There is an unspoken bond between the London Black girls and the New York City Black girls. There is a line connecting the two major cities through music, makeup, and fashion. And Tia Adeola has taken hold of it. The Nigerian-born London-raised designer started as Slashed by Tia and evolved to Tia Adeola. During this evolution, she has become not only a fashion favorite but an NYFW must-see.
This collection carried the daring nature of the ruffles we first saw from Tia and transformed it into elevated and bold moments. Up The Shed’s escalators in New York City’s Hudson Yards, a large white screen displaying Tia Adeola’s name and signature font greets the attendees. Everyone from your favorite fashion writers and content creators filled in the seats, each decorated with a single rose and the credits wax sealed with the initial ‘T.’ The room and runway were dark – minimal lighting and a spotlight following the models as they walked down.
The collection had a classic regality with a Jazz soundtrack to match, highlighting horns and brass. The black, white, and silver color palette imitated the coloring of old glamor except for pops of color like pink, blue, and yellow. Tia’s clothes are perfect for the runway because of the movement. Focusing on the simple colors, she leaves room to play with shapes and textures. She included a call back to her Slashed By Tia designs with the ruffles peppered throughout this showing. Showgoers saw the additional incorporation of feathers, headpieces, crystals, and more.
Crediting Katherine Mateo for this year’s models, the casting is a crucial part of a runway show. And Adeola gets it right every time. The garments came to life on figures ranging from modelesque, curvy, and those bearing a child. The collection even gave one of our MEF cover stars Jayda Cheaves her NYFW debut. Celebrating blackness is at the root of her designs as well. The hand-painted silver pants and white tee contrasted the natural complexity of a head full of freeform locs. Adding to the movement of the clothes, most models donned slicked-back braided ponytails or cornrows with added extensions to caress the runway like a train.
The final walk was to Beyoncé’s “Heated.” Fitting – Tia is on fire right now. This show was the second time she has shown menswear. The first time was at February 2022 NYFW, but she has solidified she is for the girls. And for the diaspora. Until next year, New York City will be waiting to receive the upcoming collection with open arms and wallets.
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