Ean Williams had a vision for the fashion community in the DMV, and he executed it the same way he’s done everything else: while looking good.
Seventeen years after its initial debut, D.C. Fashion Week (DCFW), the product of Williams’ ambition, has become a staple for local designers, models, hair and makeup artists, and fashion lovers to come together over a shared interest in the fashion industry.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Williams during D.C. Fashion Week’s networking party at Saint Yves in Dupont Circle, and he led me to a corner of the room blocked off with a velvet rope. Rihanna’s “Wild Thoughts” was playing over the speakers, and incredibly well-dressed people were chatting and dancing around us. I heard snippets of conversations, almost always beginning with “I love your outfit.”
“Before D.C. Fashion week, there wasn’t anything that united us in terms of bloggers and columnists and designers and makeup artists and hair stylists and designers and stylists and anyone that wanted to be connected to fashion,” Williams said over the music. “That’s the main reason why we have the networking party, we want people to make those connections.”
Williams, now executive director of D.C. Fashion Week, spoke extensively about his reasoning behind founding D.C. Fashion Week.
“I want this to be like an Olympics of fashion,” Williams said excitedly. “D.C. is so rich in culture and diversity because of all of the embassies that we have here, and many countries want to bring their designers here to showcase with a platform that is nowhere near as expensive as some of the other Fashion Weeks.”
Williams started his career with a background as a professional model and actor before branching out into design. He put on a largely successful runway show and was hoping for more media coverage, so he reached out to someone from New York hoping to put on a similar show there, but was told that it could cost upwards of six figures, according to Williams.
“I know myself and other emerging designers wanted to show our work and introduce ourselves to the fashion community,” Williams said about founding D.C. Fashion week.
For Williams, D.C. was the perfect place for his fashion week to exist. “D.C. is one of the best cities for you to follow your passion and make a living out of it,” Williams said.
Diversity and inclusivity have been integral aspects of D.C. Fashion week since its founding, and D.C. Fashion week has been full of a lot of firsts, according to Williams.
“We were using plus-sized models at our very first D.C. Fashion week, over 17 years ago. We also were one of the first fashion weeks to do sustainable fashion,” Williams proudly said. “We have also prioritized accessibility; we’ve had deaf models that have walked for us and have gone on to win America’s Next Top Model and Dancing With the Stars.”
DCFW is one of the only Fashion Weeks left that still presents an entire menswear collection, a standout aspect of the weekend, according to Williams.
D.C. Fashion Week has also consistently supported and promoted emerging designers. DCFW has hosted the Emerging Designers Showcase to give these newer designers a platform to present their designs on the runway, according to Williams. He considers the Emerging Designers Showcase “the most impactful part of D.C. Fashion Week.”
“In our Emerging Designers Showcase we have had designers as young as five and as old as 90 showcase with us,” Williams said. “Our goal is to help these emerging designers and models go on to launch their careers, get that experience and go out in the world and kill it.”
Williams and I caught up later in the weekend after the International Couture Collection Showcase, D.C. Fashion Week’s final show. We shook hands, and Williams made a joke about not having to shout over the music during this conversation.
The International Couture Collection Showcase took place in the National Housing Center Atrium, a beautiful venue with huge windows and unique angles. Each venue chosen for the events was beautiful, and there’s a process for deciding which shows happen in which location, according to Williams.
“D.C. has so many beautiful, historic venues that a lot of people don’t have access to, and D.C. Fashion Week is open to the public and allows people to see the uniqueness of the venues as well as celebrate the fashion,” Williams said.
Williams was beaming with pride and excitement throughout our entire conversation, the success from the week clear on his face. Before we parted, Williams took the time to offer his advice to those looking to make their mark on fashion.
“Today young creatives have more resources for them than ever before; there’s funding out there; there’s YouTube videos, books, there’s just so much that you can learn and educate yourself,” Williams said.
“You have to be creative but you have to know the business, the business of marketing, consumer basis, and it's never been a better time to be an entrepreneur and a brand, and of course, Washington D.C. supports that!”
Follow Ean Williams on Instagram @mr_dcfashionweek
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