress worn by Leyna Bloom, the jacket with puffer sleeves worn by Maya Mones (pictured above) – both beautiful trans women and friends of mine whom I love dearly!”
The show gave us incredible structures and silhouettes with it’s architectural puffy jackets and floatie-inspired garments. “We took inspiration from life vests and floatation devices designed for extended survival in rough, open water. We collaborated with innovative outdoors company Klymit to design inflatable garments that aid with internal buoyancy and help the wearer stay afloat and protected.”
On other art and shows exciting her right now, she said: “I love my fellow fashion designers Rio at Gypsy Sport and Aurora at Brother Vellies, Fluct (a choreography duo), and a lot of DJs and musicians like DJ Haram (who scored the runway show and is part of my fav DJ collective DISCWOMAN) and the performer, producer, vocalist and DJ UNIIQU3.”
McCharen-Tran’s parting message to America: “There is a feeling of paranoia, the end of truth and the dawning of a new era of persecution of ‘the other’ in the current political climate. We know that no one is entitled to a happy ending, and this has further strengthened our drive to fight for the inclusive and empowering world we want to see.”
Check out every look from the Chromat runway here.
