The high-end design house, Studio 189, is standing out amongst fashion’s who’s who of sustainable and socially responsible brands. Inducted into the über prestigious CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund class of 2021, and a recipient of the CFDA + Lexus Fashion Initiative 2.0’s top honor in 2018, the Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah founded fashion line is a an influential player. The house is paving the way for the next generation of sustainable fashion leaders. This is true not only globally, but also for brands that have a hyper-focused emphasis on impacting Africa.

Images via Instagram / studiooneeightynine

Since its founding in 2013, Studio 189 has been striving towards sustainability, but it wasn’t until the fashion duo, Dawson and Erwiah, was up for the CFDA + Lexus Initiative that everything changed, especially in their progress and vision for the future. They were selected as recipients of the CFDA + Lexus Initiative’s top prize. The design brand received $80,000 in funding to help accelerate their growth and progression into the fashion sustainability space.

Now, with their Aqua collaboration with this summer, exclusively available at Bloomingdales, compounded with their collection releases in top markets at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and more, the prestigiously positioned brand curates and promotes African fashion. The design house’s foundational principles focus on empowering African artisans, creating jobs and opportunities, and supporting and creating educational training that help communities gain additional entrepreneurial skills on the continent. These aims are accomplished through partnerships and strategic collaborations. Studio 189 partners with organizations such as the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, NYU Stern School of Business and works with brands like EDUN (LVMH), Fendi, Opening Ceremony, and Yoox Net-A-Porter.

Aqua x Studio 189 Collaboration Exclusively at Bloomingdales

Images via Instagram / studiooneeightynine

Through their manufacturing facility and store in Accra, Ghana, as well as their ecommerce site, Studio 189 helps to support community driven projects in Africa, in addition to projects supported in the US.

For their collections, the brand collaborates with communities of artisans who specialize in traditional techniques of creating textiles and materials for African clothing, prints and fashion. Those techniques include plant-based dye methods such as that which is used for indigo, hand-batik crafting, kante weaving and many other various methods authentic to the continent.

Images via Instagram / studiooneeightynine

This past weekend, during New York Fashion Week, Studio 189 debuted their Spring Summer 2023 Collection. It included gorgeous vibrant color pallets and beautiful prints. Here are some of our favorite designs from the show.

Images via Studio 189

All the looks from Studio 189’s New York Fashion Week presentation are available online.  The design house made the entire show accessible through their social media channels with various formats of content. The complete NYFW installation can be found just below. The exhibition begins with founder Rosario Dawson narrating the runway opening. Experience the fashion house’s new collection as it enlivens their audience. Watch their designs come alive in their vibrant studio presentation.

 

 

 

 

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